Progress Report
Tallinn, June 14, 2004
It has come time for me to say good bye... or at least „Till later“. God willing, on early Thursday morning the plane will take me away from the land of the Lighthouse. I can be reached by e-mail: kerstikcr@yahoo.com. For this newsletter I have asked the UMVIM team members to write about their experience at the Lighthouse during the first week of June that they spent with us. The full report is on our web page VIM TEAM. I hope you will enjoy these golden nuggets as much as we have, reflecting with thankfulness on the many ways the group has touched our hearts and lives.
With gratitude to you all for the privilege of being part of the Lighthouse,
The purpose of the Lighthouse is the children of Tallinn. They pass through the doors into the loving arms of those who wait inside. The children shared with us their spirituality with song and drama and shared with us their school report cards that have been improved by the tutoring they receive at the Lighthouse. I fell in love with all the children and their own unique ways of communication, some with a smile, others a little rougher, but the bond that we built through the week was strengthened by their unique ways. I will remember both the pain and the love that I saw in their eyes and I pray for God to protect them and strengthen them in His love.
Our time at the Lighthouse could not have been complete without the care and love of the staff. Maie and Alla teach the Estonian and Russian children with a hand of love. I also met the new director Mall Tamm for the first time and am very impressed by her huge heart and her administrative abilities. The lighthouse will be served greatly by her presence as they continue to grow together. The future of Lighthouse in the perspective of teaching and administration looks bright.
The lighthouse is a bright star in a depressed situation. Its ministry is the only outreach for many of the children who enter. For this reason all who read this newsletter must act on their behalf. The teachers and administrators are in place, the children are coming and are growing in faith and knowledge, the only element left is the continual support through prayers, finances and summer work teams. That is left to us.
We arrived to share the Gospel, do some construction and love the children and staff. We had this idea that we would do our job and leave as we came. That did not happen – we left a changed people. It is the perfectness of Our Creator that he created within us a regenerating heart; and that regeneration is needed now because we left pieces of our hearts throughout the Lighthouse with each child and with the people of Tallinn. How incredible our God is to place us in a place of much richness and afford us the ability to partake. Truly our eyes have been turned upon Jesus this week.
Jeff Tallent, team leader
A group of us from North Carolina and Tennessee had the opportunity to go to Estonia to help at the Lighthouse. Kersti, the director and Jeff Tallent, our pastor, got all the plans in order. We arrived at Poska Villa around midnight on Sunday night. On Monday morning we met the workers at the lighthouse. Mall, Alla and Maie were so helpful and caring. Tanya and Rebeka were our interpreters and we really needed them. They participated in all of the crafts we made and the games we played. The best part was seeing the children opening up to us more as the week went by. On Monday they were real shy, but by Friday we were getting big hugs from all of the children. There is a great need for support from anybody that wants to share God’s love with others. Believe me, you will receive a far greater blessing than you give.
God Bless,
Margaret Ann Williams
PS. We plan to support you.
We are members of Union United Methodist Church which is a small rural church in our community. We were in Tallinn, Estonia as part of a ten member mission team, to work at the Lighthouse Children Center. The lighthouse is something almost beyond words. The building is a strong structure with upper and lower rooms which are used for many different things, studies, meals, baths, music and play, and it even has a prayer room. It is not fancy by any means but you can feel God’s love in every room. It is kept clean by the children and staff. The staff work very hard with very little money. They don’t know from month to month if they will have enough to keep the center open. Their love for God and the children are their greatest assets. They not only opened their doors to us, but also their hearts. The children come from very poor families with limited resources. Some come in need of food, clothing, and maybe a hot bath. But all come with big smiles and hearts wanting to give and receive love. We came to bring a blessing to the children of the Lighthouse. We leave with a much greater blessing. On the last day, we heard many times, “are you coming back?”, “you won’t forget us, will you?” How can we forget you, Lighthouse of Estonia, you have stolen our hearts!
Jim and Brenda Powell
My visit to the lighthouse was a heart touching experience. As each day would go by we would see the children eager to come and spend time at the Lighthouse because they were receiving the love they so desperately need. We could see how they would interact with the staff and how obvious the deep caring for the children was filling an emptiness in their lives and they were hungry for that.We saw in their play how the lessons they were being taught were reaching their hearts because so much feeling was in their expression.
We felt the project that we did, to put covers over three doors, was so small vs what the needs are but we were limited by the time we had. Hopefully, as other come they will be able to work on other needs.
My life will never be the same after the experience at the Lighthouse, reaching out and touching and being touched by those in the uttermost parts of the earth gives a sense of peace through obedience and a feeling the Holy Spirit is well pleased with our efforts. I will continue to support the Lighthouse through prayer and working to raise funds so desperately needed.
Carl Ratcliff
The Lighthouse to me is a safe haven for children to go. It is a place they can receive food, shelter, bath and love. They are helped in many ways by loving teachers. The facility the Lighthouse operates out of is especially big, with lots of potential. The children are very happy there and have enough room to grow in numbers. It is kept very clean and the meals catered are healthy and tasty.
The children are full of love and just need our open arms and hearts to receive them, I will never forget their beautiful smiles and hugs. You can see hurt in their eyes but even if just for a moment I can make a difference in one of their lives, then there can be nothing greater.
Cindy Tallent
Kersti Raudsepp,
Board Chair
Mebane, NC
Leasburg, NC
Yanceyville, NC USA
Leasburg, NC
Mebane, NC