This year's FOL meeting will be in Riga (our first ever in Latvia). So, we want to make it possible for the American pastors to travel to the meeting to reconnect with their Latvian counterparts and visit the Latvian pastors in their own environment. We would like to once again give you the opportunity to help make this continued connection a reality. We are now collecting funds to help cover the US pastors' expenses to travel to Latvia this summer.
We have firm commitments from five of the pastors to make the trip. The pastors who have expressed the desire to make the trip are those who connected with the Latvian United Methodist pastors serving Kuldiga (Marilyn Jones connecting with Vivita Kalniņa and Cynthia Moss connecting with Zinta Dzintara), Jelgava (Steve Moss connecting with Jānis Baumanis), Liepaja & Matras (Dale Wilbanks connecting with Edgars Šneiders), and Riga First (Kaiya Kershaw connecting with Astra Dannenfelte). Won't it be wonderful for these five American pastors to visit with their new friends in their own parishes!
Once again, it will take all of us working together to be able to reunite these pastors to further grow their relationships. As you all know, relationships are key to growing the connection in Latvia. We are hopeful that these relationships will continue to open doors in new congregations to grow awareness about the ministries in Latvia. Once again, FUMC Grapevine, TX has agreed to process donations for this cause. If you would like to give to this effort, you may send checks payable to FUMC Grapevine (422 Church Street, Grapevine, TX 76051) or give online with "Latvian Mentor Pastors" in the memo.