A Postcard from Estonia — A Full Life

July 7, 2011March 27, 2020Leave a comment

We’ve just returned from Estonia where we had a quick visit with a mission team from our home church in Athens, GA. The team is ministering in Camp Gideon, a Christian camp in the shore of the Gulf of Finland. This team is particularly memorable in that my aunt, Judy Cantrell, is a member. That’s her above at right with Valerie and other team members. So, it was good to have some family time as well as mission time with the team.

The team went to a restaurant where you catch your own meal. Olga caught her first fish (ever!). Here she is with Bill Arnold, who has been a great help in many ways. In addition to serving the children, the team is also involved in construction projects, and Bill is taking a leading role in that.

Our summer plans are in flux. I won’t be going to Montenegro as intended, since the mission team that planned to run the camp had to cancel their trip. Thankfully, the youth in Montenegro have been able to connect with other ministry opportunities. I’ll spend more time in Estonia, where I’ll meet with the architect of the center for disabled children and do some other work.

You can read the most recent Stoneworks newsletter here. This will give you an idea of the variety of activities going on this summer. I am very thankful to be a part of such a great team. Our work continues in Estonia (mission teams, center for disabled children), Russia (mission teams, Camp Elama) and Belarus (summer camps, visits to orphanages and shelters, the Minsk Family Home).

I continue to be reminded of how unity is more important than activity. Even though we have a lot going on, it’s more important to abide in Christ, to live with and depend on Him, and to work for unity with those around us; we trust that activities will be a natural result of our relationship with Christ and with one another. Jesus said, ‘by this people will know that you’re my disciples — by your love for one another’. God values love above all else: first loving Him and then loving one another.

Let’s all set our hearts to love God more and more. For He is the beginning and end of all, the cornerstone and the capstone.

Snapshots from Finland

June 13, 2011March 27, 2020Leave a comment

Three quick pictures:

Valerie got hold of our camera and made some interesting pictures, including this self-portrait:

She also used her little shovel as a microphone, singing and dancing in the yard:

And we had a classic Finnish sunset:

Quite a Week

June 9, 2011March 27, 20201 Comment

This involves a bus, a plane, a van and a ferry. It started on Sunday —

I’ve been looking to purchase a used mini-van for use as our ministry in Europe expands. Our little red car is getting a little long in the tooth, and I felt that the time may have come to find a good traveling car since I’m on the road so much these days.

I have been looking for cars in Germany. Prices are lower there, and Germans take good care of their cars. A month ago I sent an email to a private seller (not a dealer) in Germany but never heard back from him. I looked at a lot of other cars after that . . . .

Sunday: After driving from Russia to Estonia, I check my spam folder and notice a reply from the seller; it’s three weeks old. I write asking if the van is still for sale, and it is. We exchange several emails as I get more information. After talking with Olga and coming to agreement, I book a flight to Hamburg (using frequent flyer miles).

Monday: After taking care of some business in Jõhvi, I take a bus to Tallinn and spend the night with friends.

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Crossing from Russia to Estonia

June 5, 2011Leave a comment

I’ve just arrived in Estonia after a very nice drive from St. Petersburg. I took a little video while I was in No Man’s Land on the bridge between Ivangorod, Russia and Narva, Estonia.

Two fortresses face one another across the Narva river: on the Russian side Ivanogorod Fortress was built in the 1490s, to fend off the Livonian (German) knights. Herman Castle, a Danish and then Livonian Teutonic fortress from the 13th century, sits opposite on the Estonia bank. It’s quite beautiful, really.

I’ll be here a few days, working on a few items related to the center for disabled children we plan to build here in Johvi, and I’ll also visit with our good friends here.

Perspective

May 30, 2011Leave a comment

A Ride in Tavrichesky Park

May 28, 20111 Comment

A friend in Estonia, Artur Pold, bought Valerie a bike last week. I took it to Russia with me a few days ago. We went for a walk/ride in the park across the street from our flat in St. Petersburg:

We are so very thankful for the many good friends and great family we have in so many places — Russia, Finland, Estonia, Belarus, Montenegro, and the USA.

The Estonian Coast Road

May 23, 2011Leave a comment

I took a drive along the Estonian coast of the Gulf of Finland, following the old Royal Road, the other day:

I made video of this same same road during the winter.

A Snapshot from Estonia

May 22, 2011March 27, 20201 Comment

I’m in Estonia now, doing a little work on our ministry flat and taking care of some personal business and program work. I visited Camp Gideon over the past few days and took this picture of one of the main buildings that overlooks the Gulf of Finland. It’s beautiful here this time of year.