Jacksonville……

Wow….what a weekend!

Our Jacksonville (JAX) volunteer group has done an amazing job at collections!   They have been really going after it since September!

It was time to schedule a shipment!

I have been in contact with our friends in JAX for a couple of years now.  They have a couple groups who are veterans of Bethel mission trips.   The Bold City Church  was my first contact….Pastor Jason Masters, specifically.   2 years ago when we first “met”, he was a young pastor who recently was promoted to lead pastor from youth pastor of a tiny church of around 70 people.  Jason had some wheelchairs they had collected and stored in his grandma’s barn.  We arranged pickup of those to go to Brad in Louisville.   I recall praying with Jason on several occasions.  Praying for his new mission as pastor.  I knew one day I wanted to meet him…..

Later that year I started following his friends Harry and Shelly Divido on Facebook.   They were newbie Bethel mission trippers in 2014…..but soon to be veterans!   They have a ministry in JAX called Light of the World Ministries.  (On Facebook they are known as “Street Pastor” and “Light of the World Ministries”.  I encourage you o follow them on Facebook).  Over the last 2 years I have watched their ministry and how it serves the homeless and needy in JAX.   I knew one day I wanted to meet them and experience their ministry.     In 2015 we started communicating about collecting equipment.   They have become the primary Jacksonville face of Mission: Mobility.   And what a BLESSING they are!

So my expectation of meeting my friends would come to be.  The container was scheduled for Monday  April 4.   My schedule allowed me to travel down to aid in inventory and loading of the container.   A bonus, my daughter Taylor, from Ohio was able to join me in the adventure.

 

My goals for the trip were to help with the container, yes.  But I was very excited to finally meet my friends.

Harry and Shelly met us at the airport.   It was weird….it was like seeing family again.  And we had never met before.  They are family…..brothers and sisters in Christ!

Well, our initial intent was to spend Friday afternoon doing their inventory.  Well, they had it all done!   Wow!  We did go to their storage container and made our game plan for Monday.   I forgot to mention,  I brought them a little something.  A wheelchair to add to their load!  FYI,  you can check a wheelchair as checked luggage….for NO charge.  (Even if it is not for your mobility needs).  That was a fun surprise for them!

 

Saturday…..we had the wonderful opportunity to experience their ministry.

On Saturday mornings they have “church on the street”.  At these weekly events, they are joined by volunteers.  They provide eggs and donuts and coffee,   a message and prayer to the homeless at Jacksonville Beach.  Truly something I had never experienced before.

It was a very powerful experience.

We had lunch, then went to their weekly afternoon ministry.  The Apartment Outreach.   We traveled to a very poor section of JAX to a subsidized housing complex.   The kids came running!   Wow!   What a ministry!   Many regular volunteers come to love on the kiddos, who probably don’t get a lot of attention, and frankly,  live in some horribly dysfunctional  situations.   We played games, had snacks and then broke into age groups for Bible time.   Again, this entire concept was  totally out of my wheelhouse, but what a blast!    These kids truly loved this ministry!   In many ways, it reminded me of playing with the kiddos in Guatemala.

Walking to our hotel room after the event, I especially appreciated a statement from Taylor that was spot on… “Wow, dad.  I thought we were coming to just do inventory and load the container…..this has turned out to be an awesome MISSION TRIP!”  Right on Tay!

Sunday…..I finally had the opportunity to meet Jason.  We went to Bold City Church.   Remember how I said 2 years ago he took the reigns of a church of 70.  Well, Easter Sunday, they had over 1,000 in attendance!   We went to the morning service (another pastor preached), then we went lunch with him.  Again, meeting him was like meeting an old friend, a brother!   Between church and lunch we attended a “class” he presented.  He told of the growth and vision of Bold City Church.  It is evident that the Holy Spirit is leading Jason and his leadership team in their vision!   I am anxious to continue watching the growth!    Sunday evening, we returned to church for the youth service Jason did preach at.  Spot on!   Great service!  The crescendo being a baptism of 20 people!  Very powerful!

Monday morning..

Container time.

Our crew was a diverse one!  We had loyal Light of the World volunteers, 2 homeless guys from Saturday, and folks from Bold city church.   Oh, yeah,  one guy who Street Pastor had never met before, but followed their ministry on Facebook……specifically scheduled a trip to Jacksonville to help load the container and meet Harry and Shelly!  How cool!  By the way, he came from the Houston Texas area!

It was great!   A diverse group united in a common cause…..to SERVE!

Harry was a man on a mission.  He was an amazing packer!   He packed so neatly and efficiently, he got the whole load stowed, with room to spare!    I learned a good lesson from this first time container-packer!  Thanks Harry!

