Two members of Hamilton's Salvation Army are on their way home from a trip delivering presents to deprived children
By Gillian Provan
13 January 2011 17:41 GMT
Two members of Hamilton’s Salvation Army are homeward bound after a poignant few days distributing presents to children living with alcoholic parents in Latvia.
Major Glad Ljungholm, Hamilton Salvation Army’s commanding officer, and her husband Dr Sven Ljungholm have been giving presents to deprived families in the villages of Sarkani and Seda this week.
The Hamilton couple stopped in Sweden on route to Latvia in order to buy Christmas gifts for around 23 deprived children before going on to Skangali Manor for the course of the mission.
From this small back room the couple made excursions to the Salvation Army outposts in Sarkani and Seda.
Captains Sergej and Aizan coordinate the work at these centres and it is mostly comprised of aid work and ministry to children of alcoholics.
Tuesday night marked the children’s party.
Sven explained: “More than 20 children were awaiting our arrival. Most of the faces were familiar as we had met them twice before.
"We experienced intermittent power outages during our Latvian visit lasting from a few minutes to several hours so the children were prepared with each keeping a candle nearby to make certain they could identify which of the candies we tossed on the table would be theirs and which toys would they claim as their own.”
Christmas party
Sven continued: “Following the gift distribution we were treated to an impromptu concert with the children singing Latvian Sunday School Songs and Christmas Carols.
"This was followed with hot chocolate, much welcomed as it was freezing, home made frosted donuts and gingerbread cookies."
The couple will be returning to Latvia in the summer in order to renovate the Salvation Army's new flat in Seda.
In Seda the only building with permanent residents is the city’s home for alcoholics, located across the street from the building donated by the city for the Army’s use.
He said: “Glad and I then made an inspection of the building to ascertain just how much paint and equipment we would need to bring with us in June when we tackle the renovation project with our ‘mission 2011 team.”
The couple are now travelling back to Scotland.
Keep checking STV Hamilton for news of their trip
You can read more about the issues at the Hamilton Salvation Army blog.
I want to express my sincere appreciation to you both for your ministry at Hamilton these last months. May you find great joy in all future endeavours for the Kingdom.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you both.
In Christ
(name shared privately)
"The job of apologetics is janitorial work, its role is to clear away the brush and hedges blinding people from seeing the cross and to remove every objection so that the person's only reason for saying no to God is 'I will not'."
ReplyDeleteAlways be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. -1 Peter 3:15
Sven did this without making me feel that my questions were silly or irrelevant. I'm praying he will continue teaching the Bible.
Was considering becoming a soldier but not without true teaching.