Hey All!

Greetings from The Latvia and Moldova outreach team! We like to refer to ourselves as the "Moldy Lats" (cute, I know I know). Well, we have officially started outreach and we are rounding up Day 3 and LOVING IT! God has already been doing amazing work here in Sydney and continues to show his goodness and faithfulness. As some of you readers may or may not know, our team had originally planned to go to Amsterdam for our first week of outreach. When the plans fell through to go to Amsterdam and we found out that we would be spending our first week in Sydney, we were all a bit bummed to be honest. However, God has been teaching us as a team that his people in Sydney are just as important as his poeple in Amsterdam, and that he has BIG plans for us in this city. This past week we have been stretched, challenged, and already transformed as God works through us to bring light into this city.

Outreach began this past Friday as we all headed to Hamilton Train Station. After we came across a few complications at the station, God showed us straight away that HIS joy was going to be our STRENGTH throughout outreach. Throughout a long day of traveling and settling in, we found that we would overcome any complications, frustrations, and stress with laughter. Ever since that big revelation we haven't looked back and continue to laugh in all circumstances. Laughter has become the signature for our team. Once arriving in Sydney, we settled into our new home for the week here in Bondi Junction, Martha's House (we're an all girls team, so we felt this name was only appropriate). Once settling into Martha's House, buying some groceries for the week (boys, never shop with 9 women at once), and eating some dinner, we began to prepare for the week ahead.

Since our outreach in Sydney was not planned in advance, we did not have a set schedule for ministry. This means that we have to TOTALLY rely on God and trust that He would provide ministry opportunties for our team this week. On our first day of outreach we all prayed as a team and asked God what He would like us to do for the day and this week. As a team, we believed that God spoke to us about using our strengths, which has turned into our theme for the week: "use our strengths". God has already highlighted different strengths within our team which has allowed us to effectively reach and minister to people in this city. It has been incredible! Our first day of outreach our team felt to go to Bondi Beach where we played worship on the beach for a couple hours. After worshipping our team evangelized and picked up trash around the beach. It was an incredible day where we felt and saw chains break just through worshipping.

This morning started Day 3 of outreach (my, how time flies :)). After a long day at Bondi Beach, we all found ourselves to be a bit tired physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Our team vibe basically consisted of: "ehhh, not really feelin it today God." However, after a church service at Church in The Marketplace just a few minutes away from Martha's House, where a couple of our Moldy Lats shared their testimonies and a word from the Lord, we found ourselves to be back on track and revived! Our team was able to talk with people of the church afterwards and receive great feedback! Also, we came across another possible ministry opportunity in a cafe (fingers crossed and God-willing we get to do it this week, pray for this)! So after a great sermon, some special morning tea treats, and good fellowship, we were refueled and ready to go! Before going out for ministry this afternoon, we prayed and asked God what he wanted to do. We all felt a need to worship again, as well as hand out something nice to the people (several us got a picture of handing out flowers). So we headed out to the Marketplace with a guitar on our backs and God on our side. While worshipping, we were not only able to minister to people, but also buy FLOWERS (God provided these for us) to bless others with!! We had some amazing conversations with people where we felt God was really speaking through us and into their hearts. It was an amazing day that was so God-ordained and annointed!

The Moldy Lats are on the move and cannot be stopped with God on their side! God has continually shown his amazing character to our team. Not only are we drawing closer to God and trusting in him, but also growing closer together as a team and learning to work together to spread the Gospel in a creative way, using each of our own strengths. It's only Day 3 and we have several goofy tanlines, heaps of laughs, lots of smiles, and hearts that are being transformed. We are excited for what the rest of this week holds and what God is going to do! We'll be checking in with you all again soon! Stay tuned!