Balvi, Latvija
February 9th, 2008
A small team of us, from Youth With A Mission, Riga traveled 3 hours one way to the region of Latgale in eastern Latvija, close to the Russian border. Our aim - to 'spy out the land', and lay a foundation of prayer for an outreach that would take place a week later.
These are some of the things God put on our hearts that day.
Healing rain come!
Healing rain come!
Open up the heavens above Balvi!
Prayer points from our drive through town, as we observed the surroundings and listened to what God put on our hearts.
Feelings of hopelessness, uselessness… Warriors who feel they no longer have a purpose.
People don’t want charity, they need empowerment
No fear, need healing rain - new impetus to move forward.
God to open the heart of the people, restore relationships.
Through giving of food and clothes they wouldn’t see charity but see the heart and love of Jesus.
Isaiah 45:8-10
8"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. 9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'? 10"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'"(Clay questioning the potter, but God wants to lead the way, show them how to live)
Prayer points from our drive through town, as we observed the surroundings and listened to what God put on our hearts.
Feelings of hopelessness, uselessness… Warriors who feel they no longer have a purpose.
People don’t want charity, they need empowerment
No fear, need healing rain - new impetus to move forward.
God to open the heart of the people, restore relationships.
Through giving of food and clothes they wouldn’t see charity but see the heart and love of Jesus.
Isaiah 45:8-10
8"Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it. 9"Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands'? 10"Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?' Or to a woman, 'To what are you giving birth?'"(Clay questioning the potter, but God wants to lead the way, show them how to live)
Prayer points on walk through the center of town.
For family’s and the next generation.
Education and teachers.
Communications and the arts, that they would see God in the beauty around them, and the music school.
Government, more involvement with the people. That hearts would be open to God. For the Fear of God, not fear of man!
Friendliness and Kindness, that greeting your neighbor would become the norm and not the abnormal.
Just for your information, in case you are ever in Balvi...
After talking with some locals about their small but significant town, we ascertained that the best place to eat in Balvi is Nac un Ēd or ‘Come and eat’ (pictured above). Actually, it is the ONLY place to eat. The food was okay, yet very inexpensive - bonus! It was evident that THIS was the centre of activity, the height of social affairs, and simply the 'place to be'!
Prayer points from time at the Catholic Church.
Church to be seen in a new light.
Prayer points from time at the Catholic Church.
Church to be seen in a new light.
Blindness, people with spiritual blindness, that they would be healed and can see the truth.
Jesus came to give sight to the blind, cause the deaf to hear and the lame to walk! (Feeling that the church is beautiful on the outside, but what’s inside is cold and dead)
2 Kings 20:9-10
9Isaiah said, "This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?"
10So Hezekiah answered, "It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps."
Prayer at Balvi freedom monument 1919-1920 (pictured above)
INFO:
Latvia got there Independence in 1918, but this war monument is to recognize the fighters of Balvi who fought to preserve that freedom in 1919-1920 from Soviet occupation. Latvijan independence only lasted a short time before the Soviet's annexed it as part of the USSR.
Prayer for strength, fighting a spiritual battle is harder than fighting a physical battle.
God will be light and breath that the people live, may it spread through Latvia.
Isaiah 60:1-3
1"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2"For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3" Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
2 Kings 20:9-10
9Isaiah said, "This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?"
10So Hezekiah answered, "It is easy for the shadow to decline ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn backward ten steps."
Prayer at Balvi freedom monument 1919-1920 (pictured above)
INFO:
Latvia got there Independence in 1918, but this war monument is to recognize the fighters of Balvi who fought to preserve that freedom in 1919-1920 from Soviet occupation. Latvijan independence only lasted a short time before the Soviet's annexed it as part of the USSR.
Prayer for strength, fighting a spiritual battle is harder than fighting a physical battle.
God will be light and breath that the people live, may it spread through Latvia.
Isaiah 60:1-3
1"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2"For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3" Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Prayer for Latvia as well as Balvi!
Breaking through the bondage of unbelief, fear, hopelessness, deception, false religion, darkness, alcohol, addictions, gambling.
For HOPE. For Gods glory to come in a tangible way during the outreach, through Gods people and God’s spirit!
Song For Balvi:
Healing Rain
Michael W. Smith
Healing rain is coming down It's coming nearer to this old town Rich and poor, weak and strong It's bringing mercy, it won't be long
Healing rain is coming down It's coming closer to the lost and found Tears of joy, and tears of shame Are washed forever in Jesus' name
Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain
Lift your heads, let us return To the mercy seat where time began And in your eyes, I see the pain Come soak this dry heart with healing rain
And only You, the Son of man Can take a leper and let him stand So lift your hands, they can be held By someone greater, the great I Am
Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain
To be washed in Heaven's rain...
Healing rain is falling down Healing rain is falling down I'm not afraid I'm not afraid.
Breaking through the bondage of unbelief, fear, hopelessness, deception, false religion, darkness, alcohol, addictions, gambling.
For HOPE. For Gods glory to come in a tangible way during the outreach, through Gods people and God’s spirit!
Song For Balvi:
Healing Rain
Michael W. Smith
Healing rain is coming down It's coming nearer to this old town Rich and poor, weak and strong It's bringing mercy, it won't be long
Healing rain is coming down It's coming closer to the lost and found Tears of joy, and tears of shame Are washed forever in Jesus' name
Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain
Lift your heads, let us return To the mercy seat where time began And in your eyes, I see the pain Come soak this dry heart with healing rain
And only You, the Son of man Can take a leper and let him stand So lift your hands, they can be held By someone greater, the great I Am
Healing rain, it comes with fire So let it fall and take us higher Healing rain, I'm not afraid To be washed in Heaven's rain
To be washed in Heaven's rain...
Healing rain is falling down Healing rain is falling down I'm not afraid I'm not afraid.
Balvi Outreach
People from Sweden, Norway, Latvija, as well as other nations joined together to spend a bit over a week serving the town of Balvi. Leaders of the team were meeting with local government officials to co-operate with them in helping to meet needs that existed. Hundreds of homes were visited, people prayed for, food and clothing distributed, and invitations to various events were extended. Local churches were involved in order to encourage them and provide a basis of continuation of ministry to the town after the team was gone. We visited schools, doing different presentations. Each evening free concerts were given by some of Latvija's premiere Christian bands - Man-hu, Jorspais, and others. Many lives were touched, and many gave their lives to Christ. Follow-up is still continuing from outside of and from within Balvi.
No comments:
Post a Comment