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Greetings from Tartu. We have had a busy few days. The wonderful people on the island of Saarema kept us busy with all kinds of activities in addition to our camp duties. We visited an ancient church, dating from around 1200 AD, still in use. We saw two Viking fortresses, one dating back to 800 AD, the other to 1200. We saw the crater from an ancient meteor crash and learned a great deal of Estonian history.
Sea Days, a huge annual celebration at the Kurresarre harbor, began on Thursday night with many activities. I visited the harbor, but was too busy with the camp to attend events.

On Saturday we spent 6 hours traveling to Tartu by bus, ferry and bus again. Settled into the new hostel, met with team members who were not in Saarema and spent the rest of my time preparing for Sunday.

Traveled to Mustvee on Lake Peepsi with Siimon Haamer and several team members on Sunday morning. Attended worship at Mustvee church, where Siimon led worship, I preached, and Eenok presided at Holy Communion. Siimon’s sister , Maria, her husband Dirk, and their two children, Leila (4) and Siimu (2), are visiting Eha and Eenok and it was good to see them again. The children stayed close to Grandpa throughout the service.

After a wonderful lunch prepared by Dirk and Maria, we traveled to Eenok’s second church, where Siimon once again led worship and I preached. We learned that it was the 53rd anniversary of Eenok coming to serve there. After dessert and coffee at the house (again), we returned to Tartu to begin preparations for the camp that begins this afternoon.

Please pray:
For Eenok and Eha. Eha has recovered well from her heart surgery, but Eenok is struggling. He was totally exhausted after the second service yesterday, unable to stand during the service.

For the seven young people that Eenok will be confirming next Sunday.
Pray for our camp, that lives will be touched.
Pray for the team, that we will love one another and that new members will feel part of the group.
Chris is doing a great job of posting pictures on Facebook.

Blessings to all,
Pastor Kathy

Day two of our Saaremaa English language Bible Camp has drawn to a close. Chris and I had three students yesterday, one who had attended previously and two new students. Overall camp attendance was about 35. Things seemed to go quite well.

This morning (Tuesday) we were led on a walking tour of the city; we toured the technical college, which is quite large and has several sites around Kurresaare. We visited the open market shopping square, the place where they test newly constructed boats before putting them into the sea, and toured an interesting new project that rents out office space by the hour, day, week or month – the purpose is for people to have a place to work on developing new ideas. We also visited City Hall and met with the mayor.

Our class today had two new students, both of whom claimed not to believe in God. It was a powerful class time and I think that hearts were changed.

Late this afternoon, Pastor David Breidenbach and his wife, Angela, left to return to the U.S.

Pray:
For Estonian pastors. I prayed earlier today with Pastor Tina, one of the two pastors at St. Lauritis here in Kurresaare as she prepared for a funeral, the fourth since Saturday. It’s not unusual for a pastor to do several hundred funerals a year.
For this small nation, where people are dying much more quickly than they are being born.

For the youth of this nation, many of whom have little faith in Jesus.

For the soldiers conducting exercises here and for the people who live in fear.

Thank God for the many blessings that we enjoy every day and so often just take for granted.

For the future of the language camps and EEMN.

For me, for strength.

Blessed to be here,
Pastor Kathy