Latvia

Czech team

2009-02-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

I love this pic this kid really gets into this song.

This team that we had from Czech was such a joy to see in action as they performed for schools here in Latvia. The Music was amazing and the kids really get into and have fun with it.

This is really a cool ministry that a Josiah Venture couple in Czech had started where a lot non-christains are apart.

Terry& Hannah English the JV couple In Czech that started the music choirs and have been able to share the gospel with many young people in Czech through this outreach.

What's going on

2008-09-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dursey Island

Things have
slowed down significantly from summer. I'm getting back into regular language studies again. Meeting with a few young people that I have developed a relationship with and have been walking beside them as they are in some sort of leadership role.

Cable car we took to get to an island

Here is some pictures of my recent trip to Ireland.
This trip was amazing just what I needed after an amazing but, draining summer. I was blessed to be able to have seen the places I saw, it was simple beautiful. This cable car was built in the 60's it was fun taking it across the water to explore Dursey Island.

Bring on the camps!!!!

2008-06-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

here is part of my amazing team !!
In this picture these are some of the summer interns that will be helping with the camps. This week has consisted of a lot planning what we want the English classrooms to look like. These interns are great this is not the most exciting week of the summer planning your English lessons.

our first camp starts June 29th

Guys in the youth group

2008-05-12T01:43:00.000-07:00

here is a pic of a few kids that are involved in the youth group. These three had just got baptized so that's pretty exciting. The two on the right are brothers and are loads of fun. it is a blast getting to know these kids more and more feeling like I'm able to connect more with them . One of the cool things is there is a good chunk of guys that make up the group which is sweet being to connect with and have fun with.

Legal resident

2008-03-14T14:19:00.000-07:00

I'm legal

Thanks so much for all your prayers I do truly appreciate your prayers. The last couple of months of trying t0 obtain my resident permit has been a roller coaster with things changing constantly things would change for no apparent reason. We were all denied in the start of this excitement the way we were applying for our visa which was with Josiah Venture that we were working with Youth. It's kinda complicating but, for whatever reason they were no longer accepting this way that we and most missionary organizations had gone through so we went through the baptist union . Mike Kelley is one of my roommates and had to leave the country to Ukraine for over a month. I was getting close to my 90 days. After 90 days I would have to leave the country. I had to have documents from the states expedited with DHL. Things would change every day it seemed like at times. Me and Joe Brooks we planning on leaving for Albania for a couple weeks. Then we heard that it would be at least a month in Albania since the religious department with the government was saying that would be the quickest that could get it done. We ended up getting a attorney with everything changing and people at immigration not even knowing what they are talking about. Well I got to my 90th day and was able to get an extension to stay for two more weeks . And finally after all that I have my visa!!!

Yes it was an incredible time with things changing daily it seemed with the stress and frustration growing God was near through all of this. of course it was uncomfortable but, it was good in the same hand having to rely on God and just see how he worked. Being comfortable feels nice and good but, being uncomfortable is when you really grow in Christ.

thank you for all your prayers for they were felt here!

Life in Riga

2008-02-12T13:35:00.001-08:00

I feel like I should keep you all better informed of what exactly my day to day schedule looks like.

I have language three times a week with three people on my team. Monday, Wednesday, Friday are language with the tutor. Then also Monday and Wednesday I have a Latvian helper that I go over stuff that I need help with.

Thursday I have meeting where I have been going through son life material. Son life is basically about coming behind leaders and equipping them and encouraging them but, not taking over. Rather getting them to be apart of it.
Then I leave Riga in time to hit traffic for a youth group that I'm getting plugged into about 45 minutes outside of Riga. I have been greatly encouraged by this group and feel like this group is a great fit for me. There is a good amount of guys in the group which is not as common for Latvia so that is super cool.

we have been formulating more what this summer will look like. Figuring out where the camps will be. Recruiting and figuring out which interns we have for North Americans as well as national interns.

Then I head back To Riga Thursday around 9 or 10 pm since I have language on Friday's.

So that is a little bit of what I have been up to.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS DEALING WITH RESIDENCY STUFF.

