Greetings from Riga, Latvia!!!
Well after close to 40 hours of traveling our team has made
it safe and sound to Latvia! It was a long journey, but after several movies
and naps on the plane we quickly found ourselves jumping into our boots and
piling on the layers once we stepped outside of Riga Airport! We have arrived
and settled into our cozy little apartment where our team will be living for
the next four weeks. God has brought us to a beautiful city and is already
giving us a heart for this country and His people. He is continually moving and
showing us that His light needs to be shined down upon this place.
Our team’s major focus while on outreach is directed towards
human trafficking. While we are in Latvia we will be working alongside an
organization called Freedom 61. Freedom 61 runs a small café which invites in
prostitutes and women who have been trafficked. The Freedom 61 staff works to
build relationships with these women and shares the love of Christ with them.
Our team will be helping with the café and will primarily be going on prayer
walks throughout the streets nearby. Throughout our time in Latvia our team
will also be going to a soup kitchen weekly to serve as well as work with
children at a couple day centers. The day centers provide a safe and healthy
environment for children who live in neglected households and come from broken
backgrounds. Our team will also have the opportunity to go into schools where
we will inform, instruct, and raise awareness for human trafficking. Our time
here will be focused on prayer and building relationships, and believing that
the seeds planted here God will continue to nurture and grow.
Fighting human trafficking is no small task. It is a battle
that must be fought little by little, step by step. Our team has been taught
that this issue must be fought starting at the bottom, preventing it as much as
possible by building up our youth. When lacking in English and job skills,
Latvian children are at high risk of being trafficked. It is important for them
to learn the English language, learn necessary skills, and build confidence
within for a brighter future. Our team has had the opportunity to work at the
day centers these past couple days where God has continually broken our hearts
for these neglected children. Looking into the eyes of a child who has the
potential to be in slavery or is afraid to go home at night has amplified the power of love in each of our hearts. When we in our own
minds believed that we needed to pray for the “big picture” coming on outreach and
bring light into this big city, God has broken it down for us, showing us that
we need to simply start by bringing a spark into a small child’s life. The act
of a hug, smile, high five, or even a game of Duck Duck Goose has been
rekindled in our spirits and given us the satisfaction of knowing that God is
moving and spreading his love in this city little by little, breaking the
chains of darkness. 
Even as Latvia is very cold and the sun is not always
shining, our team has continued to bring the love and joy of Jesus throughout
the city of Riga. Even after learning that it is inappropriate to be loud on
public transportation, our team continues to bring laughs and smiles in ALL
places (we had a couple Latvians laughing on a bus tonight). Each day we hope
to bring a new light to this place and set a fire in the hearts of God’s
people. Stay tuned as we continue to see God bring warmth to Latvia! Thank you
for all your support throughout our journey and please pray that God continues
to keep us safe and warm (especially our Aussies ;))!!!
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