From: Debbie Hills [mailto:
Sent: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 12:06 AM
Subject: Our first few days

Hi Everyone,

Well, it’s Sunday and we are in route back from San Miguel. It has been very hot but we were blessed with working air conditioning which took the temperature down from about 95 to about 80. We spent 2 full days distributing wheel chairs there. I have been a bit under the weather and it has been a time of fully relying on God for enough strength and patience, and love for each day. I am thankful for a full and good night’s sleep last night and am feeling much better today. We had a wonderful 2 days in San Miguel and distributed about 65 wheelchairs and many walkers, crutches, and canes. More importantly we were able to share God’s love and see Him in action over and over again and I would like to share a few God sighting with you.

On Friday we worked hard to get a wheelchair fitted for a young man, 25 years old who was the victim of a drive by shooting. He so much had hoped to get a sport chair so he could play basketball again. Unfortunately, we did not have any with us. But we found a frame that we thought would work for him. It had rear wheel axels that could be raised to allow for his very long legs. But once we raise the axels, we found that the front wheels could not be raised. As we looked around we found that there was a set of larger front castors that we could swap out. And so we did. We were also able to get smaller foot plates that looked a little more sporty. By the time we finished he was very happy with his new “wheels”. The best part that was during his time with a local pastor, he re dedicated his life to Christ and found some healing for his spirit.

The container we were hoping would make it is still MIA. We have very few things readily available to us to make the needed adaptations. But God took even this and brought about a blessing. I was able to spend about an hour each morning teaching a group of therapists about the basics of wheelchair seating. The first day two of the therapists commented that what I was showing them was great, but they did not have much to work with to make adaptations. I shared with them the problem with not having our supplies with us and that over the two days they would spend observing the wheel chair distribution they would see us making many adaptations with very little in the way of pre made things. As our time together was drawing to a close late Saturday afternoon, these same therapists shared that they were so excited that now they know of better ways to help many people. They are excited with the idea that we will continue the training next year as well.

One of the kids we seated this year was a teenager named Ramon. Ramon was born with Spina Bifida and has never had a wheelchair before. His mother has been lifting and carrying him his entire life. Ramon now weighs much more than his Mom. When I first saw him he was sitting in a straight chair with his legs bent up so his feet were together in front of him and his knees were out the each side. His overall width was 35 inches, far too wide for any wheelchair. Most of our wheelchairs are 20” at the most and usually 16-18 inches wide. The buzz around the distribution was, could Debbie possibly make something work for Ramon. I went out to do the initial evaluation and when I looked at him I didn’t know if anything would work. I quickly said a prayer and began the usual process. I asked if Ramon had ever sat another way and was told not since he was very little. He had bandages wrapped around his right knee and I found that he had open sores, some nearly a half inch deep around his knee. These were from rubbing on furniture as he tried to move himself and when his mother lifted him in and out of bed and chairs. I found that as I moved his legs that they were not totally lock in that position and it seemed that with a little work his hips would loosen enough to maybe get him positioned in a wheelchair.

We went looking and found a chair 22 inches wide and the work began. With the help of some very creative mechanics we started making the modifications. By the end of the day the chair was completed and a very happy Ramon and his mother headed home. God showed up again and provided all we needed to make the seemingly impossible, possible.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Please pray for our strength and health, for the people we will be serving, and for the people we are training and that in all things Christ will be glorified.

Blessings, Debbie