Independence Day And Final Soros Party

By a more or less planned coincidence, this year's Independence Day of Latvia was celebrated together with the final party of the project "Being Together" funded by Soros Foundation Latvia.

It started with a concert of a men's trio Bar-Ten-Base under the leadership of Arturs Mangulis, a well-known singer, actor and composer. One of the songs can be watched here:



Even though I cannot believe it's me, together with three beautiful ladies from the English Club, I sang Massachusets!

The names of those ladies are Līga Jankovska, Daiga Ņikiforova, Diāna Gerika.

Watch the video:

War Heroes Remembrance Day (Lāčplēša diena)

Today Latvia celebrates the Remembrance Day of War Heroes (Lāčplēša diena). In Stelpe, people went on a torch parade. One stream came from Nīzere and the other - from the center of Stelpe, flowing together into the school alley and finishing their walk by the newly built fireplace near Stelpe School.

10 Righteous Men Needed For Latvia

We had a short meeting there. An addressing speech was made by teacher and patriotic activities activist Ingus Pavinkšnis. He mentioned that Latvians, having taken back their independent country, may not always know how to rule it. We have had too little time to learn. Yet the Destiny does not offer us any other dates - our freedom is here and now, and each and every person has their responsibility for its growth and strength.

"A corrupt government is not the Nation. It is us who make the Nation," said Ingus Pavinkšnis. He referred to the Bible story about the City of Sodom. God promised to spare the city if there were 10 righteous men to be found. Ingus reminded us to ask ourselves a question if I myself could be one of those 10 men whom God needs to spare our nation.

Mediterranian Men Sing Latvian Patriotic Song

Then we all went upstairs to the school hall where there was a concert. Together with us were volunteer workers Simone Cocco from Sardinia, the Italian island, and Christian Torres Esquitino from Spain. The two young men sang a Latvian song about soldiers taking farewell from their loved ones before going to battle "Two Doves Flew Up High" (Div' dūjiņas gaisā skrēja). I was so surprised and fascinated that I even forgot to snap a video.

Amateur singers group led by Kristine Rulle (with guitar). (Background: Simone Cocco - 3rd from right; Christian Torres Esquitino - 1st from right) See also video below.

Violinist Dace Rozenberga (Tereze's violin teacher) and Līga Karpinska
Guest from neighboring Barbele, the young saxophonist Eduards Lācis and Sintija Kuzma (see also video below)

Video Glimpses

Here you have a few video moments of the Remembrance Day 2010 (Lāčplēša diena 2010) in Stelpe School (Stelpes skola):

A song performed by amateur singers' group led by Kristīne Rulle "I Saw My Brother On Horseback Dressed In Armour" (Es redzēju bāleliņu).



Terēze Neliusa plays violin for the Remebrance Day guests. Accompanist - Līga Karpinska.



Young saxophonist Eduards Lācis accompanied by Sintija Kuzma.

Mary Stuart - A Play Of Strength, Passion and Love

On Sunday, Sandra and me together with more than 20 other Stelpians went by bus to Riga to see this play by Friedrich Schiller staged in Latvian theater The Daile (Dailes teātris).

The steel-hard queens get suddenly weak when confronted with ... human love.

A real dilemma is that of Queen Elisabeth when she has to decide whether or not to execute Mary Stuart who is not only a dethroned Scottish queen, dangerous even in imprisonment, bound to stir up a bloodshed for thousands if released, but she is also the half sister of Queen Elisabeth. More to that, the execution could dramatically impair the people's support to the ruling queen since she risks to appear revengeful and miserable.

Elisabeth backs out but her loyal noblemen still get the Scottish queen executed.

But the story is much more complex and colorful than just the dilemma and the execution.

The Daile actors show us with great skill how being executed can be a triumph in the same time, how failing to decide may be at times the wisest decision of all, and how weak can those rock-hard ladies become when they fall in Love.