Keep praying I do not have my visa yet. sorry for the lack of information I have been giving you during this time but, sometimes information has been changing things I thought were for sure have not been.

residency

2008-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for your prayers during this crazy time of trying to obtain residency. This time has been good, don't get me wrong it has been tough but, God has continued show me that he is near during this. I still am uncertain of what my outcome will be if I will in fact have to leave the country. I know though that he has this whole thing in his hand. I know that's easy to say but, I have this amazing peace that God has continued to give me and reassurance that he is bigger than any residency troubles we are having. Things look unclear right now. God is always in the process and movement.

thanks to all of you who have continued lift me and my team up in pray. The Emails I have received from many of you have been a huge encouragement as well thanks.

2008-01-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

here is what my country leaders wife wrote about the situation that we are facing as a team currently with residency issues. She wrote it a lot better than I could. Please be in prayer as my roommate who is also with JV is currently in Ukraine after being denied residency.

Thank you so much for your prayers

Good Morning To All!

First, let me just praise the Lord - today is the first day that all four of our children went to school since December 17th!!! I am sitting, quietly, at my desk. I can think. And, yes, I can breathe!!! I praise Him!

Second, we would like to ask that you pray this week very fervently, and possibly in the weeks to come for all of our new staff to receive their residency into the country of Latvia!!

Most of you know that we have only had one person not receive their residency in the past. And, in actuality have only heard of two cases (one of those being ours) where missionaries did not receive their residency in the past, out of literally hundreds who have come through Latvia to minister for some time.

Unfortunately, this pattern is about to change. The first of our five new missionaries was rejected on Friday. Mike Kelly left for the Ukraine (a non-EU country, as required) yesterday, and will have to reside there until this conflict is resolved. We fear that the other four will receive their bad news on Wednesday (although this is not for certain yet - prayer # 1!!!!!!!)

It seems that EU rules are changing things significantly. In fact, our family should have been rejected in October when we re-applied, as well as our other existing missionary, Jaycee Jensen, in November. How we "slipped through" we cannot say. We suspect that the five new people applying caused a red flag and further investigation. Apparently, the way we have been registered as a not-for-profit organization does not allow us to invite people into the country to live any longer. This is hugely significant because every other missions organization in the country is listed in the same way and goes through the same process to bring missionaries into the country.

Some people have suggested we pay for a lawyer, but, in fact, this would do no good (and, actually, we paid for a lawyer with our last missionary who was rejected, and he really couldn't help us). A lawyer cannot help us change the law, and they cannot change the minds of the people working in the government office. The EU is "cracking down" and making it more and more difficult for foreigners to receive residency, and in fact, they have to do this. With all the new Eastern block countries that have been accepted into the EU, they have to control it somehow if they do not want all of Russia and the Middle East to flood through their doors. The difficult part of all this is - we have very few other options.

Right now, we are praying that possibly not all of our new people have been rejected - Eastern Europe is still that way - it can change from day to day, depending who is working. We will know for sure on Wednesday whether or not they all have to leave. Mike will be applying for residency through the Baptist Union for a religious visa, and since he does have a certificate from a seminary, we don't see that he will be rejected again - but, again, nothing is ever for sure here. The down side of that kind of visa is that it is only given for one year, so every year you have to pay high fees and face the stress of being rejected. But, as said before, we don't have a lot of other options at this point.

Pray for Mike as he has to stay in Ukraine and wait - pray that the Lord will meet Him there and minister to him. Pray that he will receive welcome back into the country very soon.

Pray for our other missionaries - Kelly and Donna Hargon, Joe Brookes, and Nick Fletcher - as they wait until Wednesday. Pray that miraculously the news is good and they have been accepted!! Pray that if it is not good, we will find a good course of action for all of them - they can't all stay with the one couple who lives in Ukraine!

Pray that we find a solution to this very upsetting mess! As said before, this will affect every other mission agency in the country, and quite possibly all of the EU!! Pray for Scott, as country leader, that he would have wisdom and discernment. Pray for someone to come along side of us who can help us sort this out! Pray for the right people to be in the right offices as they make decisions regarding our people.

