Advent celebration at Zvannieki

We gather yearly - the children, the volunteers and members of the congregation - to celebrate the season of Advent, preparing for Christ's birth. Excitement is in the air. Everyone is dressed up. There is good food to be had and much singing. The evening is a memorable one for all. Sometimes the weather 'cooperates' and the drive from Riga, while beautiful, can be treacherous- especially the final 5 kilometers on unpaved and unplowed roads.

Some of the youngest make their attempts at piano playing - trying to make sense of the foreign language of musical notation. Edvins loves music and loves to sing. Omīte (the Zvannieki grandmother) took Edvins to children's opera productions. His favorite was the "Bird's Opera" (Putnu opera). He knew all of the songs and sang along. Since Edvins is visually impaired, he was assigned a seat front and center - directly behind the conductor. At the conclusion of the opera, the conductor was asked about the performance, since it was the final showing. He mopped his brow and said that this was the hardest performance ever. Why? - because a little boy sitting directly behind me sang along - well, almost along - he was ahead of the other singers and pit orchestra by almost a beat. That was our Edvins. Here he is singing at the Advent celebration.

And more...

A few of the "family" members...

The home has become a homestead; a horse, some sheep, a number of goats, chickens, dogs and cats also have become members of this family. In the summer months the children tend a garden where they grow potatoes, strawberries, lettuce, onions, various herbs, beets, carrots and in greenhouses that the older boys construct each spring - tomatoes and cucumbers. The garden ensures that during the summer and early fall the children have fresh vegetables.

For insight into what this family of 20 (persons "at home" during the week) and at least 25 on weekends eat in one week:

Dave has climbed to the top!

• 70 kg potatoes
• 6 kg carrots
• 2 kg onions
• 5 litres cooking oil

• 6 l sour cream
• 2 kg farmers' cheese (like cottage cheese)
• 2 kg cheese
• 70 eggs
• 7 kg sugar
• 1 kg salt
• 35 loaves of rye bread (less expensive than white bread and more filling)
• 10 kg meat (mostly ground meat and soup bones)
• 25 l milk (purchasing some from a local farmer, because the goats do not produce enough)
• 6 kg pasta
• 6 kg oatmeal porridge
• 3 kg rice
• 2 kg flour
• 4 kg cabbage

While the meals are quite frugal - seldom is there dessert, no cold cuts for the sandwiches, no pot roasts - no one goes to bed hungry. A true treat is fruit in the winter or strawberries with ice cream in the summer.  Though I must say I remember times when money was scarce and we made sorrel soup or a mushroom sauce to pour over potatoes - the children gathering sorrel and mushrooms that grow wild in the area... We send them peanut butter, so that they always have protein in the house - hold the jam - a luxury... Another treat we send regularly is powdered hot chocolate - add water and presto! - for times when milk is scarce.

We have it so good! Consider buying that jar of peanut butter for your local food pantry, even though it has gone up in price - it is a great source of protein!

Zvannieki at the close of 2011

A Princess and a Chick

It is hard to believe that yet another year has passed... I have been remiss about keeping up my blog - but not about my support and connection with the children of Zvannieki!

I was fortunate in that I was able to visit the children this past summer as well as at the end of November in 2010. The children are growing! I can no longer speak only of children, for one of the "children" has graduated from University and two others are currently enrolled in the "Latvia University of Agriculture."  Another of the "children" is now an accredited Auto Mechanic and working in his field, and another has studied to be a hairdresser and is a sought after stylist working in Riga. This is thanks to those who make monetary donations to the Zvannieki account at the  Latvian Cleveland Credit Union. Money from that fund also pays for school lunches for the 13 children attending the local elementary school in Ramuli.

I am indeed happy that my congregation, The United Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cleveland has been supportive of my work with these children. They have been generous with monetary donations as well as donations of clothing, footwear and school supplies. We send parcels to the children 2-3 times a year and a number of our members have visited these children in Latvia.

It is indeed a joy and privilege to help these children!