[:en]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
[:et]Tervitusi hiliskevadisest-varasuvisest Riiast!
Riias on kõik pargid rohelised ja sirelid hakkavad läbi õitsema. Oleme saanud kevadet nautida juba mõnda aega, aga eile oli meil juba suviselt palav ning termomeeter näitas peaaegu 30C.
Kasparil on see kevad olnud väga pingeline, kuna ta pidi kirjutama 300 leheküljelise praktika aruande ning 60 leheküljelise diplomitöö turisminduses. Sellele lisaks on tal veel kolm eksamit ning kaks nendest on kogu viie aasta materjali peale. Üks eksam on juba edukalt tehtud ning diplomitöö kaitstud. Jäänud on veel kehakultuuri ja füsioteraapia lõpueksamid ning siis saab lõpuks Kasparil kool läbi.
Kuigi Rasmus käib veel beebikoolis on ta juba beebieast välja kasvanud. Tema lemmiktegevusteks on autode ritta panemine, puzzlede kokkupanek, mänguväljakul turnimine, jooksmine, batuudil hüppamine ja loomade vaatamine/paitamine (erilised lemmikud on kassid ja koerad). Kuigi tema keel on suures osas ikka veel „rasmuse keel“, omab ta igas küsimuses oma arvamust ja teeb selle ka kõigile teatavaks.
Mind on ametlikult vastu võetud kommunistliku Aasia riigi seminarile Rootsis, mis toimub 27. augustist 9. septembrini. Pool seminari maksumusest on meil juba olemas ning loodame, et saame kokku ka teise poole rahast ja reisiraha. Novembris toimuvale strateegilise juhtimise kursusele Hispaanias pole meil veel ei finantse ega ka teadet kas oleme seminarile vastu võetud. See aasta on olnud meile finantsiliselt väga raske. Oleme väga tänulikud palvete ja toetuste eest. Rohkem võimalusi meie tööle kaasa aidata leiab siit.
„Challenge 4“ (väljakutse) – suvelaager liikumispuuetega inimestele
Sellel aastal toimub „Challenge“ laager 2.-9. juulini uues asukohas – Raiskumsi eriinternaatkoolis (Cesise lähedal). Seal on laagrilistele on väiksemad toad, voodid, korralikud dušširuumid ning võimalus olla piiramatult värskes õhus. Kõik see on ju tegelikult hädavajalik, kuid eelmistel aastatel seda me kahjuks pakkuda ei saanud. Sel aastal ei pea me ka muretsema toiduvalmistamise pärast, sest see on juba hinna sees. Samas pakub uus koht ka väljakutset (muidu ei oleks ju laagril õige nimi 😉 ) – meie jaoks on see kant suhteliselt tundmatu ning mitmeid traditsioonilisi tegevusi ei ole võimalik seal läbi viia (näiteks seiklusrada). Samas püüame leida võimalusi uute tegevuste jaoks (nagu näiteks parvesõit).
Juba 22 laagrilist on oma ankeedid saatnud ning soovivad laagrisse tulla. Koos personaliga on meil momendil kokku 44 inimest ning vaid mõned vabad kohad on jäänud. Laagriliste hulgas on nii läti kui vene keelt kõnelejad, nii ratastooli kasutajaid kui ka iseseisvalt kõndijaid, pimedaid ja hea nägemisega, kõneraskustega ja vabalt kõnelejaid ning vanale karastunud personalile lisaks on meil ka täiesti uusi abilisi – see kõik teeb laagri ettevalmistuse keerukaks. Kõige suuremaks väljakutseks on meie laagri finantsiline olukord. 27. juuniks tuleb meil maksta elamise ja toidu eest 3500Ls (5000€) ning sellele lisaks vajame transpordi ja muu tegevuse jaoks umbes 1000Ls (~1430€). Kui me liidame kokku osavõtu maksu, juba olemas oleva raha ning loodetava raha kohalikelt kogudustelt ja ärimeestelt, saame kokku ~1500Ls (~2140€). Kui me 27.juuniks kogu 3500Ls ära ei maksa, siis ei saa me Raiskumsis laagrit läbi viia. Sellest oleks väga kahju, sest paljude laagriliste jaoks on see laager aastas ainsaks korraks kodust välja saada, teiste inimestega kohtuda ning värskes õhus viibida.
Palun palveta laagri finantside eest ja kui Sa oled võimeline väikese summaga seda toetama, siis palun võta meiega ühendust. Mina ja Kaspar oleme mõistnud, et meile ei valmista probleeme praktiline töö ja laagri programmi ettevalmistamine, aga meie raskuseks on rahaliste vahendite leidmine. Me ei ole isegi leidnud kohta, kuhu võiksime raha küsimiseks saata projekti. Kui Sa oled just sel alal andekas ning soovid meid selle aasta või järgmise aasta laagri finantside leidmisel aidata, siis palun anna endast teada. See oleks meie tööle väga suureks abiks.
Vastame hea meelega ka Sinu küsimustele!
Loodame, et saadame järgmise ringkirja juuli keskel ja see räägib „Challenge“ laagrist 😉
Õnnistusi,
Evelyn, Kaspars ja Rasmus
[:LV]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
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