Photo: Parallel bars are used in physical therapy and rehabilitation programs to help patients regain their strength and mobility. Parallel bars are used for a variety of exercises such as walking, balance training, and weight-bearing exercises. The bars provide support for patients who have difficulty standing or walking on their own, and the use of parallel bars can help patients regain their confidence and independence in a wide range of mobility issues, from amputations to stroke recovery. They are also used by patients who have suffered from a spinal cord injury.
During this trip I have met with a number of people from various strata of governing. We have discussed the great need of therapies addressing the horrible consequences of the war. From all levels I have heard the pleadings that ONLY professionals should be involved in these therapies. I have heard some horror stories of groups with well-intentioned motives encountering horrible results because they were not clinically trained to deal with the severe issues encountered.
The horrors of the “unseen” wounds are deep and serious. It may seem hard to accept, but the psychological traumas are far worse than the physical traumas. The returning troops are often a powder-keg and one word, gesture, smile, or other innocent action, ignites a seething rage that targets the perceived adversary.
The factor that most do not consider is that unless one is fluent in Ukrainian he has to use an interpreter. And, if that interpreter is not trained in medical, psychological terms, and behaviors of a professionally certified counselor, there is added risk inviting volatile anger issues.
Let me put this in simple terms…we do not need Sunday School teachers to come and say they are here to counsel. If you say you are here to counsel, you must show accredited certification to support your claim. And, if you are professional certified, then you must have a professionally certified translator!
I appreciate the concern and kindness many offer, but what many are volunteering to do, is more dangerous than taking a rifle and going to the frontline. They have a zeal without knowledge and they will be greatly harmed.
In dealing with the issue of various therapies I have been working to offer services by certified professionals in the Lord’s Church. We have certified psychologists who are trained to assist adults and children navigate emotional traumas. We have trained military who can help the troops with PTSD. We have trained physical therapists who can assist with physical rehabilitation. We have an army of those willing to share the good news of the peace of God that passes understanding.
I have received an overwhelming positive response from State, Regional, and Local Administrations asking for me to help plan and develop a rotation of certified professionals who will come for 2-3 weeks and share their training and counsel with personnel here.
The constant query asks, “How soon can someone come?”
I have stressed that our objective is to offer support that will help the WHOLE person recover—physically, emotionally and spiritually. We want to assist the children of war, those widowed, those suffering losses of homes, possessions and loved ones, those maimed and others whose lives have been ruined by evil’s aggression.
Our primary objective…The key is found in the Scriptures. But in order to get to that point, some will need assistance prior to study. All I have talked with agree that the spiritual is as critical as the physical and emotional. A door is wide open!
Our scope includes: Physical therapy to assist mobility; vocational therapy to assist retraining; psychological therapy to assist the traumatized emotions to be calmed; family therapy to assist families in overcoming numerous adversarial issues and become stronger; spiritual therapy so issues with God can be discussed and hopefully resolved.
This is an aggressive project but the Lord’s Church is populated with qualified folks who can fulfill the task! In addition to the certified professionals we will need a number of others willing to step up and assist with the handoff when recovery has progressed past the professional needs.
We will set up therapy centers throughout Ukraine. We have already begun in Ivano-Frankivsk and will add regions as soon as possible. In order to provide the centers, we will need to ship therapy equipment to furnish the rehab centers.
I need donations of good physical therapy equipment!! This equipment is available, we just have to discover it and get it loaded and shipped!
Pass the word that I am looking for certified professional who can assist us in this project. This will help the individual rebuild life, strengthen families, assist children to resolve emotional traumas that many have deeply buried, and offers an avenue through which the Lord’s peace that passes understanding can be realized!
Simply Stated…we NEED HELP!
Notes from Perry
Somehow some of Perry’s reports got misplaced. So here is a summary of several reports I have failed to post.
This morning we all went to Ugorniky High school where Whitney taught Biology and Gif, Jared taught English to 9th grade. Inna and I observed until their break and then followed with open questions and answers that lasted for about 45 minutes. The interaction with the students was warming, exciting because they were as thrilled as we were to talk about their families, goals, interests, and their country and then asked us the same. I had a wonderful time talking to Natasha about her family. Her father is working in the Czech Republic since the war began.
After lunch we went back to Ugorniky High school where we all attended the same class and received a warm welcome by the students following our introduction by Oleg. Being with these students was such a blessing and to listen to each of their dreams and ambitions such as a doctor, politician, police officer, detective, artist, musician, soldier, dentist, nurse, CPA, IT technician. It was amazing and at break time many of the students just wanted to stay and talk instead of having a break. As the other students came back, I then noticed that Gif, Jared, Whitney and the interpreters were gone, so I had the privilege to finish the last 30-40 minutes by myself—well that was a blast! We had so much fun! Inna did come when class was over and took me to the next Class where everyone else was.
In the evening we had another Bible study on leadership by Gif.
We discussed the Church’s move from the office to the building as was the plan for the first of May but Ivan informed us that the city would not give another emergency permit. It is now required to have the lower part of the building completed and yard graded to drainage specifications. The push for Ukraine to join the EU is requiring building codes to be on EU standards is the culprit as the safety issues are driving this requirement. John will explain in full detail when we get back. The van is ready for the church logo to be put on. It looks like a new vehicle!
Ivan and I went to the building and picked up twenty more tourniquets and boxes of wet ones for Andrew the Mayor who will meet us in Lysets. We were on our way to see Andrew after we filled the back of the bus with sanitizer, bug and poison ivy spray and tourniquets. Andrew called and said there was a meeting just called with other mayors to discuss the current situation about the war. So that trip was cancelled. We then changed plans met up with another Andrew and had lunch and a Bible study.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) Andrew the Mayor is sending a driver to the church building to pick up the tourniquets and then Ivan and I will go to a military base. Thanks,
Perry Baker
Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the last day of the Ivano-Frankivsk group. They will leave early on Thursday morning to begin the trek to Warsaw where we will rendezvous. There will probably be only one or two more of these reports posted as the trip concludes.
THANK YOU for your financial support, constant prayers and refreshing words of encouragement!
Continue praying for our efforts! “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it.” (Colossians 4:2-4)
John L. Kachelman, Jr.
Wrocław, Poland (Dalraida Church of Christ, Ukraine Missions, P. O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109)
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