Latvia
Riga, located at the estuary of the Daugava River, where it flows into the Gulf of Riga, is the capital of Latvia and with a population of 900,000 within its 300 sq-km, the largest city in the Baltic States. It is also the Baltic’s biggest industrial, financial, and transport centre.
But there is more to Riga than offices and factories, and the medieval Old Town, dating from the 13th century, with its church towers, ancient houses and cobbled streets, is fascinating and beautiful. Brick houses and warehouses still survive from middle Ages, and many other buildings were rebuilt during the 19th century; indeed, of the 590 buildings in the Old Town, 79 are classified as historical monuments.
Riga was formally founded as the city in 1201 by German bishop Albert of Bremen. Some historians believe the city’s name was taken from a Germanised version of " rija", the Latvian word for barn. Riga lays at the site where the Riga River emptied into the Daugava River, thus creating a natural harbor. It was very appropriate place for German tradesman seeking new markets in the East. The site also attracted western European crusaders in search of new lands to conquer. Over the years Riga became an important port city, a centre for trade and manufacturing. As a fort, Riga had a great military importance. The governance of the city has changed hands numerous times over the years. From the 13th to the 16th century it was the most important city in Livonia. From the late 16th through the 17th century it belonged first to Poland, then to Sweden. In the 18th century it fell under control of the Russian empire. Today Riga is the capital of the independent Republic of Latvia.
Latvia is a story of courage, suffering, and hope where there once was no hope. This is a story of a country sad in its loss, but working on a future completely, and lovingly, built around its children. Latvia is the best example of the resilience of the human spirit. Daily, Latvia is replacing faces of despair with faces of smiles.
Latvia now has a clear focus on providing a secure, spiritual, educated future for its children. Nearly all their emerging social programs are geared to supporting the development of the children. Through our Connecting Congregations, Campus Crusade for Christ International, and the Baltic Mission, we can all give the children of Latvia another step forward on the path to a future.
The people of Latvia need several manners of help. The first, most obvious, and most flexible support that we all can participate in is financial. We can all help our Connecting Congregations in Latvia in a manner that gives each church a way of moving forward and becoming self-supporting in its discipleship and evangelism in the local Latvian community.
Help us spread the word. Too long, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania have suffered alone in a Northern corner of Europe. We can all let others know what we know about a nation of good people with a new freedom from past tyranny and oppression. Read about the country, visit the country, adopt the country. You will forever be changed.
For more information, please contact Wesley Rouse at Fairview United Methodist Church
