Undaunted

Undaunted

Dear Friends,
This is a very overdue update to our blog diary of events. Even as I write, I am still not sure if I am doing this right and if it will come out. But here goes anyway. I know that my last newsletter was such an epistle (but I did warn you) and I will try to keep it shorter this time. Those of you who know me well enough will understand how hard that is!! Besides so many exciting things have happened since I last wrote and are continuing to happen, that I just don't have enough time to keep up with them. Doing the job and then writing about it afterwards is not easy!
In March this year we participated in the ecumenical service for the Women's World Day of Prayer. This was the first time the Paastearmee had such a high profile as one of the readers was one of our uniformed soldiers from Kopli Corps in Tallinn. We also had a group of 20 (including one man) who represented the Army in the service. This of course was a result of quite a number of meetings between myself and the organiser. All time consuming, but worthwhile. During the second week in March, Derek and I spent three days in Riiga, Latvia to meet up with our counterparts in the other Baltic State. It was a very worthwhile visit and gave us a lot of good contacts which we are now following through. Our journey to the south of Estonia gave us a further opportunity to develop the ground for the opening of the work in Voru which we anticipate in the summer. One of the most exciting occasions in the month was when Derek and I enrolled three new soldiers in Narva, which is our Russian Corps. This was a great encouragement for the Officers, Daniel and Anya Henderson who work tirelessly, so it is good to see results. Two of the new soldiers were young girls who have been coming now for nearly two years and are real little 'Army' girls. The other lady is more mature and is the grandmother of the little baby who first came to Daniel and Anya as HIV+. The baby only lived for 8months and both the parents who were addicts have also since died. When Grandma Riita gave her testimony she told how she had been a heavy smoker for 30 years but when she got saved she stopped overnight. She has also completed two Bible Study Courses on the internet, as well as her Recruits Classes of course. It was a very moving and exciting occasion which resulted in others making prayer-response at the mercy seat at the end of the meeting.
But of course, the big event in March was the visit of the Chalk Farm Band at Easter and the opening of the Tartu Corps. On arrival from Finland on Easter Saturday, we travelled with the band to Tartu and held the first open-air meeting for 40 years in the Town Hall Square. It was an exciting occasion as the Band marched through the streets behind the Army flag and the Estonian flag. Even the police stood back in astonishment. Many people stood around and listened to the open-air and followed us back to the hall for the first meeting. Another local minister spoke on behalf of the churches welcoming the Army back into the town.
Unfortunately the officers had to return to America at the same time as a result of the untimely death of Captain Evelyn's mother. Last Sunday (24th April) we returned to conduct the first Tartu-only meeting to establish the ministry of the Corps in Tartu. Twenty people met with us for a short period of worship and of course the obligatory Army Cup of Tea. The Captain made some good contacts with some of the people who came and looks forward to developing these links for the future of the Army. I do have some photos of the Band in Tartu, but unfortunately I don't know enough about this technology to send it to you. You might be able to get some of them on Chalk Farm Band web-site.
We continue to develop some really useful associates in the country and Derek has had a very helpful meeting with the British Ambassador who is very interested in our work. He has agreed to be on the Advisory Board that he is setting up at the moment.
The continuation of the HIV/Aids programme is attracting a lot of publicity and support. During the first few days in May we have a follow-up visit from the IHQ Health-Facilitation Team with Dr. Ian Campbell. It is hoped that the Team can develop a European Project based from our programme in Estonia.
Another exciting development in the region is the opening of the work of the Paastearmee in Voru which is a town right down in the south of the country not far from the Latvian border. Derek and I have made a number of visits to Voru over the last five months and have made some excellent contacts there. We have plans now to commence in August with the appointment of our first Estonian Officer - Hallelujah. We have just obtained premises -which need to be renovated - to house a little community centre that will provide a feeding programme and a small charity shop with room for Corps activities. We also have a small group of supportive Christians who want to be involved with our work there. We also have great support from the local authorities and other churches. So again it is a matter of 'watch this space'.
Unfortunately we have also had to make some difficult decisions regarding the social work in Tallinn. We have a small hostel that sleeps 42 men each night, but they sleep 19 in one room with a small room that sleeps 4. There are only two showers and toilets and now we have been told - as expected - that this will never meet EU regulations. So at the end of May the hostel will close as residential and will be prepared and opened as a Day Community Centre providing a daily feeding programme for 100+ each day as well as an onsite social worker and access to showers and washing machines for families. It is the proverbial bad news and good news together. One of the good things to come from it is that a number of the hostel residents are now taking steps to put their own lives back in order and one man has made contact with his son in Germany and plans to go and live with his family there. It also means that the limited resources we have will be available now to many more people on a wider scale rather than the same few on a permanent basis. However, we could do with a large, many-roomed hostel in Tallinn for the homeless - but maybe not tomorrow!
During the month of April, Derek and I travelled back to the UK to conduct the wedding blessing of two of our previous soldiers in Blackpool. It was lovely to share in a real special moment in their lives, and of course to catch up with all our friends back there. We had a lovely time as we led the meetings on the Sunday and the few days around gave us chance to meet with special friends and some of the 'old stalwarts'. We then travelled to Norwich to spend a few days with Lorna involved in some of the preparations for her wedding at the end of May. That is the next big thing in our life and we are really looking forward to it. Lorna and her fiance have had the heavy end of the organisation as they are 'on site', and we have only been able to keep in touch with phone calls and help pay a few bills! During our time in Norwich we went to the Corps and met up with family and friends there also. We also caught up with our son and daughter-in-law who live in London, and Pamela who is expecting their first baby in August is literally 'blooming' with health and vitality. Pregnancy obviously suits her and she is enjoying every minute of it - as is Alan, of course!
Well I'm not sure how many pages this turns out to be, but I just hope you don't have to print it out for anyone.
As you know, you are always in our thoughts and prayers. We do appreciate the contacts that you make with us, even although I am a dreadful correspondent, and we look forward to the chance to meet up with some of you in the near future. We trust that you and yours are well. God bless