This is about our trip to Ukraine.
It was cheaper to take a bus to Tallinn, Estonia, and then fly back to Riga, and finally to Kiev, then it was to get a direct flight from Riga. So we were in Tallinn for a few hours, and it was beautiful. We took a lot of great shots. The down side to that plan was that I didn't get any sleep at all, so I felt pretty awful the first day we were in Ukraine.
The specific camp we helped out with was called, "Social Services Camp," because the children were invited by social services to the camp. Most of them were coming from families afflicted with alcoholism, abuse, or prostitution. I enjoyed the camp a lot, though it was tiring. Everyone had assigned jobs and when not at those posts we were engaging the kids. I liked the schedule a lot because it afforded me very specific times during the day when I could spend time with God. During free times I spent quite a bit of time with an older boy (I believe 15yo) named Viktor. He improved my fut'ball skills and we had a interesting time trying to communicate. He knew a bit of English but not much. I roomed with great kids and though I couldn't communicate much with them, my hope is that they felt loved by myself and the other counselors. At the end of the camp we handed out bibles and the children were delivered back to their situations. Though it seems grim, it is not rare for God to use children to change a family.
Jeremiah's Hope does a lot of really incredible things in Ukraine here is the website: http://jeremiahshope.org/
Now I will talk about the last camp we did called "New Hope."
New Hope was in Latvia and was far more exhausting than Jeremiah's Hope which was the camp we worked in Ukraine. It was exhausting because our purpose (and our pleasure) was to engage the kids 100% of the time. This camp was for teens living in orphanages and had a lot of unique challenges. The director of the camp estimated that 85% percent of the children's parents were still alive. What typically happens, is that children are neglected or abused by alcoholic parents and the state takes them away. The state gives parents opportunities to rehabilitate and regain custody of their children, but the parents often choose alcohol over their children. In working with the boys there was definitely a shared anger and defiance that came with their circumstances. I found that many of the boys sought negative attention and so I typically just ignored them when they were misbehaving.
Many of the kids begin smoking at very young ages and have addictions in their early to mid teens. There was one day I caught a girl smoking in the woods; later I grabbed a translator and told him to tell her, "I don't know why you smoke, but I think it is because you don't understand how valuable you are. For punishment you must say, 'I am really beautiful and wonderful,' three times. I think it was amusing for all of us.
Though I felt close to most of the boys in my cabin, I spent most of my time with the youngest boy at the camp, Ilja. He loved swimming and fishing and enjoyed the ropes course thoroughly. One day, I caught the boys doing something that kids do, that is rather dangerous. They were practicing asphyxiation and I told them that they needed to stop because they could potentially die. Later that day something seemed very wrong with Ilja, so I went with him and Zarina (a translator who also had a personal connection with Ilja) to a quiet place to talk. Zarina told me (that is, what he told her) that the boys had been using an asphyxiation technique on Ilja and he passed out. After he passed out, he said that he saw two roads one leading to bright light and the other leading to a fiery pit. Though he tried to steer himself towards the light he could not control his movements and he walked towards the fiery pit. As he teetered on the edge he regained consciousness and the boys were shaking him. It must have been a truly terrifying experience, I was speechless. After a while he asked why he was walking towards Hell, and I told him (through Zarina) that it was because his sin nature naturally causes him to, but that God wants to take him down the other path, to light.
One of the kids in my room stole my phone, and I found a bunch of accessories (cables, case etc...) under his bed. I never found my phone, and although many of the kids were looking for it, and interrogated my roommates, I think they got scared and ditched it somewhere. The kid who stole it made me a bracelet though, so I'll consider it a trade. I'm really glad that we made that trade, it became such a camp issue I think it brought a lot of glory to God through the conversations the kids had resulting.
I unfortunately had to leave early, and one of my brothers gave me a really valuable word before I left. It was an incredible, and exhausting time. I loved hearing the testimonies of all the counselors, and I have a lot of hope for the kids who came to camp.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Children
Last weekend I babysat 15 kids with Kirsten (the other intern) and periodic help from Kristianna (the daughter of the conference director), and some teen girls who came to help on Saturday.
I am certain that this experience was for the purpose of learning to trust God more. Latvian parenting is much different than American parenting, and honestly, it's better, it is simply nerve racking. American parents often seek to control their children and replace care with precaution. This has recently been outrageous as we have seen schools taking away things that are fun from playgrounds because they are vaguely dangerous. While it's obviously different in more urban environments, Latvian parents just let their kids scatter.