In a little over an hour, we loaded 160 wheelchairs, 105 walkers, 80 sets of crutches, canes and a bunch of boxes of wheelchair parts, clothes and 200 donated backpacks!   We also had 4 donated solar panels for the home builds.

A great load of BLESSINGS.

We closed the doors of the container.  But before letting it leave, in Mission: Mobility tradition, we prayed over the container.  Prayers for a quick and uneventful journey.  A prayer that there are no customs delays or charges.  And that the equipment is a tremendous blessing to those who receive it, and their families.   Not just blessings of mobility and independence, but that they see and understand that these chairs didn’t come from a bunch of folks in Florida….they came from a blessing from the Lord!

Harry added his own twist to the blessing….he blessed the container seal with anointing oil!

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!   Thank you Jason, Harry and Shelly for making us feel so welcome.

Until we meet again……

Rick

God is Good!

Pennsylvania Container 12/08/2014

We have much to be thankful this Holiday season.   One such blessing is that Mission: Mobility has shipped it’s 4th container for 2014!    2 from Iowa, 1 from Louisville, and today from Pennsylvania.

Our group in West Springfield, Pa (NW ) is led by Debbie Hills.    Darren Brown from our group in  Lancaster, Pa (SW)  took a crew up to help with the loading.

The following is from Debbie……

 

Good Afternoon Everyone,

AMEN to that Debbie!    Many thanks to you and all those who had a part in this collection and loading effort.  We ask for prayers for this load to reach Guatemala quickly and without complications.  We pray that this equipment helps to TRANSFORM the lives of those that receive it.    A transformation both physically and SPIRITUALLY!

Jaden

This past spring, I was truly humbled and blessed!  Annette and I went to pick up a donated wheelchair ,a  mom had  answered a call for equipment I put out on Facebook.

Meet Jaden.

Jaden is seven years old – a first grader. He was born with Spina Bifida. Jaden’s mom said they wanted to donate his old equipment, but he had a hard time letting go of it, because it had been such a big part of his life, and he was quite attached. So, I suggested she and Jaden look at the BMI website (www.bethelministriesinternational.com) . This would allow Jaden to see ‘who’ his chair might help, and also see the children in Guatemala that have already been helped.…. And Jaden watched.

When we arrived, we were introduced to Jaden… a bright, energetic and engaging young man. He showed us his current wheelchair, and all the neat things he could do in it. He was fast, and agile, and independent, and free. His personality was like sunshine… and he shared this with me…..”I looked at the website….it looks like they really need this stuff”  “I think they are really going to like the Spiderman sticker on the back!”. What a special little guy!!

Bottom line in meeting Jaden…..

I have been humbled when serving at a distribution in Guatemala.   I have also now been really humbled collecting equipment for distribution!

Jaden’s bright spirit and attitude was truly inspiring! The huge blessing was that it took our collection efforts to such a PERSONAL level!  Until now,  MOST of the chairs we have collected have been from Hospitals and Nursing homes, or friends that indirectly acquired them. Quite often we collected several at a time.  I now realized that we have literally collected hundreds of chairs, almost Anonymously.   That evening we were blessed  by truly sharing the mission with an awesome little 7 year old boy who PERSONALLY donated his chair! And we were the ones that were truly blessed!    A few months later,   some Guatemalan Child was blessed by Jaden’s equipment!   (I will bet he/she also thought the Spiderman sticker was pretty cool!)

Thanks Jaden!

Proverbs 22:9. Blessed are those who are generous

 

 

 

You never know……………

Last weekend in Louisville,  it was great seeing old friends,  meeting new friends, and loading a container of wheelchairs.  It was a fun (but busy) weekend!

When we finished loading, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Iowa.  (still wearing our “got wheelchairs” and “Mission: Mobilty” t-shirts).

It was late,  we were tired and need a break to eat.  So,  we stopped by Long John Silvers in Hannibal, Missouri for a healthy, nutritious meal!?

It was great…Annette’s “got wheelchairs”  shirt initiated a conversation!   The reader (the night manager)  wanted to know what it meant.    Exactly  Brad’s vision:   the shirt’s question engaging the reader!

As we left the establishment,  walking in the dark to our car in the parking lot,  the drive-up window swung open and the night manager leaned out and said….”HEY, I KNOW A GUY WHO HAS 3 WHEELCHAIRS and my buddy runs a home healthcare business”.    We walked up to the drive-up (as he leaned out) and visited more about the ministry.  He was happy to receive a handful of brochures.  He wanted to hand them out to the local churches and other places.

