Latvia Mission Trip Report

From the 3rd to 15th July, a team of 15 of us from High Street Methodist embarked on an unforgettable mission trip to Wesley Camp, on the west coast of Latvia. We had a mixed team: of teens, adults (including some of their parents), myself as the youth-pastor, our youth-work-intern and our minister.

During the two weeks we served at Wesley Camp alongside local volunteers. We ran a 5-day children’s camp and inputted into a teen camp, engaged in cross-cultural ministry, and witnessed God move in powerful ways.


The camp is set on a refurbished farm, with an apple orchard, new wooden lodges, open fields, and it’s just a short walk from the beach.

Our first few days were spent orientating ourselves, building team unity as me mixed our volunteer groups together, and preparing for the children’s camp. We decorated rooms, set up tents - thankfully duct tape saved us more than once - planned activities, and prayed together. The weather was a mix of sunshine and rain, but even in the rain there was laughter, encouragement, and a growing sense of anticipation.

As a team we were immediately struck by the warmth and dedication of the Latvian leaders. Anita, Gunta and the whole volunteer team were amazing! Their servant hearts were obvious, as were their language skills. They switched easily between Latvian and fluent English. We tried learning a few Latvian phrases, but thankfully there were always volunteers on hand to translate. Communication flowed much more smoothly than we had expected - and that was a real answer to prayer.

On Sunday 6th July, children began arriving, and the camp quickly filled with energy.
Our team led games, songs, crafts, group challenges, and really invested in the kids.

Each day had a rhythm: morning exercises and dancing, breakfast, Bible teaching on the Armour of God, small groups, creative workshops, and outdoor activities. It was so encouraging to see our teens step up and lead the discipleship for the children at camp. They spoke about the armour of God, they lead worship, were small group leaders and ran most of the activities. We as adults were the support team and safety net, that for most of the time wasn’t required.

Meals were an adventure too! We tried “hedgehogs” - a potato, onion, meat and cheese dish, we enjoyed sugary pasta with milk dish, hearty soups, delicious pancakes with jam, and so many more new meals. All of the food was delicious. Everything was cooked fresh on site by the volunteers. Not a bit of processed food anywhere! Singing grace before meals, either in Latvian or English, quickly became a highlight. If you couldn’t pronounce the words, you just did the actions and tried your best!

The children loved the activities and games, the zip-line, treasure hunts, workshops, and especially the Wesley Camp “Olympics,” which started at camp and ended at the beach. Wheelbarrow races, dizzy spins, water-pistol challenges, and obstacle courses finished with every child receiving a medal. Even the surprise storm couldn’t dampen the fun.

The evening programme included: an animal party, movie night, talent show, and campfire with hot chocolate and treats.

On the last day of camp, every child without a Bible was given their very own copy, it was incredible to see them receive these and quickly begin to read them.

Between the two camps, we spent time with our Latvian volunteer team in Riga. We explored the Old Town, visited markets, and toured the Latvian Occupation Museum. Learning about the suffering under Nazi and Soviet rule was sobering, but it helped us better understand the resilience and patriotism of the Latvian leaders we served alongside.

On Sunday 13th July, we attended Tāšu Metodistu Draudze, a small Methodist congregation nearby. Though the church building was humble, the fellowship was warm. We were invited to take part - sharing songs, a message, and joining in their prayer activity. Afterwards we enjoyed fellowship over homemade breads, buns, and tea. It was a joy to encourage our Latvian brothers and sisters, and be encouraged by their faith in return.

The final days of our trip were spent at Teen Camp, focusing on the theme Superheroes.
In our teaching sessions, we explored what it means to find strength, courage, and identity in Christ - not in capes or powers, but in faithful everyday living. During this camp our teens could relax more and our adults had more work to do.

Some standout out moments were games at the beach, the superhero party, t-shirt printing, and an Andrew Gibson quiz. During this camp there was a surprise power-outage and we were amazed at flexibility shown by the Latvians as the programme continued as normal including quality meals for all of us.

There were so many funny moments too - 1 leader accidentally being locked in a cleaning cupboard and climbing out the window (twice!), spontaneous water fights that escalated from small water-pistols to full buckets and a hose, karaoke, just-dance sessions, and perhaps a little too much RedBull consumed by a few of our adult volunteers when energy levels had been totally depleted.

These fun moments, along with deep conversations and prayer, built strong friendships with the Latvian volunteers.

Looking back, this trip stretched us all. It was demanding: long hours, unpredictable weather, and cross-cultural challenges - but it was deeply rewarding!

I saw our young people step up, lead confidently, and serve wholeheartedly. From devotionals and teaching, to crafts, music, and games - each team member grew in confidence and faith. Even the simple acts like cooking, cleaning (dishes or the toilets), or comforting homesick campers, all of these tasks were done joyfully.

Our late night team times where we simply shared our testimonies with each other were profound and inspiring, they massively boosted the team unity, the bonds between us and our gratitude to God.

One of the greatest blessings was seeing families on mission together - parents and teens catching each other doing something amazing for Jesus and encouraging one another.

We were also hugely encouraged by the reflections from some of our Latvian friends:

Dzintra said: “We had a great time, because we felt a lot of dedication from Northern Ireland. It inspired us and gave us additional strength to continue serving children. I am grateful for the prepared materials, both spiritual and physical - for being together.”

Aivija reflected: “This year, the camp was joined by friends from Northern Ireland, which made it necessary to step out of our comfort zone. Not only for the adult leaders, but also for the participants. It was a great surprise how confidently the young people led and participated. I am very glad I was given the opportunity to serve with everyone.”

Gunta said: “We were blessed beyond understanding to serve together with adults and youth of your church. We loved the united spirit among us - even when we didn’t speak the same language. Thank you for the support, openness, and burning hearts. We look forward to serving more for the glory of our amazing God. We pray that friendships among us - and especially among young people - will last long.”

Highlights from some of our team include:

‘Making new life long friends, spending time with the kids in my small group and creating closer bonds within our youth.’

‘Watching all the kids really engage in the worship. It was lovely to see them singing songs in English as well as Latvian.’

‘When all the kids who didn’t have bibles received a Bible on the last day of camp and immediately started reading them intensely for the rest of the day.’

‘Another highlight was the activity with the bags. We wrote our names on them and added encouraging messages for the kids. Every time I slipped a note into a bag, the kids would run up and hug me, and say thank you. It was so special to see how much they appreciated being noticed and receiving a personal letter.’

‘My final highlight was when the children had the chance to go forward for prayer. Some even accepted God into their lives, which was amazing to witness.’

Our final hours at Wesley Camp were spent cleaning up, packing our suitcases, saying long goodbyes, laughing, and sharing testimonies. We celebrated how much our young people had grown because of this missional opportunity.


We returned home exhausted but full-hearted: with funny stories, new friendships, and a renewed sense of purpose in joining Jesus’ mission.

I came home encouraged by the dedication of the Latvian leaders, inspired by our own young people and amazing leaders, and grateful for the chance to be part of God’s work in Latvia.

As a team we are deeply thankful for the financial and prayerful support from across the Methodist Church, we’re specially thankful to World Mission Partnership for their financial support and expertise in preparing for our trip.

Please join us as we continue to pray for Wesley Camp, for the Latvian volunteers, for all the children and teens who encountered Jesus this summer and for those who will in the future work they do there!

Mark Hand - Team Leader

& Youth Pastor at High Street Methodist Church