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.

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.

 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.

"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.

"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.

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!