Greetings from Riga where everything is blooming!
In Latvia spring is the time when everything and everybody are waking up. Everything is green and blooming. People look happier and are smiling more (it is not usual in Latvia to smile for a stranger). Not everybody is wearing black anymore – it is possible to see even colours…
For Kaspar this spring is really busy and difficult time, because he has to pass four major exams and to write 300 pages long practise overview and 60 pages long graduation paper. He has finished his written works, but exams are still underway.
Rasmus is not a baby anymore even that he still goes to baby-school. He likes animals (especially cats and dogs), to solve jigsaw puzzles, to line up his car collection, to jump on trampoline, to play in play-grounds, to run, to copy us with everything. He has is opinion of everything even that mostly we still do not understand, because he is still using “his language” mixed with some Estonian and Latvian.
I (Evelyn) got accepted to Asian country seminar what will take place in Sweden from August 27th to September 9th. We already have one fifth of finances for this seminar. We still do not have any idea can we go to Spain in November and join Strategic Leadership Course, because at the moment our applications are not yet accepted and we have no money for this at all. This year has been financially difficult for us and your prayers are really appreciated.
„Challenge 4“– summer camp for people with physical disabilities
There is “Challenge 4” planned to happen at 2-9 of July, 2011 in new location – Raiskums Boarding school (northeast of Latvia, close to Cesis). This place will be much more comfortable for participants, because there will be smaller rooms to live in, beds to sleep at, accessible showers to wash at, countryside to breath fresh air. All essential things, but last years we did not have these. This year as well we do not need to worry about food and cleaning, because school will provide it for us. Of course we will not be in our familiar area and will not be able to provide same activities (for example rope course), but we will try to get some other challenging activities (like boat ride etc).
There are already 22 participants applied and together with personal assistants and staff we already have 44 people. There are only few places left. Camp participants will be Latvian and Russian speaking, wheelchair users and independent walkers, blinds and with good eye sights, able to speak very clearly or not so well. We will have also new staff to join us and all of this is making this year camp already 
challenging. Challenge is getting even greater when we are looking into financial needs – we need to pay for food and housing 3500Ls (~7000$ or ~5000€) and we need for transport and extra activities 1000Ls more. If we will count together all the potential supports we hope to get from local churches, businessmen, from last year camp left over money and from participants’ fees we will have ~1000Ls and so the biggest part is still missing. It would be really sad to cancel the camp because of lack of finances. For many of participants it is only time in year when they are getting out of home, will meet other people and breath fresh air.
Please pray for camp finances and if you are able to support it even with small amount, it would be really helpful. I and Kaspars are good with practical part of this camp(s), but we do not seem to be good fundraisers. We even have no idea where to send projects to. If you have skills in this area and would like to help us with this for this year camp or for next camp(s), please let us know. It would be really appreciated!
If you have some question, you are really welcome to ask them.
We are really hoping to write our next newsletter in the middle of July with amazing report from “Challenge 4” camp.
Blessings,
Evelyn, Kaspars and Rasmus