An eight-member team, part of a U.S. group known as Friends of Estonia, recently returned from a two-week visit to observe United Methodist work in that country and Latvia.

The Rev. John Trundle of Gatlinburg, Tenn., head of the Friends group and one of the team members, said the United Methodist Baltic Mission Center being constructed in Tallinn, Estonia, is "wonderful, beautiful and worthy of praise." While the center's seminary section is not completed, he said it is usable and spacious.

The Estonian-speaking congregation is filling the worship area, he said. A Russian-speaking United Methodist congregation, meeting at a Seventh Day Adventist Church in the community, hopes to be in the Baltic Mission Center sanctuary by Christmas.

Floor covering, furniture and lighting are needed to make the sanctuary usable, Trundle said. "With funds on hand, $250,000 is needed as soon as possible to provide those needs."

The Friends group is also trying to raise an additional $700,000 to complete 10 dormitory rooms, a bookstore, printing shop, soup kitchen, choir room and children's rooms.

The fourth Friends of Estonia gathering is scheduled for Jan. 14-15 in Lexington, Ky. Among those attending will be the Rev. Olav Parnamets, superintendent of the United Methodist Church in Estonia. For information on the meeting, contact host pastor, the Rev. Chuck Killian, (606) 233-0545.

October 7, 1999

Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, New York, and Washington.