What Exactly Are We Going to Do in Cameroon?

Disabled people in developing countries are marginalized by a combination of poverty, cultural attitudes and public policy. Their opportunities to be part of their community and their world are limited by their inability to even get out of their “house.” A wheelchair is a luxury item that most can’t even dream of affording, if they can find one at all. That opens the door for us. We can offer wheelchairs free of charge.

Giving away wheelchairs is much more than driving up in a truck, handing them out, and driving away. A wheelchair has to be properly fitted to each person so that it balances the weight and pressure on the body, and miximizes the mobility of the person. Our team of therapists and mechanics is able to determine what needs to be done, and how to do it (sometimes with a minimum of parts and materials) so that each person fits just right.

But there is another, even more important purpose of the trip. A wheelchair is a tremendous gift, but it will eventually wear out. It gives mobility and hope and freedom for a while but it won’t last forever, despite our best efforts. So we also give each person a Bible and share spiritual encouragement with them. “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesions 2:4,5) Our sin and theirs is a bigger problem than any disability. “And raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show us the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6,7). We will get to show kindness and seat 100 people in wheelchairs. God will be able to show immeasurably more, and seat them in heaven.

“The wheelchair is free, just like the love of God.” I’ve never seen anyone turn down a wheelchair; everyone accepts it. Many people will accept God’s love too, although probably not everyone. We’d appreciate your prayers that the harvest would be great.