July 2025 Latvia, Ukraine, UK
LATVIA Sister Evia has finished her one month in Latvia staying with various sisters. A very profitable time in the Lord.
We held a breaking of bread and feeding session in Riga at the end, attended by around 20 of those baptized many years ago. One of the great things about work in Latvia is to see how so many have held on in faith since their baptisms. This is fruit that has remained. Although many are falling asleep in the Lord, it is in sure hope of the resurrection. Many of our dear ones need support and we gave out welfare in cash and kind. Pensions are very low especially for Russians without citizenship. There are some great characters there still alive and going strong, not least sister Rita, a Jewess born in Berlin Germany in 1944 who after a remarkable life ended up in East Berlin and thence the USSR and Latvia. Our sister was baptized by us in Riga many years ago after quitting the synagogue, married our brother Yuri who fell asleep some years ago. And she's still going strong in the Lord:
We're also pleased to report the baptism of MINDAUGAS just over the border in Lithuania. He began searching for God and asked for a hard copy
NEV Bible which we sent him, and grew from Bible reader to believer and has now been baptized.
UKRAINE
Pavlograd was hit hard by the bombing on Friday night, seven hours of continual explosions of drones and other missiles, and constant anti aircraft fire. There is a functioning ecclesia in this town whom we visited recently, they are all OK apart from their nerves being in shreds and having to sleep in the daytime as the nights are so awful. Do pray for them all as they are generally advanced in years. A residential block near to them was hit and set ablaze. They are the next town in line for the Russian advance after Pokrovsk.
And please do pray for sister Svetlana and brother Misha, who are prayerfully considering whether to take up our offer to sponsor them to move to the UK. Their home is located only thee km. from the Russian border and has been completely destroyed. We're now supporting them living in western Ukraine. So many are in this conundrum, whether to stay or leave, given the fact they have elderly relatives in Ukraine, don't speak English etc etc.
UK
A reminder, Lord willing, of what have become some great annual fixtures we urge every spiritually minded believer who can to attend: The amazing annual alcohol free garden party will be as usual at our place in South Croydon Saturday 13 September; and the Carelinks / Croydon Church in a Pub retreat weekend at Carroty Wood, Kent will be 7-9 November. Let us know if you'd like to come.
We really could do with some more help in Croydon. We have good attendances at our midweek meetings but whenever you give free food, there's always a minority element who are difficult and with challenging behaviour [drug addicts, drunks, those with mental health issues etc.]. In this brief clip you can see Ian [in a wheelchair], elderly sister Cis and Duncan between them removing a drunk man who had fallen deeply asleep. It takes a lot of effort... hopefully we did the job in the spirit of the Lord Jesus...
https://youtu.be/0jj0M9zebjs
There are of course many other attenders eager to learn the Bible, and there's the cooking and clean up. Do pray for us and support this great work as far as you can.
This week there were another three baptisms. KIM, who didn't want any photos but made a wonderful confession of faith before being baptized; and then PRINCE, son of our recently baptized sister Millie, baptized in Southend as have so many of our folks- although in the mud by the pier this time:
And then DANIEL. Again we see what is becoming a standard demongraphic: local young British males turning to the Lord. Daniel is part of the group of young folks on the south coast who were school friends who have now one by one turned to the Lord. He was yet another young British male with no previous religious background and raised atheist. Such a lovely evening, ending up with Fish 'n' Chips, the great British classic.
Video at https://youtu.be/I_XyE9e6Rbw
We're also so pleased to share our first wedding of those baptized by us in Croydon, brother Zak and sister Tamica; we know they both independently came to commitment to the Lord and are so happy for them going forward:
PRAYER POINTS
- For those recently baptized
- For those under heavy bombardment in Ukraine
- For those prayerfully weighing up whether to leave Ukraine despite their family responsibilities there
- For more boots on the ground in our work in South London
- Thanksgiving for the abiding faithfulness of the brethren in Latvia over the decades
With love from your brothers and sisters of Carelinks