A fantastic, unforgettable staging. We notice that such appear on the scenes in times when the nation has sufferings. When the times get better and the average Latvian is comparatively well-off, the theater stagings get ... shallow.

But this is a fantastic piece. We actually could not come back to ourselves even the whole next day.

It felt so warm in our heart to see our dear Olga Dreģe playing the servant of Scottish Mary. We still breathe with that deep emotion she gave us when visiting our school on the Poetry Afternoon. After having met her face to face here, it felt different to see her on the big stage of the Daile.

Visit the Mary Stuart page at the Daile site. It is in Latvian though, but there are pictures and even a video.

Mozart Music And Coffee Aroma

Līga Karpinska is a musician, music teacher and a business level coffee and tea expert. Yesterday she had come to Stelpe with a real tea and coffee show. In the candlelight, she played Mozart to Stelpians and spoke about tea and coffee brands, and the finesses of preparation.
Did you know that you must not pour boiling water on teabags and soak them more than 5 minutes? The healthy stuff turns into something harmful if you do.
And, did you know by the way, that if you take a cup of coffee right before the sleep, you will sleep better? But you can lose your sleep if you drink coffee excessively throughout the day?

These and many more secrets Līga revealed for us in this special afternoon.
2 days later: The smell of coffee can still be felt in the hall and adjacent corridors.

Pensioners Visit Riga Zoo And Tree Nursery in Baltezers

On Friday, 30+ Stelpe pensioners went on a tour sponsored by Vecumnieki District Board (Vecumnieku novada Dome). They visited Riga Zoo (Rīgas Zooloģiskais dārzs), Baltezers Tree Nursery (Baltezera kokaudzētava) and did some shopping on their way back to Stelpe.

Poetry Evening "When Heart From Love Breaks"

Picture: Olga Dreģe (center), the megastar of the Latvian theater, together with those having contributed to the content of the Poetry Evening.
Second line from left: Mārīte Kviešone, Nijole Ķerūde, Valentīna Rūtiņa
First line from left: Sandra Neliusa, Aleksandra Hadžimoratova, Olga Dreģe, Māra Lagzdiņa, Līga Karpinska

Olga Dreģe is by all means one of the brightest ever Latvian theater stars. For many decades, she has been enjoying love from all the nation having played several hundred roles in theater the Daile. She has featured also a few outstanding movie characters.

But this evening (October 8) she was visiting Stelpe School. Using poems of one of the most celebrated Latvian poetess Ārija Elksne, Olga led us on a delicate path of the deeper values of everybody's soul. She spoke a lot about a Home in the broader sense of this word, and the love for Latvia as our homeland. The professionalism and the true emotion she was putting into what she was saying, made tears appear in the eyes of nearly everyone.

The intimate air and deep emotional poetry was reinforced by wonderful music played by pianist Līga Karpinska and cellist Māra Lagzdiņa. These two ladies already start feeling at home in Stelpe since they are quite frequent guests on different occasions.

Unusual European Cultural Heritage - The Sacred Oak Of Kunki

The blue flag of the European Cultural Heritage was waving today over this place in Stelpe Forest. Stelpians are making an attempt to set a new tradition of celebrating the Europe day in connection with the already traditional Day of Poetry.


The host of the celebration Inta Groskaufmane (foreground left in the picture) who now lives in Limbaži, has taken upon herself the responsibility for calling the people together on a Saturday in September. She told briefly the history of this place having served both as a pre-Christian and Christian worship site, but also having been a center for different cultural and even sports activities. This place could arguably be considered the origin of the ice-hockey game since different sources mention a game of sending a wooden disc into a goal with a club. Competitions of such a game have been held here as long ago as 17th century.

