Freedom

May 2008

Once a year Joni & Friends - Wheels for the World - Knoxville TN Chapter, Vine International, and Bethel Ministries join forces to bless the Guatemalan people in three different locations. Guatemala City, the Peten, and Rio Dulce are the areas served. Words aren't enough to express the amount of love and caring shown by each and every person on the teams.

But it all starts much before they arrive. Each organization has many behind-the scenes members who were busy at work preparing for the whirlwind tour in Guatemala. From the people who donated the wheelchairs, the staff, volunteers, and donors of the different ministries, the prison inmates who repair the wheelchairs, the warehouse and transport workers, to the logistics teams, were all in motion to begin a common mission.

Once here in-country the administration teams, physical therapists, wheelchair mechanics, translators, doctors and nurses, dentists and assistants, prayer councilors, and pharmacy team set out to complete the work. Each is a part of the body of Christ that came together to meet a need.

I believe that the very basic need in this case, if one word had to be used, is freedom. When a person who has been stuck in his/her bed for years receives their first wheelchair, when a patient is being treated by a doctor or nurse or the dentist for something that has been bothering them for a long time, when someone gets medication to relieve pain and suffering, when a child of God receives Christ's gift of salvation, well... FREEDOM RINGS!!!

What a privilege it has been for us to be a small part of this wonderful project and to share in our brothers' and sisters' suffering and sacrifice, pain and sorrow, joy and happiness, faith, hope, and love!

It is always such a blessing to set the groundwork here in Rio Dulce for the yearly visit of the teams. While Mike was covering the logistics for our area, Fernando, Catherine, and I had the opportunity to meet with the wheelchair patients and their families well before the teams arrived. We helped them fill out the forms, took their pictures, prayed with them, and explained the project.

For us it was a labor of love and hope, and we want to share the experience. All of you help to make it possible for us to be involved. We are truly grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Psalm 118:5 In my anguish I cried to the Lord, and he answered by setting me free.

Now that I have used the "thousand words", here are a few pictures...

If you would like to see more photos of this event please click this link

Rayo de Esperanza