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 chain necklaces and black-dyed hair and write them off as thugs. But then you would miss a lot: their big hearts, special gifts, and deep desire for affirmation and family love.
The theme of VBS was God has the power… the power to be thankful… the power to make us brave… to help others… to live forever… and the power to tell others about God. It’s a message that really resonated with Elīna, a ten-year-old girl with two younger siblings also in the orphanage here. She and Matiss, her brother, left for camp this afternoon, along with about 10 of the kids we’ve been spending time with this week. I was really sad to see them go, especially Eduards and Agnis, two boys that I really enjoyed getting to know. A lot of them, even the “tough” guys, cried as we hugged them goodbye and promised to pray for them. Matiss, however, was all smiles.
Helena, the orphanage’s director, told us that after they were on their way, Matiss began to cry and was very upset. His sister, Elīna, told him to read the Bible, because “it helps in crisis.” Mr. Bradley had just given all the kids a Bible the day before, but Matiss forgot his Bible, so Elīna gave him hers to read. Matiss, who has some ongoing issues, asked if God could really help with his problems. Elīna assured him that, yes, God will help him if he prays and reads the Bible every day. So Matiss read the Bible until he fell asleep. Helena, who is not a Christian, noticed that, upon reaching the camp, Matiss woke up and his face was bright and beaming. She was touched by the comfort and peace he received.
Prayer Requests:
A lot of the kids leave for the summer, for camps or exchange trips to other countries in Europe, but two of the boys, Maris and Lauris, weren’t picked to go on any trips (because the host families choose who stays with them). They are disappointed, so pray that God will really use this time to work in their lives. They’ve both accepted Christ, but there is currently no support for them in Lejasstrazdi to disciple them or encourage them in their relationship with Christ. Pray that they would have and use the resources to grow in Christ.
Maris turns 18 in August. Usually, when kids age out, they are sent to whatever area of Latvia they were taken from and the local government provides them with low-income housing. Maris’ little brother, Kaspars, is about 8 years old, so he’s still going to be in Lejasstrazdi. Since Maris hasn’t finished school yet, it might be possible for him to stay until he graduates, if the local government here grants him an exception. Pray that the local government would be compassionate and make an exception for him.
Pray for Helena….that she would be tender to the gospel after seeing the changes in her kids.
