Three weeks ago, I spent a week with my two co-raised up squad leaders (Corban and Travis), our squad mentor (Brandon), and our alumni squad leaders (Linds and Al) in a tiny little airbnb for training week. This week was filled with lots of information relating to stepping into our new roles as squad leaders, team bonding — including taking a cooking class where we learned how to make Khinkali and Khachapuri, running around Tbilisi, Georgia doing a scavenger hunt, maybe getting a piercing or 2 (sorry Mom…), and one of my favorite parts… sharing our testimonies!
During my testimony, the Lord reminded me of a moment in 2019 when I was in the Dominican Republic and the Lord spoke to me about my passion for OT and mission work combined. In the DR, we got to meet and help 2 women who both had Cerebral Palsy. They had assistance with daily tasks from their brother, but during the majority of the day their brother had to work and unfortunately there was no one else able to help them during most of those hours. They spent most of their days scooting around on cushions on the floor, not able to stand or access anything above floor level because of their physical impairments. My friend Kendyll and I visited them in their home and our minds became flooded with ways we wanted to help make their home more accessible to improve their quality of life (p.s. I swear, as soon as you become an OT you just have different eyes). We spent time talking to them through a translator, and were determined to come back with practical ways to make this happen. We were able to come back with chairs that we adapted and taught them how to transfer to/from the chair, we made cushions for them to prevent further skin breakdown, we were able to adapt their environment so that basic needs like food and water were accessible to them, and we brought them coloring books, a Spanish bible, and other fun tasks for them to do in their free time. We got to learn about their faith in Christ, witness the true joy of the Lord they demonstrated, and got to pray with them. This moment ignited a fire within me for OT and mission work combined.
I’ve shared this story a few times with different groups of people, but during this particular time of sharing, I was flooded with so much heartache, empathy and compassion but also gratitude and joy which turned into tears. Through sharing this story, I began to realize how the Lord knew before I even did how this profession would be a passion of mine to build His Kingdom. And maybe that was what truly brought me to tears. The beauty of His calling on my life, even before I knew it.
After I shared my testimony, Travis asked me a question that I spent a good amount of time pondering during the rest of training week… he asked if I had gotten to use my OT skills on the World Race yet. I was a little bummed when I said no, not really. I shared that there have been moments when my knowledge has been useful (usually someone on the squad asking me what is wrong with something in their body, lol), but I had not gotten to use my skills much, if at all, in a ministry setting. I began praying for the Lord to show me how I can use my skills more. I prayed for opportunities for me to use these giftings the Lord has given me. After all, my experience in the DR was a big part of what led me to pursue a life of mission work.
A few days later, I found out that I was joining team WOAH in Armenia and had heard that they were volunteering at an orphanage. I wasn’t really sure what ministry looked like at an orphanage, or if I’d be able to use my OT skills in this setting, but I was excited to get to work with kids. When I showed up in Armenia, I found out that we are doing ministry at Kharberg Orphanage, which isn’t just a typical orphanage… it is a special needs orphanage! Not only that, but there at the orphanage they have occupational, physical and speech therapy, music therapy, ceramic therapy, woodworking, hippotherapy, a beautiful sensory room, and more! They have over 235 individuals all with a variety of special needs. A few of the days, I’ve been able to work with the speech therapist in the sensory room and educate staff about sensory processing and integration (and learn techniques and skills from their sensory integration specialist as well!). In a few days, I’ll be giving a presentation on occupational therapy and what that looks like in America and how they can better utilize occupational therapists at the orphanage.
One of my favorite memories yet has been a story told from Arthur, who works with kids in the ceramics room. I asked him to share a story of one of his favorite pieces of artwork created by one of the kids. He began to share about a boy who was non-verbal and used a wheelchair for mobility. He created a mold of a person with small short legs, big long arms, and a big heart in the middle of the person’s chest. Afterwards, Arthur realized this was a self-portrait. Although the boy didn’t walk around, he used his hands/arms and his heart for everything he did.
This month has been an answered prayer from the Lord. My heart has been so full seeing each and every child’s smile, beautiful personality, and joy. This month has been a breath of fresh air, a true gift from the Lord. I’m grateful for God’s good gifts to us, and the way He uses our giftings for His Kingdom.
1 Peter 4:10-11 (MSG) — “Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!”
