I’ve got the best story to tell you today… about little Sandra in Ghana!
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada, and come with me to the village of Sunyani in West Africa, where the Lord used a child-sized wheelchair, a walker, and Gospel bracelets to burst open a whole new future for a little girl named Sandra. The day started when her mother, Vida, carried this little 5-year-old into our Wheels for the World distribution. Born with cerebral palsy, Sandra has never walked on her own, never played outside with other children, and never been allowed to go to school.
But we will never forget the moment this child was placed into her new little wheelchair. Mind you, she had never sat in one before… let alone one that fit her so perfectly. But as the physical therapist stepped back to see if Sandra was positioned okay, this kid just exploded with joy. Her face burst into smiles and her arms flew over her head as she experienced the miracle of mobility for the very first time – it didn’t take long for Sandra to grab hold of those wheels and start pushing herself around. But the physical therapist kept looking at her and she realized that these little girl’s legs, with exercise, could probably be able to walk with the help of a walker. Well, with practice, it was clear Sandra had the strength to one day walk all by herself. So, the physical therapist brought out a pediatric walker, a little tiny walker for a little 5-year-old, and she helped Sandra take her very first steps.
It was unbelievable! You should have seen the expression on everybody’s face. We were just cheering as this little girl pushed herself in the walker – slowly at first – and then she began breaking into this careening, crashing, teetering, exuberant run! A cheer went up throughout the whole room, and tears were running down her mother’s face. At that moment, this kid’s life had changed. That’s when Vida said, “Earlier this year, I took Sandra to school. The teachers would not allow her to come. They said she was not able, but now I will take her back to school and show them that today, because of this walker and wheelchair, God has made my daughter able.” Isn’t that wonderful! The impossible has now become possible for little Sandra. She will go to school; she will learn and grow and become a light to her generation. She will no longer crawl and be hidden indoors. Instead, her bright light will shine for all to see. She is such a great illustration of Luke 18 where it says that “What is impossible with men is possible with God!” Believe me, that Scripture has come alive in little Sandra’s life!
A Gospel bracelet was given to both Vida and Sandra as the Good News was shared. Sandra’s mother gently fingered the beads and said, “[This bracelet] will help me remember to ask for God’s forgiveness, to walk with His strength, and to grow in His love.” Then she gently touched the gold bead that symbolizes heaven and she added, almost wistfully, “One day we will be in Heaven – where there is no more sorrow or sickness, but only joy. Yes, this bead will remind me of that.”
I am so grateful that Vida and her little girl were blessed that day. And you will be blessed when you see the photo we snapped of Sandra when she was placed in her new wheelchair. You’ve got to see this kid – it’s just too incredible; way too cute! So please go to my radio page at joniandfriends.org and rejoice with me over the way God is reaching so many kids with disabilities through our wheelchairs! And please be praying as another Wheels for the World team heads back next week to the Ukraine with a load of more Bibles, Gospel bracelets, and wheelchairs. And speaking of Gospel bracelets, don’t forget to ask for your supply when you visit my radio page to see this darling snapshot of Sandra. It’s all there for you at joniandfriends.org.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 91376
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