The ethnographic ensemble "Laukam pāri" (Accross the Field) had come for the second time already to color the event with some ancient melodies sung and played on ancient instruments. Māris Braže, a member of the group, is a metal master. He makes ancient Latvian bijouterie, and last year he had taken with him a little exhibition. This year he presented an oak-wood bugle producing a really impressive sound that echoed long in the forest. This bugle was made by Mr. Braže himself. When asked from where the idea and the know-how came, he answered that it was like something from above that he saw like a vision. The bugle when seen and, especially when heard, leaves no doubt that this man has made it with great insight and skill, and not everyone could compete with him in building this type of instrument.
Also our boys Karlis Elmer and Dag were present there, listened to the stories , watched the concert and participated in the games. In the picture, you can see them sitting on a branch of the ancient oak that has now come down and lies on the ground. A new oak has been planted on the site to mark this place as a little special one. In the lower part of the picture, you can see the Mr. Braže's bugle.
In the end, all the spectators were invited to join the dancing and games.

Stelpe Open Air Stage - Officially Opened And Consecrated

Saturday, September 4, there was the official opening of the newly built open air stage in Stelpe. The leaderships of all the communities of District Vecumnieki were present in order to congratulate stelpians with this important day.

Picture: Stelpe dancers in action on the newly opened stage
In the beginning of 90-ties, by a short-sighted decision of the then Board, Stelpe Culture House was torn down even though it was still in quite good condition. Then came the time of the major inflation with currencies changing, and nothing was built in the place. The chair of Stelpe local administration Elmārs Jukonis says that he has been often hearing the opinion of the villagers that a place for gathering and activities is needed here.

The chair of the Board of District Vecumnieki (Vecumnieku novada Dome) Rihards Melgailis opens the stage by cutting a symbolic ribbon

Minister of Vecumnieki church (Vecumnieku baznīca) Juris Morics consecrates the stage in the name of Father, Son and the Holy Ghost.
The first performance on our stage - a song by teachers and dedicated amateur artists Iveta Grantiņa and Inese Freiberga
The author of the grant application for the construction of the stage, Kristīne Rulle (with guitar) and her helpers Inga Polika (foreground left) and Karīna Dzenīte singing a three-voice version of a popular song.
View on the spectator seats
Skaistkalne Brass Orchestra (Skaistkalnes pūtēju orķestris) under the conduct of Jānis Kalniņš, a dedicated musician and member of Vecumnieki District Board (Vecumnieku novada Dome).
Stelpe theater performed a comedy Trīnes Grēki (Trine the Mischief Maker) by Latvian classic playwright Rudolfs Blaumanis. The head teacher of Stelpe School (Stelpes skola) Dagmāra Venclova as Trine, and Jānis Klāviņš as Abram the Jew.
After the concert and theater, there was a dancing party until 2 A.M.

A Penny Bun Year

 
Wherever we step into Stelpe Forest, there are penny buns, the Latvian N0. 1 mushroom. Sandra got today about 20 kg as a gift from a friend.

If you have penny buns, you don't need any meat. They can be used in different dishes and be a good support for the winter time.

In this picture, you can see a small part of the gift being still large enough to fill the bowl in which we otherwise wash our boys.


Here you see some of them cleaned

Karlis Elmer eating bread with penny bun sauce

XIV Annual Sports Festival of Stelpe Pagasts

It was not quite like the Olympic Games even though there were lots of similarities. The high standard set in earlier years by Aiga Saldabola (read more about the last year's games) was to be kept this time by my wife Sandra Neliusa since she is in a way Aiga's follower.

The festival is not only for athletes to compete, it is also for everyone to come together and enjoy some air of celebration. Stelpians value this tradition, and many of them plan their day to stay in Stelpe and join the celebration. Teams start coming together to practice volley and soccer months before the Sports Day. So this day has also an indirect positive influence on the lifestyle of the young.

For the Sports Day to be more colorful, Sandra had invited even Mr. Universe 2009 Aivars Visockis and a group of cheerleaders from Kurmene Pagasts.