The bottom line of all this is - we are shocked and confused. The good news - God is not!!! He knew it all before any of it came to be. He is in control, and now we must petition Him to work His mighty hand in this! He can do this - we cannot! But we must come to Him and pray!!

Please commit to praying for this matter to be resolved, and for our faith to be strengthened as we see Him work!

Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God." - John 11:40

Thank you for standing with us in faith and belief!

In Him,

Scott and Lisa Runzo

2007-12-30T03:00:00.001-08:00

Well I got my first parking ticket here in Latvia right outside church. They actually don't have my info since it was Scott runzo's car. I will figure out how to pay this instead of having Scott have an unexpected surprise.

Winter camp

2007-12-24T01:39:00.001-08:00

Yummy !!! pig ears anyone

I was able to be apart of a winter camp recently with a church outside of Riga in Jelgava ( pronounced yelgava). There was about 30 kids that came so that is a good turn out for something like this. This camp was a blast to be able to hang out with the kids and just get to know them and them to get to know me. The kids were so easy going really fun to be with. One of the games we played was basically fear factor they had to eat pig ears . Well they got me to go up there and eat some of it WAY GROSS!!!

there is still sun

2007-12-15T15:42:00.000-08:00

Today was a beautiful gorgeous day the Lord made!!! I saw the sun which I have not see the fullness of the sun since I left Arizona. It was a pleasant change to be able to open the shades on the widow to allow the sun to shine in the room. All is going great will update soon I wanted to share my highlight for the day.

Youth group

2007-12-02T05:10:00.001-08:00

I had the opportunity to go and be apart of a youth night. This was amazing on so many levels. The first part of the night was a youth night party I was able to meet quite a few youth during the night. Also they even had me participate in a few games one I had to say everyone in the circle their names. Well these kids I had not yet even meet so I was just making up names. Then they had me put many cookies in my mouth and still be able to say some Latvian word, well I could never say it before we started i think they just looked funny trying to say the word so they had me keep trying . The night was a huge encouragement to be able to meet this kids. The second part of the night was a prayer night from 10pm-6am and kid you not this was double the amount of people than there was at party. There was realistically 70 youth there to pray and be in fellowship with one another how awesome is that!!! The only person who was not a youth was the pastor. The party had around 30 youth so a significant increase. This night greatly encouraged me to see the youth of Riga coming together to pray for 8hours.
Scott put it in a good way by saying we are youth planters instead of church planters. Coming alongside youth groups to help them really become youth groups and this got me excited as well. So like I said before that journey begins, I'm so excited as God is with me on this incredible journey.

Snow in riga

2007-11-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

Here in czech

2007-11-24T03:15:00.000-08:00

This is the amazing place where I was blessed to have spent Thanksgiving at. It has been such an enriching time meeting missionaries with Josiah Venture from Poland, Czech, Ukraine, Slovakia, & Slovenia. We had Thanksgiving here in this hotel that Josiah venture owns and uses it as a hotel to the public and also as a conference place for JV. There was all the normal thanksgiving food here since all Americans were in charge bringing a dish that like on thanksgiving.

Sorry that it has been awhile since my last update I was adjusting and then drove to Czech. Please be in prayer for the drive home tomorrow it is roughly a 20 hour drive.

I have a funny story to share with you all. One the way here Jaycee got pulled over somewhere in Lithuania for speeding . well the Police officer spoke great English and asked her to step out of the car. She comes back to inform us that she is getting a ticket and to retrieve her passport from the car. When she goes back the cops ask her to go into the backseat. So from the car we just she Jaycee in the backseat not sure if they were taking her away haha. I'm still not quite sure what that was all about except it was cold outside.

Almost there

2007-11-14T00:48:00.000-08:00

I will be leaving for the airport in 2 in 1/2 hours. Today was good and hard it is bitter sweet saying my good byes. As I went to high school group at the very end this evening it was so amazing as many of the students came up and gave me hugs shared how much they appreciated me I felt so loved. The last couple of days have been good seeing how it is hard on both sides with the goodbyes has shown me how God has used me in these peoples lives. Well soon I will be in Wonderful Latvia.
Thank you all for your prayers during this time as I move to Latvia

I'm leaving !!!

