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.
Monday, January 15, 2007
...and here's the concluding part!
Well, the week carried on to be a memorable one!
Thursday - we all tried not to be nervous during the morning but we knew it was going to be a big day - the inspection at 14:00 and then the interview at 15:30. I came downstairs at 13:30, one of our families was finishing their showers and Inese and I got ready to go to collect the inspector. I really felt the need to pray so with a hairdryer going on in the background we quickly came together as a staff and prayed that this day would go well and that God would be in control.
About a minute later there was an enormous bang from upstairs. I ran up to see what it was and found our main door to the outside yard off its hinges!!! This is not the first time it's happened, it's very windy at the moment and the wind can take it right off. So after a bit of shouting (I have to confess) we understood there was nothing we could do and went to the car with Inese only to discover that the school next door were having some work done on their playground and there was a trench right across the exit to our car park! I was not best pleased! We told the workmen we needed to get out and was there anything they could do. Thankfully they could and within 5 minutes they had find a section so we could drive out! We wont talk about any of the many safety rules we all probably broke.
I have to say I was not feeling optimistic about how the rest of the afternoon was going to go at this point!
We collected the inspector on time (miracle in Riga traffic these days!) and brought her back to the centre. She then started to walk around asking us questions about who came to the centre, numbers, what we did with the children etc etc. So far so good! She went into the wash room again asked a few questions, then moved on. Next we went upstairs to see where the children eat and where the kitchen is. Then she asked the question I've been dreading for 5 years! 'Where are your toilets?' Now to fill you in we have been told by various people over the years that we couldn't become official because we only have one toilet. So the question was asked and in my mind I thought 'well, here we go! It could all end now!' She was told it was back downstairs in the centre. 'Ok' she says and we carry on up the stairs!?!
We talked about the use of the rooms, how the kitchen is now registered in TSA's name and all was ok. We explained there are some more toilets on the first floor (UK Ground floor) that staff can use and that was fine. At this point she had not given us any recommendations just asked questions. It was very strange. She then started to finish up and I just couldn't get my head around it that she's not asked to see health book, nothing about changing the laundry areas, getting hand dryers fitted etc etc. So in the I had to ask if there was anything we needed to do! 'No' was her reply!!! Honestly my mouth dropped! 'OK', I said 'Thank you' and 'Can we offer you a lift back!?'
In the car she did say that if in the future we are able to move location so that there is more natural light coming into the rooms that would be good but that this was a suggestion not a requirement. I told her that this is something we have in our long term plans and that was fine!
So by 15:10 we were back at Patverums and we all had a grin on our faces!
Then came the interview and I was on a high! The lady came and we had a good interview together. She (Simona) was able to answer the questions well - my questions in English and Vineta's in Latvian (bonus points)!! She's a 3rd year students studying to be a social pedagogue and is a Christian. Afterwards I sat with Ilga, our director of social work, and agreed to offer her the job!! She has to give a months notice to her current work but can start mid February. It's her first job in social work up until now she's just done work to support her studies so I'm pleased that we will be able to give this experience.
UNBELIEVABLE!!! GOD IS AMAZING!
Friday - it was hard to follow the day before, I think we were all still riding on the wave of Thursday! It was Lilita's last day. We (the staff and I) had our Friday small group in my flat before the centre opened as always. We are almost at the end of 'Purpose Driven Life' and the last few weeks our conversations have gone really well. Everyone is making contributions and I can see the real value of the group.
It was obviously hard for Lilita, but thankfully quite a few children came throughout the day as they can often stay away on a staff's last day. We had cake & drinks together and gave her our leaving card and present. She was sorry to leave but you can tell she feels happy with her decision to move which is good.
So that was the week! It's not always like that, thank goodness! We are now short staffed for a month but it's not the first time and we'll be fine. We have set ourselves a goal to have all the official statues documents finished by the time Simona starts. This is possible as it's only really the kitchen documents to complete now.
Thank you for your prayers, as you can tell they've not been wasted! Here's to this week, may it be calm!!
posted by Patverums Childrens Day Centre @ 10:49 am
This is really great news - congratulations to you and Praise to God! As you say, it is unbelievable that we for so many years did not seek to register because of what we were told about the "missing" toilet - suppose there is a lesson for us all somewhere in this. God Bless!
This is really great news - congratulations to you and Praise to God!
As you say, it is unbelievable that we for so many years did not seek to register because of what we were told about the "missing" toilet - suppose there is a lesson for us all somewhere in this.
God Bless!