The Salvation Army opened the Patvērums Childrens Day Centre in March 2002 to provide a safe environment for underprivileged children from the local community in Riga.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Update...
3 weeks ago we told you about 2 of our mum's and their current situations. We felt it was important to update you!
The first mum, whose husband dies suddenly, is doing remarkably well. After the initial shock she returned home and started going to social services to do all the necessary requirements to get her children back. The 2 most important things were that she show she has a place to live and then second that she has work. Last week she found a job as a cleaner and although it doesn't provide her with enough money each month it is a start. The flat that they have been living in is not in the mum's name and so it is very likely that she will have to move but she is working with social services to receive a 'social flat'.
This week she has gone through an inspection and because of all that she has done she has been told there will be no need for a court hearing regarding the custody of her 2 children and if she can find childcare for her youngest child then they will be returned to her in a month’s time.
We are so pleased at the way she has coped with all of this. She has been to see us a number of times and we continue to support and encourage her as much as we can!
The other family has unfortunately not had such a good time. The mum chose not to move into the room offered to her but to stay at home. The last 2 weeks have been very difficult for her and at the moment there is very little hope that the situation will change. All we can really do is be there for her and professionally and gently keeping 'pushing' her to do the things necessary to become free from this abuse.
Thank you for your thought and prayers for these 2 families but as you can see they still need your prayers!
The boy's group continues to meet once every 2 weeks. Here is a picture of one of them proudly holding his finished bird's house. This is the second project he has completed and it was clear to see how pleased he was of his work. It's great that after 4 years we're able to provide this kind of opportunity for our boys. Edgars, supported by Inese, is going a great job with them! We thank God for him!!
As promised here is a photo of the finished Giant Lord's prayer! It took the children (& staff) about 2 weeks but it was worth it as we are really pleased with how it looks. This week we are starting to plan this years Easter and Spring activities, so we hope the children will not only enjoy taking part but will learn and experience something new about Easter.
As mentioned in the last entry yesterday we celebrated the centre's 4th birthday! Like last year we went to Aquaparks - a very popular water themepark!!
We took 14 children and had 2 fun hours swimming in the different pools, relaxing in saunas and flying down the slides!
When we got back to the centre we tucked into our well earned tea - 4 giant pizza's and a birthday cake!
In one way it's hard to believe the centre is now 4 years old - time, as always is flying by! We only had 1 original child there yesterday and he was given the first piece of pizza!
Here's to the next year and all that it will bring!?!
We're really pleased to write that yesterday our new member of staff joined the Patverums team! Her name is Vineta, she is training to be a social pedagogue and brings with her a variety of experiences from working with young children, doing work placements at a school and at the children's court - all valuable for working with our children and their families.
Today is really her first 'real' day as yesterday we went to Aquaparks to celebrate Patverums' 4th birthday! But more about that in another entry.
We're so happy that she has come to us and feel that God has great things planned with her on the team. Once again God has shown us that his timing is right and that He knows best!!
Please keep her in your prayers as she settles in and that the children will soon get to know her and not give her too hard a time!
It's been a busy week in many ways even though we've not had that many children attending the centre due to ill health.
On Tuesday we had some shocking news that the dad of one of our boy's died suddenly 2 Sundays ago. At first we were unsure if this was true, as the lady who told us is not always the most reliable, but on Thursday we had it confirmed by social services. The dad is one we have mentioned in a number of blog postings as he was the man who was abusing his wife who we helped get a one months placement in a crisis centre back in September.
Information about what happened is still patchy but we understand that the mum has temporarily lost custody of her 2 children and that she has locked herself in at home and is drinking heavily. We are obviously very concerned for her. We are trying to work with social service but it depends on how much they can officially tell and what they can let us do. We have tried to get in touch with the mum but haven't be able to do so at present.
Please pray for her as she is a good mum and she needs to get herself together so that she can get her children back and begin her new life with them. Also please pray for the children Janis and Rebeka. We don't know where they are and whether they are together or not.
Also this week we have had one mum spend a lot time at the centre again because of her husband abusing her. She has 2 children and this violence has been going on for sometime. The dad does not live with them all the time but comes and go's as he pleases and this week the dad returned home and beat her up again. She is in the process of trying to divorce him and so guaranteeing keeping her flat and belongings but these things take time.
Since her children have been coming to the centre she has also started attending Riga 1 corps, helping with the Friday breakfast they serve and attending Bible studies and one of the lieutenant's called Aldona at the corps has spent a lot of time listening to her and praying with her. Today she turned up to help with breakfast with bruising on her arm and face. After a conversation between Aldona and an employee and member of TSA here in Riga, she has been offered a room in a flat together with her children. As I type she should be moving in! This has all been arranged very quickly and for a while it was hard to keep up with events, but we sincerely hope that this will be the break she has needed. To be able to finalise her official documentation and be able to get work is potentially a long process but we hope that by all of us working together will be able to help her get a new life, free of domestic violence.
So again, please can you pray for her that she will have the courage and strength to see this through so that she and her children can live in safety. Also thank God for this opportunity of a safe place to live and that together we will be able to help her.
Every week we organise a creative activity for the children to do. They can vary a lot from painting a Bible verse across a giant banner, making mobiles to hang from the ceiling, window art, glass painting the list goes on and on!
The children are free to take part (or not) when they wish as the activity runs for the whole week, that way if children are away for a few days they don't miss out.
Some children love doing the different activities whereas some we have to encourage to take part and normally the promise of receiving a 'smiley face' will do the trick (the child with the most smiley faces at the end of the week gets a prize!)
Here is a photo of 2 of the craft we've recently done – 'Window art' and 'Pouring Glasses' This week we actually have 2 activities planned. The first being to make a 'Snow Globe'. A must seeing we've had a LOT of snow over the past week or so and the second is a 'Giant Wall Lord's Prayer' where the children can choose any word for the prayer and paint it (and illustrate if they want) onto a piece of coloured A4 paper and then we will put them onto the large wall in the main room. We're sure it's going to look very bright and eye catching! We'll post a picture when it's done!