The activity was quite well attended, and the importance of the tradition was emphasized by the presence of the Chair of the Board (Not to call him Mayor?) of District Vecumnieki Rihards Melgailis and executive director Guntis Kalnins who stayed on the site all day long and participated in the competitions.

Also the governor of Stelpe Pagasts Elmars Jukonis had made himself available all day long, and helped both with advice and practical solutions. He did not take part in the competitions though.

Picture 1: Ladies' shooting competition.
Picture 2: Valentina Rutina, who took the 2nd place, was shooting the first time in her life. Having heard just brief instructions before the start from a neighbor, she did not hesitate to put the newly acquired knowledge to work and surprised with that everyone on the site. (Valentina in the background, Elmars Jukonis charging her gun)
Picture 3: Edvins Buiko and Davis Jankovskis compete on a relay race
Picture 4: Ineta Klavina, one of the strong women of Stelpe. She competed with Aiga Saldabola and Dace Polika in kettle-bell lifting, which was not initially planned as an event but added on the request of the participants. Each of the three ladies lifted the 16 kg weight more than 2o times.

Picture 5: Lauris Duna climbing the so called Umurkumurs pole for prizesPicture 6: Ineta Klavina had taken her private trampoline to the site, and the children were allowed to use it free of charge.
Picture 7: Inflatable castle "The Python" served well both for relay races and children's entertainment.
Picture 8: Everyone could have a picture taken together with Mr. Universe 2009 Aivars Visockis. Children - Dag Nelius (left), Valdis Berlynskis.

Rock Festival Nightmare Over Stelpe

 
It is 4.15 A.M. but I am sitting and writing. You may guess why. Right! It is not possible to sleep. Terrible noise even with the windows shut. We are about 1 km from the stage but the ground is trembling here under our feet.

All those not attending the festival are in fact now held hostages, and they suffer only because one of their neighbors has lost every sense of proportion and organizes things like this in the middle of an inhabited area. Worst of all, with the blessing of the local government of Vecumnieki.

More to that, the next night promises to be alike if not worse.

I am determined, when the day breaks, to do a research whether there is a legal leverage to restrict these sick ambitions of a disregarding man even though the government institutions have granted the permissions.

I would appreciate if you dropped me a line of comment as to what you would have done if you were exposed to such a torture with noise.

I remember once in Oslo, there was an AC/DC concert. We got into a traffic block and spent there more than an hour. But I do not remember that anyone would complain about noise. Obviously the premises there were adjusted properly to host such a big music event. Yet here they are not.

Update: Susanne in Sweden commented this:

- My friend and I went once to a similar festival by our free choice. Using the earplugs, we slept relatively well in the night. But that site was far away from any inhabited area.

 

Sports Festival In Stelpe With Mr. Universe

 
Hurry to order the air tickets. Take your children with you and come to Stelpe. Our festival will be worth seeing and taking part in it. And it's completely free of charge!

On August 21, we will have a Sports Festival with the Mr. Universe 2009 Aivar Visockis giving a bodybuilding show.

There will be both individual and team competitions in Volley, Soccer, Kettle-bell carrying, Pneumatic shooting, Climbing a pole for prizes, and a few more.

For children, there will be an inflatable Python, games and competitions.

It will be possible to purchase refreshments on the site.

The Mr. Universe show is scheduled to 10 A.M. The registration of the teams begins at 9.30 A.M.

See you soon in Stelpe!

 

Rock Festival "Piladzis" Smashes The Eardrums Of Stelpians

 
Stelpe has come to the brink of its first rock festival "Piladzis" with many famous artists taking part. Yet I have quite dubious feeling about this by all means outstanding event for Stelpe community.

When I went past the Erik Piladzis property yesterday afternoon, I saw a metal fence put up all around the area. Workers were cutting grass, attaching gadgets and the air or preparation was there. A solid scope of investment, huge expectancy.

