A Month in Pictures: October 2017 – thetolbertfamily.com

It is hard to believe that we have been in Latvia for just over a month! The month has been a blur as we have been working hard in getting settled – buying furniture, starting language studies, figuring out transportation, building new friendships, worshipping with a new church family, and much more! Here are a few pictures from the past month!

We have enjoyed worshipping in a new language. I preached this past Sunday (Oct 22) and Patty and I played with the worship team.

Some of the men have been building this playground at a local apartment complex to be a blessing to the community.

Each Sunday there is a Sunday school for children ages 6+. Anna Kate, Caroline, and I have been going as it helps us build relationships and learn language.

Last year, when Patty and I were here to explore the possibilities of us moving to Latvia, we were able to meet Katie Leatherwood of Designed to Live ministry. She is from the US and runs a wonderful ministry here in Latvia that ministers to those affected by disabilities. We would love for you to check out her ministry and even see ways that you can support the important work that she is doing here. We were able to have lunch in Old Town Riga with Katie and her pastor from AR who was here visiting for the week.

Having lunch with Katie in Old Town Riga.

We have gone into the capital city, Riga, several times over the past month. Some of these have been enjoyable tourist activities as we show the girls important places in our new home. Other trips have been more business related as we are working at getting our residency visas. We spent one afternoon in Old Town Riga looking at some important sites in the area like the Swedish Gate, the Barricades memorial, the Laima clock, and the Freedom monument.

The girls in front of a memorial for those who manned the Barricades during the struggle for Latvian independence from the Soviet Union.

The girls in front of the Central Market.

Eleanor being less than happy about getting up early to go to the Immigration Office.

Anna Kate and Caroline on the early bus into Riga.

The girls in front of the Bremen Town Musicians sculpture.

The girls in front of the famous Laima clock.

The girls in front of the Freedom Monument.

We have also been busy this month with a number of other activities like school, Caroline’s birthday, and other adventures.

Anna Kate had her first day of school at the local public school and is enjoying it!

The girls enjoyed a few days of warm weather.

I got to go to a hockey game here in Riga with some of the men from our church.

A bridge over the Daugava River in Riga on a Friday morning.

A picture from Caroline’s birthday party.

We have gotten some new furniture as we settle in. This is Patty’s favorite spot in the house.

Caroline woke up early but didn’t want to miss anything so she came into the living room and put a blanket over her head.

Though there have been some bouts of homesickness and struggles with cultural adjustments, we have seen the Lord’s blessings throughout the past month and are grateful for His faithfulness!