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August 2, 2016

Starving for Love

Dear Friends,

How does it feel to be starving for love?

In the country of Latvia, on the Baltic sea, young people have plenty of food and an abundance of clean water. The health system is modern and technology is widespread. Education is free and the government stable. It sounds like young people have everything they need, right?

Our Josiah Venture team recently completed a weeklong camp with about 30 students from a small Latvian town on the coast. The program was simple, but highly relational.  Our goal was to not just share the gospel in words, but also “incarnate” or “put flesh on” the good news through our relationships.

Six days is not a long time to spend with a group of young people. But when it came time to say goodbye, the students wept and hugged and wept some more. Not just a little bit of crying, but full on sobbing with no control. For two days straight.

The camp ended on Saturday so that our team could be in the small local church on Sunday –and draw the non-believing students in with them. They all showed up, but kept interrupting the service with their sobbing. These young people were emotionally starved, desperate for love.

They live in a world full of abuse, dysfunctional families, depression, and hopelessness.  Used to being bullied and shamed, they tasted for a few days what it was like to be in a healthy community surrounded by love. Like starving children who suddenly taste food, they almost lacked the capacity to process it.

Some of them put their faith in God, others are hungry to learn more. However, this little church just lost their only youth leader. Would you pray with us for more workers to disciple and care for these young people?

Because without God’s love, all of us are starving.

Thank you for being His hands and feet through your gifts and prayers.

—Dave Patty, President, Josiah Venture

Dave Patty President

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