God Given Opportunities:Joni and Friends

This is Joni Eareckson Tada. If you haven't heard about her, watch this video and listen to what she does. A couple of weeks ago while still in Rio, I was given the opportunity to volunteer with her outreach programme to disabled people in countries where owning a wheelchair is just a dream for poor folks.            

 191 Wheelchairs

 Joni and friends sent 191 wheel chairs to Niteroi, a city across the bay from Rio de Janeiro. The paper work is enormous to persuade the Brazilian authorities to allow imported goods in but with the help of the local Rotary club and some persistent people, it was all arranged. There were several therapists and mechanics who came from the States using their holiday time and their own expenses to serve people less fortunate than themselves.

This girl, aged about 24, had never had a wheelchair before. As you can see, she is very severely disabled. The therapists and mechanics spent nearly 5 hours finding a chair that would be comfortable for her. It had to be readjusted numerous times and all the while, the therapists, and mechanics with the aid of translators showed loving, reassuring care to someone who had every reason to be fearful of the pain and strangeness involved. You can see how happy she is here.

I was very privileged to be invited not only to translate but also be part of the evangelism team of 3. After all the people had received their chairs and been given a meal, they came over to our tables and were offered a Bible in various sizes of print according to their needs. These were supplied by the Brazilian Bible Society. Of course, many of the disabled and their carers who also came were Christians and so full of praise and gratitude to God for the brothers and sisters who had come to serve them. Others were spiritists, this lady I am counselling was a Jehovah Witness and she asked to receive Christ as her Saviour. Her carer was very pleased as she was a keen member of a Pentecostal church. The names of all the people who were counselled were noted down and it was someone else's responsibility to make sure that churches near where they lived would make contact with them and try to be of some help to them. Over 30 people made commitments to Christ .      

In spite of the fact that Joni has recently been diagnosed with Cancer, she continues in her role of encouraging everyone whom she comes into contact with and especially through her inspirational website. She is an inspiration to us all of how we should use the gifts that God gives us to reach others for the kingdom and bring glory to Him.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING BY THE WAY?

CHECK IT OUT

http://www.joniandfriends.org/