Oli otya? This means “Hello, how are you?” in Luganda, one of the major languages spoken in Uganda.
We recently sent our director of marketing, Jennifer Walker, to Uganda to capture stories in preparation for this year’s Miracle of Mobility. Jennifer and a camera crew joined our local partner, Father’s Heart Mobility Ministries, as they distributed wheelchairs in Iganga, a district of Uganda.
One of the people they encountered was Moses, an 18-year-old who lost the ability to walk when he contracted malaria as a child. He has had to crawl for the past 16 years.
As the distribution team brought Moses a new GEN_2 wheelchair, they could see his eyes widen with disbelief and excitement. This may have been one of the first times that Moses has ever received a free gift, as people with disabilities are often misunderstood in Uganda, treated like second-class citizens.
“Seeing Moses receive his wheelchair is a highlight in my life,” said Jennifer. “The gratitude that was etched across his face was absolutely priceless, and it was not just Moses who was happy– the entire village seemed to gather around him, beaming with smiles ear-to-ear. This gift of a wheelchair was not just for Moses; it was for his entire family and the surrounding village.”
Our team produced an inspiring video on Moses’ story, which you can watch here. You can also meet Moses in person at this year’s Miracle of Mobility in Costa Mesa, California on July 13th. Moses is one of four special guests whom we have invited to our annual gala, to share firsthand the impact that the gift of mobility has made.
As we continue on our Mission to 1 Million, stories like this remind us that it’s not just about the number of wheelchairs we give away. It’s about individual lives transformed, one wheelchair at a time.
Thank you for your prayers and generosity.
Blessings,
Don Schoendorfer
