In Winter

“Sometimes our fate resembles a fruit tree in winter. Who would think that those branches would turn green again and blossom, but we hope it, we know it”—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Winter: it is the special time that we are given every year when we have the chance to slow down, to cozy up with a blanket and a cup of tea, to think and to listen. It is the opportunity to process the past, present, and future and really grasp hold of God’s timing and perspective. This winter, we at Freedom61 have done just that. We have focused on going back to the basics and making the foundations of the ministry even stronger.

Part of going back to the basics is that we have taken time to develop a new café outreach training for current and new volunteers. This comprehensive training gets to the heart of the Freedom61 café, the why and how of what we do. We have spent time exploring God heart and perspective on vulnerable and exploited women, cultivating a better understanding of the relationship between prostitution and human trafficking, developing a more well rounded set of café protocols and communicating the practicals of serving in the café, as well as equipping our volunteers of how to care for their own hearts and given them tools on how to healthily process what they see, hear, and experience while serving with F61.

We are looking forward to the next season for Freedom61. We will be recruiting new volunteers for the café outreach as well as for other aspects of the ministry. We are looking to diversify the ways in which individuals can serve out of their gifts and talents and build toward sustainability within the ministry and platforms for expansion. Please pray for us in this process as we pray and act on God’s leading.

In the past few months we have been walking with women who are facing many tough situations and we have been seeing them fall through the cracks in the systems. We are seeing where women are being helped and where they are not. While it has been frustrating at times to watch this happen, it has reaffirmed our desire and need to partner with other organizations. We understand that we cannot meet every need and neither can any other organizations. We are continuing to building relationships and collaborating with groups who are advocating and supporting vulnerable women in Latvia.

Quick update on the laws in Latvia: in the last few weeks, the Latvian parliament has put forth changes to the prostitution laws in Latvia. We feel that the laws are making steps forward to address the issue of prostitution in Latvia by legally defining prostitution and creating regulations for it. One of the big changes in the law and a step forward in protecting women is that the age of a woman able to work in prostitution has been raised from 18 to 25 years. The laws about prostitution in Latvia are complicated, but there is conversation happening within the government and that is an encouraging sign as we hope for change.

Pray with us:
Let's be honest, we need prayer, here's how you can join us.

Pray for the development and implementation of the new café training
Volunteer recruitment and people to join the F61 team
Collaboration with other organizations
Changing laws in Latvia

Thank you for your continued support and prayers,
we are so grateful for you!

Much love, the Freedom61 team

To make donations mail checks to:

YWAM Slavic Ministries
P.O. Box 4213
Salem, OR 97302

Note: Make check payable to YWAM Slavic Ministries for a tax deductible receipt. Attach a separate note for:
*Freedom61 Riga or Transition Center YWAM Latvia*

Or for online donation through
Slavic Ministries CLICK HERE.

Facebook

Website

Instagram

In Winter

Pray with us: Let's be honest, we need prayer, here's how you can join us.

To make donations mail checks to:

Pray with us:
Let's be honest, we need prayer, here's how you can join us.