Nice work on the shirt idea Brad!

Will this materialize into some equipment that will Bless someone in Guatemala?

You never know……(But God does!)

 

PS.    If you would like to join us in spreading the word about Mission: Mobility,   we have brochures,  shirts and hats available.

Contact us if you are interested.   email:   wheelchair@onhispath.com

shirts

hats

 

Louisville Container Loading – September 22, 2014

What a weekend!

Annette and I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Louisville, Kentucky this weekend. Chris and Donna Mooney from Bethel Ministries International in Guatemala were in town to speak at local supporting churches.  (Bethel is the ministry that Mission: Mobility provides equipment to)  The weekend was filled with wonderful fellowship.  Thanks to Brad and Holly Clark for hosting us, and the Mooneys.   It was great to spend time with these dear friends!

The weekend was filled with gatherings and events so Louisville folks could interact with the Mooneys.    The crescendo to our awesome weekend was Monday morning.   Brad is a cornerstone of Mission:  Mobility!!  He finally had enough equipment collected to send a container.  No stranger to wheelchair collection,  in years past,  Brad had sent 2 containers.  This was his first as a part of Mission: Mobility.  This load was a compilation of equipment that was collected by many of the Mission: Mobility team.  Murray, Kentucky and Jacksonville, Florida teams both contributed a significant number of chairs and other equipment to the load!   Nice teamwork everyone!

some of the Jacksonville team

some of the Murray Team 

When sitting around the breakfast table Monday morning,  I shared a scripture I had just read.  

Proverbs 19:21  

Many are a plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

We all discussed the scripture,  wondering what significance it could have regarding OUR plans for the morning.  We soon found out.

The container was originally scheduled to arrive at 9 am.    We received a call from Emily at On His Path saying that the container dispatch called and said it was not coming until Tuesday.  UGH!   Cool heads prevailed.  In his smooth talking ways,  Brad called the dispatch and the container arrived around 10:30!   We were finished loading by 11:30!

 

 

It was great to have the Mooney’s in town to be a part of the loading of a container!   They are always on the receiving end.

David Shutt, Scott Gibson, Scott Graves, Annette, Rick, Holly, Brad

Many thanks to the entire crew!  All were veterans from past Bethel Mission trips.  John Forshner and Scott Graves were there.  I had met them on the January 2013  J127 men’s mission trip to Tecpan Guatemala.  (j127.org)     It was AWESOME  to see them again!   David Shutt was there smiling the whole time. David and his wife Carol have recently formed Open Door Ministries, a non-profit to support Bethel!    We are also humbled to note that they also are partnered with Mission: Mobility in getting the word out on our equipment collections!

Great idea Open Door Ministries!  Thank you for the support!

Many thanks to Scott Gibson.  Scott, also a Bethel veteran, is the manager of  Towne Air Freight.    He donates Mission: Mobility the  space to store and load the equipment in their warehouse!

Robby Wheeler,  Scott Graves, Chris Mooney,  Brad Clark

Robby Wheeler was also there.  Robby, I just met this weekend.  Ultimately he could be credited for my connection to Bethel and then Mission: Mobility!    Robby and his wife led a Louisville team to Guatemala & Bethel in 2009.  Much like a great oak tree,   this first group has branched  out and taken root over a great area.   Teams from Murray Kentucky,  several teams from Louisville and individuals from MANY other  states are now veterans of serving with Bethel in Guatemala  as a result of that first trip.

 Psalm 1:3  

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
    which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
    whatever they do prospers as a result of this Branching!

Last and DEFINITELY not least,   Holly Clark and my wife Annette were there keeping us all going with big smiles and encouraging words and carrying equipment into the ever filling container!  Thank you Ladies!  Brad and I are both extremely BLESSED to have you working alongside us as we continue to manage and grow this ministry of Mission: Mobility.  Your input and involvement is INVALUABLE!!

Brad & Holly Clark,  Annette & Rick Fulton

As we have made it a tradition, after we loaded the last item on the packed container,  we took a few moments as Brad prayed over the equipment!  A prayer of speedy travel and a prayer to BLESS the equipment.  A blessing that it will Truly TRANSFORM the lives they touch….both physically and SPIRITUALLY!

Thank you all who made this load possible!

