Hear how you can help Joni celebrate her husband’s birthday in the best possible way!
JONI: It’s December 13th and it’s Ken Tada’s birthday! Hi everybody, I’m so glad you joined me today on my husband’s birthday. And I can’t believe he’s spending his birthday time to come into the studio with me today!
KEN: Where would I want to be other than here with you?
JONI: I love that, and you know, I’ve got to confess Ken – it’s been so hard to find you a birthday gift. I mean, you’ve got a ton of fishing poles and a ton –
KEN: Oh, Idon’t need material things, Joni. I think there’s some other things out there that are more important.
JONI: Okay, like what?
KEN: There’s something about giving wheelchairs.
JONI: Yeah.
KEN: To people who’ve never had the gift of mobility before.
JONI: And you’ve seen that, haven’t you?
KEN: Oh, firsthand. I mean, you know, I guess it’s so poignant to watch a young person who has never been able to get around. In fact, oftentimes they’re relegated to the back bedrooms where they can’t really get out.
JONI: Or they’re carried on their mother’s backs.
KEN: Or in wheelbarrows.
JONI: Or they crawl across the street with their hands.
KEN: And then when they’re placed in one of these wheelchairs that we provide for them, it’s like a light goes on!
JONI: I see that, and I know you have too – especially on children. Wouldn’t you agree?
KEN: I have to tell you, there’s a story in Cuba. This young man, he got his wheelchair, he was so excited. But at the same time, he didn’t understand all the principles. And when you go over big bumps, you can have a tendency to fall. So, we had to kind of hold him back from just going out and just running over things.
JONI: Just going over the cliff like Wylie Coyote! I think I saw pictures of that little boy. Was his name Eduardo?
KEN: Yes.
JONI: Well, I know that you and I often talk about the boys and girls with disabilities in countries like Cuba, or Peru, or Thailand. You’ve been to Thailand.
KEN: Been to Thailand as well. And you know, I think the thing that is so poignant about traveling overseas; being on a Wheels for the World trip; doesn’t matter what country you are in. Doesn’t matter what the child looks like. Their needs are still the same. Whether it’s Africa, Thailand. It could be, you know, South America. And even Europe. To see their needs, it’s really heart wrenching.
JONI: Yup. In an impoverished country, the needs are crushing. They are bruising. And as you said earlier, many of these children just remain on the floor in a dirt kitchen or maybe relegated to a back bedroom. So, getting back to your birthday gift, tell us what this has to do.
KEN: Well, I mean I’m very honored if they were thinking about giving me a birthday gift. But I think it would mean so much more if they can give a gift to what we call the perfect gift, and you know what that is?
JONI: What?
KEN: It’s being able to provide a Bible, a wheelchair for a young person or you know, an adult as well and watching that face of that child or that person light up, given the gift of mobility for the first time.
JONI: Yup and especially when we’ve given the Bible, right?
KEN: Absolutely.
JONI: Because it’s ok to have a gift of mobility, but man, you’ve got to have hope for the future!
KEN: And you know what’s so neat about that? It’s not just the recipient of the wheelchair, but it’s their whole family! And it can be a whole village of people. When they get that gift of the Bible, it’s a message that’s spread throughout that whole community.
JONI: It is. And Ken, how can people give the perfect gift?
KEN: Get all the information about the perfect gift at joniradio.org.
JONI: That’s right. And that perfect gift that you give friend, is going to supply us like Ken said – a Bible, a wheelchair. Not only the gift of mobility, but respect and dignity for that little boy or girl sitting in that wheelchair. Right Ken?
KEN: Absolutely!
JONI: Well, I’m certainly going to give the perfect gift in your honor right after our program.
KEN: Well, thank you Joni!
JONI: Uh huh!
© Joni and Friends