a rambling update!

Hello, everyone!  I have realized it’s been a while since I posted an update on what I’ve been doing for the past week so I will attempt to do that right now.  Forgive me if I ramble!

Last Thursday night we hosted a Canada Party here at the Asunduse church in Tallinn. The purpose of the party was to begin connecting our readers to the church members and just have a good time getting to know each other.  Several of our readers showed up and we had about 30 people there in total, taking part in Canadian trivia games, skits, and playing “Who Am I?”.  Here is a picture of me with two of my readers that came to the party.  Their names are Alex and Artjom (both Russian) and they are also church members!

On Friday morning I got up early to catch a 7:00am bus to a town east of Tallinn called Rakvere.  One of my dearest friends in Estonia lives outside of Rakvere, so I went out there to spend some good one-on-one time with her and her family.  Aili met me in Rakvere and we took another bus out to Muuga where we then walked a couple of kilometers to her family’s farm.  It was so amazing to finally be at her home and get to spend the whole day with her and her siblings.  They are all incredibly sweet and God has already changed so much in their lives, I just pray that He will continue to bless them as time goes on.  They have been through so, so much and are extremely special and close to my heart.  It was an amazing day and I found myself smiling as I rode home to Tallinn that night because of all the beauty God has surrounded my life with.

The next morning, Bethany, Andrea and I got on a bus to Tartu, a town south of Tallinn, to attend the Hansa Days festival.  This year was particularly special because there were people from countries all over Europe that set up booths and carts with their handmade goods and food and souvenirs.  I bought a lot of jewellery, it was all so beautiful! We were accompanied by some of the people from the Tartu church on this day, and we made a sweet new friend named Katrina!  I also was able to see two of my old readers from last summer which was so awesome and unexpected!  It really feels like barely any time has passed since I was in Tartu last summer.  It’s such a special place.  Here’s a picture of Katrina and I, isn’t she cute?

Yesterday’s church service in Tallinn was special because it was Ron and Judy and Kevin and Ryan’s last Sunday in Estonia.  Ron and Judy are a missionary couple who have lived in Estonia for fifteen years doing all kinds of amazing things for God’s body.  Kevin and Ryan are two young guys from Texas who came here to help out with the churches in Tallinn and Tartu as well as out at the Aasumets’ farm in Rakvere.  They have accomplished some pretty amazing things since they have been here and their presence with definitely be missed all over Estonia.  

As for my reading sessions, they are going very well!  I now have about 9 readers.  A lot of them want to read every day so I am definitely kept busy!  Today I only have one break at 2:00; I have a full day with 7 sessions.  I have three young girls named Stasya, Marta, and Jana, I have an older woman named Iren, two guys about my age named Alex and Artjom, a middle age woman named Larissa, a young woman named Katrin, and I am also reading every day with Nikolai, the minister at this church.  Please pray for me as I work to open up my heart with these people and pray for their hearts as we form friendships and maybe even connect about God’s word and His love.

Your support means the world to me and I can’t thank you all enough for this opportunity! I always feel so encouraged whenever I get a little message from home saying I am being thought of and prayed for.  Love you all so much!

Dayna