Day 108

This day will be on the top of our list for memorable experiences in Rwanda. We had the great privilege to bring wheelchairs to people who have not walked in years - some since the age of 2. Six people made their way to Kibagabaga District Hospital to be fitted for one of 250 wheelchairs that were donated by the Humanitarian program in the church last summer. This woman contracted polio at age 12, yet she went on to marry and have five children. Sadly, 3 of her children and her husband were killed in 1994 in the genocide. Today, however, was a happy day for her. Prior to getting this chair, she traveled by crawling on her hands (with flip flops on them for protection), and dragging her legs. Yep, this was an A+++ day!

This gentleman has been waiting for his wheelchair since last July. He had a car accident in 2000, and his leg was amputated in 2004. His ease of movement will now be improved.

We met this man several months ago...he sells note cards along the road where people stop to buy groceries. Last week, Deb and I were in a souvenir shop buying baskets, while, unbeknownst to us, Brad was observing this man walking up and down the road - using crutches to drag his withered legs. Finally, he called Agnes, our hygiene supervisor, and had her speak to him in Kinyarwanda. She learned as much as she could about him, and then Brad had her invite him to come to the hospital today to be fitted for a wheelchair. He has a friend, who is an amputee with a prosthetic leg, who came and helped interpret for Brad during that phone call. It was determined that this friend would help get him to the hospital...and he did just that. I don't know how, but they got there, and he got his wheelchair. It is difficult to describe the joy we saw in all of these peoples' eyes as they went from a situation of crawling or using crutches, to the position of moving themselves about without anyone helping them. Helping the lame to walk, as mentioned in Job, is incredible!

See a 10 minute video of the event here:
http://youtu.be/8Ag2yiudL_c