One of the first activities we did with the children is make pizza. Kristianna asks, "Connor, will you pass out the knives?" I was a little shocked. It was interesting watching the tinniest ones get tossed about on the trampoline. That was probably the moment in which I said, "God, these children's lives are quite literally in your hands..."
The weekend was truly amazing though. I had such a good time with the kids, I wish I had pictures because they were adorable. The girls loved attention and the guys loved to play and hangout. The oldest, Ginthers, stayed after the conference was over. We went the lake, practiced each others languages, we were pals. I really loved the staff at that YWAM base also, they were all very hospitable. I am amazed at how quickly relationships can form even with those who do not speak your language.
Also, local strawberries are awesome, especially in cake, and jam.
I am certain that this experience was for the purpose of learning to trust God more. Latvian parenting is much different than American parenting, and honestly, it's better, it is simply nerve racking. American parents often seek to control their children and replace care with precaution. This has recently been outrageous as we have seen schools taking away things that are fun from playgrounds because they are vaguely dangerous. While it's obviously different in more urban environments, Latvian parents just let their kids scatter.
One of the first activities we did with the children is make pizza. Kristianna asks, "Connor, will you pass out the knives?" I was a little shocked. It was interesting watching the tinniest ones get tossed about on the trampoline. That was probably the moment in which I said, "God, these children's lives are quite literally in your hands..."
The weekend was truly amazing though. I had such a good time with the kids, I wish I had pictures because they were adorable. The girls loved attention and the guys loved to play and hangout. The oldest, Ginthers, stayed after the conference was over. We went the lake, practiced each others languages, we were pals. I really loved the staff at that YWAM base also, they were all very hospitable. I am amazed at how quickly relationships can form even with those who do not speak your language.
Also, local strawberries are awesome, especially in cake, and jam.
My Vision for Riga
Last week I visited six errotic massage parlors and took pictures of the surrounding area. The purpose of this post is to show just how shady these places are despite their masquerading as a legitimate business. I found these places by doing some basic research online; these locations are prime for finding young, foreign girls. Those words should trigger the word "trafficked" in your mind.
The first location I went to, which is a few blocks from the apartment, is called Caprice. This was the most normal of the parlors, it had a front door and everything! Anyway, as you walk in this door, you go up some stairs to another door which is opaque, then into a lobby which has several murals of people having sex. Interesting for a place that can only legally give massages.
This is the building, once again, the door is in the back.
I went down stairs where some women awaited me, but I told them I was just exploring and left.
"Indigo," one must be let in from the inside.
"Dolce Vita," must be let in from the inside, there is a locked gate and a locked door one can go through. The building had walls on all four sides, one gate was unlocked and led to some back doors.
"Aleksa," around the building and through a gate leads to some stairs. As I walk in a girl in a short dress holds the door open for me. There is a kitchen and a living room connected to the small lounge witch has a fridge with alcohol in it.
Finally, "Emor," surrounded by walls, front door is unusable. Voice pad entrance through a gate.
The first location I went to, which is a few blocks from the apartment, is called Caprice. This was the most normal of the parlors, it had a front door and everything! Anyway, as you walk in this door, you go up some stairs to another door which is opaque, then into a lobby which has several murals of people having sex. Interesting for a place that can only legally give massages.
The next place was called "Sofija," as you can see there is not a front door. This is very common with these places. Usually one must go through a tunnel and into a backdoor in order to gain entrance.
This is the building, once again, the door is in the back.
"Indigo," one must be let in from the inside.
"Barbaris," was the most shady of the locations, several alleyways take you to a corner of an apartment complex where calling a voice pad would reveal your final destination.
My vision for this city is simple. I want to see Christians from local churches sending teams to these places and caring for the girls there. Providing a way out should they seek it. The other part is something that you also can help with. Praying that these places would close and that those who work there would find employment that honors them. Pray specifically for each location, we have seen several clubs in Riga close as a result of prayer.
Thanks for reading!
Freedom61 and Life in Latvia
Welcome to my first post in Latvia.
Freedom61-
Since working with Freedom61 I have been doing many things to help out at the apartment such as cleaning and fixing things. For the first time this Tuesday we have served soup and bread to the girls which was very successful. I usually walk around and pray while the girls interact and from what they told me, those on the receiving end were very grateful. One girl, Karina, stayed for an hour and a half and even mentioned that she would like to leave her profession. On Wednesdays we take part in what is called the "Transforming Riga Prayer." Riga has regions and microregions, and every week YWAM Riga picks a microregion and prayer walks there. On Thursdays we bring cupcakes, coffee, and tea, to the girls and continue to build relationship. On Fridays the men (*Tchaigo from Brazil, and myself) walk around old town and talk to tourists and inform them that prostituted girls are not free, and are in one way or another forced.
