A Missionary

So, exactly what is a missionary? Webster defines this word as, “One sent to propagate religion.” In search of a good synonym for propagate, I found what I think is the best synonym. I like the word multiply. I like it better than reproduce. I think that reproduce may infer making more of the same. People are individuals, not clones. That is why I like multiply better.

There are many different kinds of missionaries, but each has been sent to multiply something. Webster says religion, but I think that may be too big of a concept. If you are a Christian missionary, are you multiplying Christianity as your denomination? Are you multiplying churches, as a church planter? Are you multiplying children’s ministries or youth ministries? Are you ministering to the elderly evangelically or humanitarianly? Exactly what is it that you are multiplying?

During the past six years, I have met a number of missionaries in the field. Our discussions were most interesting, revealing so much more about the personality and lifestyle of a missionary. And it seemed that each missionary was a bit different. Most were connected with a missionary organization, but there are some like me, who are independent of a major organization.
The definition begins by saying that a person is sent. I believe that a true missionary is first called. Being a missionary is not a job. Although many fill out an application and are accepted, in truth, it is not a job. If God has not called you to this life of selflessness, one will not find fulfillment, at least not as I define fulfillment.

With all of this in mind, I would like to redefine missionary. In my experience, a missionary is one who is called by God, sent by a church, organization, or God Himself, to multiply His love. Sometimes we can become distracted by life, but multiplying His love is the true calling of a missionary. I have learned this through my experiences. I have seen this, or recognized where it was missing. But most of all, I have felt the impact of His love as I move forward in His calling.

March 2009 MUCH Newsletter

Hello family and friends,

The countdown has begun. Wednesday evening, March 25th, my feet will step onto American soil. It will be great to be home for a time, visiting old friends and making new ones.

Many things have happened in the past two years. I like to look at the progress of the children to mark time. There are two children in particular, Dasha and Nastya, that I want to focus on. They are in the video portion of my presentation.

When I met Dasha who is now 5, she was already making progress. Her cerebral palsy affected her legs mostly. She had poor balance and spasticity in her legs. She could walk a little, but had to hold onto the massage table. She continually would lean toward the massage table, loosing her balance as she walked. Within a year of massage and other related therapies, her progress was most exciting. She is now walking independently for more than 10 steps. I followed Dasha and her mother recently as they climbed the steps and walked together to the therapy session. Just imagine what I will have to report about her next year.

Do you remember Nastya? She asked if I was Santa Claus. When I met her at age 3, she could walk only on her tip toes, but her balance was very bad. She needed her mother to hold her hand to provide a very firm support. Within a year her progress was amazing. Along with other therapies, massage has corrected many neurological and muscular weaknesses. Now, Nastya is walking independently for 10 or more steps. I am so very happy to see progress for this wonderful child.

We are treating more than 20 children with similar and more serious forms of cerebral palsy. Our economy has changed in the past three years, so $3.50 is no longer enough money for a single massage. Parents have been supplementing this amount with almost as much. That makes a statement about the economy and the value of our massage therapists. Most of all, that says that our goal to help is being accomplished. Most of the parents don’t want a handout. They want to take responsibility for their own children whom they love dearly.

In March of 2004, the MUCH massage clinic began providing treatment for children with disabilities. Today, five years later, you can see the great results. Children are no longer being deprived of treatment in the local polytechnic clinic. The city has turned a kind eye toward these children. MUCH is opening doors of example that are being respected and followed. I look forward to the day that MUCH will no longer be needed in Illichevsk and can start another massage clinic in a nearby village that has similar need. That is our purpose, to be the catalyst, to ignite the fire of compassion and care in the hearts of the local people and government.

I thank everyone who has helped to make this possible. This has been a team effort. Most of all, I thank God for calling me and guiding our team to the success that we see today.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

What the Children Need to Hear

Relationships have always been on my mind. Since I was a child, my own need for relationships was a major factor in my life. It was missing much of my childhood. When I interact with our children at the Emmaus Food Program, I see very similar needs in their lives.

They live in very difficult family situations. Some have two parents, some only have one. In each family, one or both parents are alcoholics or drug users. If family and peer group are the two greatest influences on their lives, then I would say that they have a bleak future waiting for them.

Emmaus provides a hot meal five days a week during the school year. The greater needs that Emmaus provides are spiritual direction, arts and crafts, sewing and knitting instruction, computer skills, and in general, a safe place to be after school.

Zoya manages these programs with a wonderful mothering heart. She loves the children and nurtures them, sometimes over a period of ten or eleven years. She has built great relationships with them. Unfortunately, she is locked into the limitations of that relationship. The children need other role models to look up to.

Recently, I published my first book, JC and Me, A Relationship, A Journey. You can find it at the AuthorHouse bookstore. Soon it will also be available to order from bookstores and other online websites. I have been thinking again about relationships and what I can share with the children during my talks that I have with them every second Friday.

