As we all look forward to Christmas this year there is already a sense of celebration in the air. Of course we wish you all a very happy Christmas but a Christmas when we hope you will be thinking of how you can make others happy too. For “happiness” Latvia takes 164^th position out of 178 countries, according to research by Adrian White of Leicester University in the UK, so needless to say we have a lot of work to do here this next month to ensure a "happy" Christmas for the Latvian families and children we serve.

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless…Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked (Psalm 82:3-4).

At the end of 2005 there were still 3970 children living in children's homes in addition to the children who are placed with a guardian or foster family. Live births here are still outnumbered by deaths, and it is estimated that since 1991 up to 40,000 people have left Latvia to find better paid work abroad, the average salary here being only 218 LS (approx $400) a month as of June this year. Many children feel abandoned by their parents who left them with friends or relatives while they try to get out of financial crisis this way.

With our entry into the European Union prices for food and other basics have risen sharply but more great is our concern for those who are struggling to pay rent in the many privately owned apartment blocks. As of January 2007 rent will be no longer capped in houses that were reclaimed after the communist period and it is estimated that up to 20,000 people could be forced out of their homes because they cannot afford to live there anymore.

In the midst of all these problems it can sometimes seem that our help is only a drop in the ocean but time after time with God's help we are bringing a smile to the very sad and hope and comfort to many who are desperate. There is a long, cold winter ahead of us here in Latvia and every word of encouragement, every prayer and every gift is so valuable to us. For those of you who have supported faithfully over the past year we hope the following news will be an encouragement to you. We have been busy in many spheres and although our workload may have become lighter in our reorganisation of the children's home into foster family units we have had the joy of being able to open two more day centres for children this year and also become more involved with finding adoptive families for children in care.

CHILDREN'S DAY CENTRES

In July this year we began our new day centre for children in Skrunda in temporary accommodation we're renting above a local food shop. Some of the children that come to this centre had no electricity at home, which meant that the pump for water from their well was also not working. When we took them swimming in the river and they undressed several of them revealed scars from multiple beatings at home. Many of the children simply didn't get enough to eat and we found some who were avoiding going back to school in September because they didn't have any decent clothes to wear or materials they needed for lessons. Vineta and Andris work hard though to meet as many of the children's needs as they can trying to protect them and teach them to protect themselves at the same time alleviating their suffering and building them towards a better future. Unfortunately it may take a very long time for the situation at home to change for these kids but at least they have now something of an oasis.

HOMES

The happy boy in the photo is one boy who was on such a self-destruction course after becoming fully orphaned that we thought he could very well not make it through final school exams. After many tearful prayers and much hard work though we could really celebrate with him his graduation this year. When you are 18+… do you then stop being in need of family and support? Of course not, and especially in the case of our children who have usually missed one or more years of schooling and need support to finish their basic education. We are so thankful to those who have helped regularly support some of our 'older' children in the 18-21 yrs age group of which we are still accommodating 8 until they are on their feet and can live independently.

ADOPTIONS—OUR INVOLVEMENT

Hope for Children has never been an adoption agency but of course knowing how much joy can be given by children in care here and knowing how much they need to have a family to call their own we have done all we can in the past to encourage both local and foreign people to adopt.Of course most people prefer to adopt a baby but because of a hosting program we have become involved with in Atlanta, USA older children over 9 yrs of age who are in care here have been able to stay with families for the Christmas or summer holidays and on several occasions through this have found themselves a 'forever' family. On two occasions we have accompanied orphans to Atlanta and have seen miracles happen as God has moved in the hearts of the families there to take children so rejected and wounded into their home and go through long and expensive procedures to become the parents they so greatly need.

SOME JOYFUL MOMENTS

In many ways we have been so blessed over the past year. For the children Christmas was a wonderful celebration as were the long summer holidays with much fun on the beach and at our rented summer house. One of our former children got married in August and two have given birth to their first child. For our staff we were very saddened to hear in July Helen Grimshaw had been diagnosed with cancer of the retina but then overjoyed when after much prayer the doctors declared in August it had gone!

For all of us it was an encouragement and sign of recognition of our hard work when our director Helen Vipass was introduced to HM queen Elizabeth II on her State visit to Latvia in October. We'd very much like to take this opportunity to thank the teams that have come out to us to help us in our work this past year. One team helped by putting in all the plumbing in the day centre we're preparing in Skrunda and another did a wonderful job helping us entertain the children during the long summer holidays.

We also enjoyed very much two young volunteers, from the UK and Canada, who provided much needed helping hands in many ways and also those who came remembering the needs of the staff too. The kindness these people showed and their friendship has really encouraged the children in learning English as well, something that will really help equip them for the future.

FAMILY SUPPORT

With help from Hope for Latvia in the UK and others we continue to distribute aid to many families trying to survive on much less than they need even for the basics. Most in need are single mums who have nowhere to leave preschool children and so can't work. They are not allowed any benefits from Social Services because they lost registration at the unemployment office after turning down several jobs. We believe that if it hadn't been for our support many parents would have given up the battle to survive and many more children would have been placed in care. Presently we are seeking a new team member to lead and develop the work amongst parents who turn to us not only for practical help but also for guidance and moral support. Seminars that we have conducted in the past have not only been informative for our troubled parents but also a place of fellowship and mutual encouragement.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• The children, for much healing in their lives and likewise for their
  parents. And for those who have recently left us to begin independent
  life.
• The government of Latvia, especially in forming policies to protect the poor and weak.
• That more churches would establish centres of support for children and families in crisis.
• That God would prompt more families to open their homes to abandoned and abused children.
• The development of better accommodation for the day centre in Skrunda.
• The staff, who can feel at times like they've just fought several rounds in
  a boxing ring! They need lots of special grace for a more-than-full-time job. Pray for wisdom, courage, patience, strength and lots of unconditional love for the children and their parents.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE PRACTICALLY IN OUR MISSION…

We are missing many skilled hands in Latvia that can help us with our centres repairs. If you are good at DIY please consider if you would like to come out to help us. Also, enthusiastic children's workers are always welcome! We have bought some land by the sea and are looking for unwanted caravans that the children could stay in until we've built a holiday centre for them there. Donations are particularly needed now to finish repairs at our planned new accommodation in Skrunda for the children's day centre.