Friday Wheelchair Story: Reverence for my HEROES

This story comes from our dear friend Susan Shaw. She wrote it on one of her many mission trips to Fiji.

I just returned from delivering my 5th container to Fiji.  This was a very important trip for me because instead of taking several people with me who wanted to experience the joy of giving, I took my 22 yr. old nephew, David, who just graduated from USC. I wanted to show this young man something so far distant from our fortunate and blessed lives. I knew he had the heart to embrace these loving people, but, I was overwhelmed with his young passion to share in the joy with the families and recipients of the wheelchairs. The youth are our future and we need them to see what we already have hopefully learned in our life's journey - "Life begins, when you begin to serve".

Bas is our river guide in Fiji. He took us to a village to meet Andre, a 13 year old. He damaged his ankle in a soccer game, and 6 months later got a bone infection that hadn't been treated properly. He was unable to get to school. He is surrounded by the love of all of his siblings, and extended family. You can see by the photo, the terrain in these villages is perfect for these wheelchairs. A conventional chair would not work. He had a smile on his face the entire time we were there. However, if he did not receive proper treatment, he would likely lose his leg, if not his life. The good news is, after our visit, a man who wishes to remain anonymous in Fiji took him to the hospital to get the treatment he needs. It just took a paragraph in an email from me to make this happen, which again reinforces my need and reverence for my HEROES. Without them, I would not be able to see this mission through.

God bless all who help me and those who deserve the dignity of our love.