THE WORK IN ORPHANAGES

Now, we collaborate and support 13 orphanages and social care centers. Every year in summer we plan several missionary groups who are coming to Latvia. There is cooperation with some churches in Latvia, involving people to serve as volunteers. In result of this cooperation children from orphanages have good relations with these people and have their own support persons.

MISSION TRIPS
The special place in our work is for mission trips. Buckner organizes two types of ministry programs. There are so called one week mission trips, with Vacation Bible school organized in one or two orphanages. The second type of ministry is intern program for one month, when missionary group spends longer time (2-3 weeks) in one orphanage, making relations with children, leading classes and helping staff in any practical way. The rest 1-2 weeks they join to one week missionary groups and go to another orphanage. The intern program is very worthy, because children have a chance to spend longer time and to get to know the participants of this missionary group during classes, as well as individually. Mission trips are real blessing to both participants (to guests and translators), and children, and staff of the orphanage, by receiving and learning God’s love to all people.

VOLUNTEER WORK
It is hard to imagine Buckner’s work in orphanages without people, who understand this big need and selflessly serves to these children, whose life has not smiled to them. Everyone can take part in volunteer work who wants to give love and to help children to become society members of full value. Volunteer work helps to keep in touch with children after mission trips and wonderful camps have ended. Thanks to all who have taken part in volunteer work! And we gladly wait and hope on new people who are willing to take part in this ministry. Maybe you can do it, too?

If your church, organization or company has an interest in volunteer work with children or alternative foster care forms, we offer to organize seminar in time and place convenient for you.

Cooperation with the ministry program of Mathew church “Help the child”
“Help the child” is the ministry of Mathew’s church, through which many people serve to Salvation Army orphanage “Home”, to orphanage in Tērvete and in baby home “Teika”. During this long cooperation, many children have gained new friends and support persons.

COOPERATION WITH CHURCHES
Every year there are mission trips, during which children learn Christianity principles and their use in lives – how to love each other, how to be sympathetic, how to be obedient, how to keep your heart pure, how to be aware every day, that God is near you and protects you.

As these trips are during summers, we saw that it is necessary to have regular link with children during whole year. Therefore we cooperate with churches, which are ready to go to children and regularly serve them through whole year.

We support studying materials for churches and if necessary, we pay expanses for fuel, as well as expanses for copying all the materials, office supplies, and sweets. Our aim is to develop such groups as many as we can in orphanages.