A year ago when my friend left for Central Asia, I promised I would visit. In my selfishness, I wanted to get out of the country and have a long chat over coffee with my friend, but God had so much in store. In mid-April I attended a conference (Chicago Hub) and a young man with autism ‘spoke’ to the attendees using a communicaion board.  The next morning I nearly bolted up in bed with the thought: That’s why I’m going to Kyrgyzstan–to teach the non-verbal orphans how to communicate.

     I marveled at the way God was breaking chains on children’s minds on both sides of the world. Keegan’s Story.

Children’s Home: The kids were enthralled with the American boys and a game of Duck, Duck, Goose with wheelchairs.  The next visit, I felt like Maria Von Trapp walking single-file on a hillside–the teen in front toting a guitar.  

Start At The Very Beginning: Isabel has a face and demeanor that can’t be refused, but this youngster was more interested in the music outside and memories of the photographer and wheelchair rides.  On the next visit, we purposed to be distraction-free and there were numerous successful ‘gaze responses’ with two of the three children. We plan to introduce pictures on our next visit.

Vision: Create a communication system that can be easily used by the nannies, volunteers and short-term volunteers who don’t know the language.