Rick

Ramps of Hope

submitted by Rick

I love meeting new people and learning about what makes them tick. With Mission: Mobility, I have been provided the unique opportunity to “meet” many new people from across the country. Although most I have only met via email, a few over the phone, and a few when “meeting in the middle” to pass off some wheelchairs. Many of these who I have met are now part of the infamous “facebook friends” world. Although Facebook is viewed as both good and bad, I have embraced it now as a vehicle to attempt to strengthen our wheelchair collection network.
It has been amazing for me to observe vicariously through this electronic portal, how my new friends are serving in their local communities. When seeing how many are doing AMAZING things to serve those in their communities, I am humbled and thankful that they take the time to join Mission: Mobility and collect wheelchairs. Observing these various people with the photos and stories they share on FB it has truly been an encouragement to me.  One of these ministries has really struck my attention, because of it’s LOCAL involvement in serving those with Mobility needs.

Meet Debbie Hills.

Debbie is our Mission: Mobility partner in West Springfield, Pennsylvania. Debbie was one of the first to eagerly join us in our efforts to collect equipment. Unlike me, a farmer/insurance agent who had no history with ANYTHING mobility related, Debbie’s past truly lends itself to Mobility Assistance ministry.
Debbie practiced for 32 years as a Pediatric Physical Therapist before going into full time vocational ministry. She is an ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church. In this, she is called to “connect the gathered community of believers with the needs of the world and lead them out into the service IN the world.”
Debbie has been in Guatemala 3 times with her home church serving with different missionaries and with Bethel Ministries 5 or 6 times. Often times working in the orphanages fitting the children with specialty wheelchairs. “I absolutely love the Maya People and their gentle and strong spirits.”   I echo that Debbie!

She has also served 8 or 9 times in Honduras, working with Joni & Friends’ Wheels for the World, doing wheelchair distributions. (WFTW also partners with Bethel Ministries in supplying a HUGE portion of their wheelchairs)   El Salvador has also been the destination for 6 mission trips for large wheelchair distributions.

While in Honduras and El Salvador, Debbie has also spent much time teaching with Occupational and Physical Therapists in the government rehab system.  Debbie’s husband has also travelled with her on most of these trips, “he is an ace wheelchair mechanic”.

To quote Debbie, ” I have a passion for reaching out to those in the margins that the world largely says are “less than” and letting them know that they are loved and valued and not alone. I love equipping others to go out to those who really need to hear the good news that can only be found in our Lord and Savior”.    Very well said Debbie!

She also serves as the chairperson of the Western PA Conference of the UMC Disability Concerns Team. This works to be a resource to nearly 900 churches who strive to become places of welcome and inclusion for those who are affected by disability.

Ok, this is some amazing background. Most of which I just recently learned from Debbie. The above in-and-of-itself is a blogpost. But the following was what I have seen on Facebook that I wanted to share.

Since last February when we first “met,” I have seen many, many posts of events she was a part of.   It quickly became obvious to me that these were not occasional “random acts of kindness”, but a serious organized effort to SERVE!  https://www.facebook.com/RampsofHope is their Facebook page.
Debbie is the executive director and founder of a disability ministry called “All God’s Children Ministries.”   4 ½ years ago, they started “Ramps of Hope.”   ROH operates mostly in a 2 county area in NW Pennsylvania. They have a core of about 40 volunteers who often help and 50 who help on an occasional basis. The regular volunteers come from a dozen different churches. (the group is growing and branching out into nearby communities)

On a typical outreach, a group of 10-15 volunteers will construct wheelchair ramps for local people in need. Materials are acquired at a local lumber yard that is owned by a strong Christian family.  They provide a discount and free delivery of materials.

They have averaged building 3-4 ramps each month. Her local core group has built 36 ramps in the past year. Since April 2010, 131 ramps have been built. Each project takes approximately 2-3 hours. Ramp sections are prebuilt in “modules.”

This allows for quick installation and also ramps can be reclaimed and reused if the recipient no longer requires use of the ramp or moves to a different location.

In reviewing the hundred of photos from their building events, it became obvious to me that this is a phenomenal group.   They build rain or shine.  Winter doesn’t even stop them!
What Ramps of Hope is doing in their local community reminds me so much of what Bethel is doing in Guatemala. ROH isn’t just about building a ramp for a disabled person. Debbie says “my absolute non-compromise is that I must have a promise of pastoral support in proximity to the ramp installation before we proceed. I feel building relationships is key. The heart of the project is evangelism/offering them CHRIST. That is done best through relationship. Relationship is best built in proximity”.    AWESOME!  Well said Debbie!
Amazing Ministry!  Truly inspiring!   A lifetime of service to the disabled both domestically and in Central America. Debbie has a huge heart for the Lord and a huge heart for SERVING those in need.

Thank you to the many volunteers in the Ramps of Hope group!  Thank you for your dedicated service to your neighbors in need!  Thank you Debbie for all you do in your many outreaches!

