Submitted by Pastor David Michael Carrillo

Picture this: It was the Summer of 2006. I was coming out of church and, as I was walking down the stairs, I saw a vision of people. They were bundled with hats and scarves and had a very Eastern European look. This strong impression came over me, ‘’I need to go to Eastern Europe and do ministry there.” Of course, I thought this was a crazy idea. Why would I want to go to a post-Soviet country? I had a very successful traveling speaking and music ministry in America. Plus, I don’t know anyone there. What would I even do there? So, I shrugged this idea off. But the seed was planted in my heart.

Some time had passed and it was now December 2007, and I was occupied with my Christmas tour in New York city. The Lord kept giving me strong impressions about going to Eastern Europe. He used imagery like airplanes and staircases, things that would get the attention of a person with ADHD! I was sharing at this very culturally diverse church in NYC. After my event we went out to dinner. I sat in the middle of this long table with the people from the church and noticed how all of a sudden, they started to speak in different languages with each other. Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Portuguese. As I sat in the middle of the table, this strong impression came over me as I thought, “This will be normal. I am going to Eastern Europe. Where I am going it will be an international place and hearing different languages that I won’t understand will be normal.” Again, I could not shake the idea of Eastern Europe. After my tour I went to visit Pastor Mark Wilhelm. I told him about the different visions and impressions I had in NYC. We started back to his office when I saw it. On the church mission board was a pamphlet that caught my eye. I walked up and I saw in bold letters ‘’Latvia 2008’’. Looking at the map on the wall I noticed that Latvia was located in Northeastern Europe. I pulled the pamphlet off the wall and looking up at the sky out loud said, “Is this it Lord? Is this where I am to go?” I learned from Pastor Mark that once a year a team from the church goes to Latvia to do an English Bible Camp with SONetwork (formerly EEMN). Without hesitation, I signed up to go in 2008. Unbeknownst to me, that Summer short term mission trip in 2008 was only the beginning of a major turning point in my life and ministry.

My 2008 Summer trip to Latvia left a very deep impression, especially by one of my 3rd grade students named Kristaps. In March of 2010, I went to the Holy Land of Israel. It was while I was sitting at Lake Galilee that the Lord spoke to my heart. “I am going to recommission you. Your whole life will forever change.” I knew in my heart something was going to change. In April, after sharing at a ministry conference in Wisconsin, I was driving to my next ministry event. While driving, the Lord spoke to me again saying, “You are going to have a son’’. I thought that was such a crazy out of the blue idea. I argued with the Lord, telling him all the reasons how that wasn’t possible. He spoke one last time, in a very stern fatherly voice. ‘’You Shall have a son, mark my Word”!! Like Sarah, I laughed in disbelief and wondered how such a thing could happen to me. I mean at that time I was going to turn forty-five and was set in my ways. I was busy touring, speaking, and singing throughout the country. When would I have time to raise kids?
That Summer I did return to Latvia for another English Bible Camp and reconnected with my former student Kristaps. But this trip was different. I could not shake off the idea that these kids were like sheep without a shepherd. I continued to think “after we leave, who does follow up? Who does discipling in the faith?” Kristaps and his sister Liga and the other students were not just some mission project; they were people. People that I had developed a relationship with. I sensed that someone needed to stay behind and help. I could not get them out of my head and unknown to me, the Lord planted Latvia, Kristaps and Liga deep in my heart.
After wrestling with the idea, I decided I would come back to Latvia for three months in November of 2010 and help the school that hosts the English Bible Camp. To my surprise I was placed in the home of Kristaps and Liga and their mom Maija as my host family. That was 15 years ago. I’m still in Lativa serving at the school, and still live with my host family (and ended up being adopted by Kristaps, Liga and Markuss as one of their own) giving me the honor of more than a ‘’father figure” but a true dad that has been blessed to raise three kids who have now become three successful young adults.

I became part of the SON mission family back in 2008 when it was known as East European Mission Network. To see how a vision, that was started by Pastor Don Richman, has now gone beyond Eastern Europe has been amazing! Representing SON has been a great honor as I travel around the world sharing our vision of connecting the Spiritual Orphans to the global family of Christ. It is also an honor to be one of the longest serving SON missionaries as I serve out on the mission field of Latvia! Serving at Striki School as both the Chaplain and one of the Christian education teachers has brought excitement and challenges the last 15 years. The exciting part has been watching a small struggling country school, that honored God to stay open, while all other small country schools were closing. I have witnessed dramatic changes from a very post-Soviet mindset to a modern Montessori style of teaching. The once dull, lifeless, Soviet brick school building (with outdated chalkboards, playground set, and desks and chairs) became modernized with bright colored walls, 21st century school furniture, laptops for every student to use, and interactive screens in every room! These innovations have elevated Striki School as the 2nd modern Montessori school in all of Latvia. Because today’s kids are living in the midst of social media and 30-60 second TikTok videos, I use a lot of visuals and media to share the Gospel message. The challenging part is leading morning devotions and teaching Christian education in a way that the kids can relate to.

Since 2013, I have had the honor of working and serving with outstanding team leaders and mission teams from all over America. As the worship and music leader, it is not uncommon to go from Latvia to Albania to Slovakia to Estonia during our Summer mission season! I have served teams for both English Bible Camps or the teen Life and Adventure Retreat camps. To sing and preach in historical churches, in which some are over 800 years old and have survived Soviet occupation, is truly an honor. Working with David & Angela Breidenbach has been a blast as well! We have had very exciting and challenging adventures out in the mission field, but I look forward to what each new Summer will bring!

I am currently booking for my 2025 USA tour from August 10th to November 9th and I would love to come share at your church or Christian event, sharing about my journey as a musicianary, or how you cn be a partner with and support SONetwork. For more information about my tour and open dates go to
https://www.gentlewindministries.org/usatour2025
Blessings,
Your Musicianary to Latvia and beyond
Pastor David Michael Carrillo (DMC)