Once again today I was able to help with a wheelchair distribution at Hope Haven Guatemala, sponsored by SOSEP, the social work organization under the First Lady of Guatemala.
A number of the workers at the shop are hospitalized or recovering from surgery. Gustavo, our national wheelchair “artist” had cataract surgery, Freddy is receiving treatment for a bedsore, and Omar is recovering from surgery to remove his gall bladder. All of these fellows have had complications, and I’d ask you to keep them in your prayers as they recover.
Since Omar usually does the administrative stuff for these distributions, today I tried (pitifully) to fill in for him with Isla’s help. The up side of this, though was that I got to visit with each of the families and spend some time, too with the social workers who brought them in. These two particular workers are among my favorites, and I enjoyed spending time with them.
There were some remarkable stories to be told today from this varied group of families, and I want to share some of them with you.
First, meet Jennifer Paola, age 9. This is actually her second wheelchair from Hope Haven. Her first, received only a few months ago, was stolen from the top of a bus as she traveled with her caregiver. She is a delightful young lady, and her mother was so proud of her, and extremely grateful to receive another chair. When they were leaving, her mom handed me the blanket she had used to carry her to the distribution. When I said I couldn’t take it from her, she said, "Please. I don’t need it now—I have a wheelchair to carry her in.” I received this gift as I broke into tears at her generosity. The willingness of these women, who have so little, to share what they do have continues to humble me.
Next, there is Ivan Estuardo. His tiny mother carried her good sized 17 year
old son on her back to get him to the
distribution. While hardly able to sit up,
she told us how he insists on going to
church, and someday hopes to be a
pastor. As he was lying flat on his
back, waiting for his chair, he sang a
praise song for us that once again had
me in tears. I was convicted how often
I complain about minor aches and
inconveniences. Here was a young
man with a bright mind and a severely
limited body, desiring with all his heart to use what he has in the service of the God he loves. Wow!
Nineteen year old Darwin was Dick’s last seating of the day. Darwin has muscular dystrophy, though still is active and attending school. He had a broken down wheelchair which his mother used to push him the 4 km (one way) to and from school each day. He hoped to receive one in a little better condition.
Since this looked like what would be an “easy fit,” Dick shared with me that he had thought about leaving a little early and letting one of the Hope Haven workers fit this young man. Something inside him, though , (I think the Holy Spirit) compelled him to go back to seat him. As he heard his story, Dick began evaluating Darwyn to receive a power chair. Swiftly, Dick decided he was an appropriate candidate for one. After searching the warehouse for one small enough to fit though the doorways of Darwin’s home, Dick managed to find one, which also just so happened to have good batteries (no small feat), and Darwin was soon driving around with as much pride as any young man would have when obtaining his first set of “wheels.”
It was a pretty incredible surprise for Darwin who was hoping to maybe get a new “push” chair, and receiving a power chair. I can only imagine the difference this will make in his life, and the life of his mother, who will no longer have to push him to and from school each day!
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