Erik Piladzis, the host of the festival, is the owner of, obviously, the biggest and most advanced private house in Stelpe. Around it, he has planted a beautiful garden that gives joy to passers-by, and now there is also a motor-cross track which is gradually becoming known all over the country. Erik owns also a few shops but they all are located outside Stelpe.

Once he had a shop also in Stelpe but that did not survive. The reason might be too few customers, of course, mainly local people, no one coming from outside. But that shop was also connected with rumor of products being of somewhat questionable quality and most of them unreasonably expensive. So, for an average Stelpian, it looked more like the shop did not survive the competition against the two other shops owned by someone else.

But that's quite a distant past when seen from today. Yet this fact helps to explain in a way as to why I don't feel just happy about the rock festival. And there is a little more background information.

Erik has been applying on a regular basis for the local government elections yet it was long since people voted for him. Being a bright and smart man, he actually never gets elected. Why? Isn't that a clear sign of him having poor support from the local people of Stelpe? Feeling that, Erik has obviously chosen a hard line against those 'envious Stelpians'. And here he goes.

He has made a huge investment into the motor-cross track and put it right in the center of one of the most inhabited areas of Stelpe. What once was a quiet place now needs to endure the harsh noise of the engines. When it comes closer to a competition, the training races may last all day long. I have never heard any questions asked by Erik to Stelpe society how they feel about that, and by what figure has the market price of their houses plunged because of the noise and dust. One might wonder also whether those people have any legal leverage to restrict the endeavors of their neighbor.

Yesterday evening, we heard the festival loudspeakers turned on in the trial mode sounding some gentle melody. It was heard near and far, and the bass line made our windows tremble even though we do not live in an immediate closeness to the site. I often ask this question to myself what those living closer feel.

And that was only with a few lines of some unobtrusive pattern of music. What is this to be like when the real rough rocking guys come? Hold on, Stelpe!

During the festival, there will be also some entertainment for children and adults. But again, with the decent entrance fees, there is little for the local people to do.

Let it be a celebration once there is one. But is it really a celebration for Stelpe or rather against Stelpe? The present course makes me think that even stepping over dead bodies of Stelpians would not prevent this festival from taking place.

More information about the festival:

http://www.last.fm/festival/1596034+Rock+Festival+P%C4%ABl%C4%81dzis+2010%27

The official site of the festival :

www.piladzis.lv

 

It's Electricity That Keeps Us Slaves

Not really out of a very blue but out of somewhat calm windless dome, there came a fork of lightning. It did not really have any other effects than that of leaving us without electricity for 15 hours.

It struck around 8 P.M. yesterday night. After a few moments of confusion, we decided that this was the chance for us to have some rest. And so we took focus on getting the kids to beds and also for ourselves to retire.

Indeed all of us were in beds at 9 P.M. relaxed and listening to the even pace of raindrops on the sill. The kids were furious at the start but calmed down too and were quite happy to spend such a meditative while by the open window breathing freshness and cradling to sleep, the drizzle rustling in the foliage.

There were a few comments on the way from our sons. Power station fell short of fuel, said Dag (6). The fuses need to be checked, Karlis Elmer (7) had his version to explain the status.

I woke after 12 hours having paid back to myself the far-gone debt of sleep. My wife Sandra was up a little earlier but still quite revitalized. The boys slept their full, and all of us had a nice day today.

When the electricity came back at 11 A.M. today, we felt rested and accustomed to a degree to the state of not having it. I had already managed to take home a few bucketfuls of water from the neighbor's well. The good old gas range was dusted and set ready for operation.

With a breathing space like this, we conclude that all the electrical gadgets have enslaved us to the degree where we do not understand how much we lose being this type of slaves.

And how does, after all, the power supplier dare to allow us such a longer than usual space of freethinking?

Song and Dance Festival of District Vecumnieki (Vecumnieku novads)

Yesterday the first Song and Dance festival of the newly established District Vecumnieki (Vecumnieku novada 1. dziesmu svētki) took place on the open air stage in Vecumnieki. The chair Vecumnieki District Council (Vecumnieku novada Dome) Rihards Melgailis mentioned in his speech the concurrence of this event with the first anniversary of the district. He said also that this was a historical event being the first big gathering of the district people.

