Today was such a good day. I had a good chat with a friend at a French kafejnīca (café) where I had a mug of coffee and milk and a pastry with banana and cream (which was more like a cheese texture). It was interesting. Not too convinced about the banana-in-pastry flavour, but it was nice to try something different.
After coffee I strolled down Dzirnavu iela to go to the Tiger store where you can get really cheap nice things. I got a present for one of the students whose birthday it is today and then walked back slowly, taking in the fact that I’m in Riga and feeling God’s heart and love for this city.
In the afternoon I took the bus to the church where the team are staying to do a time of worship and intercession there. It was so powerful to be worshipping Jesus in the middle of the area where at night women are selling their bodies, drugs are being dealt, and lives are being destroyed night after night. Powerful to proclaim the Truth of who Jesus is over the area and proclaim hope and life. It was freezing, but so good!!
As dinner time was approaching we set off on a 30 minute walk down to the city centre to have dinner at the university cantina which is cheap and nice. I had buckwheat with grated carrot and chicken. I thought I liked buckwheat, and I think I do in theory, but it did have a strange taste. Not sure if that’s the authentic buckwheat taste or if it was how it was prepared. I guess having it on another occasion is the only way to find out.
On our way back we stopped by Rimi which is the supermarket (which makes my heart happy because we have the same chain in Norway as well, in fact there are quite a few different chains of shops that they have both here and in Norway). We stocked up on fruit and milk and bread for the rest of the week (which when you’re feeding 25 people does get quite heavy to carry).
And so here I’m sat. Back in the beautiful living room. The candles are lit on the table and it’s dark outside. I’ve just finished a large mug of English tea (with milk of course) and I’m enjoying some Jon Thurlow on the webstream. Tomorrow is another day full of activities and opportunities. But for now I’m just savouring the fact that I’ve come to the end of a good day. And I am so thankful for life.