January 2021 Prayer Requests

Dear Friends of Estonia,

Happy New Year!  Even though 2020 was a challenging year, we pray that you can look back and see the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness. And we look forward to what He is going to do in 2021!

We are thankful that churches have remained open through the holidays (with masks and social distancing). Children’s groups are not allowed to meet right now, but our Russian congregation in Tallinn broadcast special children’s programs for Christmas. The virus continues to spread rapidly in Estonia, so we ask for your prayers for our church members who have caught the virus and especially for one woman who is critically ill right now. Please pray for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance as we continue to minister in these tough times.

Please pray as we are developing a strategy for the media ministry for the Methodist church in Estonia.  We would like to reach our society more effectively with the Gospel during these critical times.

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ 
Romans 15:13

Wishing you the very best New Year!

We praise God that we were able to complete all sessions in 2020 despite COVID disruptions. Some of our sessions in December had to be done online but we were able to complete the task.

Please pray for all connected to the school as 2021 begins. There has been an uptick in coronavirus cases in Estonia and, at the very least, the first session in January will be done online. We personally know people who have had the virus and this certainly makes it even more real for us than ever before.

Pray also for all of Estonia and the rest of the Baltic nations. Over Christmas, Estonia returned to more restrictive lockdowns. Currently, we are experiencing the worst numbers of the entire pandemic in Estonia. Latvia and Lithuania are experiencing even higher numbers than Estonia and have even more extensive lockdowns.

I have had a great Christmas time!  I became an aunty again (it’s my 9th time) as little Taimla baby has arrived- we are all so excited! Let’s pray that the baby girl will grow stronger and the parents will have the strength to cope with the sleepless nights!

The Christmas event for kids went well, praise God! There were few locals attending and that is a prayer point- how to reach the people of Paide, as they are told to be hard to get out of their homes- may I have wisdom and vision from God!

Pictures from the Children’s Christmas Event:

Pray for the renovation of the floor in the main hall of our church as finally, we are going to renovate it. May the cooperation with the company go well and be smooth.

Pray for the elderly members of my church to stay healthy and hopeful in the midst of the pandemic!

Thank you all for your prayers, I do appreciate them a lot!

We are thankful to God for being healthy, for being able to regularly walk in the nearby forest in the fresh air with Meeli. Especially for the opportunity to visit our sons and their families during this Christmas. Seeing our two grandkids who live mostly in Luxembourg was such a Christmas treat!

I pray for the opportunity to work “normally“ again – which for me means to travel and real meeting of people instead of staring hours at the computer screen and calling that work😉

A quite serious matter for me is that my Green Card (that I need for my full-time work in the US) runs out in April. I have applied for renewal months ago, but nothing seems to move on. It is a concern.

Yes, it has been a year of much reflection, confusion, but also fresh ideas, time with family and friends in a new way, fears, but also courage. What we have learned, much IT and video skills for sure, but also a need for deeper discipleship, commitment, and meaningfulness. What is most important, is to take away all outside, visible things.

The Lord surprised us with creative youth-ministry, 40 army soldiers coming to church with their chaplain and worshiping the Lord 1.5 hours + taking communion. We had the opportunity to make food-packages for 350 households and finally, the Lord surprised us with thick, white Christmas snow!

My Brother, Aivar, who lives in the Tulsa area is quite sick and needs your prayers.

Pray for our people, that they understand what is the main thing, what is most important. Same thing for the whole church.

Pray for people, that they do not fear!  That they trust God, whatever will happen.

Estonian speaking youth work
Let’s thank God and bless together that youth leaders and teams in Pärnu, Tallinn, Võru, Tartu, Kuressaare, Rakvere may grow stronger in Crist! God has many more plans and youth to send. May His will be done in our church and over Estonia.

Let us pray for an awakening among youth!

I need the wisdom to help youth leaders and teams to grow strategically in Christ and also as a team.

Pray for everyone as we start the new year that we will focus on making the Lord the center of all that we do.

Pray for wisdom in all decisions and planning.

UMC Räpina
We are grateful to God for 10 years serving in Räpina.

I am deeply thankful for my family and musician Alari, who has been such a supportive team.

Let us pray that God will make our thoughts agreeable to His will, so that the plans for the new church building project may be established and succeed.

We thank you all for every financial support and ask God for the continued donation to complete the entire project.

Pray for God’s blessing, strength, and wisdom as we go back to teaching in what will probably be online both for the Seminary and for Livia in school.

Livia’s father has found himself in a very difficult situation back in Brazil. Pray for wisdom for Livia to know how to help and pray that through this situation he would find his way to God and the help he really needs.

Pray for Lívia as she works with a number of individuals on a deeply personal level. The line between counseling – evangelism – discipleship is hard to define, but prayer is needed all the way!

Pray that God would help us find the right workers to get the mission house ready.

Karl, Kata & Martin are doing well with school and work. Keep them in your prayers as well!

Pray that God would provide the financial support needed for our ministry. He has never let us down!

We are grateful to God for last year and for the people and churches who provided support during difficult times.

Next week, the children start school again after the school break, and many classes continue their studies by distance learning. We ask God for wisdom so that we can help children in this situation in a better way.

Several employees changed in the Social and Health Department management. We pray that the new leadership will also be open to supporting our children’s center.

Christmas Baking Party

We pray that God will heal all who are ill now. Some of our church members were in a difficult condition in the hospital, we thank God that they are better now.

We ask God for wisdom on how to organize work in the church so that people who are unable to attend services at this time do not feel alone, especially those who do not have family members who can take care of them.

Thank you so much for your prayer support.

We temporarily suspended all youth and children’s ministries until the situation in Estonia improves. Pray for wisdom for us to take care of children and teenagers at a distance.

Also pray for home groups, to which the guys can still meet and communicate, may God keep us.

I congratulate you on the coming New Year and may the mercy of God be with you.