Many thanks to the many volunteers who joined in to to transfer inventory to the loading warehouse.
We will be loading 7 pallets of Kids Against Hunger food Packets, 2 pallets of clothing and the balance of the Container will be wheelchairs.
We will be doing inventory for the manifest Thursday July 3.
The scheduled date to load the next Iowa container is July 8
Thank you again to all who collect and help in any way!
Dios te Bendiga!
Rick
Delivery from Cheeseland
Rick
I recently received a phone call from a man in Indiana named Gary. He had gotten my phone number from Riley Hospital in Indianapolis. Riley has been very generous to us in our collection efforts. Gary and his wife Jacqueline had some chairs and equipment their son used. They wanted to ensure it went to a good cause, and wanted to find out more about our efforts at Mission:Mobility. I would like to spend a moment telling you about their son Jason, and how amazing of a young man he must have been.
Jason had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), which is a life threatening disease. His dad Gary told me about how Jason chose not to focus on the negative of his condition, remain positive, and enjoy life to the fullest. He served as the Indiana State Goodwill Ambassador of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, graduated from Greenfield Central High School where he was the manager for the football team for 4 years, basketball team for 3 years, and the baseball team for 2 years. He was also a member of student council his freshman year. Jason obtained an Associate Degree in web design from Penn Foster, and worked for EA Sports as a video game consultant for a while. He loved to travel and never let his condition limit his life. We can all learn so much from someone like Jason.
In memory of Jason, the family began the Casto Muscle Foundation, which is intended to honor Jason’s mission and legacy for helping others. Their services include providing an annual scholarship for students with disabilities, assisting with needed medical equipment and/or the funding of medical payments to defer cost for patients and families. You can read more on their Facebook page.
My daughter and I drove up to Indy to pick up the chairs and supplies. It was a blessing meeting his parents. I truly appreciate them allowing us to be the stewards for ensuring his supplies continue to bless others in this world. The wheelchairs will soon be on their way to Guatemala where Bethel Ministries International will make sure they are connected to a deserving individual.
It is amazing how God connects us all in our efforts. I pray that we have the opportunity to meet other wonderful people like the Casto family. Their son Jason has truly blessed us, and we thank them all for this gift.
Dios te Bendiga,
Brad
In the beginning of our wheelchair collecting efforts, there were only a few of us trying to help Bethel Ministries find some wheelchairs to help fulfill the need. That was August 2012. By God’s Grace, we have seen the effort blossom into a Nationwide Medical Equipment Collection MINISTRY. Many thanks to “On His Path” for their support!
Through all this, we have seen many people across the country serving in different ways. Most recently, our friend Tim in Louisville offered his mechanical abilities to help dismantle old power chairs (as noted in the last post).
Tim’s offering of his talent reminded me of a blog post from the j127 blog. It was written about an experience from August 2012. The couple mentioned in the article donated the very first equipment that I collected in Iowa in our efforts.
God uses us all in different ways to serve. He allows us to use the abilities and talents we have to serve. For the seven of us flying to Guatemala for a mission trip, we are getting on a plane and physically providing our time and muscle and hearts to the Bethel Ministries team to help the people of Guatemala. Others have their own unique ways to serve.
In the process of the wheelchair collection, I connected with a nice couple in my area. Don and Jackie Wells.
They donated some medical equipment that Jackie had needed in the past. A wheelchair, a walker and a few canes. When I picked up the equipment, they asked where the equipment was going. I told them in detail about Bethel Ministries and then gave them the website: http://bethelministriesinternational.com
Once the container was loaded and on its way, I called Jackie to give her an update. I felt they deserved a report, because they were the first ones to donate equipment.
Jackie told me she had looked at the Bethel site and was touched by the compassion and generosity that the Bethel team showed toward the widows, orphans, poor and disabled in Guatemala. She wanted to help, more. She started her project.
Jackie is around 80 years old and has a heart the size of Guatemala. Jackie’s hands remind me of my Grandma Lucy, afflicted with arthritis. It amazes me that her hands could do fine work.
Last week, I picked up her project. Gifts for the people that Bethel Ministries serve.
