Hope For Children in Latvia

 As the work continues toward providing a mobile camping facility for young people in Latvia, it ids important to know the needs that exist there and the work that is ongoing.  Hope For Children is an organization that is on the ground in Latvia.  When our Steve Janz forwarded their news letter to me I figured it would help tell the story of the needs we are called to help with in completing our project.  This is the next of the newsletter.

Hope for Children News
November 2012
PO Box 576, Riga LV1050, Latvia, www.hope.lv, e-mail:hope@hope.lv, T.+371 67289646, Mob +371 27711245
..they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God is with us.' (Mat. 1:23)

It’s a privilege to serve these difficult kids say our
staff, but of course we still wish there were no ne-
glected, needy children and that this whole economic
crisis had never happened. You see we see it too of-
ten. A father can’t find work and although he battles
on as best he can the pressure of seeing his children
in need every day eventually gets to him and he eit-
her leaves, becomes aggressive, begins to drink
heavily or, he slips into a depression where he just
sleeps all the time. The same happens with many a
mum and again we have to step in to care for their
children.
The ‘prevention’ part of our work in supporting fa-
milies in crisis has greatly increased this year, a real
answer to prayer to be able to give practical and moral
support as well as professional counseling, but also
we’re glad to say that support for children and youths
in need has also been growing. Many, many thanks to
all of you who have helped make this possible.
As for the Latvian economy, well, we’re glad it’s be-
gun to grow as well but the devastation left in its wake
will give us many more years of rescue and rehabilita-
tion work to come and sadly the present government is
making policies to reduce benefits to the poor rather
than increase them. We hope you’ll stay with us!
Helen M Vipass
Director
Family Support
Clothing, school supplies, food, health and hygiene products...we
seem to have given out tons of it this year and seen hundreds of gra-
teful, relieved faces. We have now over 350 families who’ve registe-
red with us for help. Especially as we approach winter the warm
jackets and boots we’ve been sent, or the finance to buy them, have
been essential.
On top of this though we’ve had the joy
of the continued support of a group of ho-
tels which give a monthly amount to 40
struggling families, many of whom get
little or no support in the form of State
benefits.
Those who do get benefits will be left with a maximum of LVL 45 (EUR 64, USD 83) a month after paying
rent and utilities, nowhere near enough to feed and clothe your children.
Survival is really tough in Latvia for many and among the families we help on a regular basis is a family of 7
who were living without electricity for four months, a family of 5 who were given just days to clear out of their
family home, a mum of two who had taken the brave step of leaving a violent husband, a family of 7 which was
reduced to burning anything they could get hold of for heat, and a mum of 6 who was forced to seek work abroad. Several of the parents we support have spoken of their battle against thoughts of suicide. A kind listening
ear, help to fix something in your home or with your health, a bag of food, a school book for your child etc can
really help keep up moral and it is real help to prevent at least some of the children of Latvia becoming orphans.

