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---Ukraine

                                            Food Delivered in Ukraine for those that are in need.

      Food is separated and put into food bags by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

                                                                      72-Hour Kits

                Food is distributed around Ukraine to various organizations and families.

Kharkiv--written by Aleksey Tkachenko our Humanitarian Manager in Ukraine

"One Kharkiv citizen was very surprised when he saw a can of stew in a package with help. Then we heard repeatedly surprises from the products. In fact, humanitarian aid is not giving away a packet of macaroni and sugar with flour. This is about care and dignity even (or especially! ) in the terms of war.

We wouldn't have collected nearly 8 tons of humanitarian aid without our friends.

This is what we received and brought to Kharkiv:

- Rice - 400 kg

⁃ Buckwheat - 400 kg

⁃ Zucchini caviar - 200 cans

⁃ Canned corn - 200 cans

⁃ Beef stew - 400 cans

⁃ Sardine in oil - 400 cans

⁃ Sunflower oil - 200 bottles.

The joy of Kharkiv residents is hard to convey in these photos.

For real. Because everything was clear in their eyes, exhausted by the Russian navalo ю and at the same time full of hope and faith in our victory.

Thank you, friends, for your good heart and support of Kharkiv!

We are getting closer to victory together"

Humanitarian--Bulgaria--Caritas and ADRA (7th Day Adventist)

"Cartis Sofia" has started their project. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated to the organization for the refugees coming in from Ukraine. They will provide housing/utilities, food cards and medicine/medical visits. They have donors from Norway and other church affiliated organizations. 

These funds will help with the influx of refugees for the next 6 months.

Food Vouchers arrived at the end of April and given to the Ukrainian Refugees at Caritas Office in Bulgaria. These food vouchers are being distributed in Sofia, Burgas, and Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has partnered with ADRA (7th Day Adventist) in providing food for the cities and villages of southern Ukraine. 

Our partner drives with a caravan about twice a month and delivers food and medicines. 

 

Humanitarian--Belarus "Сафія" (Sofia)

 Belarus was our first country where we served starting in 2020. Due to COVID we were only there for 2 weeks. We served from home in the United States until May 2021. We did not return to Belarus but served in Kiev, Ukraine. We still received projects from our director in Minsk with "Sofia". 

 

Our director travels all over the country and finds boarding houses, clinics, and retirement homes that are in need of help.

Most of the projects include beds, mattresses, cabinets, kitchen appliances, washers and dryers.

This past year of 2021 there were 16 projects in 15 different locations.

The cities/villages are: Restyanski, Komarin, Kostyukovichi, Soltanovdski, Brest, Kozlovshchina, Novogrudok, Voronovsky, Torchilovo, Novoselki, Malorita, Nesvizh, Lyakhovichi, Minsk, and Beshenkovichi. 

Many of the organizations wrote articles and published them in their newspapers or websites. 

Article from Brest

Article from Malorita:

Our director is still going strong in Belarus and finding ways to help the vulnerable people. With the help of "Sofia" the people live more comfortably, and the doctor's and nurses are able to take care of their patients with more care and efficiently. 

Humanitarian--Turkey (Denizli Alzheimer's Association) and Dementia Alzheimer's in Mezitli, Mersin.

LDS Charities donated medical equipment for the Alzheimer's Association Denizli Branch clinic including: medical beds, walkers, handicap toilet seats, bed lifts, anti-decubitus mattresses, wheelchairs, crutches and tracking devices.

The Alzheimer Association is a non-governmental organization that has been founded by the caregivers of Alzheimer patients in 1997 and medical doctors specialized in the field of this disease. The Association is operating with 11 branch offices throughout the country, Istanbul, Ankara, Iİzmir, Mersin, Eskişehir, Denizli, Samsun, Kayseri, Erzurum and Bursa. 

LDS Charities donated motorized beds and electric wheel chairs for the use of the citizens with Dementia Alzheimer's in Mezitli, Mersin.

Humanitarian---Ukraine, too close to home

LDS Charities has purchased vans to help distribute food coming in from other countries to the villages/cities of Ukraine.

In return the vans help families to evacuate to the borders...mostly Poland.  

Food coming through the borders are stored around the various areas. Food comes from Poland, Germany, Romania, and other countries. 

This store covers 3 villages with 7000 people. Some of the food was donated by the Government but mostly from the Ukrainian people who are dedicated and honest and want to help their neighbors.

Our boss is living in Kyiv. His day consists of picking up supplies and distributing them, patrolling the temple grounds, patrolling his own apartment building, and contacting organizations for humanitarian work. He is standing in a local area which had been occupied for 32 days. 

               This photo was taken 10 km from Kyiv which is too close to home

 

Humanitarian--Moldova, At the Border

LDS Charities provided Medical Kits, medicines, and the printing of informational booklets to be distributed to refugees entering  Moldova from Ukraine.

AO Homecare is an organization based in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. They assist and provide nursing care and volunteer help in cleaning, shopping, and laundry services in the homes of vulnerable people throughout the region. They have 23 villages/towns and 8 supply centers. 

During the Ukraine crisis they have offered their services at the borders by providing Medical supplies, medicines and informational booklets in the Ukrainian language.

The booklet provides the refugees with contacts to medical facilities, doctors, government, housing, transportation through the country to other borders, and religious organizations in the various cities.

LDS Charities has also provided the distribution of foods to the borders, and vests that distinguish the volunteers from the crowds. 

They are concentrating on the refugees combined with the government and other Christian organizations, however they still provide services to their own vulnerable citizens of Moldova.

AO Homecare was established in April of 2005 and a non-profit organization. Tamara Adasan is head of the Organization.

                                 A family at the crossing taking time away from the chaos

                      Finding a new home