Jackie has made beautiful, 4 inch crocheted crosses.
Each cross is stapled on a card, tied with a ribbon and has a label “Vaya Con Dios”, meaning “Go with God.”
All are then neatly wrapped in plastic and placed in boxes.
337 crocheted crosses! Each one takes her 45 minutes to make. That is 252.75 hours of crocheting!
She enthusiastically said, “if they like these, I will get to work right away to make more for the next group going down.
Many thanks to Jackie, Don and their family for the many hours of lovingly making these gifts for our friends in Guatemala.
As she crafted each of the crosses, Jackie said she would say prayers for the people that would receive these!
What an AWESOME way to SERVE!
We look forward to taking these on our mission trip to bless the people of Tecpan, Guatemala!
Dios te Bendiga Jackie!
Rick
Thank you all who have joined us. We all have different talents. Whether it is a physical talent in our efforts, or simply praying, every talent is greatly appreciated. They all will be a Blessing to someone in need!
I have realized many things over the years about myself (some more profound than others). One that has become very apparent to me is, “I can’t do everything”. We have all been given different skills and talents. Some people are very artistic, some are analytical. I am an organizer and connector. One thing I cannot do is anything “mechanical”. I freely admit it. I’m not ashamed. I have simply not been gifted with the skill of working on, and repairing complex equipment.
With this truth in mind, I have been at a loss over the past five years of collecting wheelchairs how best to handle chairs that are in very bad condition. Power chairs are very heavy. They also take up a lot of space on a shipping container. In many cases, the best thing we can do is take all of the valuable pieces such as controllers, computers, hardware, etc and send them down to Guatemala so that those pieces can be used on other power chairs. But, you have to be very careful so you don’t damage the electrical components in the process. This is where I get really shaky!!! I just don’t have that talent. I have been praying for help for a very long time.
A couple of weeks ago, several of us were eating lunch and talking about life. I mentioned that we had many power chairs that needed to have the controls taken off, but I felt unable to do it properly. One of my friends sitting there was Tim, from Louisville. Tim went to Guatemala with our group two years ago. Tim just retired from working as a machinist. Where I am weak in skill, Tim has a wealth of talent. Tim looked at me with a big smile and said, “Brad, I’d love to work on those power chairs. Bring a couple by my garage, and I’ll dismantle them.” This is where you would hear the “Halleluiah Chorus” singing in the background! I was so excited!!!
I immediately took Tim up on his offer. I just dropped two chairs off at Tim’s house this weekend. Knowing him, he probably has jumped in and already begun the process.
This reaffirms for me that we all have to work together to make this thing happen. God has designed us to rely on each other. We each play a part. No one is better or more important than the other. I am so thankful Tim volunteered.
If you know someone like this who has a talent, ask them to help. Tell everyone you know about our needs. Over time, our team will grow, and we will be much more effective in our connection and collection effort.
Dios Te Bendiga,
Brad
The first day in Guatemala, Pastor Chris showed us around the wheelchair repair shop. There were tons of wheelchairs and since we wouldn’t be doing wheelchair distribution for several days I never really gave them much thought. We spent the first few days doing food distribution, loving on kids, praying with families, and building houses. It was such a blessing to be a part of.
By the time we got to wheelchair distribution day I was physically, emotionally, and mentally spent. I was overwhelmed with love and compassion for the Guatemalan people. I knew wheelchair distribution was a big part of Bethel’s ministry, but it sounded like an easy day to me. I thought we would just be passing out wheelchairs. I soon found out that the easy day I thought we would be having would be one of the hardest emotionally. Here in America when a wheelchair doesn’t meet our needs we call customer service, send it back, and wait for them to deliver one that works. When a chair doesn’t work for a person at a wheelchair distribution the saws, screwdrivers, and bolts are pulled out. It is fixed right there on the spot. Whatever tools are in the Guatemalan tool bag are what you get. You use whatever it takes to make it work. I spent my time running back and forth finding the right size chairs and the tools needed to send them home in a wheelchair that fit and met their individual needs. Seeing people experience the freedom of mobility for the first time in their life was absolutely priceless.
