It's so good...
Thanks to God - I'm in my dear Latvia, home. I landed at Riga airport yesterday after 1 PM. While I was still flying my mind couldn't believe that I'm really flying to Latvia. But when I saw first Latvia's trees, television tower, apartment building through the window, I said to myself: My country! And I started to feel "Latvia's smell" and I believed. First steps in Latvia were a little shaky. I thought I'll faint because I misses a night due to time zone change. Sleeplessness and excitement created a funny mix of feelings. But when I saw all my welcomers... OH! All my loved ones... almost all...It was such a feeling of happiness that's hard to describe. And the biggest surprise was the 3 indians who had come from some kind of Latvian jungle. Huge thank you! From all my heart!
I went to my dear Jelgava church today and it felt like I was in a special "dimension"... all the love and smiles... Little Emanuel (6 years) signaled me from the other side of the church with his toothless smile that he's excited that I have returned. His mom told me later that all this time he has prayed for Liene to come home :) Sometimes he forgot about to pray for his dad's long travels but he always remembered to pray for Liene. So special.
Dear Milda said that she had made a special prayed notebook and she had written something about me there every day. Radiant Gunta told me that she has felt special blessings and encouragements from God in Latvia while she was praying for me in Rincon. Little girls came to me from all sides and asked when there will be a slumber party at my house. Little Emanuel wanted to come too and he became very sad when I asked him: Are you a girl? :) I guess I will have to figure out something for this little boy, too :) It was a special joy to return and that this part of the ocean was blessed too during this time.
In the afternoon Numa and Elizabeth visited me at my home and I was able to show them Bolivia pictures and different interesting souvenirs, attributes from the jungle :)
And now an important date:
August 21, after the worship service at Jelgava Baptist church that starts at 11:00 AM I will show my pictures and tell about my time in Rincon. So - see you then :)
And again - ENDLESS thank you for your prayers and support during all these months. God answered the prayers. And you know what - He still answers. Therefore I REALLY would like to ask you to continue to pray for Rincon. That God would continue to give strength to the few heroes that will continue the work there. And pray that new people would respond to God's calling to preach to the end of the world... to Rincon :) Let's pray. And maybe God wants to see YOU there? :)
July 13
I'm writing from relatively new Ring family home, lovely 3 bedroom apartment. Turbo active Adele has been successfully put to sleep. And my dearest, most beautiful sister Parsla is sitting next to me and she has something to say. Here are her words:
"Hello! My name is Parsla Ringa! I'm Liene's big sister! I used to Svoka too! I would like to say something to all Liene's supporters: huge thank you for supporting her!!! Since God has put me in a different part of the world, thank you to everyone in Latvia who loves and supports my little sis! I know there are a lot of you!
These past few days have been very nice. I'd love to keep Liene here with us but I understand that you have to share with good things so after long contemplation I decided to let Liene go back to her Fatherland! Plus, we will be there soon, too :)
I'm so proud of Liene! I have always known that Heavenly Father will use her teacher's talent in incredible ways! I know he has planned how to bless this world through my little sis in many more special ways! Love you to the moon, sis!!!"
July 8
Thanks to God for the successful trip and security checks - I'm in Houston!
A lot of highways, beautiful houses, good food, good people... everything is so good... It's hard to believe it's real. It's a surreal feeling.
Few words about my way here.
Tuesday, my last nigh in Brazil. I had beautiful dinner with Mucenieks family and bishop Peteris Sprogis in Nova Odessa. It was so nice to meet someone from Latvia, someone who had been there few days ago. I learned what's new in baptist union, we talked about the movies they showed on board and discussed best ways to fall asleep on the plane.
I spend about an hour on Wednesday morning and packed everything. I had big suitcases because I had added different nice things from Brazil.
In the afternoon Ondina and her nephews came to take me to Sao Paulo airport. At first they couldn't find me on the passenger list, but in a while I finally was able to check in! Then was time for goodbyes... I can't believe I had to say goodbye to my Ondina. The six months spend shoulder to shoulder have been very special... but we hope to meet again. If God wills!
The flight was successful, 10 hours long. I didn't sleep much on the plane and all my sleep was gone when I saw who had come to pick me up at the airport - sister, Robert, Billy and Janie. My sister was holding a poster: Profe Liene! And Janie gave me wonderful flowers.
When we exited the airport it was hard to breath in the unusually hot air. It's different kind of heat than in Rincon.
And everything else is simply unbelievably beautiful, clean, convenient life which surprised me so much... life in the jungle changes you.
But I am incredibly grateful to God! I'm enjoying my time in North America.
And I'm counting days till Latvia :)
I can't tell how privileged and special I feel here...
I spent few nice day with Ondina and then on Saturday morning I went to Zinaida. It's so good here! I ate strawberry cake with whipped cream, strawberry jam with fresh strawberries on top of that :D Good stuff! I had dreamt about strawberries for 6 months. Lovely Zinaida washed and ironed all my clothes that had become a little brown.
I showed some of my pictures and videos at Sunday service and told about my jungle adventures. ALL people came to greet me, hug me and say some special words. Lots of love! Then we went for lunch with forever energetic, laughing and singing Kristine Frishenbruder and her family. We had the largest lasagna I had ever seen. I especially remember their gigantic dog that was laying on a table!
In the evening I went to Americana First Baptist Church where I almost fell asleep while listening to the never-ending sermon in Portuguese. But it finished right before I fell asleep. Then we went to eat pastel and drink milkshakes with the local youth. This was an unique evening because we simultaneously had conversations in 3 languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese. at one point I thought my brain will collapse, but I endured this challenge and we had a really fun, international evening :) We went home listening to Michael W. Smith. And I have to say that Smitty unites all nations of the world. Thank you, Smitty!
Yesterday, that is on Monday, two Latvian ladies who don't speak Latvian took me to the HUUUUUUGE shopping mall in Campina. It is the biggest in Latin America! And I went SHOPPING :) At first I was confused to see so many new clothes! I carefully walked through countess aisles and got a glimpse of the latest fashion and then went to try on something! Even few new items in my suitcase give me a feeling that my closet is fresh and up to date :) I bought a very special dress, my friend Karlis Karklins will like a lot :D
And we finished the night with a movie... it's a huge pleasure!
Tonight I will have lunch with bishop Peter Sprogis :) I hadn't seen him for a long time, will have a lot of catching up to do :)
Life is good! And tomorrow I'm flying to my sister!
Life seams unreal. Everything that happens is SO special :)
Se you really soon!
If you return to civilization from the jungle, you gotta do something VERY modern. That's why we went to movie theatre last night to see Transformers 3 in 3D! Ondina's nephews Silas and Andre took us to the movie. Nice boys with 100% Latvian blood, but they don't speak Latvian though. I was so happy I learned Spanish in Rincon and could talk to them. If I stayed here longer I'd speak Portuguese in few months.
And I couldn't sleep after Transformers so Ondina and I talked until 3:30 in the morning. We ate sweets, looked at old photos and were really surprised to see that it's so late, or early, already! Her colorful rooster was singing his morning song.
I sat at the computer for a longer time today. Searched for pictures to show at Nova Odessa church on Sunday. It was SO HARD to pick the best ones from the hundreds of pictures I have. I will give a prize to those who will be able to look at ALL my photos in Latvia or America :D
Today I will go to stay at Zinaida's house. It will be weird to leave Ondina because we have spent each day together with Ondina for the past 6 months...
But... it's July today! And I can raise my head and say that I will be home in Latvia this month!
OK, I have to go now :)
