THEIR BURDENS WERE MADE LIGHTER

On September 24^th, we had the privilege of attending a wheelchair and walker distribution ceremony in Temanggung, Central Java.  The clients had already been premeasured and fitted by our NGO partner UCP.  It was a day of mixed feelings.  It was sad to see mothers, fathers, husbands, and sons carry their loved ones into the room, knowing that many had been waiting a long time for their loved one to receive their longed for wheelchair.  Others were brought by ambulance and delivered by a stretcher.  One elderly man was lifted by four men off of the stretcher and moved to a wheelchair.  How long had he been home bound I wondered?  Had he ever left his home during that time?  Would this wheelchair give him freedom to be outdoors more?

A man in his mid 50’s lovingly carried his wife in and sat with her on his lap.  When the wheelchair that was custom fit for her was brought over to them he gently placed her in it.  A physical therapist adjusted it to her needs.  I talked with the couple though an interpreter.  She said five years ago she woke up paralyzed from the waist down.    She has visited many doctors but received no answers for her condition.  If she has wanted to go anywhere she has needed to have her husband carry her. They were both delighted that she would finally have a wheelchair to get her around.  At last the day had arrived.

Several mothers carried children on their backs.  I have posted pictures of these children so that you can see their challenges.  For many the burdens they carry have not been light.  Hopefully with a wheelchair or walker the caretaker’s logistical burdens have become lighter.

One fun individual to watch was a 25 year old young man with some severe spinal deformities.  He was given a roughrider wheelchair. These are wheelchairs that are made to travel just about anywhere.  He was taught by one of the company’s marketing specialist that traveled here from San Francisco.  They had races up and down the hills, over the sidewalks and he was even taught how to do wheelies in his wheelchair.  By the end of an hour, they were both sweating up a storm.  This young man was the one I saw pay $1.50 for his wheelchair. He proudly pulled the money out of his pocket to pay. He had no family members with him that I could see.

Each family signs a contract and is responsible for paying a certain amount based on their income. The desire is for each individual to bear some of the cost so it is not pure charity.  We have found through experience that people who pay something for what they get appreciate it much more than when they get it for free. We have seen amounts paid ranging from 15 cents-$15.00 for a very nice custom-made wheelchair.  Each wheelchair is fitted by a physical therapist especially for that individual.  The wheelchair can be brought back for repairs or if a child needs a larger one as he/she grows.

While in Temanggung we visited a brother who is a member of our church. Temanggung is a long way away from where we have any other members of the church.  Brother Hendro is 79 years old and has 7 children, the youngest of which is currently serving a mission for our church in Bandung, Indonesia.  Brother Hendro was gracious (and spry).  It was wonderful to visit with him and to be welcomed into his home. 

This past week we went out with the young missionaries for the first time to an appointment. It was nice in both cases to do more of what normal missionaries do.  We enjoyed spreaded our love of our beliefs with others.

SPECIALIZED WHEELCHAIRS TO BE GIVEN OUT

SOCIAL WORKER FOR UCP

SOON TO RECEIVE WHEELCHAIR

MOTHER HAPPY DESPITE CHALLENGES WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL BABY

MOTHER CARRYING DAUGHTER ON BACK

"HE AIN'T HEAVY HE'S MY BROTHER"

BROUGHT IN BY STRETCHER

NOW IN WHEELCHAIR

MOTHER CARRYING SON

HAPPY IN WHEELCHAIR

THIS MAN GOT AROUND BY SLIDING AROUND ON THE FLOOR

SIGNING CONTRACT FOR WHEELCHAIR

WAITING FOR THE WHEELIE CONTEST

DOING WHEELIES IN ROUGH RIDER WHEELCHAIRS

TRYING OUT HER WALKER

THIS HUSBAND HAD BEEN CARRYING HIS WIFE FOR FIVE YEARS

MAKING SURE WHEELCHAIR FITS RIGHT

HAPPY IN WHEELCHAIR

A HEAVY LOAD FOR THIS MOTHER

BROTHER HENDRO'S SEWING MACHINE-MANY TAILORS HERE ARE MEN

PART OF BROTHER HENDRO'S HOUSE

RUSSELL, BROTHER HENDRO AND DAUGHTER