Following a powerful time in Finland, the journey toward family-based care across Europe continued with a strategic visit to Riga, Latvia. Ruth Sharon, the Leading Facilitator for World Without Orphans (WWO) Europe, alongside Suvi, traveled to the capital to connect with local leaders and explore deeper regional collaboration.
The visit began alongside a local pastor who also serves as the Executive Director for the Latvian Christian Alliance For Orphans (CAFO). Visiting his local church offered a beautiful blueprint of community-driven care. Although the congregation is small, it is full of dedicated people who actively foster and adopt, proving that a church of any size can step up for vulnerable children.
Influencing Nations: The Impact of TILTS
Another inspiring stop was TILTS, a Christian organization that has achieved remarkable national recognition. The organization is so well-respected that it receives government funding to assess, train, and equip foster caregivers and adopters, while providing ongoing support long after children are placed.
Seeing a Christian organization take the lead while maintaining strong favor with the government provides a powerful model for Europe. Looking ahead, TILTS plans to host a regional summit to fellowship and share learning with neighboring nations. Suvi will definitely be leading a team from Finland to participate.
Erasing Stigma at Lighthouse
The team also spent time at Lighthouse, another vital member of the CAFO network. Lighthouse focuses on supporting young people leaving institutional care and working with families in crisis. In Latvia, a distinct cultural stigma still surrounds individuals from orphanages, and early life experiences often leave youth unprepared for adulthood. Lighthouse addresses this by providing a safe, restorative space to help them transition successfully.
The Power of a Unified Body
This regional visit marked the very first international trip for Ruth Sharon in her role as Leading Facilitator for WWO Europe. Witnessing such dedicated individuals executing vital Kingdom work highlighted the immense value of global cooperation. The ultimate takeaway from Latvia is an excitement for the future and a renewed dedication to working together as a unified body. These organizations are not merely managing daily tasks; they are true country leaders and pioneers.
