(In the above photo: John sits with three of the children in a special needs school that was visited on Tuesday. Look closely at Sofia in the middle—she is sending her heart to America!)
Today I awoke to temps in the LOW 40s—what a difference from the Tanzanian climate!
On each mission trip, I always discover facts and faces that remain indelibly etched in the museum of memories in my mind. Today I met another face that is so chronicled in my memories of Zaporozhye, Ukraine—her name is “Sofia.”
Today we visited two special needs schools which we have helped. Personal hygiene items and toys were taken and given to the schools. Each has reached and exceeded its maximum capacity. But they cannot turn the children away. They always manage to squeeze in just “one more.” At one of these schools the maximum capacity is 168 but they have 191 children residing there. In addition to those permanently living in the compound the school has begun inviting special needs children from the community to come during the daytime. This has seriously overextended all resources but the staff eagerly accepts the challenge.
During the tour at the first school we went from classroom to classroom. The children greeted us and one class presented us with various handcrafts they had made. We were told they made these just for us.
As we walked into one of the classes we were told that the three children there were new and were undergoing various testing exercises to determine their levels of placement. It was there that I met “Sofia.” Sofia is one of those people you instantly notice. The exercise they were performing was simple. A large container of what looked to me like our “buckeyes” was in front and the three were being told, “Now give 2 pieces to each one.” And then the number would increase. Sofia looked up and smiled a beautiful smile. I never could get that full-face smile from her again but I was able to coax a sweet grin from her.
As we were leaving I asked if I could get a photo with the three new students. As the photo was being made Tanya exclaimed, “Look she’s giving you her heart!” I looked and Sofia had made the shape of a heart with her fingers.
This school offers a wide range of assistance to these special children. There are educational and social assistance but there is also a great need for medical care. The Director took us to a treatment room where a little girl was receiving treatment for nerve stimulation in the brain. He said that recent tests have shown that such stimulation increases the child’s ability to process speech and motor skills. They have one of these machines but need two more. I asked about the cost and he said that it is 42,000 grievnas (which is about $1,500.00 USD). Thankfully, because of the generosity of brother Don’s England’s Bible Class (College church of Christ), I have enough funds to purchase one of these machines. I have our Consignee (Veterans of Chornobyl researching this project.
After leaving the first school we went to a school that we have helped often. This is the school for special need males. It was here that I saw another item that we shipped from Easter Seals in Little Rock—a wooden car track. They had painted it green and proudly said they had even added some items to it. The Director is Ludmila and this is the location where they always cook me a meal with liver! Gif, Simba and I feasted on fried liver, liver pate, boiled eggs stuffed with liver, liver balls rolled in shredded cheese and other gastric delights! Simba’s evaluation, “I have NEVER eaten such good liver!”
There was also a visit to the Regional Infectious Disease Hospital and then Alexander wanted to take Gif and Simba to the homeplace of the Cossacks. The day was full and at each stop I wish all involved in this work could be personally present to see the great good that is being accomplished!
Continue to pray for us as we continue in this mission.
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