This guided me to think about the children and another relationship that they are very much in need of understanding at this time in their life: sex. Mostly girls ages eleven to fourteen, they are ready to make big mistakes. So, I began a series of talks that will hopefully answer the questions that they are afraid to ask.

We began with looking at sex as a relationship, rather that something that is on a list of do’s and don’ts. I think that the girls were surprised, but I did have their full attention. They want answers, but don’t know what to ask. Sex is a subject that you just don’t talk about with adults, in their eyes.

I will be in America for two months, giving the girls a lot of time to think about this relationship. We will talk some more about it when I get back. I hope to influence their lives in very positive ways. Please pray for our children.

The Innocence of Children

As I woke up this morning, the scenes from a film that I had watched last week reappeared in my memory. Not many films are more than a momentary escape from the reality that I live. Not many films that I have seen portray reality. But this particular film, “The Boy in Striped Pajamas,” was filled with more reality, more diverse perceptions of the reality of life in Nazi, Germany. The film opens with these profound words:

“Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows.” -John Betseman

In the film, two boys find friendship on opposite sides of the fence. The eight year old son of a high ranking German officer comes upon a wire fence while exploring a wooded area. On the other side is a boy of the same age in prison clothes. The boys have long conversations sitting by the fence, totally innocent of what is happening on either side of the fence.

The scene by the fence stayed in my mind. I think of our MUCH children, particularly the youngest ones. When I chat with them, they are the most delightful children, so hungry for attention. When I watch them play with each other, I see the innocence of childhood. It is so precious to experience.

Through no fault of their own, they have come to live in an orphanage. Their futures are branded. The innocence of childhood is soon lost, and a new life challenges them to enter into a world of adversity. Whoever they were before, people will soon look at them as unwanted, undesirable children.

What can we do to change the preconceived notion of who these children are? Over the past six years, MUCH has helped reshape the lives of the children. We have encouraged the children to improve their self images. Clothing and an improved environment has caused the children to see themselves differently. This has caused them to act differently. In turn, new impressions are created within the local people. It takes a long time, but children are worth everything that we have to give. Children are the future.

February 2009 MUCH Newsletter

How is the weather in your area? February has been a mild, but bone chilling month here in Illichevsk, by the sea. Financial problems are not so evident to me in Illichevsk, but while I was in Marganets I saw first-hand the third hand effect of their economic crisis (blog post Country in Crisis, Family in Crisis).

A number of things happened during my January visit to Marganets. The director of the Dobromel orphanage wants to begin a student exchange with the Marganets orphanage. As I shared this idea with the director in Marganets, I was pleased to see her interest. Anatoliy, my manager in Marganets, has begun the communication. Since both orphanages have computer laboratories, a letter writing campaign between some of the children is the first step. I look forward to this long-term project to open many new doors for the children.

I was very happy to learn what Andre has accomplished with the children in the computer lab. He teaches the art and wood craft classes, also. He took courses to learn how to teach computer skills to children with learning disabilities. Last year was their first year to have computer classes in their curriculum. MUCH supported one class of eight students in 2008. I saw some of the wonderful results in a PowerPoint presentation that Andre created using some of the children’s graphic art work. I was very impressed. It will be a part of my presentation that I show when I visit America in April. You will be impressed, too.

Andre has learned many things in the past year. Government funding from two years ago helped the orphanage upgrade many things. When I asked Andre for video of the music and dance program and the massage program, he promised to have a CD for me before I left. It was so great for me to see visual evidence of the massage treatments. I will bring both the massage and the music and dance videos to show, also.

If anyone has genuine information about using sensory stimulation equipment, please post a comment below. The staff understands sensory stimulation, but need a few tips on how to use some of the equipment. It is so encouraging to see the drive of these people to do the work, and do it well. With a little help from MUCH, they have taken some big steps forward.

Our professors from the Slippery Rock University, Department of Therapeutic Recreation have postponed their visit to Illichevsk until June. Please pray for Dr. Hutchins, her father who is in the hospital, and her family, as they walk down this difficult road.

I will fly to America on March 25th. I will be fine-tuning my visit between now and then. I plan to stop in Beckley, WV on my way to PA. I’ll be in the PA area the week of April 12th. I will be in FL parts of the last week of April and the first week of May. I hope to visit in the Baltimore area. I will be visiting different towns in NC throughout my time in America. I have some other unconfirmed possibilities.

I have a great (he said humbly) PowerPoint presentation to share with all who are interested. It touches on six groups of children in four different cities in three geographical areas. It is the most informative presentation that I have assembled. It includes the presentations that Andre made as mentioned above.

Please contact me at muchhope1@gmail.com and let me know if I may visit you during my time in America.

Blessings of love and healing,
Mark

PS Ira will return in March with another great Ira's Insight about her life in Ukraine and her experiences with MUCH!