I’ve been doing ministry in Ukraine for the last few weeks and let me tell you it has been stretching. I’ve worked with kids before but have never worked with kids that are autistic. So it’s been very insightful to learn and grow how to help interact with kids that are autistic. I’ve been helping kids with verbal motor skills and those who don’t have those verbal motor skills. Of course on top of helping kids that are autistic there is also a language barrier so it’s been challenging in that aspect when the kids ask me the same question over and over again.
Yet, it’s been very fruitful as well despite challenges like a language barrier and not knowing how to help and having to go run after kids who may start to run off. Which is why I’m very thankful God allowed me to ease into this new area of life. As the kids I was going to be in charge of didn’t show up until my third week. There was more people to help than there were kids for the two weeks so I was very thankful to first be a witness to see how things were done before going all in.
When I finally got to be paired up with a child he started off cool, calm and collective but soon got a little wild. Trying to run off to play into one of the rooms they couldn’t be in and squeezing my hands, wrists and arms very tightly.
Despite, not fully knowing how to be there for the children I quickly realized what they enjoyed and loved doing. Some love trains, some are excellent cooks (I didn’t eat the food, the kids learn to cook the food for one another). Some enjoy doing woodshop things (like making a tree) while others enjoyed making soap. The kid I was responsible for kept asking me to go to shop. I thought they were asking to go to the store. As we were outside for the woodshop craft and they asked again I quickly realized they were talking about the woodshop (especially after they were trying to do all the rest of the kids crafts with the wood). One of the kids makes and sells their own soap as well and my oh my I wish I had more personal money on the trip to buy some and send it home. They look amazing!
My first day with the kids broke my heart. My heart was broken for the kids after realizing more that there’s different spectrums of autism. My heart was also broke to witness just a few people manage and handle so many kids. Once my team leaves Ukraine there will be more kids than workers/volunteers. With the team gone it’s about 2-3 kids per volunteer. Of which some of the kids try and run away, some try and touch you in specific areas or try and make the other kids touch them in those areas. Some are quiet and calm. With learning how to be there for the kids I’ve also heard interesting stories from some people on my team about instances of working with kids who have autism. Such as a kid in the US biting off a workers finger. If you would like to learn more about autism, below are a few links to get you started.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html
https://www.integrityinc.org/what-are-the-5-types-of-autism/
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/autism/what-is-autism-spectrum-disorder
https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
I think it’s so cool that you get to experience so many different types of ministry. Bet the workers as well as the kids were happy you were there. Thanks for having such a servant’s heart, Michael.
Wow!! So glad you’re getting this experience Michael!! It’s a whole different ballgame, and it’s incredibly special! Way to give your yes!!!