There are a few layers of work that are required to remedy this problem: prevention, perpetrator accountability, rescue, and rehabilitation/reintegration. Freedom61 has been devising ways of reintegration to couple with their relationship rescue. Should a girl working on the street decide to leave she can receive Latvian lessons at the Freedom61 apartment; this is critical for obtaining a job because most of the girls speak Russian. Given that she is not addicted to drugs or alcohol, she can live in the freedom61 apartment. If she is currently addicted freedom61 can help transition to and from a rehabilitation clinic. Lastly, Freedom61 is thinking of possible business opportunities to provide jobs themselves.
There are so many areas of prevention but the most important one of these is you. It takes a global effort to break the misconceptions that allow inaction and apathy regarding this issue.
1: Woman do not choose to become prostitutes, and those who do, have no other choice. What women do you know that want to be sexually abused 10+ times a day? What women do you know who think of that as an easy way to make money instead of getting a "real job?"
2: Women do not become prostitutes to pay for addictions, the reason most prostituted women have addictions is either because their pimp forced them, in order to gain further control over them, or because being repeatedly sexually abused is too difficult to endure sober.
3: Men are not controlled by biological imperatives. Men can find sexual freedom, and do have a choice regarding issues of pornography and prostitution.
Thank you for reading.
Freedom61-
Since working with Freedom61 I have been doing many things to help out at the apartment such as cleaning and fixing things. For the first time this Tuesday we have served soup and bread to the girls which was very successful. I usually walk around and pray while the girls interact and from what they told me, those on the receiving end were very grateful. One girl, Karina, stayed for an hour and a half and even mentioned that she would like to leave her profession. On Wednesdays we take part in what is called the "Transforming Riga Prayer." Riga has regions and microregions, and every week YWAM Riga picks a microregion and prayer walks there. On Thursdays we bring cupcakes, coffee, and tea, to the girls and continue to build relationship. On Fridays the men (*Tchaigo from Brazil, and myself) walk around old town and talk to tourists and inform them that prostituted girls are not free, and are in one way or another forced.
There are a few layers of work that are required to remedy this problem: prevention, perpetrator accountability, rescue, and rehabilitation/reintegration. Freedom61 has been devising ways of reintegration to couple with their relationship rescue. Should a girl working on the street decide to leave she can receive Latvian lessons at the Freedom61 apartment; this is critical for obtaining a job because most of the girls speak Russian. Given that she is not addicted to drugs or alcohol, she can live in the freedom61 apartment. If she is currently addicted freedom61 can help transition to and from a rehabilitation clinic. Lastly, Freedom61 is thinking of possible business opportunities to provide jobs themselves.
There are so many areas of prevention but the most important one of these is you. It takes a global effort to break the misconceptions that allow inaction and apathy regarding this issue.
1: Woman do not choose to become prostitutes, and those who do, have no other choice. What women do you know that want to be sexually abused 10+ times a day? What women do you know who think of that as an easy way to make money instead of getting a "real job?"
2: Women do not become prostitutes to pay for addictions, the reason most prostituted women have addictions is either because their pimp forced them, in order to gain further control over them, or because being repeatedly sexually abused is too difficult to endure sober.
3: Men are not controlled by biological imperatives. Men can find sexual freedom, and do have a choice regarding issues of pornography and prostitution.
Thank you for reading.
Friday, May 11, 2012
It's time to get preachy
Something that often saddens me is the way people throw around the word "Love." It's all about love; love, love, love. I hear this from people of all walks of life, but it is never real love. It always means something like: I love everyone as long as they benefit me, I love everyone as long as they love me, or I tolerate any idea or belief so people won't be mad at me.
Lately I have been thinking about the butterfly effect. Not the kind that violates the laws of physics, but the kind that deals with people. I find that few understand the verse in Romans that says, "We do not war against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities." Paul was not lying, yet in every conflict I see someone has to be the perpetrator; someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong. Who cares about why that person is behaving a certain way? Who cares what he or she has been through, or grew up with? Who care about what they are feeling, and the person they are to become? Do you know what makes a "bad person?" It takes enough "good people" to convince them that that is what they are.
I'm tired of judgement and apathy. There is so much to be done, but we are so preoccupied with our own selfish needs, and our stupid careers, and meaningless pursuits. There is a God who is waiting to use us to turn this world into a better place, but we all have some philosophy that can stamp out any remnant of faith or hope in what is just. It is as if everything is literally the opposite of what it should be. Those with faith are sitting in fancy buildings eating finger sandwiches and analyzing text (if it is not too taxing of course). Our intelligent youth are being taught every reason we should live for ourselves, instead of others. The innocent population of the world is being tortured and shamed for it.