For the judgment of the spectators, the new would be anthem of the district was presented. Composer Česlavs Batņa, text Gina Viegliņa-Valliete. It was performed by a joint choir under the conduct of Česlavs Batņa.

Picture: The final dance with Skaistkalne Brass Orchestra (Skaistkalnes pūtēju orķestris) and joint choir in the background
The imposed from the above territorial reform that has led to this artificial unification is still considered by many pointless, expensive and doing no good to the majority. Yet no big mistakes made so far by the local government plus the hereditary shyness and conformity of the Latvians allow this formation to exist on.

Whatever you may think of the political aspect, the Song and Dance Festival is a big celebration and was received as such by the people gathered in this beautiful place by Lake Vecumnieki.

Impressive enough were the joint dances performed together by people from different communities, the band playing a sticky melody. The choirs sang their soul out, and carried away the audience. We are, after all, quite well off when it comes to the musical resources.

Picture: Young Stelpe dancers in action
Among others, we could watch the performance of Stelpe children from the folk dance club led by teacher Lāsma Skābuliņa. It was long since they were bashful beginners earning much applause at every performance even so because they were overcoming fear and determined to do their best. Owing a lot to Lāsma's persistence, they are now brisk and nimble dancers able to give much positive emotions to the spectators.

No wonder they were chosen for participation in the country-wide Song and Dance Festival which is a big honor for everybody. On a high level culture forum of the district, the message was presented as a 'tragic news' meaning that the dancers from the small community of Stelpe had outperformed the groups from the bigger communities where there are high-schools and clubs available.

Only us - the stelpians take pride and rejoice.

Picture: My wife Sandra and son Dag watching the concert
The concert was quite well attended even though a little below the expectations. For an event of this scale, on a bright sunny day like this, I would have anticipated streams and streams of people heading towards the scene. Yet, on my way there, I saw next to nobody. And there was enough space in the parking too. My fear about not being able to find a place was just in vain.

Picture: Skaistkalne Brass Orchestra (Skaistkalnes pūtēju orķestris) led by Jānis Kalniņš

Guests - The King Boys

Young people can be really expressive on the stage when there are good teachers and enough determination. The King Boys - Emil Mangulis (11), Jurgis Silins (13) and Kristaps Sherps (11) from the city of Ogre are trained by Linda and Arthur Mangulis, and they rehearse 4 hours a day to be able to perform like they did in Stelpe.

Linda said that they should be in fact called The King Boys and (girl)Friends since there were also three young ladies Linda Perkone, Una Valaine and Dagne Vitola as backup voices, but they did also their independent performance. Patricia Blome (11) played saxophone and performed a complex piece of ballet containing acrobatic elements like splits and back-bends. Emil's little sister Laima Mangule (5) sang for us too.

Picture (from the left): Laima, Patricia, Linda, Dagne, Una, Jurgis, Kristaps

The boys not only sing but also dance, dribble basketballs, ride scooters and are doing all that in a perfect harmony with what they are singing.

Picture (from the left): Jurgis, Emil, Kristaps. Arthur Mangulis in the background.
After the concert, the young artists joined games and competitions that were organized outside the school.
Watch a small video here:

Illuminated School and Alley in Stelpe

Tonight it happened - the elevation of the school got its illumination, and the newly installed lanterns in the alley leading to the school were lit too. It didn't look too bad. I would rather say it looked good.
The news is good by all means. But not quite as good as it may sound from the first glance. The lights on the school walls are equipped with the movement sensor. It means that the school house won't by far reach the status of the tiny spark that lights the path of the traveler. It will rather be like a kind of an electric eel who would light up its beautiful sides only when you happen to run into it.
But the alley lanterns will be lit only on special events, celebrations and parties.
Nevertheless, everything looked really unusual and beautiful tonight. Even a few cars turned into the alley and made it around the school so to have a closer look.

