What happens when…

...Your home Church comes and tears your heart in two… wanting to be near to them and wanting to follow Christ and his call for me in Latvia. Then in the midst of that find out that even though you know that God has called you to Latvia to stay he is calling other away from Latvia.

Scott and Lisa just shared with us that it is evident that the time has come for them to return to the states. This has again shook the core of my world. Scott and Lisa Runzo ARE Latvia in so many ways to me. I cannot even start to think abut what Latvia will be for me without them here. I am in a deep inner struggle not wanting them to leave and sooo happy that the Lord has called them home for something he is doing in their life now!!!

Along with loosing the Runzo family we also are loosing another teammate… Mike Kelly has decided to return to the states also.

Please pray for me as I work on accepting this news, and truly trusting the Lord with ALL of me here in Latvia. And for our team to continue to move forward strong and unified.

Please also lift the Runzos and Mike up in prayer as they make the transition from Latvia back to the States and whatever God is calling them to.

Here is a letter from Scott Runzo to explain their decision a little more clearly:

Greetings, Dear Friends!

We have just finished our fourth and last camp for the summer (BIG SIGH!)!! The RMCC team from AZ is still here for a couple of days, so we will be hanging out with them and helping process through all that they experienced last week. It was such an incredible blessing to share our last camp with them! The students did great, the leaders were so supportive, the energy of the camp was high, several students accepted Christ in the end, and many young Christians were encouraged in their own faith as they saw all that happened. It felt just like "old times" in many ways! Thanks so much for your prayers! God was glorified, and we were very blessed to take part in it! (Blog update with pics should be coming shortly)

There's no good way to share this, so we'll just say it - it was a bittersweet camp for us as it seems this will be our last, at least for quite some time. Two very significant things have happened that I feel are the beginnings ofchange for us, and I believe are also directly from the hand of God.

This weekend I officially "passed the baton" as country leader to Kelly Hargan. Kelly is a former youth leader from Fort Collins, CO. He and his wife, Donna, joined our team last fall. Although I believe God sent me to Latvia strategically to begin the work of JV here in this country, I have felt for quite some time that I would not be the person to carry it the next leg of the race. It was a pioneering effort in the beginning that I felt called to, and now that JVA is firmly established as a leading youth training organization here, it's time for a new leader to step in and take it to the next level. I believe that is not my call nor within my giftedness and have been praying and fasting through this past spring and summer as to what God would have us do. I believe Kelly has been called and JV is in full support of this decision. We feel greatly blessed by God in His provision of a godly leader who shares our common vision of "seeing a movement of God among young people of Eastern Europe".

The second big decision we have made is to put our house here in Latvia on the market. Financially for us, this is the best decision we can make right now regarding that. We want you to know that our ministry partners (who feel much more like family to us!) have been so faithful and God has provided for our every need through their generosity!! The cost of living is just so high here right now and the dollar so low, it has been impossible to keep above the red in our ministry account. We are, in fact, currently negative $ 3,000 and have been maintaining that negative balance for several months now - NOT because people aren't giving, but because it's just so expensive to live here, we cannot achieve financial stability. We feel this is a clear sign from God, because we know He could change that situation if He willed it so.

With these two big changes happening right now, we feel moved by God to look towards new direction in our lives as a family. There are other indicators in our lives such as Andris’ special education needs, which make it clear we need to look towards a move back to the states and new ministry opportunities there.

This has been a very long, very painful, and very extensive process for both Lisa and me. Hearing God's call to leave the foreign mission field has been much, much, much more difficult than hearing His call to go. We have been forced time and time again to go to Him, to recognize that this has always been HIS Kingdom work and not ours, and to trust that His direction (Will) is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12).

So, what does this all look like?

· We are still Josiah Venture missionaries working and living on support in Latvia currently

· Lisa and I will continue doing ministry during this transition time, discipling and mentoring youth leaders, as well as helping in the transition

· We are praying that the house sells and will be wrapping up ministry, delegating ministry responsibilities accordingly, and settling back in the states by Spring 2009

· I will continue working on my Bible degree through Moody Bible on-line, as well as seeking what direction God would have us go

· We will be actively seeking where the Lord is calling us in His Kingdom work, and we greatly appreciate your prayers for us during this time!

I cannot stress enough how difficult these decisions have been for us. We still need your prayers and support greatly! The enemy would love for us to begin the process of leaving with our heads hanging in defeat, forgetting the many lives that have been transformed by the love of Christ through the work here. This is NOT of God. It has been an incredible privilege to take part in HIS Kingdom work here in Latvia, and we are confident that the work will continue on far after we leave. Part of our souls has become Latvian, and we are different people because of it. We are grateful to God for this incredible chapter written by the author and perfecter of our faith, and we look forward with great anticipation for what He will write next! And we are so blessed and grateful to you for standing with us throughout this journey!

Please feel free to contact us, as we know you may have many questions. Life and ministry will certainly move forward here, and we will keep you clearly informed throughout this whole transition.

We thank you for your continued prayers and support in these crucial months ahead!

In Him,

Scott A. Runzo