A
wheelchair for Rachel
A moving gift in more ways
than one! Colin Bond reports with a story from
his recent trip to Africa.
e
(that's Rev Steve Adyeri, Rev Alan Hall, USA, and his wife
Heather and myself, pastor Colin Bond) were walking along
the street one hot dusty day in Fort Portal, Western Uganda
when we saw this legless lady trying to cross the busy road.
Have you ever imagined what it must be like to cross a road
through traffic when you are only a metre high? Can the traffic
see you? Can you see oncoming traffic? This lady was dragging
herself across with leg stumps hidden in her dusty skirt.
Steve,
a local pastor, spoke the language and asked her story. (See
pic above.) A picture unfolded of a happy girl growing up
in a pastor's family when tragedy struck. She stepped on a
land mine. Both legs were blown off. Thirteen years old with
life before her and now no legs. Recently she lost her parents
so now has to get about as best she can. Imagine the bewildered
unbelief when we asked if she would like a wheel chair!
Rachel
with her new wheelchair and (l-r) Rev. Alan Hall, his
wife Heather, and Pastor Colin Bond
ome
with us, let's put one together." (Foolish statement from
those inexperienced in wheel-chair assembly!) We offered to
carry her up the steps. Years of independence brought refusal.
How do you climb steps with no legs? She watched patiently
as we took one hour, two hours assembling the wheel chair.
Being pastors we took the liberty of stealing one from the
supply stored by Evelyn of 'Outreach to Africa' trusting she
would not prosecute us! (Check out the wonderful work Evelyn
does for the poor on www.outreachtoafrica.org)
Rachel
practices getting into her new set of wheels!
The
bemused look on Rachel's face began to lift as things took
shape until a big smile could not be repressed as realisation
dawned - "It's for me!" Independence refused to let us lift
her into the chair; with one stump on the chair, one on the
ground, this pretty lady lay flat on the ground, a quick heave
and 'bingo' - mobility! (See pic right)
our
interest, your support, your encouragement has brought a happy
smile and a hope for the future to one lovely lady! Thank
you!
e
(that's Rev Steve Adyeri, Rev Alan Hall, USA, and his wife
Heather and myself, pastor Colin Bond) were walking along
the street one hot dusty day in Fort Portal, Western Uganda
when we saw this legless lady trying to cross the busy road.
Have you ever imagined what it must be like to cross a road
through traffic when you are only a metre high? Can the traffic
see you? Can you see oncoming traffic? This lady was dragging
herself across with leg stumps hidden in her dusty skirt.
ome
with us, let's put one together." (Foolish statement from
those inexperienced in wheel-chair assembly!) We offered to
carry her up the steps. Years of independence brought refusal.
How do you climb steps with no legs? She watched patiently
as we took one hour, two hours assembling the wheel chair.
Being pastors we took the liberty of stealing one from the
supply stored by Evelyn of 'Outreach to Africa' trusting she
would not prosecute us! (Check out the wonderful work Evelyn
does for the poor on 
our
interest, your support, your encouragement has brought a happy
smile and a hope for the future to one lovely lady! Thank
you!