Young and old alike were overwhelmed to tears. Many of them had to be carried into the building by family members and were able to leave in their own wheelchair. Not only was it an act of love to the disabled individual, but it also showed love to their family members – the people that have spent countless hours caring for them.
Those that left with a wheelchair not only received freedom, but they also received the hope of salvation as every person at the distribution got to hear the gospel. Bethel’s wheelchair distribution was so much more than just passing out wheelchairs. It was literally changing the lives of “the least of these” (Matt. 25:40). It was worth every second to see tears turn to joy as chains were broken and captives were set free. Every wheelchair counts and makes a physical difference through Bethel Ministries International.
Serving Him Together,
Pastor Shelly Divido
Light of the World Ministries
The container was loaded in Washington, Iowa on April 30th, and arrived in Chimaltenango, Guatemala on May 21st. Bethel Ministries International has been eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Once the container is unloaded, the Bethel wheelchair technicians will immediately begin to refurbish the chairs. There are many groups from the USA and Canada that are coming to work alongside Bethel this year to distribute these chairs to people who desperately need them.
Mission : Mobility has groups in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Iowa and other areas currently collecting chairs for their containers…and they need your help. Please find the closest location to you and help collect chairs for Guatemala.
Dios te Bendiga!
God has amazing ways of putting pieces of a puzzle together. Sometimes He shows us a piece of the puzzle that we had no idea existed.
A couple weeks ago Mission: Mobility had several unexpected (but very welcomed) pieces added to the puzzle
First, I received a phone call from an old friend, Tom, in Wisconsin. Not old in the sense of age, but a colleague from a job 28 years ago.
We were sales reps for an Ag Chemical company and we worked and golfed and fished together and were good friends. However, with job changes and such, we haven’t talked since that time. However, we did stay in contact and observe each other’s lives via the annual Christmas card letters. Then, along came Facebook. We connected via the Social media monster. Over the past 4 years, we have watched each other’s lives vicariously through the portal of updates and photos of family and travel experiences. Through the Christmas cards and Facebook, it was obvious that my old friend was a man of God and has raised an awesome Godly family! Cool!!!
Then I get a phone call. It opened with, “Hey old buddy, this is Tom, color in Wisconsin on your map, Mission: Mobility has a partner up here.” I knew that voice from the “Hey old buddy”! Praise God for old friends and Believers who Serve! We visited for over an hour. Barely discussing “the old days”. The conversation flowed through family and faith experiences. He was anxious to serve!
Ephesians 6:7 (NIV) Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.
Same day, I get am email from Donna Mooney from Bethel Ministries International in Guatemala. (our partner who distributes the wheelchairs) She forwarded me an email from a guy in Helena Montana who had some collected equipment. I emailed him immediately, and my phone rang within minutes of sending the email. COOL!
It was our new friend in Helena Montana, Roger.
Unlike MOST of the Mission: Mobility connections, Roger had never served with Bethel Ministries. He knew NONE of the current partners. However he had been to Guatemala. Roger was out walking (in Helena) one afternoon and noticed several “apparently discarded wheelchairs and walkers at a local Rehab center.” He spoke with the director and said that the equipment was headed for the landfill. Not knowing what he would do with them, but knowing they had a better destination, he asked the director if he could have them. She said, “absolutely!” Roger thought….”that was nice, but now what was I going to do with them”.
Roger began to think that he knew of wheelchairs being distributed in Guatemala. In comes GOOGLE. After searching on the Internet, Roger found Bethel Ministries and then our Mission: Mobility website. He ultimately connected with Mission: Mobility!
After a wonderful visit, Roger agreed to be a Mission: Mobility Network Partner in Montana. He has put the chairs in storage and we are working on logistics. Will they travel to Iowa? Will they travel to Salt Lake City to our partner there? Maybe God will reveal more partners for Roger in Montana and we can collect more equipment and ship them directly from Montana. God knows.
I am confident that the Holy Spirit put Roger on that walking path to see that equipment! He wasn’t looking for them…like we are constantly! He was called, not knowing why or what!
Psalm 91:15 (NIV) He will call on me, and I will answer him.
