Reaching people who really had less than any of us could ever imagine

I wanted to tell you a quick story about how our recent donation of $500 was made to your organization.

My parents passed away this year without much notice to us just about 3 months apart after 55 years of marriage. They were the shining light and love that guided their four children and 10 grandchildren. Knowing that this holiday would be sad my brothers and I decided the best way to cope with Christmas and our loss was to give to others. We gifted each grandchild $500 but they had to choose a charity and donate the funds in memory of their grandparents. My daughter, the oldest grandchild wrote the following:

“Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you about an organization I would like to donate the money to. I had a few organizations in mind but none of the ones I was thinking about seemed to reach people who really had less than any of us could ever imagine. I began to think about what kinds of non profits I would like to donate to and I knew that I wanted to find a Christian organization that was based in Christ but also met the physical needs of people.

"I am in the health care field so I began to do some research about Christian Healthcare based ministries. I had never heard of this organization before but I would like to donate my money to Free Wheelchair Mission. They make and deliver wheelchairs free of charge to people who need wheelchairs all over the world but have never had one before. Having a wheelchair could change a person’s life who was paralyzed or couldn’t walk, they could get a job, learn a skill or care for their family. The ministry makes wheelchairs out of plastic lawn chairs and other normal wheelchair parts and gives them to people who can’t afford a wheelchair. The chairs cost only 50 dollars to make a ship so 500 dollars could pay for 10 chairs and change 10 people’s lives. Thank you so much for this opportunity - I am excited to share why I chose this charity with the rest of the family! The website is www.freewheelchairmission.org "

Love, Christa

God Bless - Celeste

This story is from one of our supporters.

They cannot afford to buy a wheelchair, so they wait

Vietnam is a beautiful country with even more beautiful people. There is so much need - the need for food, adequate shelter and the great need for wheelchairs. From children suffering the effects of Agent Orange, to elderly men and women who are no longer mobile, those in need of a chair are waiting. They cannot afford to buy a wheelchair, so they wait. By God's grace, we are able to help them in this way.

I spoke with several women about my own age (26), who told me that they lost the use of their legs when they got a fever as a child. They are so happy with their new wheelchair. They keep patting my hands and kissing my cheek. Except for the language barrier, they are just like my friends in America. The joy written on the faces of those who receive the wheelchairs speak more loudly than any language can convey. The joy on the faces of the caregivers speak just loudly.

We traveled far to the south in the Mekong Delta about 30 miles from the Cambodian border. The landscape is cut by rivers every few hundred feet and boat is the main form of transportation. The bus had to drive aboard a barge to cross the river at its widest point. There are so many people traveling by motorbike cris-crossing the small lanes. Many live in very remote areas only accessible by boat.

Our distribution partners are truly amazing people. Without their hard work and dedication, the wheelchairs could not reach their intended destination.

Those of us who have much should take the opportunity to help those who have little.

FWM staffer Ashley Herron is travelling with a distribution trip Vietnam, having recently joined a mission group from the Vineyard Church from Wheeling, West Virginia.

FWM Friends Send Hearts Around the World!

Recently, we enjoyed sending out our first ever "Hearts Around the World" Valentine celebration - our hope was to provide a sweet opportunity to send a personal message of love and encouragement directly into the hands of a wheelchair recipient. The outreach was a great success! We have now received a full "container" of Valentines, that's 550 hearts full of love, tallied up and ready to go.

Classroom and Sunday school groups had great fun with the project! Here are some photos from Shorelife Church of Huntington Beach, California. Organizers incorporated it into their Valentine's Day Bonanza, with the children decorating cards and signing them for wheelchair recipients.

Emily Barr, Shorelife's children's director, said, "We had 28 children and 16 volunteers and the kids just had a blast! We combined the Valentines with cookie decorating, crafts, games and a fun little devotional. They had a fun time decorating the cards with stickers and rhinestones and signing their names. We would definitely do this again!"

Thanks to all of you that participated in the Free Wheelchair Mission "Hearts Around the World" Valentine celebration. Because of your support and encouragement, over 500 future wheelchair recipients will be gifted with the warmth of a personalized note, and reminded that somebody cares!

Being on the other side of the world

Being on the other side of the world is showing me many things but one seems more basic than any other: Life is in the small moments. There are the huge moments in life - graduation, birth of a child - but it is the mosaic of all the small moments, going to the park or tending a vegetable garden, that truly make up our lives.

We gave away 100 chairs at a school for students with disabilities in Nha Trang.

Nguyen Thi Kim Loan is 16 years old though he looks about 6. His grandmother Hong tells us that he has a birth defect. Hong and her daugther-in-law brought Loan to receive a free wheelchair today. She says that she is very happy. Now that she has the wheelchair, she will no longer have to carry him. She was getting worried because he is getting heavy. Now she says that they can push him to the park every afternoon in his new wheelchair.

Van Hoa is 33 years old. he cam to the distribution by himself on the back of a motorbike taxi. His family lives far away and was not at the ceremony. He said that he is very happy to get a wheelchair. I was able to share with him that this wheel chair is a gift from God. Please pray for Van Hoa, that he will truly know that God loves him.

This gentleman lost his leg from a bomb during the war. He told me that this wheelchair is the first gift he has received in 30 years. He loves to work in his garden and makes his living selling its vegetables. Now, he said he will have a much easier time tending his garden and will sell more vegetables.

The work of FWM allows people to experience all the small moments.

FWM staffer Ashley Herron is travelling with a distribution trip Vietnam, having recently joined a mission group from the Vineyard Church from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Staff member joins group distributing wheelchairs in Vietnam

March 4, 2010

Hooray - finally here! Vu and several of his students met me at the airport this afternoon. It is very warm but there is a nice cool breeze too. Checked in at the hotel and then headed over to the Night Market with Vu and a student for dinner (Vietnamese spring rolls - great recommendation, Michael!). The rest of the team arrives at 10:30 so I will meet them in the morning.

We're heading to Nha Trang tomorrow to give away 100 chairs - my first actual distribution!

I am so stoked!

Ash (Ashley Herron - FWM Events Coordinator)

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March 5, 2010

Traveling is always an adventure. Traveling for FWM is the adventure of a lifetime. It is a privilege to go to the other side of the world to serve those in need. But most of all it's a privilege to get to know people - the people of Vietnam, our partners, the team from WV, and ultimately the recipients of the chairs themselves.

On my first flight, I met a gentleman who had never heard about FWM, but by the time our flight was done, he was inspired to learn that only $59.20 provides a wheelchair and transforms a life. Meeting our partner Vu and his students was an unqualified blessing. I am beyond thrilled to get to know them this week. Their excitement to serve is infectious.

We are all a part of this journey no matter what part it is we play.

Ash

FWM staffer Ashley Herron is travelling with a distribution trip Vietnam, having recently joined a mission group from the Vineyard Church from Wheeling, West Virginia.

Earthquake Devastates Chile

As you have heard, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck the country of Chile early Saturday morning. Free Wheelchair Mission has been active in the region for many years - just this week we spotlighted Stephen and Grace Colon, our dear friends and distribution partners in Santiago, in the Friday Story (to read, please click here). We have talked to Stephen and Grace and they and their staff are safe. The country is paralyzed at the moment. There is no power and no water. Please keep them in your prayers, all Chile in your prayers. They will need even more of everything we can provide for them, including wheelchairs. Free Wheelchair Mission will be actively assessing how we can continue to serve the people of Chile during this trying time and will keep you informed.

God Bless, Don

Slideshow of recent trip to Chile