Wheelchairs and (Past) Wedding Bells

What do wedding bells have to do with wheelchairs?  Not much, unless you’re Brad and Amelia Ferguson.  This couple chose to spend their (I think, 25th) anniversary not on a cruise, but serving God through the disabled in Guatemala.  Leaving their two children behind in Louisiana, they came to work with Hope Haven International.  They, with the help of their church family, raised enough funds to provide chairs for two wheelchair distributions.  Dick and I had the privilege of spending these two days with them while they were here.

Brad and Amelia with one of the ladies at the distribution at the Hope Haven factory.  This woman was delighted with the Spanish New Testament she received from the Fergusons, and didn’t stop reading it the whole time she was waiting for her ride.

We met a number of wonderful families these days. The first day we were at the Hope Haven factory just outside of Antigua.   One of these was Yoselin’s family.  She is 10 years old and has severe cerebral palsy.  She has never received physical therapy because the $30 a month it would cost is more than her parents can afford, even with both of them working.  If you would like to help her receive the treatment she so desperately needs, please email me for more information.

Often at Hope Haven distributions I meet children who need communication systems.  Usually I can give the parents a generic system and teach them quickly how to use it with their child.  Sometimes, though, there is the child who you know has so much he wants to say that he needs a special system.  Jhony is one of these.  I have promised his family that I would construct a special system for him, using information which they provided for me.  When I return from the States, this is at the top of my agenda.

Our second day with the Fergusons took us to a distribution arranged by the “First Lady” of Villa Nueva (the mayor’s wife).  Ordinarily Dick and I hate these politically based gatherings, and we were dreading getting caught in a lot of self-serving hoopla.

Boy, were we wrong.  Yes, there was a gathering with speeches, but the speeches were primarily to introduce the Fergusons and the Hope Haven workers who had come to the distribution.  Each of these people was asked to say a few words.  The mayor, who spoke fluent English, was there to welcome the team, and thank them for their service.  The social workers from Villa Nueva (one of the most dangerous and violent “suburbs” of Guatemala City) were so gracious, and we could see the love they had for the people they served.  And the mayor’s wife was a delight to be with.  She stayed for the entire distribution, visiting with the families and loving on the patients waiting for chairs.  I was never so happy to have misjudged a situation.

Dick measuring one of the young boys who had come for a wheelchair, while the mayor’s wife (sitting near the speaker at the rear of the picture) looks on.

Distributions which take place outside the factory are often tough when someone comes who is not on the list. They are especially difficult when it is a child with a severe physical handicap who needs a specially constructed chair.  This is where Dick’s expertise and natural “MacGuyver” skills are so valuable.  At first we thought we would have to return another day with a chair for the young man shown above with Dick.  However, after many minutes of talking to himself about how there was nothing appropriate at this distribution for the boy, Dick went over and found an adult chair and with Brad’s help (and God’s guidance) made it not just work, but created the perfect chair for this boy.

Brad and Amelia had come not just to pass out wheelchairs, but to pass along the Good News of Jesus to the people who came to the distribution.  When working on wheelchairs it is sometimes a challenge to do both.  Today we were blessed by Francisco, one of the pastors of our church who works with Celebrate Recovery, being with us (since we were going to visit another family after the distribution).  Francisco spent the day visiting with the families, counseling and praying with them.  He even helped one dear woman turn her life over to Christ.

Francisco and our new sister in Christ

Thank you, Brad and Amelia, for making these two days possible through your generosity.  Never under-estimate the power of two when it is surrendered to God.  Come back and see us soon.