HOPE FOR CHILDREN NEWS

Day Centres
Each of our three day care centres for children at risk have their own character. Bolderaya and Skrunda centres are smaller and more homely, Karosta centre in Liepaya is bustling with 40-50 kids a day. All the staff though work equally hard to meet the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of the children who all at best lack attention at home, at worse regularly suffer abuse. Life can be much fun when you have adults who actually smile at you, who listen to you and comfort you , who do handicrafts and play games with you, who make sure you have a lovely birthday, who take you out somewhere nice and pay for you to go to summer camp, who give you good meals, clothing and all the things you need for school.
Day centre kids say thank you dear friends for all the lovely
school bags and materials. Celebrating a great start to
the school year.
Two of 32 kids we wereable to send off to have
a wonderful holiday at camp this summer.
Zhenja and Olesja were not doing well at school at all when in their
early teens they started attending one of our day centres but now can
boast degrees in Pedagogy and Business & Economics. They
worked so hard and we're so proud of.\
Liva was also one of our school gradutes this year.
During school breaks we try to give children as much rest as possible —
excursions, waterpark or simply funtime.
HOPE FOR CHILDREN NEWS
PAGE 3
Our new premises in the Karosta district of Liepaya are full to the
brim with children so what do you do when a big 18 yr old comes in
who’s hungry and abused too?
Who cares for those young people who are not as ‘cute’ and ‘innocent’
as children but feel also very alone and are becoming more and more
embittered?
This is something that Tanja (centre leader) and others were carrying in
their hearts and praying for a solution for.
So when a 240 sq.m former post office and café
came up for sale at a very low price we jumped
at the opportunity of buying it to provide a can-
teen for the children and accommodation for
those with a burden for Karosta youths to lead
youth work.
Buying the property was only a minor part of
the challenge though and we really need your
financial support and prayers for the renovati-
ons and future work to be conducted there.
Skrunda being a small town two hours drive from the capital has a particularly
large percentage of unemployed. We bought a whole load of firewood for the
kid’s since last winter so many of them came in saying they were freezing at
home and had to sleep in their coats; sadly though, we couldn’t do much to stop
the terrible fighting and drinking that the kids see at home.
At least two of the children regularly wait for Vineta, centre head, before ope-
ning time and several tell her they wish she were their mum. One of the new
boys who confessed to eating uncooked pasta at home sometimes when there’s
nothing else to eat, is such a nice, special boy who loves to help clean up and
has such great ambitions to become a doctor one day.
Despite the heavy burdens the children carry though many smiles abound in this
centre where there is often such a light, happy and homely atmosphere.
Homework is so hard for so many of our
kids, as you can see, but having someone
as nice as Liene (left), our new Bolderaya
Day Centre head, to help you is some
compensation at least! Liene is a qualified
teacher, as is Inara who works alongside
her, and both have a lot of love,
understanding and patience for our kids
there who get little or no attention at
home.
Natalia (right) is one of our foster mums
but she loves to help out at our Bolderaya
Day Centre too when she can. The kids
just love her cooking, some of them
eating three or four portions of dinner!
They also love to get involved and help
cook.
HOPE FOR CHILDREN NEWS
Sadly our dear friend and assistant director Helen Grimshaw (left) will return to
live in England at the end of January 2013 after serving the kids and families of
HFC for over 16 years. We’ll all really miss her and all the fun we’d have in
summer and at Christmas at her home. Helen has not only been such a fantastic
helping hand in administration and caring for the children and families, happily
helping out where and when needed, but has also given refuge in her home to
many a family and teenager. It’s meant so much to have someone so faithful and
servant-hearted alongside for so many years and we thank her from the bottom of
our heart for sticking with us through thick and thin.
Over the last year one in ten Latvian citizens have applied for State help. 425,000 (one in five) have an
income of less than 250 EUR /mth, and last year 100.000 lived on less than 65 EUR/mth. In August it
was announced though that that the number of people registered for State support was less than last year in
the same month. Not surprising though when you consider a new regulation that was in effect from June
onwards which robbed all families with a car or motor bike registered in their name from social benefits!
In 2011 8101 children were living in care, 1799 in institutions, the rest with guardians or foster parents.
We thank those wonderful people who have adopted children but every time we lose a child in Latvia we
lose a little piece of our country, a piece of our future and a part of our economic generating power. Please
don’t forget those, like us, who are bolstering families, supporting the child in foster care here, and helping
prevent the loss of our children.
How you can help
Bank transfers (in any currency) can be made to our bank in Latvia:
SEB Banka
SWIFT: UNLALV2X
Account name: Hope for Children
IBAN: LV93UNLA0002005469960
Hope for Children has also a separate account for Karosta Day Centre:
Swedbank
SWIFT: HABALV22
Account name: Hope for Children
IBAN: LV73HABA0551028726611
Alternatively cheques in any currency can be sent to:
Hope for Children
A/K 576
Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Please address the cheque to Hope for Children
We have also recently opened a PayPal account.
You can donate through PayPal using our e-mail: hope@hope.lv.
If you are a tax payer living in the UK we are able to recover tax on your gift. Please contact us by mail or email
(addresses at the head of this letter) and we will send you the relevant information.
We never undervalue your prayers. If you would like to receive our prayer bulletins please do contact us.