If there is one thing I can say for sure after two decades of life it is that we have a powerful God who can overcome anything. There is hope for humanity, if your faith is in Jesus.
Lately I have been thinking about the butterfly effect. Not the kind that violates the laws of physics, but the kind that deals with people. I find that few understand the verse in Romans that says, "We do not war against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities." Paul was not lying, yet in every conflict I see someone has to be the perpetrator; someone has to be right and someone has to be wrong. Who cares about why that person is behaving a certain way? Who cares what he or she has been through, or grew up with? Who care about what they are feeling, and the person they are to become? Do you know what makes a "bad person?" It takes enough "good people" to convince them that that is what they are.
I'm tired of judgement and apathy. There is so much to be done, but we are so preoccupied with our own selfish needs, and our stupid careers, and meaningless pursuits. There is a God who is waiting to use us to turn this world into a better place, but we all have some philosophy that can stamp out any remnant of faith or hope in what is just. It is as if everything is literally the opposite of what it should be. Those with faith are sitting in fancy buildings eating finger sandwiches and analyzing text (if it is not too taxing of course). Our intelligent youth are being taught every reason we should live for ourselves, instead of others. The innocent population of the world is being tortured and shamed for it.
If there is one thing I can say for sure after two decades of life it is that we have a powerful God who can overcome anything. There is hope for humanity, if your faith is in Jesus.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Post-Finals Pre-Summer
My last final was today, and my thoughts are on the things to come.
I have read almost halfway through a book called, "The Johns," which is written from the perspective of a journalist on men who purchase sex. Now a crucial stage in every person's spiritual journey is the point at which they learn that they are not the judge, and therefore have no right to do so. For this reason I have always disliked it when women made insensitive comments about lewd men. By no means would I ever condone sexual immorality, but when one person passes judgement on another it is because they fail to understand the weakness of that person. This is always hypocritical because most people so easily overlook their own weaknesses because they understand what it means to have that weakness. From the same lips may also come a remark that metaphorically castrates males like, "boys will be boys." I'm not about to give a lecture about male identity, there are plenty out there, but it needs to be said: Men should be empowered to overcome their weaknesses, not told that they are sex crazed animals.
Alright, the actual purpose of this post is to talk about two important parts of prevention that I have not seen used before (and I believe necessary). The first is rather obvious. Sex education. Secularized sex education is awkward; essentially we are taught that you either have self control or you don't, if you can't control yourself you need to be safe, so use a condom. That.. is so far off base. Okay sex is not a bad or a shameful thing, God made sex. Right now your saying, "Connor is in that time of life where he thinks about these things, I already know this." Really? Do you? Are you ready to talk to your pre-adolescents about masturbation? Are you ready to talk with your husband and your kids about pornography? The later I will add, I will not suggest is wrong, it is wrong. I will tell you it is wrong. And this is why. (Granted I am gleaning this information from interviews and books without having a real understanding of middle aged life). The most intriguing part of this book I'm reading is the one that talks about married men. One reason that men interviewed in this book gave for going to a prostitute is because they can have sex with their wife, but they want nasty sex. I probably should put a warning somewhere that I am a rather blunt person, I'm sorry if this entire post makes you uncomfortable. Anyway, would it be far-fetched of me to blame this on pornography? Where else would masses of men get the fantasies they do? Once more, a talk about pornography is not the purpose of this blog, you can find many elsewhere.
Another common account of men who purchase sex looks something like this, "I got married and it was great for a few years, and then my wife stopped caring about the way she looked, complained of a perpetual headache whenever I was in the mood, and just generally complained all the time." Now I'm sure the men had their own inadequacies, but this post is not about the give and take of a marriage. People are expected to provide financially, emotionally, and a myriad of other things for their spouses and family. So why is it acceptable to have a sexual fallout in a marriage? Nuerochemically it is no different than any other desire, it is no more selfish than anything else expected in marriage. I am definitely not trying to shirk male responsibility, but I just wonder the damage it could do to the sex industry if married couples actually fulfilled each other. And maybe if they added a little... er.. variety. Now, my final addition to this; I know that none of this is monumental, maybe I am just in a "time of life." Men need to be affirmed, sex is a very emotional thing for males in which their spouse can express their admiration and love. That said, sex is not the only place that is expressed. Men need respect and admiration, and loathe nagging.
The point of all of that was simply to say that perhaps a lot of prevention could be done in the area of marriage and family therapy.
