Humanitarian--Riga, Latvia---Freezer, Refrigerator, and Shelves

Samaritan Food Distribution collects food from local grocery stores, such as Rimi and Maxima. 

During the holiday season there are boxes in which people may donate non-perishable food items. The Latvian people have been very generous this year.

There is also another collection during Easter time. 

These items then are taken to a warehouse and sorted by volunteers. 

The food is distributed all over the country to those in need. They also distribute to Elderly Homes, Disabled Homes, and Children's Homes.

Samaritan has 2 vans that go out 3 times a week to various locations.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 2 large shelving units, 1 Freezer, and 1 Refrigerator. 

Samaritan hopes to use the Refrigerator and Freezer for milk and meat products. 

The warehouse is already using the shelves for purchased food from donors. 

 Riga at Christmas

Humanitarian--Senior Housing in Liepaja, Latvia

The governmental Housing for Senior Citizens is located in Liepaja very close to the main part of the city. This housing is provided by the government which the Seniors pay a small rent of about 15 euros. However, their utility bills run about 30 to 50 euros per month. They have little pensions coming in and kitchen items are too expensive for them. 

They have a small one room unit and a sink in the kitchen. They have a small seperate toilet, but they share a common shower. They are not provided with anything in their apartments and have to buy or bring their own items, even their own beds.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provided 10 rental units with single beds and mattresses,  hotplates, and kettles.

The sister missionaries and the Relief Society President of the Liepaja Branch delivered the goods to the Senior Home.

This project was found by the Relief Society President in Liepaja. The branch is planning on singing carols at the home during the Christmas Season. 

 
 

Humanitarian--Liepaja Children's Social Care Center- Pillows for Handicap

A Handicap Home in Liepaja, Latvia will receive 40 pillows made by the Latvia District Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

  

About 20 sisters in Riga, Latvia started sewing the pillows on November 12, 2022. In Liepaja, Latvia, a 3-hour drive west of Riga, the sisters will meet for the sewing project on November 26, 2022. 

The pillows will be distributed to the Children's Social Care Center in December. 

Even the Sister Missionaries in Latvia were involved. 

Donated funds from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped the sisters with the humanitarian project. 

Liepaja

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Liepaja, Latvia is home to the largest mechanical pipe organ in the world. 

World's Largest Mechanical Pipe Organ

Humanitarian--- Riga, Latvia Children's University Hospital

The Children's University Hospital is the only children's hospital in Latvia. The hospital is 123 years old this year and plans are to change 122 to 123. 

James Armitstead, a wealthy industrialist and trader, willed 200.000 gold rubles to benefit Riga City's society. Riga City decided to establish a children's hospital. In October of 1899 the hospital was open to the general public.
 

In 2021 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 5 baby mattresses. 

These mattresses help to hold an infant comfortably while receiving an ultrasound. 

The church also donated some breast pumps and humidifiers. 

In 2022, the church donated a fetal monitor. 

Other clinics for women in Riga have monitors, but this one is the first one for the hospital.

The hospital has around 286 beds for children. 

They have outpatient, surgeries, emergency rooms, clinics for psychology. The have special facilities for families.
Just recently they decided to turn one of their buildings on the complex into a kitchen. 

With industrial cooking and washing facilities the hospital is able to provide healthy meals to the children during their stay. 

The Children's University Hospital is also a teaching hospital.

They have over 1,000 professional staff members.

The hospital is in a state of growth with new wings and updated facilities being built. 

They hope to have a complete renovation of the complex by 2024. 

Latvia, Our New Home (Riga, Capitol of Latvia)

We left Germany the 10th of May. We were in a hotel for 71 days. We were just about to move into an apartment when we got the call to serve in Latvia, one of our countries for humanitarian. 

With all the big changes we were excited to go but hated to leave the beautiful country of Germany.

Photo taken in Michelstadt, Germany, one of my favorite fairy tale cities. Other favorites were Mespelbrunn, Miltenburg, Karlsruhe, Lindau, and of course the old part of Frankfurt. 
 

We were able to visit our foreign exchange student, Joy, and her family in Switzerland. We hosted her in Arizona during her Junior Year in high school. 

Riga, was the first city we were called to. However, as we were preparing, our calling was changed to Humanitarian in Belarus. We never made it to Latvia until now. 

St. Gertrude's Church is located at the end of our block. This is a photo from the front of our apartment. The church has a history of being built and rebuilt 7 times of either stone or wood. Each invasion, from different countries, during its history destroyed this church. Russia was the only country that did not destroy the church but stole the organ and bells and took them back to Russia. 1866-1869 was the last construction built in stone and brick. 

By the start of the twentieth century St Gertrude's recorded more than 30,000 church members, meeting as three distinct congregations.

The German congregation and the Latvian congregation alternated their services between Sunday morning and Sunday afternoons, and a second Latvian congregation worshipped on Sunday evenings. From 1903 to 1906 a second church was built, now known as St Gertrude New Church, and became the center of the Latvian congregations, leaving Old St Gertrude's as the German-speaking church for Riga.

Wood architecture in Riga was popular and built until the start of World War II. Less than a century ago, there were around 12,000 wooden buildings in Riga, of which approximately 4,000 have survived to this day, the oldest of which was built at the end of the 18th century.

The architecture in Riga is fascinating. Each building is different and has unique window fames, doors, and roof lines. There are many colors of buildings. Each street has their own style between Soviet times and modern. The bottom floors are usually shops, restaurants, convenient stores, or clothing. 

We are starting to use the bus system to get around, but most everything we need is within walking distance. 

Humanitarian in Riga, Latvia-- Motis Vita, and Children's Hospital

 MOTUS VITA is a nonprofit voluntary organization for people with limited abilities founded in 2009 in Riga, Latvia, to support persons with limited abilities affected by neuromuscular diseases (NMD) and their families.

LDS Charities provided mattresses, a medical bed, wheelchairs and parts, therapy equipment and other medical equipment to this organization.

We have not been able to get into the country because of COVID restrictions, but we hope to soon. 

"The main goal of our association is to prolong life of persons with limited abilities and to improve their quality of life."

Children's University Hospital in Riga, Latvia

LDS Charities is providing a Cardiotocography machine for the continuous recording of a fetal heart rate via an ultrasound transducer placed on the woman's abdomen especially for high-risk pregnancy.

"Specialists of Children’s Hospital provide a wide range of treatment and health care in the treatment of complicated and complex illness cases. All the processes in our hospital are organized so that the patient receives the most effective, safe and the best  quality treatment and care. It is realized through following the international experience and achievements in medical science and research, and by implementing these principles in the practice."