Gospel News — Sep-Dec 2013

14

RIGA

Sister Sarma

There are times when people respond to the Gospel initially as a result of a `carrot'- maybe the opportunity to study English, to participate in a Bible quiz and so forth. Carelinks don't need to offer many such carrots because we seem to have people all over the world coming direct to us online and in other ways, simply asking to be taught Biblical Christianity. Onevery small 'carrot' at our Riga Bible Center is the opportunity to play chess before and after our meetings. A while ago, Carelinks` readers responded magnificently to an appeal for chess sets. We have a wonderful collection, from South Africa, Holland, England, America and elsewhere. And they are well used. Sister SARMA was the former chess grandmaster of Latvia- unusual for a Soviet woman. And she is an unusual woman. She was an electrical engineer who rose to a senior management position and still found time to play chess with her workers. She was pensioned out of the workforce and lived quite well on her invalidity pension- until the collapse of the USSR. Now she has a tiny pension, and at 74 years old has various health issues which mean she speaks in a whisper. Lamenting the collapse of morality in society and what she calls `a spirit of anti-intellectualism', she was fascinated to hear that a group of men play serious chess at a center where the Bible is taught and free meals are provided. So she came along- initially for some company and to play chess. Here she is playing with some of our brethren:

She stayed for the Bible talks, read Bible Basics, and we're pleased to say she was baptized this week. The social time after her baptism service featured her playing a nailbiting game of chess with Duncan, which she won. She left the Bible Center rejoicing and very, very happy all round. And we rejoice that the Gospel continues to spread to those whom society has no place for.

Brother Erik

Amazing Example

Cindy's medical skills have been useful again with the work we are doing with many forgotten folk in care facilities in rural areas in the Baltic states. We're pleased to report this week the baptisms of YURI, LAILA, NORMUND, IVO, FRANCINKA, RIMMA, ILZE, EGILS and ILYA as a result of this work this week. We mentioned before the case of our brother Erik, who was baptized a couple of months ago. Erik has cerebral palsy and with no wheelchair or frame, drags himself around to get to the