Ministry through Medical Conferences

After months of preparation, our team of six boarded the train in Kyiv to Lutsk.  The team:  Ron Sauke, special education specialist and former missionary in Hong Kong and the Philippines; his wife, Linda, a trainer for ESL programs; Dave and Oksana Elsinger, parents of two children with autism and former missionaries in Ukraine; and Jim with his assistant Anatoliy.

The key word we talk about in short term missions:  flexibility.  The next six nights and five days would be no exception.  Before we even left the flat we experienced our first challenge.  Our driver Dima was waiting for us at the train station.  He thought we were arriving instead of departing.  He quickly arrived at our flat where we were waiting on the street surrounded by our suitcases. We made it to the station with time to spare and soon some were being gently rocked to sleep by the moving train.

Arriving at 6:30 a.m., we should have had plenty of time to get settled in to our accommodations and prepare for the opening ceremony of our conference at 10 a.m.  At 7:45 a.m. our Ukrainian host, Tetyana, called to say that we needed to be ready in 15 minutes.  The Mayor of Lutsk wanted to participate and welcome the team to his city.  It is not polite to keep the mayor waiting.  So now it is fast forward, shower, shave, breakfast and be prepared for the day in under 15 minutes.  What additional surprises would await us?

The site for this conference was School No. 20.  This was perfect since the themes for this conference included how to educate children with disabilities, how to treat attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and the parental role in the treatment of autism.  As in years past, we were once again partnering with the Lesia Ukrayinka University of Volyn department of psychology, Tetyana Vihovska, assistant director of an orphanage for children with special needs under 4 years old, and Valentin Kolyano, director of School No. 20.

The Mayor

We arrived at the school only to learn that the mayor would be late.  Yes, I must remember flexibility.   Desks were placed in a square shape for the participants in the auditorium. Besides the mayor, the head of the Department of Education for the Volyn Oblast (State), the head of the Department of Education of Lutsk, the head of the Department of Psychology of Brest University in Belarus,  the head of the Department of Education and Developmental Psychology of Volyn University and several Lutsk City Council members were in attendance.

As is typical in Ukraine everyone had a chance to speak and welcome us.  There was much political talk of how important it was to take care of the children with disabilities.  This was quite different from  five years ago when UMO held its first conference in Lutsk.  Now the officials were talking about inclusive programs for children with disabilities.  This was very encouraging, but talk is cheap.  Does administrative action match the words they speak?  Later I learned this is not always the case but there is improvement.

Representing the team, Jim greeted the participants and encouraged them to understand that our team came to

Jim Greeting Participants

help because of our belief that all children are valuable since they are made in the image of God.  Also, he pointed out the uniqueness of having parents teach the professionals, admonishing the group to include parents as part of the therapeutic team. After the opening ceremony, a city official and mother of a child with disabilities came up to thank Jim for promoting the role of parents in the care of their children.

Indeed, two members of our team were neither medical professionals nor educators, but parents.   Dave and Oksana, engineers by education, are parents of children affected by autism.  They are  professionals when it comes to the care of their children.  Doctors and teachers in Ukraine are taught they are the  professionals and the final authority regarding the health and education of all children.  It is rare that opinions of the parents are heard.  Therefore, for parents to be teaching the professionals is quite unique.  Irina Valitova, the chief of the department of psychology at Brest University in Belarus and an excellent therapist for children with autism said, “This was the best teaching on ABA therapy for autism I have heard.”  The Elsingers did a great job of teaching and elevated the role of parents in the medical and educational systems.

The Elsingers

During the first two days our time was devoted to lectures on Balametrics (a program used to improve sensory integration and focus), ADHD and learning styles by Ron Sauke.  Jim taught about the medical treatment of ADHD and gave an update about what is new in autism.  The Elsingers gave their family’s story and told of the many therapies they tried but emphasized the role of ABA therapy.