A couple days later, get a call from a nursing home in a little town in Northern Iowa. The director was referred to us by someone in my area who had donated equipment. I thanked our new friend and donor and said we would work on getting the equipment picked up (this is 3 hours from where I live). So, next I go in the house and tell my wife (Annette) about the new donation in NE Iowa. Then I said, “I wonder if this would be something that is logistically possible for Tom in Wisconsin to pickup.” LITERALLY WITHIN MINUTES, my phone made it’s customary loon sound that indicates a received email. It was a note from Tom in Wisconsin. It started with a greeting, followed by a blurb how he has been sending out flyers and talking to people to find equipment, then….. “I’m still waiting for my first “come pick up some equipment” call; but I’m most confident in the Guy in charge (God) to have things happen when it’s meant to be.”
WOW! I emailed him back with the response….”ask and ye shall receive, buddy”.
Tom said, this was in his territory and he would gladly pick them up soon. COOL!
God is pretty darn good at putting puzzles together!
I am anxious to see what is next! Cool!
Rick Fulton – Mission: Mobility Volunteer and Collections Coordinator (volunteer)
We have been blessed with the rapid expansion of the Mission: Mobility Network. Currently, we have official volunteer/collection groups in 15 states. Several more unofficially! God has been good in putting this all together! Our last container, shipped on March 30 arrived at Bethel Ministries on May 19. The need continues to be great, so we are pressing forward in our search for equipment. We anticipate on sending containers from Iowa and Kentucky yet this year. There is inventory accumulating at other centers and it would be AWESOME if we could ship a few more from other states! Please join us in praying for successful collections. Thank you for your support! Please visit our website to see how you can help!
There are moments in life where clarity comes in the most unusual places. I had one of these moments today at 35,000 feet, somewhere between Seoul and Dubai. The fact that became crystal-clear to me was this, “While we may be scattered across a very large planet, much of life can be boiled down to one thing…’relationships’”.
While traveling for work, several coworkers and I were standing at the back of an airplane talking with a man from England who is in the sea-freight business. His job was fascinating to me. While as a Pilot for UPS, I have spent thousands of hours in the air, the life of a sailor has always been intriguing to me. While listening to this man talk about his job, he said the most enjoyable part for him is “working with people; and building relationships with those around him”. While you may be asking yourself, “what does this have to do with wheelchairs”, the answer became immediately evident to me…”everything”. Why do we collect wheelchairs? People. Where do we collect them? From people! Who do we interact with every step of the way? You guessed it…people. We can never lose sight of the fact that all we do in life, from our jobs, our families to mission work, all involve building and cultivating relationships. It’s not a coincidence that this is the way God designed it to work.
I spend a lot of time calling nursing homes, hospitals and physical therapy businesses asking for help in collecting wheelchairs. I tell many people along the way about how desperate the need is in Guatemala. I have a lot of pictures to show, and I’m always ready to hand a business card to anyone who seems remotely interested in helping (maybe even some who are not). At the end of it all, we are being given the opportunity to “connect and collect”. We are “connecting” with one group, to “collect” for another one.
I am thankful for moments like this. I am thankful for old friendships, and new ones as well. Who knows, maybe we will be able add England to our map of volunteers. Wouldn’t that be cool!!!
Dios Te Bendiga,
Brad
Laura Story wrote the song “Blessings.” The one line says “What if your Blessings come through raindrops………”
Well, the sun was shining in Iowa yesterday. Or should I say the “SON” was shining, because we had a MONSOON of Blessings!
We had an amazing group of volunteers come to help load the container. The 3rd container that On His Path has sent to Bethel Ministries in 18 months!
We loaded:
The trailer was rather full!
We got EVERYTHING on…..except for 2 lonely wheelchairs. Everyone asked, “what will you do with those two?” I said” I will just put them in the shed and they will be seed for the next crop of wheelchairs!”
Now for the Journey:
Please pray it makes it there with no delays!
Equipment on this load was from South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska and Iowa.
Many willing volunteers spent time collecting, transporting, doing inventory and finally loading the equipment. Many thanks to EVERYONE who was a part of this container.
Thank you all!