Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope

Wheels to Peru

Episode Transcription

AL:  We’re asking you, our listening friend today, to join with us in praying for our Wheels for the World team heading to Thailand right now where we will be distributing more than 400 wheelchairs in the northern region of that country, helping hundreds of disabled children and adults, plus giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ and distributing Bibles in this largely Buddhist nation.  And, Joni, I know you and Ken wish you were joining the team today…

JONI: I sure do, but I know Ken is pretty excited about his recent trip.  He just got back not long ago from Peru with our Wheels for the World team.

AL:  You weren’t able to go with him? 

JONI:  Well, it’s a little easier for an able-bodied guy like him to pack up and hop on a plane; much easier than it is for me, so I'm conserving my energies for a couple of trips coming up real soon.

AL:  Well, we all want you to stay fit and healthy and I think it’s great that Ken can be out there representing you both…

JONI:  And he did just that in Peru. 

AL:  Now, Ken is not a physical therapist, so what would his responsibility be on a Wheels for the World trip? 

JONI:  Well, he takes lots of directions from the physical therapists!

AL:  That means he’s good at taking orders…

JONI:  You got it. Ken likes to take off his Board of Director’s hat, and his Joni and Friends’ staff cap, and his “I'm Joni’s husband” hat, and he loves to roll up his sleeves and put on his jeans serve as a seating mechanic. 

AL:  He should be good at that.  He has experience with you and your wheelchair…

JONI:  Exactly! Ken shared that his favorite part was being in the stadium where we were doing our wheelchair distribution.  He had an electric saw and his job was to cut up plywood and make tray tables for the wheelchairs… and also he was able to cut up plywood to make side supports which, in turn, were covered with foam and leather.  But his favorite job he told me when he got back was just giving Gospel bracelets to the disabled children and explaining the Good News of Jesus Christ with each colored bead.  Not everyone knew that Ken was my husband at first… 

AL:  But I'm sure word got out quickly…

JONI:  Yes, and it’s always pretty special when Ken is able to share my personal greetings with these disabled adults and children and family members!  And you know, Al, many, many people opened up their hearts to Christ during that trip to Peru and that’s why I'm glad that today at the beginning of our time together, you invited our friends listening to be in prayer this week for our Wheels for the World team that is heading off to Thailand today…

AL:  And I'm sure there’ll be lots of seating mechanics traveling on this ministry visit as well… mechanics and physical therapists all working alongside local evangelical pastors to give the love of Christ…

JONI:  And you know, we’ve got a couple of slots left open in upcoming Wheels for the World trips.  We’ve got slots open for seating mechanics and physical therapists so go on the website and check it out and sign up.  We would love to have you help us change lives one wheelchair at a time.

 

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JONI AND FRIENDS

P.O. Box 3333

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www.joniandfriends.org

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