Last month, we sent a team of 17 to Peru with Joni and Friends. They worked alongside Peruvian therapists and mechanics to fit restored wheelchairs to the disabled while sharing the love of Jesus with them, their families, friends and neighbors We’ve posted several photos of their trip on our Facebook page (facebook.com/wvcglobalimpact) but here are just a few of them for you:
The team made it home safe and sound late Saturday evening and all luggage made it back as well. It was a long trip but so rewarding. Thank you to everyone who kept them in your prayers. More stories and photos coming soon!
We ministered at the Emmanuel Bible Church today in a community called Villa El Salvador. Approximately 80 people received wheelchairs, walkers and canes. It was a much smaller space and in a very poor neighborhood; many single mothers raising children with diseases such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. They have very limited income and no opportunity to receive adequate healthcare. But, they do have loving spirits and have open hearts to receive God’s love.
One woman I helped suffered with Lou Gerig’s Disease. Her husband was her primary caregiver and she was so weak he had to hold her head up and perform maximum assistance for all of her daily needs. He was sharp and wanted to learn more about how best to take care of her. Her wheelchair was old and broken so we custom built a reclining wheelchair for her and educated him on exercises, massage, pressure relief techniques and percussioning techniques to help her when she has difficulty breathing.
It was an amazing experience to share God’s love with this beautiful family who is suffering. They were truly gracious as it took around three hours for the preparation of the chair after they had already been waiting for many hours for their turn to be seen.
To God be the Glory!!!
Matthew (for the team)
While our closing ceremony was a celebration for the 75 wheelchairs distrbuted, even greater was the celebration in heaven for the 79 individuals with special needs and 50 family members who made decisions for Christ! Another fourteen also prayed to receive Christ during some street evangelism led by Pastor Don…stories to come!
Deb (for the team)
It was our second day of the outreach and wheelchair distribution. Going into today we were a little concerned as we were beginning to run low on wheelchairs and parts. It was amazing to see how God provided and it was a miracle that everyone that walked in to receive a wheelchair left with one that would function for them. It was awesome to the see the teamwork between the team members from the United States and also our Peruvian coworkers. There were many instances in which team members would say that the only way a wheelchair or a part came together was through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
One example was at the end of the day there were two people left that needed wheelchairs and only two wheelchairs left. Through God’s intervention, the two wheelchairs left happened to fit perfectly; it was amazing!
After we finished fitting the wheelchairs and handing out walkers and canes, our brothers and sisters in Christ from Iglesia Alianza Christiana, the church that hosted todays outreach, presented a closing ceremony. It was amazing as their love and appreciation was felt. It was such a joy to celebrate and worship with people with such great passion for the Lord. We also learned from the pastor of the Peruvian church that over 120 people had accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior in the last two days because of the outreach.
Praises to God for this awesome miracle!
Karli (for the team)
Today was an incredible day! Giving a person the gift of mobility is an extraordinary and joyful experience! It is an amazing way to serve and be His hand and feet here on earth. Their smiles, their tears, and thier stories were all very moving!
I took care of Adelaida Chavez, Victoriano Escalante, Gaspar, Janet Galagarza, Betty, and Martin Lozada today. Out of them all Victoriano touched my heart the most. Victoriano is in his mid eighties, he is a widower, and has lost his two children. He gave his life to Christ on 2007 and was baptized in June 2010. Victoriano has been a diabetic for about forty years and he had both of his feet aputated due to it. In addition to this, he has very poor vision and can hardly read. As we engaged in conversation, he said that without eyes nor feet there is no reason to live.
There are times in our Christian walk when we need to be reminded of the value and meaning we have found in Christ. Today God gave me the opportunity to remind Vitoriano of God’s purpose for his life. I reminded him that God had given him a sound mind and masculine voice to go tell others about God’s blessings in his life. I encouraged the old man who is a young Christian to go and testify! To go tell younger men about everything the Lord has done in his life. After a long and intense conversation he agreed not to be silent anymore. This old and very maculine man started crying, we were both crying! Victoriano will go tell others about the amazing grace of Christ and the incredible peace he finds in Christ!
Sylvette (for the team)
Today we worshipped at two churches – the first one was Emmanual Bible Church and the second was San Martin de Porres Alianza Church. We found the people very loving and genuine in their worship. Even though there was a language barrier, we felt the passion of the message from the pastors heart. We also witnessed the ceremonial transfer of the very first wheeelchair recipient. After church, we spent time touring some of the political and historical sights and neighborhoods in Lima. We saw first hand the difference between poverty and riches! The team enjoyed a time of fellowship over dinner at Chios Chicken and finished the evening packing the blankets, seat cushions, supplies, etc., in preparation for the coming days of distribution.
Linda (for the team)
Our team gathered this morning for a sweet time of fellowship, prayer, and bonding together with all team members finally together from Woodmen Valley Chapel, Albuquerque, and Pennsylvania. After a short bus ride seeing and hearing the sights and sounds of Lima, we were overwhelmingly welcomed by the members of San Martin de Porres Alianza church and learned about the new ministry they are launching to minister to individuals with disabilities in their district. Our group will be partnering with the Alianza church to distribute wheelchairs Monday and Tuesday. What a blessing it is to meet fellow brothers and sisters in Christ!
Maija (for the team)
November 2-10
Cost: $2,700
Application Deadline: June 4
The gift of mobility can dramatically change lives – not just for the disabled, but also for those who care for them. Team members will be blessed to provide the gift of mobility to an individual with disabilities on this partnership trip with Joni and Friends.
Each year, thousands flock to this relatively stable country to visit the famed Machu Picchu. Although Peru has one of the fastest growing economies in the world, the country is still struggling with the effects of a two decade long civil war that claimed nearly 70,000 lives. Both government and guerrilla forces committed human rights abuses leaving many permanently disabled.
The disabled are one of the least-reached people groups in the world. Many live in isolation, simply lacking mobility, cut off from life and the local church. As such, many have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ or experienced His love. During this Wheels for the World trip with Joni and Friends, we will give the gift of mobility by distributing refurbished wheelchairs to disabled people. This gift can dramatically change lives – not just for the disabled, but also for those who care for them. While working alongside Peruvian therapists and mechanics, the team will share the love of Christ and minister physically, emotionally and spiritually to people with disabilities and their families.
The team will learn more about disabled ministry through real and engaging experiences and how God can use them to impact the world.
Visit woodmenvalley.org/peru to apply today!
We have just launched our upcoming trips! Look for our Trip Guides in both Welcome Centers and in the Impact Center at the Rockrimmon campus. Or visit us online: woodmenvalley.org/go.
Woodmen Global Impact 