A ray of hope for Latvia

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On May 6, 2022, a youth group from the Speyer parish embarked on a four-day mission trip to Latvia. Their destination was the "Ray of Hope" children's center in the city of Liepāja.

At the children's center, people provide intensive care for street children. Although these children have homes and live there, they are called street children because they grow up on the streets. Most of the children come from very difficult family situations where violence, drugs, alcohol, and prostitution are commonplace. The children's center's intention is to give each child time and love. However, its greatest concern is to show the children the way to Jesus Christ and to prevent them from falling into drug and alcohol addiction out of desperation.

Once, a 15-year-old girl came to the center's director, Tanja, completely drunk and told her, distraught, that she no longer wanted to live and would prefer to kill herself. During their conversation, she revealed that she had been drinking since she was twelve years old to forget her worries and problems.

One of the current caregivers recounted how she herself arrived at this children's center as an unloved, despised, and deeply intimidated girl. When the director, Tanja, hugged her, she burst into tears, for it was the first hug and tender gesture she could remember. At home, words like "I love you" or anything similar were never spoken.

But God accomplished His work in her: The girl, who previously preferred to remain silent for fear of being laughed at for what she said, is now a redeemed and loving child of God. Through God's wonderful guidance, several street children in the past have been converted, and today they stand firm in their faith, some of whom have even started their own families in the Lord and are now active in the children's center.

On site, we organized a large outdoor game where we playfully introduced the children to the word of God. We immediately noticed that a small hug or a gentle smile warmed the children's hearts. They often don't experience such gestures at home. In anticipation of Mother's Day, the mothers and grandmothers were invited to the children's center.

For weeks beforehand, the children had been preparing, making cards, decorating flowerpots, and diligently practicing poems and songs. In their performances, the children frequently emphasized how grateful they were to have someone close to them. Saying these simple words wasn't easy for them because of their difficult family circumstances.

In addition to these special events, we also visited the children in their homes. There, extreme poverty prevails, along with a palpable coldness between parents and children. We brought them food parcels and a short church service to share the joy.

We continued to share our Lord's message. In conversations with some parents, we quickly realized how they were tearfully searching for the true meaning of life, a meaning that had previously remained hidden from them.

One evening we had the opportunity to visit an 80-year-old devout nun who, due to health reasons, has been unable to attend church services since March 2020. There we felt such a blessing and God's love. Through God's word, testimonies, and song, we young people were greatly strengthened, and the nun accompanied us to the door with tears in her eyes.

The trip was very unusual for our youth group. We would never have thought it possible that such poverty, in a spiritual and psychological sense, exists in Europe.

Please pray for the children of the children's center, that the Lord may reveal Himself to them and their families. Please also include the work of the children's center in your prayers, so that God may send His workers into the harvest field.

We are very grateful to God for the time and for the blessing He bestowed upon us there.

Jessica Lenz,

Municipality of Speyer

 

More information about the project and the opportunity to donate:

https://cdh-stephanus.org/strahl-der-hoffnung/