Gifts we need for the box

Going forward with the Camp In A Box Project  there are needs for financial gifts to purchase items required for this mobile camp facility which  will be shipped to Latvia for use in that country or another Eastern European  destination. Here are some of those needs and their estimated cost.
5 man tents for leaders and youth:  20 X 350.00
Sleeping Bags: 75 X 20.00
Large Meeting Tents: 12,000.00
Kitchen Appliances and Utensils: 7000.00
Tables : 20 X 40.00
Generator: 1200.00
Shipping Costs: 8,000.00

Humanitarian Aid Response Teams(HART)
317-37th Ave. NE, Suite 200
Calgary, AB, T2E 6P6
Phone: 1-403-230-8263
The code to quote for financial gifts to the Camp In A Box Project is: 32506

Some of the substantial goals have already been met for this project.  Most obvious is the container sitting in the MRBC parking lot.  As identified on the container, it came from Big Steel Box.  Their generous co-operation enabled the purchase of a fully certified, immaculate condition container at a very good price.  Other financial gifts provided for the building of beds, multipurpose containers and bathrooms which our now stored in the container.  This work was made possible through the provision of a workspace and the volunteer efforts of a number of individuals from MRBC. 

There is still considerable work to do.  The process of donation has been enabled through HART,a Calgary based Christian organization that works in Ukraine and other Eastern European countries. They provided a tax receiptable account to facilitate a process that  allows 100 percent of all donations to go directly toward this project. 

Going forward our prayers are for this Camp facility to arrive in Latvia and be commissioned for use in the summer of 2013.  This past summer, missionaries, Steve and Natalija Janz continued their work in Latvia where they have served for the past 12 years.  There is still much need  there for facilities that can provide and nurture opportunities for young people to come to know Jesus Christ and to grow in those relationships through local leadership.  It had been hoped that the Janz's would be back in Canada and able to join us with an update of work there however at this time they are still in Latvia. 

Nothing is possible without Glory to God being the primary and singular focus.  Everything is possible through persistent prayer and submission to His will.  So most urgently,  this work needs to be covered in the prayer of many, and the actions of those who  respond  to clear direction that the Lord has put in their hearts.

The Box

 As touted those many months ago, we indeed have a box!  This immaculate 20 foot, certified container, arrived through God's blessing, the legwork of team workers in the community and the generous co-operation of the Coquitlam location of Big Steel Box. Our expectations were totally exceeded on the quality of container and affordability.  A true blessing!

 The projects that took us through the past winter are now packed away.  The boxes however await  the things that will fill them.

Coming soon...a detailed list of the  needs we still have.  Most of them are items that must be purchased.  The container now sits on the grounds of Maple Ridge Baptist Church. 

The Box is Coming!!

Excited and hoping that in the very near future these words will be replaced by a picture of the container that will be shipped.  We have a firm deal for a suitable, shipping worthy container and expect that to become reality in the very near future and we have funding to complete this purchase!  There is more to this chapter of our Camp In A Box story and we can hardly wait to provide the details. 

Blessings flow!!

These are belts with velcro flags for games at Camp.  The person that made 72 of these says she just prayed that God would fill them with children and bless them with camping fun and a new joy and hope in their lives learning about the love of Jesus

Here are the bed risers for each person in each tent.  This is what they look like assembled.
When a foam mattress and sleeping bag and pillow are added they provide an awesomely comfortable bed for each young person.  the foamies and sleeping bags still need to be purchased.

 5 bathrooms have been built for the camp. These are what the doors look like.Roofs, floors and sides are are ready for easy assembly.  The inside boxes for the toilets still need to be built.  

 

The boxes are ready to be loaded and numbered and inventoried!

Please fill me up!