The second day of lectures presented us with more opportunities to practice flexibity.  God had blessed us with beautiful weather.  This day also coincided with the national day of tourism in Ukraine.  There were special activities happening all over Lutsk.  This combination topped by a personal invitation from the Mayor to participate in a special tour of the city, (which we were told would be a personal affront to the government if we declined) allowed us to model flexibility once again.  We rescheduled the last two hours of teaching so all could participate in the tour.

Lutsk dates as far back as the 7^th century.  It is divided into the old town and the new.  The most prominent landmark of the city is Lubart Castle.  Historically, it is most famous for a congress of monarchs which took place in 1429, its aim was to “discuss measures against a common enemy – the Turks.”

The last three days were used to present masterclass training on Balametrics and ABA Therapy.  Prior to the

Balametrics Equipment

conference we planned to hold the Elsingers’ masterclass in the morning and Ron Sauke’s in the afternoon so that people could attend both.  We were limited to 26 people in the Balametrics training by the amount of equipment.  I should mention this equipment was paid for and shipped to Ukraine by one anonymous donor who wanted all the glory for the donation to go to Christ.

So on the first day of class, we prepared the room for 26 people  with the same number of chairs.  It was a big surprise to see 20 people standing with every chair occupied.  Another chance to learn how to be flexible, but  we had a strict limit on the number of participants. After an hour of discussion it was decided to hold a second class in the morning and combine the two for the last class.  The only disadvantage was it decreased the number of people who could attend the Elsingers’ master class.

After this there were no major challenges.  Linda Sauke was invited to consult on development of ESL programs in a small Christian school, a private school in a small town, and two universities.  Jim did consultations with two families with autistic children and participated in Teacher Appreciation Day at Tetyana’s orphanage.

Teacher Appreciation Day

At the orphanage Tetyana recognized the role of UMO in finding families for two children.  One child with Down Syndrome was told by a cardiologist on her first visit she was too young for a needed operation.  On the follow-up visit she was too old.  Two weeks before the conference,  this precious child had her heart repaired in Oklahoma.  Praise be to our God! Her parents sent several pictures of a very happy and well-cared for little girl, and these pictures spoke volumes to the caregivers.

On the last day there was a small banquet.  During this banquet there is typically plenty of food, drink and toasting.  It is the Ukrainian way of showing hospitality, honoring guests and debriefing at the end of an intense period of work.

Several things were significant during the banquet.  The relationships were more friendly and open.  After several years of working together we are able to move past the mere formality of these events.  As a result we are freer to talk about more spiritual and family issues.  Ron Sauke, being the oldest and married to the same beautiful woman for 41 years, was asked to offer a toast to love.  This would be like no other toast our Ukrainians would hear.  He spoke of the love Christ has for His people and his desire to have a relationship with Him based upon what He did for us, hoping that all present could enjoy this relationship.

Valintin Kolyano, the principle of School No. 20, could not have been more gracious or helpful.  Each morning he personally drove us to his school.  He instructed his staff to provide us with whatever we needed.  The work

Valentin Greeting Our Team

of his staff was always done efficiently, excellently and with a smile.  This was a testimony to his leadership.

Our conversations with him were peppered with Biblical references.  As we drove past churches, he would make the sign of the cross giving honor to God in the Orthodox tradition.  When we complemented him on how well he and his staff were caring for us, he would respond with this is how my father taught me from the Bible.  We pray that God will continue to work in his life and draw him into a deeper relationship with himself.

Indeed during this conference we heard more Ukrainians speak of doing what is right in God’s eyes.  Tetyana, our host, gave consent to God for arranging all we did.  “Our work together is not by chance.”  When the banquet was over we shared a conversation and presented the Gospel.  We pray God is moving her one step closer to recognizing Christ as Savior.

During our time in Lutsk we daily witnessed the hand of God at work and the answer to prayers.  Truly, as we cast all of our anxious thoughts upon him, our God supplied all of our needs.  We are exceedingly thankful to Him.  Now it is on to Kyiv and repeat the seminar at the Borisa Grinchenka  Kyiv Institute of Teachers and Psychologists and School No. 26.

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