English Club Party at Roger and Valerie's house

We were 37 altogether in the Club practicing English twice a week. Some have found a job abroad and traveled away. Some others need to dig their garden so they can get a harvest of vegetables for the next winter.

When we came together for the year finishing party at Roger and Valerie Hazeldens' house, there were only the toughest seven of us, not counting myself.

The girls had prepared the things for a barbecue. The hosts in their turn had made four different traditional English dishes including the apple-pie with custard, which was especially warmly received.

To the great satisfaction of mine, I watched all the girls talk to Valerie and Roger, which would not have been even possible when they first came to the club. And that - only after some three months of studies!

The learning in the Club was based on the following principles:

1 No language can be learned. It needs to be "let in" through the "seven gates" - eyes, ears, nose and mouth - and skin.

2 Coffee or tea helps both to relax and stay focused.

3 No need to worry if you remember next to nothing after the first classes. We have to come across things at least 15 times to be able to call them our own.

4 Teacher is for serving coffee, tea and candies while the class is practicing.

5 Everything needs to be on the blackboard.

Be ready - we will be back in the fall, said the girls when we were saying good-bye to each other after the party.

Last IT Lesson ... Yippee

Did you know I was teaching IT beginnings three hours a week here in Stelpe School? It is not because I wanted to do that especially much. In fact, I have more than enough to do with my present partners Software Innovation in Norway. Yet this time Yes was the only possible answer I could give the head teacher Dagmara Venclova when she asked me to to be the IT teacher. Having one was crucial for the very existence of the school, and it was important for all of us - stelpians - to keep the small country school of ours going even through the time of recession and short-sighted decisions.

We learned together, all of us, and discovered quite exciting things about the office programs, felt a little what drawing in Paint means, built our first websites, registered our first mailboxes, learned how make the first steps into the Internet by publishing a blog.

Now the year is over. I would wish the school to find a good, talented, enthusiastic IT teacher for the next year. But since it seems on the brink of the impossible to find one for only 3 - 4 hrs a week, I am afraid I will have to continue this beaten track.

Lighthouse Party with Friends from England

Every year around the Easter time all of us in Stelpe School are waiting for our friends from South Yorkshire Jean and Ian Sykes, Joyce and Mick Mumford to come and be with us at least one joyful afternoon.

This year they came a little later because the Volcano had canceled the flights. But they came nevertheless when the ash cloud had cleared up a little, and they did their activity for the children who enjoyed it very much.

The guests had carefully prepared for every child a set of assembling parts for a cardboard lighthouse with an inscription in Latvian "Jesus is the Light of the World".

Pastor Mick told us a story about an English girl Grace whose memory is honored for more than two centuries because she risked her life and went in a small boat to save some sailors when there was storm in the sea.

Grace was a daughter of a lighthouse keeper. On a morning after a stormy night when the storm was still strong, she saw a few sailors standing on a rock far in the sea. They had survived a crash of their ship. Grace ran to her father and convinced him to take a boat and go to rescue those men, and she went together with him. It was really dangerous, all the more because there were a lot of underwater rocks in that place. Yet they managed to reach the sailors and save them.

The pastor reminded us also that there is another story from more than two thousand years ago when Jesus came not to risk His life but to give it to save the people.

The English friends joined the children as they were building the lighthouses, and helped the smaller ones where there a high precision was needed.

It is a settled custom to give Jean her happy birthday greetings since her birthday often coincides with the visit. Not this year, though. But we still took the opportunity while she was here.


In order to make the "party" even more enjoyable for the children, our friends had provided some dainty snacks - fruit, nuts, juices.

Some children were surprised that they were allowed to take the lighthouses home.

Everyone thanked the guests really warmly and asked them to come again next year.