Romans 12:11 GNT
Good News Translation
Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion.

Ps.   Debbie said that Ramps of Hope could easily be replicated, anywhere.   She welcomes inquiries of how a similar program could help people in your community.    You may contact Debbie at deacon.dhills@gmail.com

 

BROKEN

submitted by Mission: Mobility Partner Kim Moody Crouch

It’s been six years since our first mission trip; a trip I anticipated would be a short lived adventure.  Little did I know, God would continue to call us again and again to return to Guatemala and turn this experience into a passion.  It’s a ministry I’m grateful to be a part of and have had the immense pleasure of watching grow because of people like YOU.  Our dearest donors and supporters, thank YOU for allowing us to be the hands and feet of Christ through YOUR giving, prayer, donations, and incredible generosity.

After that first trip, I was convicted on so many levels of how I’d been living my selfish, so-called Christian life.  The following verse from Proverbs 24:12 cut deep and made an incredible impact on me.  “Once our eyes are opened, we can’t pretend we don’t know what to do.  God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act.”  It was a trip that completely wrecked me, and I mean that in the greatest of intentions.  Returning home, I knew change was necessary.

Every summer, this trip always put my life in perspective.  I think about everything differently, from the way we spend our money, eating leftovers, to realizing our house will always be big enough (regardless of the size of our family), and how we give and who we give to.  These moments have taught me the importance of being intentional in every aspect of my life.  I make an honest effort of thanking God daily for the little things.  I appreciate our children more (even on their worst days).  It’s opened my eyes to recycling, planting a garden, collecting memories instead of stuff and loving our neighbors.  My eyes have been opened to loving God by loving all of His people and His earth.

I am grateful for the chance to step away briefly each year and work in Guatemala with Bethel Ministries, International and the Mooney Family.  They have been instrumental in shaping my spiritual life.  Serving there can feel like a vacation, when given the chance to turn your back on the mess that often accompanies our everyday lives we often create ourselves.  It’s an opportunity to walk away from the meaningless distractions ofphones, email, meetings, TV, and the over-scheduling we are all guilty of.  It’s an opportunity to truly LIVE in His will.  From the fundraising efforts leading up to the trip and being touched by the generosity of our family, friends and community, to the second we serve in Guatemala, we receive love, give love and are so BLESSED by the richness this journey entails!

These trips are always humbling and make my life.  They are a favorite part of every summer, yet, I waver through such a roller coaster of emotions from anger and sadness, to gratitude.  My heart is so full while I’m there, but so shattered at the same time.  I see God everywhere, but struggle with so many questions.  Why do we have so much and they have so little?  Why do my children always have full tummies and they don’t know the next time they’ll eat?  Why don’t more people help?  How can I motivate others to give up some of their abundance and give to those who have so little?

This July we served in Chichicastenango, Guatemala.  It’s an area deeply rooted in Mayan culture with over 27 dialects just in this region alone.  The people are dark brown with beautiful long, shiny black hair and the darkest of eyes.  They are warm and kind.  They look at least 10 years older than they actually are.  They’ve lived hard and been kissed by the sun far too many times working in the fields and trying to survive this difficult life.  They dress in “typical” Mayan attire of handmade embroidered blouses and wrapped fabric skirts.  The fabric is so beautiful and vibrant with stitching so intricate you can’t fathom how long it took them to create these amazing ropas (clothes) by hand.

The town is located in a rugged region, full of mountains, deep ravines, and volcanoes smoking in the distance.   It sits at 6,000 feet above sea level with breathtaking landscapes from every direction.  The climate is ideal and tropical.  Today is 70 degrees and perfect.  Every time I’m in this country, I’m convinced the Garden of Eden looked like this.  There are apple trees in every direction and flowers of every color growing wild.  It’s one of the most beautiful places on this earth, despite the sight of poverty everywhere.

We held a wheelchair distribution today.  It sounds so simple, meaningless almost.  When we first started these missions, I didn’t realize the impact a single wheelchair could have on a person’s life, especially when I thought about the lack of other resources like shelter, food, clean water and money.  After the first distribution, it’s now always one of my favorite days.

The crowd is trickling in.  Road protests have slowed the people from getting to the clinic where we’re distributing free chairs.  Some of these people have been on a waiting list for 6 months to years to receive a wheelchair.  A 30 year old man comes crawling in like a crab, his only method of moving around.  There’s a gentleman carrying his 85 year old mother on his back in a plastic chair tied to his waist because she’s too weak to walk.  He carried her for miles and paid what little money he had to get her through the protesters so he could get her wheelchair.

