By Peter Wooding
Europe Bureau Chief for ASSIST News Service
KONOTOP, UKRAINE (ANS) -- In Konotop, Ukraine a team of unsung super heroes tirelessly serves some of their town’s most vulnerable children at the Hearts of Love Centre.
This community project serves as a lifeline to the families of children with special needs, extreme poverty and health issues.
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Heart of Love Centre Director Lena Yushenko |
But in the midst of this crisis, families facing similar challenges of how to raise their special needs children began flocking to Lena’s home for practical and spiritual support. This then birthed her vision for the Hearts of Love Centre. After many years of Lena praying, Mercy Projects helped Lena fulfill her dream by purchasing a property in desperate need of repair. Then in 2008 after teams of volunteers helped refurbish the building the Hearts of Love Centre was opened.
Now the centre provides weekly dance, maths, English and computer classes for dozens of children who otherwise would live in isolation with the stigma of special needs. Throughout the year there are special celebrations for the children from birthday parties to Christmas and New Year celebrations.
So it seemed fitting then that our Mercy Projects summer camp at the centre earlier this month was based around the super heroes in the Bible.
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Peter Wooding with his friend Maxim |
It was wonderful arriving back at the centre for our fourth year in a row to run a summer camp for around 40 children ranging from 2-22 years old, with a variety of conditions including downs syndrome, autism, cerebal palsy and epilepsy.
Over the next six days our team of 9 volunteers from the UK, including teachers, a doctor, students, an artist, a chef and two pharmacists shared the stories of super heroes in the Bible from Paul and Silas, Joshua and of course Jesus.
Each day during our chapel hour we would use all creative means possible to bring to life these super heroes, from puppet shows featuring Spider Monkey and Super Man, worship songs, drama, memory verses and games. We were amazed at how attentive the children were as well as the teenagers who soaked up everything we shared with them.
On the day we shared with them the story of Jesus, through our talented team of translators we were able to lead many of the children in a pray of commitment to Christ. There is nothing greater than the sound of children praying so innocently and with such child-like faith. We were also encouraged that the work of the Holy Spirit would continue year round through Lena and her amazing staff at the centre.
Then throughout the rest of the day we would have discussion groups, sports, crafts and games and workshops for the parents and staff.
Each year team members from the UK experience a tremendous bonding with individual children.
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Pagona and her friend Darinka |
Last year Pagona Tzanakaki, a teacher of autistic children, originally from Greece, dedicated most of her time to young Darinka, a girl who spends all her day in a wheel chair after losing mobility in her legs with her feet are severely bent inwards. For the first few days last year Darinka wouldn’t even smile, but as Pagona would patiently sit with her, helping her make crafts and jewellery she began to come out of her shell and would smile.
This year was a very special reunion between Pagona and Darinka and we could see a dramatic change in her, as she would talk and laugh much more, especially when we would carry her up and down the steps into the centre.
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Basketball fan Andrey |
Throughout this year’s camp, Andrey would approach and simply say “Peter, basketball.” It seemed such a simple thing to do, but to see the remarkable change in Andrey since we first met him three years ago, makes you realise how much this kind of affirmation makes a real difference.
As is always the case the camp went far too quickly and the hardest part is always the final day. The children always put on a special concert for us, when they perform dances, sketches and even some traditional Ukrainian accordion playing. There wasn’t a dry eye among the team as the children presented us with gifts and gave short speeches about what we’d mean to them. At the end of the concert it was heart wrenching, as we’d hug the children goodbye until next year.
That evening the staff at the centre put on an amazing celebration meal for us. This year was especially unique as they hosted a mock traditional Ukrainian wedding for a couple on our UK team who were celebrating their second anniversary.
Towards the end of the evening we passed round a hat with everyone’s names and we’d share something positive about that person as well as our wish for them. I was particularly choked up when the person who picked my name was Lena. She told me that I’d helped her fulfill her dream. Little does she realise it’s quite the opposite that working with Lena over the past three years has allowed me to fulfil my dream of really making a difference in this part of the world, which I consider a great honour.
So until next year Mercy Projects will continue to pray for and support these unsung heroes in Konotop, Ukraine.
Towards the end of the evening we passed round a hat with everyone’s names and we’d share something positive about that person as well as our wish for them. I was particularly choked up when the person who picked my name was Lena. She told me that I’d helped her fulfill her dream. Little does she realise it’s quite the opposite that working with Lena over the past three years has allowed me to fulfil my dream of really making a difference in this part of the world, which I consider a great honour.
So until next year Mercy Projects will continue to pray for and support these unsung heroes in Konotop, Ukraine.
For more details about the work of Mercy Projects go to:
| Peter Wooding is an award-winning TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant under the name of Peter Wooding Productions (www.peterwoodingproductions. |
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