Help for the crippled - africa
Enjoying the Gift of Mobility
CBN's Operation Blessing - French Africa
CBN.com – SENEGAL, AFRICA – As a testimony of Jesus Christ’s love for the crippled, CBN’s Operation Blessing gave 550 wheelchairs to the handicapped population in Senegal in early 2009. They coordinated efforts with Senegal’s Ministry of Health for this massive outreach to people needing wheelchairs.
One of the recipients said, “This is the end of my staying in the sand by the roadside all day long and being eaten by insects. For me, this is a great blessing in the sense that it is not only useful to move me around, but also a place where I can sit down comfortably and go about my daily business.”
It reminded the locals of an African folklore about two close friends who throughout their lives remained faithful to each other until death. They were both handicapped. One was blind and the other was a cripple. The blind man could not go any place he wanted even though his legs and feet were strong, because he could not see his way. The cripple’s eyes were in perfect health and he could see his way, but could not go wherever he wanted because he had no legs and feet to move around. The two became friends and used their strengths to benefit each other. When they wanted to go anywhere, the blind man would squat and the crippled man would climb on to his back, cling there, and stretch his head over the head of the blind man. In that position, the blind man became legs and feet for the cripple, while the cripple became eyes for the blind. The story went on to demonstrate that their friendship was a healthy and fruitful one. They went together to the market, workplace or farm and did what they wanted to do. Then they returned to a home where they lived together.
In the same way, the wheelchairs became legs and feet for the crippled men, women and children in Senegal.
“I was without legs and feet, but now I have legs and feet and I can move to and fro from my house to our training center and wherever I want to go,” said Miss Fatou Ka, who has one of the new wheelchairs.
All the beneficiaries were very happy and expressed their gratitude to CBN’s Operation Blessing for the donations. They asked for God’s blessings upon the organization and hoped that the future will bring more fruitful partnerships between CBN and Senegal.
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