There’s also the lovely hermanas (sisters) with their 88 year old father.  He lost his wife just 17 days ago.  He has no legs because both were amputated due to cancer.  They show me his wrist, badly bruised with a deep cut.  He fell while trying to scoot around the house when his daughters weren’t home.  A sweet mama walks in and lays her daughter on the ground.  She’s tired from the journey.  She’s carried this child in a sling on her back.  For 13 years, she’s carried this paralyzed child everywhere.   Today, this child gets a chair and mama gets a new freedom of walking alone and using her arms again.

Whether it’s a 38 year old who has never left the house because of cerebral palsy or the opportunity to give a mother her arms back to work again because she’s carried her child since birth, a wheelchair is LIFE in so many ways for these people.  Some of them will come for miles, for days on a bus to receive this free gift.  To us, it’s just a chair someone threw out to the dump, to them; it’s the gift of mobility!

On this day, we meet young and old with difficult stories.  There is one in particular that affects me profoundly.  He’s a 7 year old boy who I love at first sight because hereminds me so much of my boys.  His smile is infectious and lights up his entire face.  His cheeks are round and rosy and he illuminates happiness.  Today, he is receiving his first wheelchair.  I look down and grab his little hand to hold and hug him, but am immediately taken back at the sight of his hands.  I well up with tears.  His tiny hands are broken and battered.  They are so severely calloused and swollen two times the size they should be.  Where there should be knuckles, there are cracks and deep cuts to the bone that are black with dirt.

He’s been dragging this little body on the rugged earth since he was mobile, using his fists to crawl.  His hands have literally been his feet.  These precious hands are so filthy and probably have never been washed or cared for.  These darling hands have never seen a Band-Aid or an ounce of Neosporin.  I’m physically sick; not that he’s so dirty and cut up, but that these precious 7 year old hands have endured so much in his young life.  He’s been crawling on rocky roads and dirty floors, and then using those same broken, achy hands to put food in his mouth when it is available.  I once saw a sign that read, “It is both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply.”  I will not forget this moment; it has cut me to the core.

I hug him again and I don’t want to let go.  How is he smiling when I can see the bones in his hands?  How is he giggling when his hands are so infected, calloused and broken?  We put him in his new chair and his expression says it all.  He knows this is his first set of “legs.”  I exhale, hoping his hands may finally heal.  He grins from ear to ear, excited about his new wheels!

10 minutes later we sit down to eat and I can barely move food from my plate to my mouth.  I’m still shaken, devastated by the wounds of this child.  I long to take him home and bandage up his sweet little fists.  I’m saddened that I’ll never know if those wounds actually heal or if he will lose his fingers or hands.  I’m troubled that a child has to live in this sort of pain.  I ache for his uncertain future.

In my frustration, one of my favorite songs comes to mind.  It’s by Matthew West, called “Do Something.”  The lyrics say, “I shook my fist at heaven and said, God, why don’t you do something?  He said, ‘I did.  I created you!’”  And it is in this moment that I am grateful, so very grateful for this little boy who keeps a smile on his face despite his circumstances.  This physically broken child is an incredible reminder that we are all broken.  We have broken pasts, broken relationships, broken hearts, broken marriages, we are spiritually broken.  We. Are. Broken.

This child is a reminder that we have a God who aches to have a relationship with us.  We too, can smile despite our circumstances in this fleeting life, knowing we are promised eternity if we would just accept Him.  We serve a God that aches to use us, if only we’d listen to His purpose for our life.  I’m humbled all over again.  God can use ME, despite all my brokenness to give hope where it’s needed most.  He uses a sinner like me, to bring comfort to those in need.  I pick my head up with tears in my eyes and go back to my “check out” post at the clinic.  It’s the last stop for those who receive a wheelchair and have met with the pastor, to get last minute information.  A man grabsme and wraps his arms around my neck and hugs me tightly.  With big tears in his eyes he says, “Muchas gracias. Dios es tan grande!”  (Thank you very much.  God is so big!)

Yes, He is.  Amen.

Kim

Kim and her husband Stephen live in Murray, KY and are veterans at serving with Bethel Ministries.   They lead mission groups independently every summer to serve with BMI.  They have two young boys, Collier who is 9 and Kellen who is 6 years old.  Their oldest son, Collier has served with them in Guatemala for two years.  They love serving the people of Guatemala and love serving The Lord.   Along with serving with Bethel in Guatemala,  they collect wheelchairs that have been shipped to Guatemala.   The Crouches have huge hearts and are an integral spoke in the wheels of Mission:Mobility!  

