Elburgon - 15th July

Here's another story from our distribution in Elburgon, Kenya, sent to us by Suzanne Millwood.

I thought that having been to Kenya before and having worked with adults with physical disabilities, I would feel fairly equipped and prepared for my trip to Elburgon. This couldn’t have been further from the truth! Nothing could have prepared me for meeting Joel, an elderly man living with his sons and nephews. Joel was carried into the centre’s clinic room by one of his sons.

Although not politically correct, the best way to describe Joel was ‘frog-shaped’. His legs were very contracted and he had a limited range of movement in them. Having contracted polio at an early age he used to move around on his hands. However, as he has grown older his upper limb strength has deteriorated and he is now unable to do this and is now totally reliant on his family to carry him wherever he needs to go. This affects every aspect of daily life and has a major impact upon the family. I have never seen a disability quite like that of Joel’s in the UK.

It’s hard to comprehend what life must be like for him yet he is full of hope and joy because of Jesus. Management of disabilities such as Joel’s in Kenya is so different to that we would expect in the UK. It is eye opening to meet such an individual who has received no NHS type treatment yet he isn’t bitter. He is complete in Jesus.

It was an amazing privilege to find a wheelchair and adapt it to meet Joel’s needs. Though still reliant on the family to push him, it means he is no longer carried everywhere. The tilt in the space chair gives him a comfortable position finally. What a huge difference this chair will make in his life. To have played a small part in this is humbling for me.

Coming on this Wheels for the World trip has been eye-opening and will have a lasting impact.

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Elburgon Stories

From the 10th to 20th July 2013, a team from Wheels for the World will be distributing wheelchairs in Elburgon, Kenya. We've received a few stories and photos from them about the start of the trip, and will be adding more as they come in.

The happy team of volunteers as they arrive for Day 2 of the wheelchair distribution. From left to right: Gordon, Roy, Wendy, Carolyn, Deborah, Suzanne and Sue.

17 year old Jane, in Elburgon Kenya

Wendy Devonshire wrote to tell us about Jane... 17 year-old Jane had been carried by her mother all her life until today. She had Cerebral Palsy and had a severely twisted spine – scoliosis – her hips were crooked. It appeared that her knees were too contracted to be able to extend and it seemed impossible that she could sit in a chair. With the help of an OT with the right experience in these matters we managed to move the limbs enough to put her in an adapted chair. She smiled and laughed most of the time and didn’t seem to experience any pain. I had noticed the chair previously and thought it suitable for a young adult as it was a supportive shape and relatively large. The coverings of the chair allowed the technician to insert specially cut foam shapes underneath the cover, which protected it and made it look very nice. Also a wedge was cut to go under the knees to improve the sitting position.
The result was a young teenager sitting up and seeing her surroundings in a more normal way for the first time as well as a happy and relieved mother.

Roy Hurd fitting a wheelchair tray in Elburgon

Roy Hurd demonstrates his passion to help disabled children by giving meticulous care to the support needs of youngsters such as this boy. Roy had made up eight plywood trays at home and took them as his luggage to Kenya to benefit some of new wheelchair users, allowing them to have a work surface, and be able to take meals more easily.

Suzanne, an occupational therapist, examining the chair fitting for a man in Elburgon

Suzanne Millwood, a young OT from Basingstoke, gets to work on her first Wheels for the World trip, in the process of assessing the best seating arrangement for this man.

More news to follow as time and internet permit!
Nigel

Welcome to the Warehouse!

Supporters and friends of Wheels for the World gathered with representatives of local churches to officially open the new Wheels warehouse in Aldershot on Thursday 28th June. International Missions Manager, Nigel Drury, spoke about the work of Wheels, and how the new warehouse would help us continue and develop that work. Following that, Tim Wood, CEO, dedicated the new building to God, and everyone enjoyed some nibbles. We'd like to thank everyone who made it along, and look forward to working together in the future.

If you have any wheelchairs or mobility aids to donate, please contact the office on 01372 749955 and we'll arrange a good time to drop chairs off at the warehouse unit. Thank you!

'London to Brighton' and back?!

Supporter, Angie Wickenden, is aiming to cycle the equivalent of London to Brighton in order to raise funds for Wheels for the World and Disability Initiative (another Surrey-based disability charity).

Each day throughout June teams will be using MOTOmed equipment (which enables people to cycle passively, with some assistance, or completely using their own muscle power) to cycle as far as they can each day. At the time of writing, Angie's team, the "Wednesday Whizzers" were in the lead on their first day, having got almost half way to 'Brighton' by lunchtime!

This is a great inclusive fundraiser with more people hearing about the work of both organisations, getting fitter, and raising much-needed funds at the same time. A big THANK YOU to Angie and all those taking part.

Disability Initiative is handling all the sponsorship on behalf of the two charities. If you’d like to make a donation, please call them on 01276 676302

Enable your Church

If the London 2012 Paralympics changed the way we think about disability – what difference has it made to our churches? Come to the Enabling Church conferences, for exploration of a biblical perspective on disability and practical discussions about making your church’s ministry and mission more accessible to disabled people. Each event will be a full day packed with insights and ideas, talks and dialogue.

The first event will be the North-East conference, held on Saturday 22 June at Bethany Christian Centre, Hetton Road, Houghton Le Spring, Tyne and Wear, DH5 8PF.

Following that, there'll be the Bristol Event, on Saturday 6 July at Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church, Reedley Road, Bristol, Avon BS9 3TD.

Follow this link to visit the premier website for more information and links to book tickets

There'll be a great line-up of speakers, and excellent venues. Each day will be just £15 a ticket.

We've moved!

