A plumber, a wheelchair, and God's sufficiency

Several weeks ago, in the community that our sponsorship program functions, Anna* was hit by a boda (motorcycle taxi). This young girl uses a wheelchair because of the debilitating effects of polio. The impact of the accident was strong, and she was seriously injured.  As she was rushed to the hospital, Anna's wheelchair was stolen.

In a plumbing shop in the midst of the hustle and bustle of downtown Jinja, not far from the office of Amazima, there sits a man who may seem ordinary, but he is anything but. Several years ago, he was in an accident of his own. In the middle of shop at about midday, John* tells his story.

"I was headed in a vehicle and a large truck came and knocked us.  I was sleeping in the back at the time and when I woke up, I was on my back. I was wondering where the roof went, what happened

"I then heard men around me yelling, 'He's going to die! He's going to die! He is badly off!' At the time, I didn't realize that it was me they were talking about."

John is animated and inviting. His eyes twinkle just a bit and he laughs in the pauses of his sentences. A prostheses attaches to one of this legs below the knee, and he grins as he states he is getting better every day.

"I now no longer need the chair," he explained, "I was told someone was in need. I said yes!  I couldn't see the reason in keeping it, although some people will keep things out of fear of what will happen in the future. But I said, if I can handle [giving] it, then why not? There is a saying in my local language that says, 'If you don't eat something, give it to someone who can eat it."'

As if on cue, an old man shuffles up to the steps of John's store. He holds out his deformed hands, draped in tattered rags and gives a toothy smile, asking for spare change. Without a second thought, John digs deep into his pocket and fishes out a bill. He pushes it across the counter as the old man thanks him and hobbles away.

John lets out a chuckle, "he doesn't even know that I am worse off than him!"

"I feel like I have a connection with others who have disabilities. I would say to anyone with a disability to take courage! God is a provider. I would say to them that yes, you are different, clearly you can see that. But you can serve the world in a better way. Even though you are different you can make a great difference in this world."

With a new wheelchair and a fresh discharge from the hospital, Anna is a happy girl. She is very grateful for John's act of kindness and so are we. What a beautiful thing to see God's sufficiency displayed through the generosity of John's heart.

We believe that he has already made a great difference in this world.

*Names changed for privacy