“kra-sée-va-ya”
We’ve been learning a few words and phrases in Russian and Latvian (mostly Russian since that’s what the kids at the day center speak). “Privet” is hi… “spasibo” is thank you… “poshalusta” is please. And “krasévaya” is beautiful. (This is my simple Russian spelling—I don’t even know where to begin with the Russian alphabet!)
I’ve seen a lot of beautiful things this week. Yesterday morning, Zanda took us to Kuldiga, her hometown, which is also home to the widest waterfall in Europe. She had to make a few stops at doctor’s offices to get some paperwork complete for the day camp they are have at the center next week, so we were happy to tag along and see a little more of the country. The waterfall isn’t very high (only about 7 ft.), but it is wide… close to 400 ft (120 meters). It was raining yesterday, so we armed ourselves with umbrellas to stroll across the oldest brick bridge in Europe and see the waterfall. “Krasévaya!”
Today, we led the Bible study time for the kids. I found a little story based on 2 Corinthians 4:7 that we read to the kids (with Zanda translating) about a man who found a bag of clay balls on the beach. Thinking they were worthless, he began to toss them into the ocean, seeing how far he could throw… until he dropped one of the balls and it cracked open on a rock, revealing a precious gem! We talked about how God created each of us in His own image and how, because He has made us special, each person is a treasure. Too often, we just don’t realize it! I hope they understood the message… I think some of the kids were a little more interested in the plastic gems I had hidden in clay balls that I tossed out to them as we told the story!
We are in Liepaja until Tuesday, when we go to Riga to meet a group from Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington. They are coming for a week to lead VBS and a sports camp in an orphanage outside of Jelgava. We had lunch with Datza and Madera, the other women on Buckner’s staff in Latvia, today so we learned a little more about what we’ll be doing the rest of the time. I’m excited to go to the orphanage, but I’ll be sad to leave the kids here… there are a few that I want to bring home with me! They are definitely “krasévaya”!