I have read almost halfway through a book called, "The Johns," which is written from the perspective of a journalist on men who purchase sex. Now a crucial stage in every person's spiritual journey is the point at which they learn that they are not the judge, and therefore have no right to do so. For this reason I have always disliked it when women made insensitive comments about lewd men. By no means would I ever condone sexual immorality, but when one person passes judgement on another it is because they fail to understand the weakness of that person. This is always hypocritical because most people so easily overlook their own weaknesses because they understand what it means to have that weakness. From the same lips may also come a remark that metaphorically castrates males like, "boys will be boys." I'm not about to give a lecture about male identity, there are plenty out there, but it needs to be said: Men should be empowered to overcome their weaknesses, not told that they are sex crazed animals.
Alright, the actual purpose of this post is to talk about two important parts of prevention that I have not seen used before (and I believe necessary). The first is rather obvious. Sex education. Secularized sex education is awkward; essentially we are taught that you either have self control or you don't, if you can't control yourself you need to be safe, so use a condom. That.. is so far off base. Okay sex is not a bad or a shameful thing, God made sex. Right now your saying, "Connor is in that time of life where he thinks about these things, I already know this." Really? Do you? Are you ready to talk to your pre-adolescents about masturbation? Are you ready to talk with your husband and your kids about pornography? The later I will add, I will not suggest is wrong, it is wrong. I will tell you it is wrong. And this is why. (Granted I am gleaning this information from interviews and books without having a real understanding of middle aged life). The most intriguing part of this book I'm reading is the one that talks about married men. One reason that men interviewed in this book gave for going to a prostitute is because they can have sex with their wife, but they want nasty sex. I probably should put a warning somewhere that I am a rather blunt person, I'm sorry if this entire post makes you uncomfortable. Anyway, would it be far-fetched of me to blame this on pornography? Where else would masses of men get the fantasies they do? Once more, a talk about pornography is not the purpose of this blog, you can find many elsewhere.
Another common account of men who purchase sex looks something like this, "I got married and it was great for a few years, and then my wife stopped caring about the way she looked, complained of a perpetual headache whenever I was in the mood, and just generally complained all the time." Now I'm sure the men had their own inadequacies, but this post is not about the give and take of a marriage. People are expected to provide financially, emotionally, and a myriad of other things for their spouses and family. So why is it acceptable to have a sexual fallout in a marriage? Nuerochemically it is no different than any other desire, it is no more selfish than anything else expected in marriage. I am definitely not trying to shirk male responsibility, but I just wonder the damage it could do to the sex industry if married couples actually fulfilled each other. And maybe if they added a little... er.. variety. Now, my final addition to this; I know that none of this is monumental, maybe I am just in a "time of life." Men need to be affirmed, sex is a very emotional thing for males in which their spouse can express their admiration and love. That said, sex is not the only place that is expressed. Men need respect and admiration, and loathe nagging.
The point of all of that was simply to say that perhaps a lot of prevention could be done in the area of marriage and family therapy.
Latvia and Summer 2012
Well. It is quite apparent that I am not diligent when it comes to writing (not that this was a secret), I started this blog a year ago and just finished my first post... from a year ago.
Anyway, I will be using this blog to detail my thoughts and experiences over the course of the summer, especially for my time in Latvia. I will be flying to Riga, Latvia on June 23rd, for an internship at a ministry that aims to help girls who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This is a brand new ministry that, according to the resident missionary Lysette, we may be instrumental in shaping. Thus far, the ministry has focused on providing for the girls in a material way, such as feeding them and providing blankets to keep warm. We as a group will be serving in this way but we will have many other roles. We will be visiting orphan camps, and also reaching out to sex tourists (Americans and Europeans who have come specifically to pay for sex). Some of what will do will be exciting and come of what we will do will be mundane but I am going this summer as a student of justice and of ministry. I will update this blog as much as I can throughout the summer and my internship.
Anyway, I will be using this blog to detail my thoughts and experiences over the course of the summer, especially for my time in Latvia. I will be flying to Riga, Latvia on June 23rd, for an internship at a ministry that aims to help girls who have been trafficked for the purpose of sexual exploitation. This is a brand new ministry that, according to the resident missionary Lysette, we may be instrumental in shaping. Thus far, the ministry has focused on providing for the girls in a material way, such as feeding them and providing blankets to keep warm. We as a group will be serving in this way but we will have many other roles. We will be visiting orphan camps, and also reaching out to sex tourists (Americans and Europeans who have come specifically to pay for sex). Some of what will do will be exciting and come of what we will do will be mundane but I am going this summer as a student of justice and of ministry. I will update this blog as much as I can throughout the summer and my internship.
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