Thank you Kim for submitting your story.  And many thanks to you and Stephen for all you do!  Dios te Bendiga!

 

 

 

 

 

Hide & Seek

Sometimes several people in a room can all have their eyes open and everyone sees something different.   Often times looking at the exact same thing,   we can see something different.   There may be a need that is HIDING right in front of us.    Though not a game,  we must SEEK it out.  Last week,  we experienced this while SERVING  with Bethel Ministries in Guatemala.

On the way to our first home visit,  Chris made a statement that was very important.  He said,  “Keep your eyes open. Many times there is a need that may be very obvious, or not so obvious that only one of the team may see.  We may visit a family planning to help in one way when that is not the actual need.  Keep your eyes open.”

While visiting our first family with the intent of delivering  a bag of food supplies and some clothes and shoes,   God showed our team members a hidden need.

Chris Mooney from Bethel has a gift of talking with the people of Guatemala.   He often digs deep looking for those needs that could be buried deep.    After visiting with the family,  we learned that the middle daughter was truly struggling with school.   The siblings were doing well,  but younger daughter  was frustrated, and at the rate she was going,  she would probably,  eventually quit school.   Without an education,  there is virtually NO way to break this cycle of poverty.   Enter our team member Christy and her daughters  Briana and Alyssa.    Christy is a vision therapist from Illinois.   Her optometrist employer donated 100 pair of used eyeglasses and a vision acuity chart.

The kids went through the exercises and it was found that the little girl had a great need for vision correction!     The perfect glasses were fitted and now she has the opportunity to succeed at school.     She has the opportunity to succeed at LIFE!    Originally,   we ASSUMED that a probable need was school sponsorship.    While this is still a need,   her impared vision was the basic, HIDDEN need.

 

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At another home visit, our intention was to provide food and clothes again.   School was going well for the kiddos.   Eyetests showed no glasses were needed.   A new, Bethel built home was already a possible need.   Then we saw it.   We ALL saw it.  It was so obvious that this was a HUGE need.    This family’s cocina (kitchen)  was tucked back in a corner  of the small backyard with a makeshift tin awning.    It was basically a typical wood-burning “stove”  that was a piece of metal (probably the top out of a barrel)  that sat on a few rocks or cement blocks.  Plus one more thing…….can you see it?

Yes,  the stove was on top of the old outhouse BANYO (toilet).    WOW!   THIS was an IMMEDIATE NEED.    WE ALL SAW THIS ONE!    It was decided immediately that Bethel would provide her with an ONIL stove so they could abandon the old, Banyo cocina!        We had friends from Iowa make donations for this mission trip.    When we saw this,  we instantly knew THIS was the perfect place for their donation.    This family will have a new Onil stove installed very soon!

 (an ONIL stove from the first house build)

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This trip, we had the awesome opportunity to have a second wheelchair distribution.   Personally,  I was really fired up about this!   Typically at these events,  MOST of the recipients are fitted easily to their new gift of mobility.   But sometimes,  there are things we didn’t plan on.   Annette, Taylor, David and I were working one station.    Our first friend was a gentleman who was carried to the event on a stretcher.

He had 2 volunteer fireman/paramedics attending him.   This was especially exciting for Taylor,  as she is a volunteer fireman/EMT at the fire department in Cedarville.

Andreth,  was excited to get his new chair.    The basic fitting was routine.

But Andreth had some sort of Ostomy bag that he held on his lap in a plastic grocery bag.    This just won’t do.   So,  David with his mechanical engineering degree from Cedarville, and me with my farmer “figure it out with baling wire and duct tape” degree from Crawfordsville figured it out.     We found an extra, aluminum walking cane.   After figuring out the optimal placement, we mounted the new ostomy bag hanger.

All the while ensuring that we did not compromise the integrity of the cane…..so it could be removed and used as a cane someday, if needed!

The firemen were having fun helping us with the customizing project.    It turned out pretty well.   Andreth was happy with it!

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We were all thankful that our eyes were opened to what HE wanted us to see.                            Keep your eyes open!

 

 

 

Abuelo Noe   (Grandpa Noah)

July 16 – 23 2014  we had the wonderful opportunity to return to Guatemala on a mission trip.    This was a reflection to my first-ever mission trip, in 2011.   This my 4^th, but extra special.  My family (wife Annette & daughter Taylor)  travelled to serve with Bethel alongside John Mitchell and his family and Christy Reist and her daughters.

John & Jean Mitchell are the founders of On His Path (www.onhispath.com)   which partners with  Mission: Mobility.   It was great to return with good friends to revisit many of the places and projects we experienced in 2011.     For the Mitchells, it was extra special,  their 7 year old daughter joined us.  She was adopted from Guatemala when she was a little over 1 year old.   This was her fist trip back.

