Hey hey everyone!
I wanted to reflect and share about my time in Ukraine. There was one specific moment that I felt led to share about. As you may have read in my last blog, one of the ministry opportunities we had in Ukraine was to serve and help out with children who have Autism through a program called Joy Center (ran by Heritage Ukraine). If you know me you know that I am passionate about children who have Autism, so this was a very sweet opportunity for me. My teammates told me that my face lit up and my demeanor changed the second those kids walked into the room. I was thriving being able to spend time with and love these children.
In the experience I have throughout my life being in the lives of children who have autism I have noticed that a lot of people tend to get uncomfortable and a tad nervous around them. This may be due to ignorance or just lack of empathy but nevertheless children who have autism are often times treated as less than or a waste of space. This breaks my heart. I believe that God has given me the ability to look at these children and see them through His eyes. When I meet a child who has autism I am overjoyed and curious about them. I want to learn about their individual needs and desires and I long to be around them and love them.
I am not going to lie, when I heard we got to serve with Joy center I was a little nervous how my teammates would react because I knew that if they responded poorly I would have a difficult time with it. I was pleased to discover that, despite being uncomfortable, each person on my team chose to love the child they were paired with unconditionally. Even after being bitten, slapped, kicked, spat on, etc. each one of them responded with love and tenderness.
There was one specific moment I remember vividly when each of us were assisting our appointed child and I looked around the room. Everyone was engaged, gently and patiently pursuing a relationship with their child. I struggled to hold back tears when God spoke to me saying “this feeling of being overjoyed and proud to the point of weeping is how I feel every time I see you pursuing the things I love and having they eyes to see things the way I see them and then choosing to love them”. From that moment on I actively try to go through my day remembering that revelation God gave to me. This new perspective that helped me to navigate my days with more intentionality and purpose.
Although my time in Ukraine had many challenges unrelated to what was going on in Ukraine, God still allowed me to have these moments and this precious, tender time with His children. Heritage Ukraine and the Joy Center will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Enjoy some lovely photos from the Joy Center
(I have been given full permission to share these photos)
A fun mirror room on a field trip we got to take with Joy Center!
My teammate Bradon and I with a Joy Center child!
So glad to know you are thriving in your new adventure. Love to you. Praying for you both.
How fabulous that God knew what would touch your heart and placed you in that particular ministry. I am guessing the Joy Center needed the shot in the arm that your team brought them. i am almost certain that you were helpful to your teammates and taught them a lot about “seeing” each child. Bless you Emily.