Therapy Mission Trip to Ukraine

Myrah is one of the most determined children I know. She's always on the move, loves to bowl, and loves her speech cards. :)

Lance is always on the move as well. He's a fun, laid-back kind of guy who loves to swing and anything peanut butter.

Leks keeps me constantly entertained with his huge vocabulary and clever comments. He once told me I was as beautiful as a princess. Talk about scoring BIG points!

Aren't these kiddos precious!?! Not only do I get to be their speech therapist, but their mothers are also colleagues and friends of mine. :) Their parents traveled many miles away to the Ukraine to adopt these beautiful children. And now I get to go! Woo hoo! Their mothers (2 of whom are physical therapists and the other a systems analyst for our clinic), another physical therapist at the clinic, and I will be going to do therapy and to help train caregivers to perform therapy-based activities at 2 orphanages in the Ukraine. We have also been given the opportunity to go into a NICU to assess what we can do to help in that setting.

As 3 of the people I will be traveling with have made the trip several times, I feel that we are in good hands. Not to mention that we're in God's hands, so all is sure to be well. We pray that God will use us to do HIS will, and that much will be accomplished in HIS name! I cannot even begin to describe how excited and privileged I feel to be a part of this service and this excellent group of ladies!

Below is the flyer for our trip. Please pray that everything goes well and that God will show beautiful works and miracles in these children's lives.

Therapy Mission Trip to Ukraine

March 7-15th, 2009, a group of Children’s Therapy TEAM therapists are traveling to Ukraine to train orphanage and hospital staff in how to improve the life of special needs orphans in Ukraine.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated and will go directly to orphans in Ukraine.

Exercise/Therapy Balls
* All different sizes: 45cm, 65cm, 75cm, peanuts
* These can be purchased at Wal-mart, Target, etc.
* Also available at various websites such as http://www.isokineticsinc.com/ ~ Caddo brand seems to be the most reasonably priced

Basic Hardback/Board Pictures Books
* Simple pictures of basic objects, animals, numbers, colors, and shapes. Minimal words as it will have to be translated to Russian.

Pacifiers and Teethers
* A variety, must be able to sanitized and must be in original package.

Children’s Music CD’s and DVD’s
* Instrumental music and Baby Einstein type DVDs.

Flashcards
* Simple pictures of colors, numbers, shapes, animals, and basic objects. No alphabet please.

Crib Mirrors
* Unbreakable with washable surfaces.

Small Toys
* Minimal batteries, washable surfaces that can be sanitized.
*Rattles, crackly toys, noise makers, stackers, shape sorters, nesting blocks, pop beads. More examples at http://www.funandfunction.com/infant-early-learningc-7_29.html

Therapy Equipment
* Seating systems, positioning, medical equipment, sensory integration tools, adaptive feeding supplies, and orthotic equipment will be purchased with any monetary donations.

Monetary Donations
*Any monetary contributions are 100% tax deductible.
* Please make checks out to New Heights Church with “Ukraine Therapy Trip” in the memo.

We would appreciate donations of any of the following items ... Donations may be mailed or delivered to: Children’s Therapy TEAM - 2474 E. Joyce, Blvd., STE #2 - Fayetteville, AR 72703

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27