Hello. My name is Katie Kuhns. I am 19 years old, just graduated High School and I have been called by God here to Guatemala for the summer. I am staying with Pat Duff and helping her wherever she needs help. I have been here since June 1 and will be here until July 27.
Pat, Dick, and I went out to La Gomera a few weeks ago to some families’ houses and got a few people measured for new wheelchairs. So we took another trip out to deliver the chairs.
When we got there the first house we
went to was to see a woman named
Paty. She is 28 years old. It’s obvious
just by looking that her chair was not
made for her. She practically was
falling out of it. She was there in the
front yard when we got there and her
face lit up.
Paty told Pat that when I go back to the states she wants to go with me so she can find an American husband. I thought that was really sweet.
We got the chair out of the car and moved her into it. Then Dick had some work to do on it to get it specifically right for her. Meanwhile neighbors from all over came to watch and to just help celebrate with the family.
There were a lot of kids there and they were all busy either trying to help Dick with the tools or wanting me to take their pictures. They could have stood there for hours getting their pictures taken and looking at them and laughing. I had a lot of fun with those kids.
Katie is an absolute “kid magnet.” I so enjoy watching her with the kids at Hermano Pedro and in the villages. She is a natural and is poised and comfortable walking into the homes of the people we visit—no matter what their living conditions. Her time here is a blessing to the people and to us!~~Pat
Finally the chair was just right for Paty and you could tell in her eyes that she loved it.
We took pictures and then the family wanted to have a prayer. We all gathered around Paty and Dick started praying. What happened next I was not prepared for but it turned out to be one of the coolest things I’ve experienced. Everyone started praying out loud at the same time. I was surrounded by the sound of many voices crying out to God praising Him and thanking Him for what he has done. After the prayer we said our goodbyes and we left Paty being much more comfortable and happy than when we arrived.
Next we drove just a couple blocks to a boy named Yelsen’s house. Pat and Dick are pretty sure he has Muscular Dystrophy. This only gives him a few more years to live. He doesn’t have enough strength in his arms to push a wheelchair so we brought him a power chair. He didn’t show much excitement outwardly but you could tell by his face how extremely excited he was. We got out the chair and got it fixed up just right for him.
Pat and Dick put their heads together and came up with a contraption made out of a strap from one of Pat’s bags and a pant leg from some jeans to support his legs.
Next it was time for driving lessons. He took it out in the street and drove it around for a little bit. He was having a lot of fun. He will get better at it the more he drives it.
On the left, Yelsin’s mom and sister watch him drive his chair for the first time. On the right, Annie (who first introduced us to Yelsin and his need) along with her daughter.
While we were there I got to hold a
really cute baby for a little bit. We said
our goodbyes then. We all agreed that
that community was very special. Pat
said in other communities neighbors
would be almost jealous at times when
you gave to one family and not to them
but in this community the neighbors we
all excited for them and wanted to
come meet us and celebrate with the
family. It is really cool to see the ways
God works here.
No comments:
Post a Comment