Thank you for your patience when office communications were down due to our recent move.

We're now close to being unpacked, and gradually starting to learn where everything's stored.

Our contact details (phone number, email and PO Box address) all remain the same - we look forward to hearing from you!

belated june blog post

Since I last wrote, I have been busy. I have attended the first regional network meeting in Bath. it was a privilege to see so many people with different skills and interest in disabilities.

I also attended the national churches trust conference in Birmingham. I felt a bit out of my depth, as everyone seemed to be someone important, and all the talk was of buildings and their heritage. when
I stood up to do my joint slot on accessibility, I felt like a bit of a fraud. I took a deep breath and prayed. throughout the conference, access had been touched upon. However I tried to express to the delegates that though it is important to have accessible buildings, we
should be inclusive in our attitudes to people. I have recently heard one woman's sad tale of not being able to go to church since an accident put her in a wheelchair. I explained this is sad and not what
we want to see. throughout the talk, God was laying on my heart that I should stress the importance of attitudes. I gave them tips on what do if a disabled person walks in unannounced to a sunday morning service. I explained to them my own church experience of being totally included in worship and church life. the talk seemed to be well received, and I hope this will lead to new contacts for Through the Roof, as well as
new people being included in churches around the country.

I have visited some places in the last month which I have been to before. obviously when I have already given my testimony, my experiences, told them all about the biblical basis and Through the Roof, its not wise to rehash the same talk again. I like to do something different on these occasions. I had happened to be looking through my phone a few weeks ago, on an app called Christian. This is bible verses chosen by themes. I clicked on the one on anxiety. psalm 46 verse 1 appeared. "God is our refuge, a very present help in trouble" it reminded me, that in this last year, we have all seen many changes. this is both in our own lives and in TTR itself. God is the one who never changes, and will be the same forever. He is the one we can run to at any time, under any circumstance. he will always be there and will never go away. so after updating people on the progress of TTR during the time since i'd last been to see them, I then read Psalm 46 and spoke briefly about God being our refuge, and being still to appreciate that he is God in all the hustle and bustle of life.

Please get in touch if you would like more information on my talks or to speak to a group.

Through Fresh Eyes

From my first steps on African soil my senses were bombarded with new sights and smells but you quickly notice there is a slower pace of people, writes new Wheels team member Graham Watts.

It’s my first time in Africa and my first experience as part of a charity organisation so whilst I was full of excitement, part of me was wondering how I would deal with what was required of me over the next 10 days.

From the start I was made very welcome by the rest of my team and each one has taken the time to offer help and advice, drawing on many years of involvement on similar trips.

The first day of distribution quickly gave me an insight to my role as a technician and after setting up an area for repair/adjustment I started by making good a small number of wheelchairs that weren’t quite ready or fit for use. This also gave me the chance to familiarise myself with the different parts of a wheelchair.

Before long I was put to the test by the therapists, who had begun to process the disabled people that had turned up. They had completed the hardest task of understanding the disability and then deciding on the best mobility equipment needed. My challenge as the technician was to make the necessary adjustments to give each person the best possible aid.

Many of the adjustments were simple ‘quick fixes’ involving either raising/lowering foot plates or adding a lap belt. On occasion the person’s disability required a little more thought due to the complexity of their disability and a number of foam shapes (especially cut) were added to give support to either a head or a limb.

From the first day of distribution I was humbled by the open welcome we all received from both the disabled people and also the family members who had brought them along.

I will leave Africa with the everlasting impression of its people and the warm welcome they gave to us all. I will also go home with the knowledge that the small part I played has gone some way to help and improve the quality of life of the people we help.

Uganda thoughts

Volunteer therapist, Gunn, writes:

As always, I am touched by some of children I’ve seen and their tragic situations which, in many cases, could have been improved/avoided had they lived in the West. I am touched, too, by the gratitude of parents/carers when we are able to provide something and feel a great sense of thankfulness to God that I have been able to help and work through a difficult challenge.

I think, especially, of the little girl (aged 2) with hydrocephalus I saw yesterday and the challenge of finding a way to support her head and make life a little easier for her mother. Also of the three people today who arrived crawling and the dignity for them when they sat up in their wheelchairs and could get themselves around independently. Finally, of the elderly disabled people who sometimes have to be carried around - how much nicer and more dignified for them to be pushed in a chair in their older years.

Team leader, Nigel adds "It has been a good place from which to run the distribution. There have been a couple of people wanting to accept Jesus today, and a Muslim man was keen to have the Luganda Bible.

Dear TTR Office...

International Missions Manager, Nigel, writes from Uganda:

What a challenge to get the internet! Anyhow we are doing well. We have been rather fully programmed by our lovely hosts. They really are brilliant and a pleasure to work with. Sunday was good, but very full being out and about all day until late in the evening. That has made us rather tired and it was telling a bit today on energy levels. It didn't help being so hot today. I am keen that team members ease up a little, but it is difficult when you are on site with a queue of disabled people waiting.

Today we had a brief visit from the Mayor of Mukono and he made a little speech to thank everyone involved. The local TV channel had a reporter at site in the morning, and he did a few interviews and filmed with his camcorder.

We are getting to know the hotel staff. It is a good Christian base and is restful in the main, apart from some exuberant praise and preaching sessions by other guest groups!

On Sunday the church services were excellent with both Eileen and myself preaching. I was at Pastor Joseph's church in Saalem - a community around a tea plantation out in the rural areas. Very beautiful, an excellent church coupled with a school and orphanage set up by Joseph. He has been the provider of our transport and is part of the RILD team.

I must leave it there for the moment - please pray that we might find good rest and refreshment.
The team is tired. But happy.