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The Newsletter for Through the Roof
TTR on the Move
Delivering Wheelchairs and
Drawing Crowds
Wheels for the World in Butaleja, Uganda 2018
God Has a Plan
For Me Too
When I See Her,
I See God
Waves of
Refreshment
Travelling by minibus to the main wheelchair
distribution site in Nabiganda, just southwest of
Mbale, our Wheels team stopped to buy water
from a shop beside the red dust road. On the
ground outside the entrance to the store they
met William, a beggar with no legs and only one
arm. He wasn’t able to get to the distribution site,
so the team returned to him a few days later. In
a scene reminiscent of Bible times where Jesus
and his disciples stopped to minister to people
at the side of the road, first-time team leader, Anj;
Helen, one of the physios; and local techie Leonard
carefully fitted William with the wheelchair they’d
specially reserved for him, while team pastor, Ola,
ministered to curious passers-by.
As the chair was being fitted, another disabled
man, Charles, turned up. The dedicated team came
back later on and were able to give him a chair
too, and invite a girl who begged on the same
patch to come to the site for assessment, where
she also received a chair. The shop owner allows
these three to stay outside his shop and beg even
though it’s normally not allowed. We pray that this
practical demonstration of love will encourage
the crowd who gathered to look to God and not
to marginalise those with disabilities, especially
disabled people living on the street.
Anj, had previously visited Butaleja with a
Wheels for the World team two years ago. Back
then she had met a little girl called Afua, who
needed a mobility aid. Anj was disappointed as
she realised the team couldn’t help her because
No: No:
60 Summer
72 SUMMER
2014 2018
they just didn’t have a suitable wheelchair to
meet her needs. It’s very different from being at
home where customised chairs would be readily
available. Imagine how Anj felt when she met 9
year-old Afua again on this latest trip. Would Anj
have to give her bad news for a second time?
Afua was hopeful that this would be her big day
– the day she received a wheelchair. Thankfully,
this time, things were different! After taking
careful measurements Anj spotted a chair that
could possibly meet the girl’s needs. But then,
encouragingly, she discovered an even more
suitable fit – a bright red chair that was perfect
for her. It was uplifting to be able to provide
something just right for Afua, and amazing to see
how happy and excited she and her mother were
to finally have a chair. A whole family, and possibly
even a whole community changed by the gift of
one wheelchair.
A whole family changed by the
gift of one wheelchair
When the team had arrived on the first day, they
found a crowd of people already waiting. This isn’t
unusual for a Wheels distribution – often people will
wait all day for the opportunity of receiving the gift of
a wheelchair. On that first day, 40 people were seen
and assessed. Depending on the individual’s disability
there are a few options available – a wheelchair isn’t
right for everybody. In some cases, crutches may help
improve mobility or at least prevent someone losing
strength or skills.
(Continued on page 2)
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