One special memory and experience on this trip was during our second home build day.    We arrived at a  hillside and saw the “goat path”  trail that led up a steep hill with our building site at the top.

This trail reminded us of Matthew 7:14.   ¹⁴ But the pathway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

This home was for a widowed mother (Stella) and her 3 children.   Also at this home site were Stella’s parents in a small home.

We proceeded to carry all the building materials up the steep grade to the top.    It took many, many trips.   The elevation and the grade both made for an exhausting start of the day.   Ironically,  I had to chuckle,  because I had emailed Brad (Louisville)  that morning saying it should be a light day with only 1 house build on the schedule.   Boy was I wrong!   Eventually we got it all to the top.    I was preparing to carry my last load of several sheets of tin.   I was taking a minute to catch my breath before climbing.  I had 5 sheets of tin on my back.    Then I heard an old man talking to me in Spanish.  He was grabbing for a few sheets of my tin.   I figured it was a local wanting to help out to make a few Quetzales.    I was looking down when he spoke.  The first thing I saw were his feet.

Noe was the father of Stella.    He was so excited to help with the new home for his widowed daughter.   He was probably 65, looking 85 from the hard life he had led.    His feet truly told the story.

The project progressed quickly.    Grandpa,  as we referred to him,  was so excited and happy to help in any way possible.   At one point John gave him a pair of gloves.    He accepted the gift happily.  But it was almost comical.   He had absolutely NO idea how to put the gloves on.   We realized he probably had NEVER owned a pair of gloves.    WOW!   Once he had them on, he looked like he had won the lottery!

I recall throughout the work,   I kept looking at his feet.   They were so weathered, in his makeshift flip flops.  The shoes were several sizes too small for his feet.

We broke for lunch.  Ham sandwiches, chips and my favorite Guatemalan cookies…CHIKYS! (love those things!)     After lunch, I wanted a photo op with Grandpa.    We stood by the woodpile.  A great backdrop.    In typical Guatemalan fashion,   Grandpa WOULD NOT SMILE.

I had my arm around him for additional pics.    So as Annette took another photo,   I tickled his ribs.  He busted out laughing!

I can probably guarantee you  Abuelo had never had an American tickle him!

The project wrapped up, we dedicated the new home and prayed for the family,  and we were preparing to leave.     Prior to the trip, Taylor had bought a new pair of tennis shoes for the trip, with the intent of giving them away to someone.     With this being near the end of the trip, Taylor had resigned herself to the fact that she was probably not going to find a girl who could fit into her size 9’s.     God then laid it on us to get Grandpa some shoes.    But realizing that through the week we had given out all the shoes we had brought.   Guess which team member’s shoes were the perfect fit……Taylor!    The look on Grandpa’s face was priceless when he tried them on and they fit, perfectly!

We then had Chis explain to Abuelo Noe that if he would follow us down the trail to the van,  we would give him the shoes and Taylor would return to the hotel barefoot.   He was happy to oblige.

It was extremely touching to watch as Taylor removed her bright blue FILA shoes off her feet and stood in her socks on the road as she fit Grandpa with his new shoes.  It was a  beautiful gesture that I will never forget!   It reminded me of the humble act of the washing of feet in the Bible!!

John examined the old shoes.

They were homemade.  The soles were from an old pair of tennis shoes and the strap part of the flip-flops were made from car innertubes!     Note in the photo, the heels of the shoes.   Or lack thereof!    There was a hole in both shoes that a golf ball could pass through!   When asked,   Grandpa said he had worn these shoes for 10 years!   What a selfless guy.    When he needed new shoes,  he  opted to just keep his old ones and use the money for food for the family!

Photo time.   Just before leaving  we had Taylor and Abuelo Noe stand together with the new and old shoes and the sock feet.    Again,  in true Guatemalan fashion……stone faced….no smile!

I lowered my camera and said (in ENGLISH)   “Grandpa,  you better smile or I am going to tickle you again”.   I guarantee you he understood what I was saying based on his reaction!

Love that guy!

What a day.     I just love working with the people of Guatemala!

July 8, 2014 Container from Iowa

 

We gathered again to load the gathered equipment and Kids Against Hunger food on the latest container.

 

 

 

Many thanks to all those who helped collect,  transfer, inventory, load and Pray for the contents of this container!

Please join us in praying for a speedy transit to Guatemala where the contents are desperately needed.    If all goes perfectly,  it should be unloaded in 1 month.