2007-11-02T11:32:00.000-07:00

I got my tickets praise GOD !!!!

I will be departing Phoenix on the 14th of November for wounderful Latvia. This is such a soreal feeling that I'm experiencing right now that it is actaully here, that I'm going. Thank you all so very much!!!

So here we go and now the journey really begins

Waiting

2007-10-05T16:14:00.000-07:00

Through the last couple of weeks have been rather trying and hard. I didn't really think raising support would be as hard as it has been. I would not trade support raising for anything even though it has been trying God has shown so much about himself during this time. As I would stress out that I would not make my date or where the money would come from God continued to show that his timing is right. God has brought me this far and I do not believe that he will desert me now. This is something that I continually have to come to God and recognize and acknowledge to him that his timing is truly perfect. This time also has be great where I have learned more of the importance of coming before my Jesus and how I neglect sitting at his feet. During the last couple of weeks I have sat at his feet and he has walked beside me. Thank you for those of you who have encouraged me in many different ways you all are a blessing to have on my team as we go fourth together as a body, a community.

Even though I'm the one going we are all the community of christ and will continue even though soon I will not be as close as I have been.

2007-09-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was my last time working for starbucks. This is really crazy cause I'm getting closer to moving to Latvia now!!! I worked there for a little over 2 years and now I have quit to tie things up and get ready before I leave. I was blessed by being able to work with some great people like that charater on the left.

2007-09-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

We found some mud that we had to go through. over the weekend I had the opportunity to spend with my small group guys at the cabin. I had a great time playing poker on the porch and obviously taking Bill's truck through the mud. I've been blessed by by being able to be apart of these guys lives for many years. Right now as I prepare to leave it's hard at times realizing that I will not be here anymore for these guys but, it is a bitter sweet since I'm excited to see where the Lord takes them how they continue to grow. In a sense these guys feel like part of my family since I've been with some for 3 1/2 years and the rest for at least 2 years. I'm encouraged to see what God has in store for these guys and how they respond to him. Also I've been blessed to be able to have co-lead for the last year with Bill what an amazing guy. One thing I really pulled away from him was not to take life so serious enjoy life, He has joy that just overflows him just genuine down to earth guy.

2007-08-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Colorado on friday night. This was an amazing time of intense training to better equip me for for work in Latvia. The training was better than I had ever imagined it could be. There was so much God was working in me through my time there showing about conflict resolution, stuff about myself, learning a deeper understanding of community.

2007-08-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

2007-08-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

We just started then next section of the mission training. This class is a 3 week session that is called splice. Splice seems to be dealing with community issues and how to reslove conflict between one another. As many of you may know the number one reason for missionaries leaving thier county that they are ministering in is due to conflict with fellow missionaries. Thank you for your prayers during these five weeks of training.

2007-08-07T16:06:00.000-07:00

Let me give you alittle background about myself. I had the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Latvia with my High school group when I had just graduated high school this was in 2003. Well this trip was amazing but, I was truly just the beginning of things to come. Going in to this trip I was not thinking about this mission trip as anything really amazing. I think when I sit back I was going more or less to check out Europe God totally began to rock my world when came serving him. Well I went back as an intern for 2 summers in a row. As I was serving as an intern God was showing some amazing things just about ministry, himself, and the importance of serving him everywhere. In 2005 is when I really started toying with the idea of moving and doing minsitry within Latvia. I was to comfortable of where I was in my life I was content on doing short term trips for the rest of my life. well that’s not what the Lord had in store he was and is calling me move to leave everything all my securities and truley learn what it means to follow after him. Last year when I went as a leader with the high school group that is when the Lord made it clear to me that he wants me in Latvia. I had a good conversation with Scott one of the missionaries in Latvia well he began talking about the need for more missionaries and where he could use me. I could not just ignore this converstion I had so I began to pray and process through this for the next couple of months. then I began going through the process of joing Josiah Venture and this showed me that this is where God wants me.