December 5, 2014  Wheelchair distributions

We traveled to Bandung to attend the ceremony of 11 people who either were receiving a new wheelchair or being measured for a new one. For some this was the first wheelchair they ever had.

 

 

 President Edi, 1st counselor in the Bandung Branch Presidency and his wife, Lisa. They were instrumental in identifying people in their community who needed a wheelchair and helping to bring them together for the measuring and the fitting. Each wheelchair is measured and properly fitted for each patient so that they can minimize the risk of pressure sores which can be very debilitating, even life threatening. Taking the time to ensure a proper and accurately fitting wheelchair for each person is a priority and requirement from the church. A real blessing!

Agum Arifin,10 years old,  receiving his first wheelchair and he was all smiles. Before this he could walk with the support of a walker. He demonstrated how much he enjoyed his new wheelchair as he was all over the room trying it out and keeping his mother busy chasing him.  It was wonderful to see.

Agum, with his mother Reni having a good time with the missionaries. He has 1 older sister and she said they enjoy playing together. She says Agum is always happy, and he has many friends. We had met him previously when we worked with the Bina Anugrah school (see Nov 22 write-up). Reni said that now Agum has a wheelchair he will be able to go outside and explore.
Oh the blessing of mobility.

We need to learn to smile as he does!

 

 

 

 

 

This is Tiwi, she is 9 years old and this is her 2nd wheelchair. The first wheelchair was one that they were borrowing from a neighbor. It didn't have a tray and she really enjoyed the tray and kept patting it. She was born with cerebral palsy and is too heavy for her mother to carry any more, so both her and her mother were happy for this day.

Below she is with her mother, Oneng, who is 41 years old and sells snacks on the streets to survive. The father passed away 5 years ago.  Tiwi's little sister, Lisa, is in the red and white dress, and loves to play with her. When I asked her mother what kind of toys does she like to play with? Her answer was, "She doesn't have any toys, they just play with each other."  It is these experiences that really bring home to us all that we have in our world. What I would have given to have had a small doll or toy to give to these girls. Maybe I need to learn to craft small cloth dolls to pass out? Yet, this is the life that many are use to, it is harder for us to see them without a toy than it maybe for them. We judge so much from our western way of thinking and of what they need to make them happy. But still....they would enjoy a toy or two!

Eddy Mulyana is 81 years old. He arrived with his son Yohannes. He had a stroke several years ago that has prevented his ability to walk. He said he had a wheelchair about 4 years ago but a rat ate the tires.

Working his way to his new wheelchair with the help of his son and one of the missionaries.

 

Below, enjoying the kindness of the Elders.

His smile says it all, and captures for us the wonderful joy to be here and experience this great work. What a honor it has been to see in the eyes of the people themselves, and with their loved ones the happiness in being able to have mobility again. Thanks for the church of Jesus Christ and its focus on helping those in need and bringing blessings of hope into peoples lives.

 

                           Now Eddy can be out and about with his 4 children and 7 grandchildren

Eddy is a long time member of the church, pictured here with his son, Yohanes, daughter Lisa, and one of his grandsons, that refused to look at the camera.

Another young girl, Sela, age 10, came with her father, Adi and mother, Yani, to get her first wheelchair. They told me that she had been born normal and then after a few months she got sick and had a bad fever. They think it was Dengue Fever? She was in the hospital for a week and then returned home. Her right side has very limited movement, her left side is better. She can use her left hand holding and moving. She is unable to speak and just makes noises and cries when she is hungry. They have 2 other girls who are healthy. Sela has spent all of her life laying on a mattress or in the arms of her parents. Her parents are busy with work and many responsibilities raising their other daughters, so it is easy to imagine how much time is spent on a mattress on the floor. Her mother commented that it will be so good to have her in a wheelchair so that she can be moved from the house to outdoors to see the neighborhood. Her world will open up for her in many ways.
She sleeps most of the time, but with the ability to see new things it might spark more desire to stay awake and look around at her surroundings?
 We surely hope this will spark joy in her heart? It will certainly be a blessing for her parents as they care for Sela and their other children.

When you have spent most of your life laying on a mattress on the floor, or in the arms of your parents, it is a new experience for these children to be put into a chair. It can create anxiety and fear and we have seen many cry the first time.  Sela did wonderfully! She was calm and just looked around at everything! Hopefully she will enjoy it from the first day? She is a pretty girl, such big beautiful eyes!

 

 

Elder Haws with Onih, who came to be measured for a wheelchair. He has never had one before, and was pretty shy. But after some time with Elder Haws they were both beaming. What a difference one can make when they show interest and give attention with love and a smile.

 Mrs Rohatis. 75 years old. She came by motorcycle to receive her wheelchair. 

She has been waiting 1 1/2 years for this blessing and was so appreciative.

 

                                                 Rohatis with her daughter and son in law

                                                After 1 1/2 years she finally has a wheelchair


 She also has 2 grandchildren and looks forward to the opportunity to be more independent and do more things for herself, and with them. She just kept saying, "thank you, thank you, thank you."

  

                                                 Gathering together for a group photo.

 We are always grateful to have the  missionaries join with us as possible, to visit and help with the people.

For some, it wasn't an easy process to get the chair back home. But these are very creative people. It will take Adi about 45 minutes to get the wheelchair to his home, and then he will come back to get his wife and daughter. They are a very patient people! He had the wheelchair wrapped in rope nice and tight!

 

We had a 4 1/2 drive back to Jakarta and it was a rainy blistery day. But we were grateful and humbled to experience once again this glorious work.

Many hands and hearts were touched and uplifted today.