The Mission

I don't know where to begin to share all the wonderful, amazing things that happened on this trip. I'd like to apologize for not blogging sooner, but i had some 'not so good' things going on at home once I returned.

I know that God had a plan for me and I was reminded of that this trip. I'm not so sure if His plan for me has been fulfilled or just beginning. Four years ago He sent a clear message of me that He wanted me to come back and train His people in how to care and educate His special children and that is happening!!! I first went to Ukraine to help a friend and her husband bring back the children with Down Syndrome that they were adopting. While at the orphanage in Vorzel, I was curious about the children in one of the Groupa Houses who were the weakest and were NOT listed for adoption. Through 2 young men who were working on the grounds of the building through their Church, Almaz, I was told of a child in that Groupa who had si fingers and toes. Well, my daughter Jillian was born with six fingers on boths hands, and I was curious. I was introduced to their Pastor, Sasha Skripak who brought me in to meet the child. Well, little Volva did not have the same type of polydactal that Jillian had. But while holding that child, Pastor Sasha asked if I knew 'how to work with these types of children'. When I explained that I was an Early Intervention Teacher, he asked if I could come back and train his people. They had been praying that day at his church for someone to come help them work with the children. Well, right there, in that very spot, He made it clear to me that this is why He put me in special education, why my life took the course it had, and why He gave me Jillian and that I had to come back and train His people!!

That week I met with Sasha's wife Olya and a few other woman from the Church  and shared with them  strategies to enhance the children's development nd skills and vowed to be back to train .

Once home, I prayed for direction and searched the web. It is there where I found Karen Feathers, who directed me to Dave and Jane Daulton who had adopted from Vorzel. The Daultons'  joined Almaz's one week Mission Trip at Vorzel and brought some equipment. I showed up the following week and fitted the equipment to the children showing staff how to use it along with more equipment which I brought. And out of that we all started talking about holding a conference. That conference came about in January 2011 when I joined Dave, Jane and two friends of theirs, Dr. Cynthia Normandia, an Occupational Therapist and Dr. R. a psychiatrist and together we presented the FIrst Annual Conference on the Needs Of Children with Disabilities in Kiev!!

Okay, back to how I know that this is God's plan for me. This year once again we return, but this time with a team of 14 to present the 2nd Annual Conference. Before the conferencce we traveled to Ternopil and presented at the Eastern Children's regional Hospital, the Bebi and Ko Center and visited an orphanage in Syndactyn,. Well, who is one of the first children I see there: little Volvo from Vorzel!! It was the confirmation that I have no doubt that God had plans for me all along and that He is capable of doing amazing things. Imagine, the little guy I meet in Vorzel, whom I held as I received and accepted a calling from God, to be there 15 hours away, clear across Ukraine in another orphanage! When I held him, and wept in joy, he looked at me and said "Mama?"

No, God's plan for me is not to adopt. We'll have to find a family for him. God's plan for me is to bring Early Intervention Services and Supports and it's happening!!! We had representatives from thier ministry of education, from hospitals, from schools and families at our conference. we presented trainings on behavior management, sendory integration, speech development, physical developent, early intervetnion programming, parenting and more. Our keynote speaker was a young woman with Down Syndrome herself, who talked about the quality of her life. We opened eyes, and changed attitudes!! Things and people are changing in Ukraine for sure. Ukraine is fortunate in that they have us (America) to learn from. And hopefully what took the USA 50 years to reach, as far as attitudes, education, and opportunities for the our special children and the disabled will not take Ukraine that long at all!!!

