Serving Friends with Special Needs
People want to be seen, known for who they really are. It’s an innate longing inside the human heart. Jesus knew this. When He came to a village, He not only healed the sick - He saw them. He looked people in the eye and communicated their God-given dignity and value, even if society had rejected them.
A short-term team had the opportunity to demonstrate this priority while serving at Sumy Grace Camp in eastern Ukraine.
Sumy Grace Camp holds multiple camps each summer for kids, youth, and families, and one, in particular for Ukrainians with special needs. These campers of varying ages and abilities come with their caregivers and enjoy 10 days of activities, learning, and time outdoors.
The camp’s priority for SEND’s short-term team in 2019 was to help communicate respect and anticipation to special needs campers through building and maintaining an accessible camp.
“Many places [in Ukraine] are not fit to care for those with special needs and for the disabled,” says team leader, John Paetkau. This presents an unwelcome atmosphere in public places and limits great life experiences.
Building a Solution
With a great sense of purpose, the team began the process of building ramps all around the camp, facilitating a space for campers to live and move with freedom.
Audrey Lawrence, one of the short-term workers, noted the difference between the country’s general accommodations and what the camp built for them.
“The very few ramps we saw in the city, whether into restaurants or malls, had very steep slopes making it extremely difficult for anyone to wheel or push a wheelchair up them. The ramp that our team built had a very gentle slope that made it easy for people to move up. Likewise, the handrail allowed people to pull their own chairs up and provided good support for those with walking difficulty. The campers’ ability to manage more independently increased confidence and affirmed dignity."
Building Spiritual Pathways
These ramps are tangible evidence that, at Sumy Grace Camp, those with special needs are seen and valued.
They are welcome and their needs are accounted for. The hope is that communicating love through this simple act of improving ramps and accessibility will soften hearts towards the gospel for both campers and caregivers. Camp Director Michael Pimonenko notes the impact that camp has on the campers:
“For those who attend, this time is a highlight of the year for them. The majority spend the year in their apartments in the city as it is very difficult to get out on the street... To be out in nature, to rest and relax in the forest, is a huge blessing,” he says. “As a result of this ministry, and the ongoing ministries of Sumy Grace Church during the year, we have seen new people coming to church, receiving Christ, and growing in their faith.”
Everyone walks up or down ramps, but few realize the significance that
improved
accessibility has
for
those who are disabled. Just as Jesus valued and cared for those He interacted
with,
these ramps reveal to the
special needs community that they are valuable, their needs matter, and their
souls
matter.
Though the short-term team went to eastern Ukraine to build ramps, they left having made an impact far greater than nailing together wood
;
they left
building
the sense of
worth
for
m
any
, showing a community that God the Father sees them too.
Additional Posts
Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?
Learn about the spiritual harmony in Vietnam & how missionaries engage with college students. Join us in sharing the gospel!
Explore Georgia's spiritual heritage and the impact of SEND International's mission. Join us in fostering authentic relationships today!
