Arcade Church

10/23/08

As I promised you would happen in the last update, my heart broke for the people of Ukraine today. We spent much of the day visiting hospitals in Vinnitsa and helping me to understand the condition and system of medicine. I am not sure how to say this, but, “Houston, we have a problem.” I was absolutely amazed by the lack of sanitation, the lack of care for people both physically and emotionally, and the manipulation of needy people. A light turned on for me today and I recognized just how needy people are to be treated fairly and with dignity.

The story was told to me today of a doctor in the hospital who was made aware of a very sick young man who had been brought into the hospital. He was unconscious and in need of immediate assistance from a doctor. When the doctor was notified of the need, he responded, “I will not even walk out of my office to help this man until I have money on my desk from this man’s family. If he has no money for me he will receive no help.” Remember, health care in Ukraine is free for the people and paid for by the government. However, the doctors are paid so poorly that they make their money by charging patients for services and by prescribing medicine and tests they don’t need in order to make more money. Some doctors have paid money for their medical license and don’t even have the education to help someone in the first place. But through bribes, a doctor can make good money. Back to my story. The money never came in for this young man and hours later he lay dead on the hospital bed, having never received treatment. When the doctor came out to see the patient, I don’t know if it was out of curiosity or some deep guilt, he noticed that this patient was his son.

The fact is that every day in Ukraine someone does not receive proper medical care — and every day someone’s son or daughter dies or is greatly hindered because of this system. I asked if the government comes to regulate the hospital and to verify funds are being used properly. They said, “Yes, but they are just paid bribes by the head of the hospitals.”

I was terrified. I could barely walk through the hallways of the hospital because of the smell, the sheer terror in the eyes of the people, and the hard, frustrated looks in the eyes of the doctors. At Greenway there is a doctor who refuses to be a part of this system and desires to slowly make changes. She desires to connect with Greenway in the future and have a mobile medical office that assesses people’s health for free and then lets them know what the real problem is and how they can get help. This would be an amazing way to share Jesus and introduce people to the love of Jesus in an environment where they are accustomed to being taken advantage of.

I also went to McDonald’s with Sasha (a child with disabilities) and his friends from the rehabilitation home and orphanage.

The look on these children’s faces was worth the $100 dollars it cost me. We sang songs together, ate McDonald’s food, hit balloons at one another, and had a special cake. After seeing where these children spend their days and live, I realized why this trip to McDonald’s was more special to them then most of our kids’ trips to Disneyland. Their faces illuminated and they loved the interaction and love from the Greenway members. At Greenway there is a group of people who focus specifically on social ministry and ministry to those with disabilities. They went to their house and then pushed them and directed the kids up the large hill and bumpy roads to the McDonald’s. I thought to myself, “How are we going to get Richard through these streets and up these stairs?” (Everything has stairs and very few ramps.)

I just want to assure you at Arcade that this ministry is worth the money, energy, and attention of Arcade Church. Having talked to Natasha (the doctor from Greenway) and others, I recognize the need to send medical staff, children’s program staff, and professionals in the world of disabilities to assist this church and the larger community. Thank you, Arcade, for your commitment; please continue to pray for Greenway and the ministry in Vinnitsa.