Summertime News

These summer months have been busy in many ways, but also quite slow, as summers often are. We have hosted two teams, had two girls come and go at the Women’s Center, finally paid the costs of the center, and have taken a lot of time to pray.

About a year and a half ago we started the process of fundraising for the Women’s Center. At that point we thought we would need around 100,000€ to remodel and furnish the center, but as the project came together we needed extra costs, and at the time of the opening in April we still owed the building company 25,000€. But through many faithful donors and God’s amazing provision, in July, we finally saw all the money come in, a total of 150,000€. We are so amazed and grateful for this provision of finances in order to make this center a beautiful home.

We have had two teams come in the last few months. At the end of June, the YWAM Heidebeek Maintenance team came to help fix up the staff house at the center. They were able to completely redo the bathrooms, refinish the floors, and repaint the walls, making it a livable space for us.

Then in July we had a team from Ventura, California here to help with projects around the center as well as investing in the girl we had here at the time. At the end of their time they also helped host a barbeque at the café in Riga. We are so grateful for all the work these teams were able to do! We are also looking forward to a team coming from Seattle in September.

At the café in Riga, we have been able to meet with many girls, but we are finding that even though our center is open, it is too big of a step for many of our girls to make at this time. At the end of May we did have one girl at the center, she was here for six weeks, then we had another girl for two weeks. With both they weren’t ready to make the commitment to making a lasting change in their lives and decided to not stay at the center. For our team, while we knew that not every girl would stay through the program, it was a hard reality to invest in the girls and then to see them leave. Since our second girl left, a few weeks ago, we have spent an increased time intentionally in prayer and worship, using this extra time that we have now to go back to our roots and truly surrender this center and the work that we are doing into God’s hands while specifically interceding for the girls on the streets.

With our Old Town ministry we have been able to go out three times, once a month. We have a great group of male volunteers who have joined us. The main focus right now is prayer as we prepare to start spreading awareness of the realities of prostitution and trafficking in Riga.

Prayer Requests:

We invite you to join us in prayer for the girls on the streets. That there will be breakthrough and that girls will see that they can get off the streets if they want to, and that the center is truly open for them.
Please be praying for our team, that we will be refreshed in this season of praying and waiting, especially as many of us transition back from being away for part of the summer.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers,
we are so grateful for you!

Much love, the Freedom61 team

To make donations mail checks to:

YWAM Slavic Ministries
P.O. Box 4213
Salem, OR 97302

Note: Make check payable to YWAM Slavic Ministries for a tax deductible receipt. Attach a separate note for:
*Freedom61 Riga or Transition Center YWAM Latvia*

Or for online donation through
Slavic Ministries CLICK HERE.

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