AL: Saturday our Wheels for the World team headed down to Mexico with more than 200 chairs, Bibles, the Joni book in Spanish, and training materials to teach churches how to reach out to the disabled people we’ll be ministering to over the next week or so…
JONI: And, Al, I'm pretty excited that there are several disabled Christians who are Mexican who are helping us share the Gospel there -- nothing like one wheelchair user sharing Christ with another wheelchair user!
AL: Does that happen very often? I mean Christians with disabilities in their own country working alongside a Wheels team?
JONI: Yes, it does, and it is great when it happens. I'm thinking of a paraplegic named Dinalva Nabuco who lives in the northeast part of Brazil. Years ago when Dinalva was first injured, she read the Joni book in Portuguese and it so blessed her. So she decided that she, too, could reach out to disabled people in her country. So, last year when our Wheels for the World team traveled to her region to distribute wheelchairs and Bibles, Dinalva Nabuco rolled up her sleeves and chipped right in – sitting in her wheelchair, and she even grabbed a few tools to help make adjustments on the few pediatric wheelchairs.
AL: ... And as a believer, I'm sure she took part in giving the Gospel in Portuguese to the families...
JONI: Well, to answer that, I'll let Dinalva speak for herself, because listen to what she wrote me in a letter. She said, "Joni, I was so impressed with your Wheels for the World team that came from the U.S.A., and the affection with which each team member treated each handicapped person; it so touched me. I helped in the area of evangelism; those five days were blessed. I had the joy of seeing and hearing many disabled people, and their family members, and friends say yes to the Lord Jesus. I live in the northeast of Brazil, one of the neediest regions of our country. God called me to work with those who truly live in the greatest misery; and, Joni, when I say misery I mean spiritual as well as material. Most of these people cannot afford a cane, let alone a wheelchair! So please say thank you to all your friends in America who care about the disabled who are so poor here in Brazil." Wow! Now that is a dear letter. Al, can you imagine someone so poor that they cannot afford a cane, let alone a wheelchair?
AL: Joni, that's why your work is so needed. And for you who are listening today, in a very real way, when Dinalva expresses her thanks to people in America who care, she is thanking you as you pray for our Wheels for the World outreach to the disabled all around the world!
JONI: That’s right! You know in Psalm 35:10 it says, “O Lord, who is like you? You rescue the poor and the needy.” But the Lord uses the hands of people like Dinalva and so many others – even you through your prayers – to do just that. So friend listening, please be in prayer as we distribute 200 wheelchairs and Bibles to the disabled people in the cities of Monterey and Monclova, Mexico this week. Be praying that we can be the hands and the heart of God as we help rescue the poor and needy!
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