Orphans

2 12, 2015

Children and the Hopelessness of Poverty in Latvia

December 2nd, 2015|

Almost seven years have passed since a devastating economic and financial crisis hit Latvia - a nation of ordinary people. The side effects of that crisis are still vivid and very painful for a lot of people. Needless to say the country has suffered much, but a country is made up of needy people, and the people still haven't recovered fully. Probably one of the most painful effects of 2008 financial and economic crisis was and still is, the unstoppable emigration of people. Unfortunately people we are seeing leave the country are the younger generation with young families and the [...]

1 12, 2015

Wonderful Ministry in Odessa

December 1st, 2015|

Arriving in Odessa we were hosted by our delightful friends, Pastor Oleg and Tanya Vasilchuk and their beautiful baby daughter, Abigail. Then it was down to business visiting the Youth Gym Club that Oleg created with the homeless teenagers who once lived in the drains under the city of Odessa. A few years ago Oleg led to Christ, the European welterweight kickboxing champion, Igor Manjul, and his wife, Anastasia, who are assets in the church. Igor trains these rugged youngsters with the physical and emotional disciplines of these sports. Three times a week they meet in a rented gym and have a fellowship meeting with prayer, testimonies, [...]

30 10, 2015

Odessa Update

October 30th, 2015|

Arriving in Odessa we were hosted by our delightful friends, Pastor Oleg and Tanya Vasilchuk and their beautiful baby daughter, Abigail. We enjoyed a walk around this picturesque old city filled with historical buildings and landmarks like the famous opera house. Then it was down to business visiting the Youth Gym Club that Oleg created with the homeless teenagers who once lived in the drains under the city of Odessa. A few years ago Oleg led to Christ, the European welterweight kickboxing champion, Igor Manjul, and his wife, Anastasia, who are assets in the church. Igor trains these rugged youngsters [...]

28 07, 2015

Children Camps

July 28th, 2015|

Everytime we start planning toward the children’s camp, I feel a slight sense of shiver going through my soul. It has always brought us as a team to the place of complete self-effort bankruptcy and complete and full dependence on God! The words of Jesus “do not hinder little ones to come to Me” always brought us to the place of soberness. How do we plan the program the way that it does not hinder them to see Jesus? How do we present Jesus in a way that they truly experience His presence? How do we preach the Word for them to get a revelation of [...]

28 07, 2015

Latvian Summer Youth & Orphans Camp.

July 28th, 2015|

We have had two very busy and powerful weeks of camps. So far we have had two camps back to back. The Children’s Camp and the Teenager’s Camp with over a hundred people in each. Now we have two days break before another camp which is due to start Friday night! It would be wonderful to catch up with a little sleep and other things which have had to go on hold during these weeks. There are no words to describe our gratitude and thankfulness for your support towards these camps. When I see how powerfully and graciously God moves [...]

30 05, 2015

Orphanages Heading Towards Summer

May 30th, 2015|

While I was in Latvia I checked on a number of the Orphanages where they’d just come through a horrendous winter. Some of the children with low immune systems were still sick, but thank God we didn't lose a child in the winter months, for which I am so grateful. Bless you for helping to make this possible. Sasha, my manager contacted me to say there were six 17 year-old teenagers at the Spriditis Children's Centre in Latvia who wanted to do driving courses at 480 Euro each to prepare them for the work force when they leave [...]

21 03, 2015

Latvia Orphans

March 21st, 2015|

There have been some huge needs to meet in Latvia in the last few months of winter with heating bills, medicines and vitamins, and warm clothing. Although warmer weather is anticipated, temperatures are still around -3C and more snow is predicted this weekend. The Gardene Orphanage at Dobele, is extremely grateful that the final stage has been reached in the replacement of their much-needed heating system. It’s with Harvest Time Page 3 much respect that we think of people like Mother Teresa. She was a great servant of God. There are many others like Mother Teresa, who have sacrificed much [...]

20 03, 2015

Ukraine Orphans

March 20th, 2015|

In Zhitomir,150 kms west of Kiev, snows began to fall very heavily which made travelling to the outlying orphanages very difficult for our local team. Viktor, my manager, wrote, “We were able to visit an orphanage of 90 orphan girls with mental disabilities. Itwas an amazing meeting.We had a special show of Christmas Bible stories. We asked the children: “What is Christmas all about and who believes in Jesus?”Then we prayed with the children. There was such a lot of love and joy. Many of them hugged us and wanted us to join in their playtime. There were several children [...]

27 02, 2015

A place called Gardene

February 27th, 2015|

[wpgmza id="4"] At one time Gardene was a flourishing community, but now it was smitten by poverty. Electricity and heating was something everyone now only hoped for. Buildings which had housed the Soviet army had been completely destroyed as the departing army stripped them of everything they could carry away. Local families, left with nothing, now hoped for a better life in future. The more fortunate had moved to bigger cities like Riga, Jelgava or nearby Dobele in search of a better life. It was a very difficult time but hope was in the air. Marija was there to [...]

2 02, 2015

When you reap the harvest of your land!

February 2nd, 2015|

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 23:22 Thank you so much for being such a blessing to these kids!