Last minute preparations

Well, if anyone knows me, they know I am a great procrastinator! Nothing new for this trip either, but this time I got hit with a severe sore throat, and sinus infection, and was laid  up in bed for 2 days! Not good when I have so much to do! But I think I'll be able to pull it all together to catch my flight this Saturday! Last minute preparations have been compounded by the requests of professional (doctors and educators) for specific training in Ternopil. And of course I want to accomadate them all. So here all the trips plans as of last night. I will be meeting Team 1 at JFK around 1:00 on Saturday for our departure at 7:00 (not sure why we are meeting so early). Once arriving in Ukraine, via russia, we will rtavel to Vorzel and work with the children that Monday. That night we board a train for a 9 hour ride to Ternopil where we will spend a few days training presenting seminars, and conducting evals on the childre of the families who have pulled together to provide services for their children. We will also be delivering about 10 pieces of therapeutic equipment for specific children in the region. Last summer, I presented a seminar there on my own, and was warmly welcomed, so I feel like I am going to visit good friends as well!! From there we will head to Syndactyn, a level 5 orphanage which has had no humanitarian aideas of yet and we will assess their need for future help. We will then head back to Kiev, and Vorzel where we will build a playground and train staff. I am looking forward to delivering photos of the children who are living 'happily ever after' with their forever family. Some 'Vorzel' parents have sent me photo books, others sent pictures and albums to share with favorite careworkers and the doctors.  This is so rewarding for the staff to see how 'their' children faired!Thank you to the parents who have either sent me the pics or are allowing me to share! We will meet up with Team 2 when they arrive and take a day trip to Znamenka, Rominiv and Beriska.I have 85 baseball caps that say GOD ROCKS which people have sponsored for $5.00 each for the boys there. I also have pulled together some teaching activities and have made picture/name cards for approximately 50 of the boys. It's about time these boys learn to recognize their picture and their name!! I can't wait to share with the teacher how to use the cards. Everyone needs to identify a sense of self and what better way then to recognize your picture and yourwritten name!! I also have 3 helmets for the self abusive boys! For Znamenka, I have beads and embroider floss to deliver for specific children.I And for all the orphanages I have rattles, crib toys, markers, crayons, balls,and  bubbles and more.!
One of the other  exciting things I will do on this Mission trip is to deliver 300 Rosary Beads to Ternopil where there have been apparitions of our Mother Mary. A few years ago the government destroyed the shrine so I  feeled blessed to be able to deliver the Rosaries!!
On August 3-4, I will be presenting at the 2nd Annual Conference on the Needs of Children with Disabilities in Kiev!! Over 40 people have signed up for an individual session with me regarding their child. I was shocked and so pleased to hear this. I don't want to disappoint anyone, so I will try to accomadate as many as I could by 'clustering' the grouo into categories and will have two Cota's to assist me.
So I am asking for your prayers, that I am able to beat this sinus infection that has interfered with my last minute preparations. I am still short on funds, so I need your prayers for that as well.

Ukrainian Fairy House Raffle

This is a one of a kind Ukrainian Fairy House donated by Once Upon a Fairy to be raffled off to raise money to support the orphans with special needs in Ukraine. It is made of 85% recycled materials and is durable enough for playing!! Raffle tickets are $10.00 each, 3 for $25.00 and can be sent to A Father's Heart, Inc. (Fairy House Raffle) 3803 Poplar Hill Road, Suite D, Chesapeake, VA. 23321 or use the CHip In on this page to the right and stipulate "Raffle TIcket"!



Don't you want to own this as a reminder of your child's birthplace?

Made from 85% recycled materials and DURABLE! A child can play with it!!
Look whose visiting!!!

The detail is amazing!!!
Don't loose out on the chance to win this one of a kind unique custom made FAIRY HOUSE!
HURRY HURRY RAFFLE ENDS July 15, 2012!!! All profits will go to help those orphans left behind in Ukrainian orphanges with special needs. Many are not able to be adopted!! Help us improve the quality of their life...and take a chance on this GORGEOUS KEEPSAKE!!!

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Beauty from the Ashes...: A map of orphanhood in Ukraine

This will help explain the number of children who are orphans in Ukraine! Children were meant to have parents! Beauty from the Ashes...: A map of orphanhood in Ukraine: This map of orphanhood in Ukraine was put together by friends with the Alliance: Ukraine without Orphans.  I was asked to help edit the ...

Our team traveled to Znamenka to visit with the orphanages and provide our support. The train ride is a 4 hour ride from Kiev in vibrant colored cars. The orphanage is not too far the train station and the Director sent a van for us. However, we strolled through the town on the way back to the station. I thought I would put together a Montage of the walk, showing the town buildings. It's my first time using the Windows video maker and I had some trouble inserting Captions and adding music. But for all of you who are traveling to Znamenka either to adopt your child, or to work with the orphans, here it is!!!

                               The Children of Znamenka

Our Team under the direction of Pastor Sasha Skripak from Almaz Church, has been visiting and supporting the orphans in Znamenka. These children have benefitted from the Director, Tatiana Valko's dedication  to enhancing the quality of their life while living in an orphanage for the 'disabled'. The children  now receive therapies and education and no longer live in a dark, unstimulating environment. She is making the best with what is available  from the Government and has advocated for the children and works with International Mission groups to benefit the children. You can help us help them and other orphans who are in orhanages that need support to change as well!!