Receiving God's Perspective

Today I read some good words written by K.P. Yohannan in his book Revolution In World Missions.  Describing a time of discouragement, he said he became angry and judgemental and experienced feelings of ugliness and depression.  It was then the Spirit of the Lord spoke to him.
"I am not in any trouble," He chided that I need someone to beg for Me or help Me out.  I made no promises that I will not keep.It is not the largeness of the work that matters but only doing what I command.  All I ask of you is that you be a servant.  For all who join with you in the work, it will be a privilege - a light burden for them."
Mr. Yohannan writes that following this he reflected on his situation:  This is His work.  Why am I making it mine?  The burden is light.  Why am I making it heavy?  The work is a privilege.  Why am I making it a chore?  I instantly repented my sinful attitudes.

What good  advice! Keeping the focus on doing what God asks of us is the absolute right choice that will bring us joy  every  day when we work diligently to His Glory.


This work is joyful and it's sole purpose is to become a tool that will bring the love of Jesus into the hearts of young people in Eastern Europe.

Painting, Painting, Painting

Bed Frames

Boxes

Production Lines

Busy Hands at the work place

All our completed boxes and beds are now painted!  Thanks to the hearts that were touched and the helping hands from MRBC.  Next in the painting line up are the 'outhouses'  - I know, I know- there's better words to describe these fine accommodations that will be even more luxurious with coats of bright, protective paint.
Next on the building front- the boxes that go inside the OH's.
                                          - kitchen counters.
                                          - showers

Please pray that this work will make a difference to children's lives in Eastern Europe and most important-glorify Christ.

Under His Hands,

Glenn Allen

Camp In A Box at MRBC

Steve Janz, John Affleck and Glenn Allen updated construction progress on the Camp In A Box project at Maple Ridge Baptist Church

Over the winter work has continued toward the goal of completed a Camp package to be sent to Eastern Europe.  A few of the wood construction components were on display at the church: multi use boxes, camp, beds and bathrooms.  This work is about 75 percent complete.  In process now is the acquisition of a container and purchase of commercially available items.  These include the meeting  tents, sleeping tents, kitchen components and showers.
Prayer for provision to complete this camp package.  Our hope is to have this ready for shipping this fall and making a difference in the lives of children next summer. 

Workshop activities

The coming week will be a busy one for our project.  Today(January 28th) missionary,Steve Janz, will arrive from Calgary to spend the next 10 days working in the Lower Mainland towards expanding the network of support we will need to complete the goal of sending our camping package to Ukraine this summer.  Time is of the essence.  It is now known that shipping of our 40 foot container must happen before the end of April in order to arrive in Ukraine for this summers camping season.

The first activity this weekend will be heading to MissionFest at the Trade and Convention Center in Vancouver.  There, we will be meeting Lloyd Cenaiko of HART(Humanatarian Aid Relief Teams,www.hart.ca).  This organization played a large role in making known the needs in Ukraine.  They will have a booth at MissionFest and Lloyd will speak at one of the seminars there.  The knowledge and expertise of 15 years working in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania is making a difference in many lives in these countries.  Through HART we have a way for  financial support to be provided at no cost, meaning that 100 percent of this support will go towards the project.  During the rest of the week there will be a number of meetings with church groups and organizations to bring them up to speed on the support needs going forward and most importantly that this work be covered in prayer.  

Preparations at our workspace are geared towards a work day on February 3rd.  Men from Maple Ridge Baptist Church are coming out to participate in a hands on time and also to get  first hand information on the specific components, that are required to complete this camping package.

It has already been encouraging to see God opening doors for supplies, financial support and design work.  Participants in this are even coming from far away, Eastern U.S.A.

All in all, exciting and challenging days ahead!  

Work continues on the woodwork projects for the camp package. The main components being worked on now are multi-use 25 boxes and 75 bed frames that provide off-ground sleeping places inside the tents.

Your input invited!

Here is the kitchen set up. There are improvements we would like to make. Improve the time required for set up. Resolve the issue of building a solid, level floor on uneven ground as it is time consuming. Improve the quality of the tent, finding ways to keep the inside temperature at an acceptable level...a dark layer to the roof or fly to also keep the heavy rain from knocking off the condensation inside. 

This layout of the kitchen works very well with dimensions of 3mx9m(10feet x 30 feet)

2012 is officially under way!

Work progresses as the working drawings from Brian ....

 Become components......

 Which are becoming boxes....

And bed frame parts.....