June 2009
9 posts
Leaving Lejasstrazdi and Inčukalns
It’s been over a week since I left Lejasstrazdi. It wasn’t until after we had left the orphanage that I realized how special it was. It seemed more like a big family than an institution. Most of the children are able to take care of themselves, so the younger kids get a lot of personal attention from the caregivers as well as from the older teens in the orphanage. The older kids would...
My last two days in Lejasstrazdi were full of fun and joy, as well as heartbreak when we had to leave. On Wednesday, we went with all of the kids to the Cinevilla Studio backlot, which was built for the historical drama “Defenders of Riga.” Guys and girls dressed up as opposing armies for a “battle” of hide-and-seek. Unfortunately, the girls were the “bad” army,...
šodien ir skaista diena!
Today was a beautiful day! Yesterday, we finished our VBS program in Lejasstrazdi. I think the kids really enjoyed it. I say “kids” but their average age is probably 15. There are two little ones, Violeta and Ruslans, but the majority is older. They have pretty tough exteriors… if you just saw some of the kids in pictures or met them walking down the street, you might see the...
Lejasstrazdi
Labrit! (“good morning!”). It’s just before breakfast at the orphanage in Lejastrazzdi. My intern team has joined with a group from Tate Springs Baptist Church in Arlington for the next week and a half. They have been coming to Latvia for several years—Cora, the team leader from Tate Springs, has been here five times. Mr. Bradley, who is about to celebrate his 77th...
Leaving Liepaja...
This morning, Ramie, Jeannene, Leslie, and I loaded up all of our bags into a mini van (which was quite a feat considering how much stuff we have!) and rode to Riga. Although we left a lot of craft supplies and humanitarian aid with the day center in Liepaja, it seems like our bags are still full. We met Daça and Madera at the Elefant Hotel in Riga, where we’re staying for the night, then...
"kra-sée-va-ya"
We’ve been learning a few words and phrases in Russian and Latvian (mostly Russian since that’s what the kids at the day center speak). “Privet” is hi… “spasibo” is thank you… “poshalusta” is please. And “krasévaya” is beautiful. (This is my simple Russian spelling—I don’t even know where to begin with the Russian...
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Liepaja Day Center
We started working (who am I kidding… this is not work!) in the day center on Monday. The past two days have been great! The day center doesn’t start until 3, but, on
Monday, they had a staff meeting at 2, so we went early with Zanda. Most of the day center staff is from the Baptist church: the pastor’s mother prepares meals, another sweet lady leads the kids in worship and...