Why Ukraine?
God said go to Ukraine.
God called me to serve in Ukraine.
God made my story for Ukraine.
I didn’t pick Ukraine. I never thought I would ever serve abroad. It is extremely difficult to live out of your comfort zone when you have Asperger’s. God showed how my story prepared me to live on mission. As a toddler, I was evaluated at Kennedy Kreiger at Johns Hopkins. The director advised my parents to institutionalize me because they thought I would never be able to be educated. Thankfully, my parents did not listen to his advice. Parents of special needs children in Ukraine are also steered towards institutionalizing their children but over there, theinstitutions are much worse than in the US. God has shown me many reasons why He made me to live on mission in Ukraine.
God showed me how my time in a psychiatric hospital could be used for His glory, because it prepared me to sleep at the state-run orphanages’ guest rooms. The psychiatric hospital and orphanages are pretty similar. Also, He showed me how photography could be used to build His Kingdom. Many people take pictures on mission trips, but I was the only one to give them back to those I served. I gave out many photo albums to the children and the elderly. They loved them. They loved sharing them with their friends. These photographs soften their hearts to hear His Word of Grace through Jesus Christ. This was God’s plan for me.
God called me to live on full-time mission with SALT. You can be part of His plans with prayer and financial support, and spreading the word about this ministry. Since 2010, I have been on 20+ mission trips to Ukraine. I was obedient to His call and He has provided greatly with funding and safety. God is on the move in Ukraine through families impacted by Wings of Faith, as they serve families with autistic children. These families face many difficulties, including being welcomed in a church. SALT glorifies God by resourcing pastors to plant healthy churches that welcome all into His family. Everyone is center stage worthy, because He made all of us wonderfully in His image. (Psalm 139: 14; Genesis 1:27)
Why is there urgent need in Ukraine?
Ukraine has made steps to move away from the Soviet style approach to mental health treatment by establishing Public Health Institutes under the Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, Ukraine has not been able to build an infrastructure to support the country’s mental health needs. They have no laws protecting people with mental illness, no services to supportfamilies, no caregiver advocacy groups, no financial support by their national healthcare for mental illness, no day hospitals for mental health, and very few psychiatric hospitals.
There are only 4,363 mental health professionals and only 339 specialize in treating children. The Ukrainian population is 41.98 million people, and their suicide rate in 14th in the world. There is no national suicide hotline, only Odessa and L’viv have a regional crisis centers. Ukraine has an urgent need for Godly people to lead in caring for and serving mentally ill. The church is the central component to help care for these afflicted people. I want to help equip the local SALT pastors to serve the mentally ill. Also, I want to encourage Ukrainian Christians to not only serve, but train as mental health care providers. With God’s blessing, SALT Centers will be a shining light in a dark world of suffering. SALT is sending me to equip pastors and others to meet the urgent needs but also spiritual needs of the mentally ill.
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ -Isaiah 6:8-9
How can you help?
1. Pray
2. Financial Support
3. Spread the Word About this Abnormal Missionary