This was the first intercontinental trip of my life Latvia-USA. Starting in Amsterdam I understood that on an international trip like this you have to be prepared to speak English everywhere, and that English is truly a global language. This I had heard but now have seen for myself that it is true.

I have to say first of all that the culture of the United States really made an impression on me, perhaps different than what Americans might be aware of. For instance in the hotel we stayed in in Minneapolis the folks working at Cambria Suites actually smiled and acted like they were glad you were there, and glad to serve you! Wow! I also have to say that even though I live in the European Union, it was the first time in my life to use a washing machine and dryer and electronic keys for the doors. I am becoming a thoroughly modern man!

Secondly, actually entering into covenant renewal worship with all the brothers from North America made me appreciate its power more than I ever have before, and I have already changed our liturgy here in Latvia to be more in line with how we worshipped in Minneapolis on Tuesday night after the missions conference.

I was very honored by the privilege of getting to attend the Augustine presbytery meeting, and that I could give a short report about our ministry in Latvia in English in front of everyone attending. I was greatly encouraged by how interested many of the pastors and elders there were in our life and ministry here in the former Soviet Union. What a joy to hear the men pray for me and our church in Latvia after I gave my report. 

After 5 days in Minnesota I understood that the easy part of my trip was over. Now it was time to hit the road and head south (after heading 6 hours to the East, Milwaukee, for a Sunday). Now I began two exhausting weeks, sleeping in different places, and churches, and visiting different people almost every day. I knew this kind of thing was coming so I prepared myself mentally to be able to endure it as joyfully as possible.

Moving by stages, we spent one or more nights in Minneapolis, Milwaukee, WI, Springfield, ILL, Springfield, MO, Wichita Falls, TX, Dallas, Austin, and back to Dallas, Texas.  Along this 2,000 mile path, with us in Blake's car, I had the chance to work on my English, to get to know pastor Blake better, his vision for his ministry, and his attitude toward his ministry. I have to observe that I became convinced that this brother acts selflessly and boldly in all circumstances of life. He is a man not just of words, but deeds.

The first Sunday on the road, we preached at Trinity PCA Church near Milwaukee, WI, pastor Jeff Pennington's church, and I preached 20 minutes on Romans 6, and Blake preached on Acts 1:8, and later I shared my testimony, and we both spoke on the ministry of SRS.

After lunch with the pastor's family of seven children, the whole church went out to shoot military weapons together! For the first time in my life I shot a 44 Magnum, a 45-caliber revolver, various pistols, and a semi-automatic 12-gauge monster gun, holding 20 shells, made in Russia based on the AK-47 model. It was not only my first time to shoot weapons of any kind, but I saw that you can actually have good church fellowship doing it! Also it was amazing to see that the women were almost as good as the men at shooting! 

During the next week we were able to visit Lincoln's home in Ill, and the Wilson Creek Civil War Battlefield park. We saw a coyote running through someone's front yard, a white tail deer, many turtles, and many birds, like cardinals and Canadian geese. This was more wild life than I have ever seen.

In Texas we stayed with Blake's brother Dr. Blaine Purcell, and ate with his mother, Nancy, then later with his daughter Emily, and her husband and son, Ford and Lewis. Later we stayed with his son John Mark and sister Jannie. When with Dr. Purcell we worked out in a gym in the morning, and Blake had me exercising with him every day, everywhere we stopped, and had me on a salad diet the whole trip, so I firmly decided to start exercising here. (I went to America and actually lost weight!)

In Dallas John Mark took us to a Top Golf driving range where I found out I was horrible in golf (but not much worse than John Mark and Blake).

We went to Austin, Texas for the last weekend in America where Blake's son Zachary is studying film at the University of Texas. The church that invited us, and paid for my ticket to America from Latvia is called Redeemer PCA with pastor David Cassidy. Friday night we were invited to share at their annual choir dinner, where we sang Svyati Bojhe, Psalm 1 in Russian, and Katyusha. They seemed to like it.

The next morning we ate breakfast with and sang for the men of the church. The church has about 600 folks in it. Sunday morning we were introduced at the 9:00 and 11:00 o'clock services. We ate out with the pastor, and his family and two other families after church. That night at 6PM the whole church was invited, and about 80 came to hear us preach, share my testimony, and explain the ministry of SRS and church adoptions (how they could adopt us here in Latvia!). I was asked to give the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6 in Russian at the end of this service. People were very interested in our ministry after the meeting.

The next morning we met and I gave my testimony to all the elementary students at City Christian School. This was the first Christian school I have ever seen. I was very impressed with how serious the school was about Bible knowledge. The school principal and I visited for a long time. 

After this we had lunch with all the 4 pastors of the church and Tuesday was a marathon. In the morning we met with homeschoolers to see their Classical Conversations meeting, and I was surprised to see how well behaved and quiet and attentive the children were. This was my first meeting with any homeschoolers. 

Then we had a late morning meeting with Christian stock traders, and we asked them to support SRS. One of them, from Redeemer, whom we lived with for 3 nights, John Robeson, gave a very generous gift to SRS. In the afternoon we met with the director of the Austin campus of Redeemer Seminary, and that night, after dinner with the Navigator Staff of Texas University, I shared my testimony for the Campus Nav night rally.  Blake was asked to preach Mat. 28:19, 20. This was the hardest day of the trip (and I think the longest day in ministry I have ever had).

John Robeson also bought me a real cowboy belt buckle, so when we went back to Dallas on Wednesday, John Mark took me shopping for a belt to go with it and with money given to me from folks at Redeemer I was able to buy gifts for my wife Olga, my daughter Katya, and church folks.  I understood that it is a great privilege to serve the Kingdom of God not only in my own country but also in others, knowing that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to the Son of God, Matthew 28: 19.

I praise God that as a whole this trip enriched my life, and this experience gave my ministry a real renewal. In coming home I realize that the Americans have a lot to be proud of in the country, their attitude toward work and service, and their culture. I understand that their culture is founded on Christian values, and now I want to do everything possible to see to it that Christian values become the foundation for Latvian culture and society as well.

I am praying that partnerships with Redeemer and Trinity churches work out so that we will be more and more free to minister here, to begin Christian education and homeschooling, and so that train leaders and plant churches among all the 1.1 million Russian speakers in the Baltics.