I won’t bore you with the details of our trip home from Cuba. The most exciting moment was when the card reader at the airport parking lot refused to return my American Express card. After waiting 15-20 minutes, I ended up getting 4 days of parking for free.
I wanted to share one more thing from what we experienced in Cuba. Last year, I wrote about a special baptism that we had in Matanzas. A lady who only has one leg came forward to be baptized. 
The look of joy on her face after her baptism taught me a lot about what really matters in life. I wrote about that on the HopeForLife.org blog, in an article called “The Healing.”
I was thrilled to get to see this lady again. She had that same smile on her face, though she is obviously still in poor health. As we talked, she told me something that broke my heart. She mentioned that the wheelchair she was using was borrowed. She casually said, “I get tired of having to drag myself around the house.” Oh, my!
Now, I don’t doubt that she mentioned that to me in hopes that I could do something. And I plan to find out if anything can be done. From what she told me, I don’t even know if we can get a wheelchair in Cuba. But what I want to tell you is this: her faith doesn’t depend on her being healed. It doesn’t even depend on her getting a wheelchair. She has the joy of the Lord in her present situation, horrible though it is.
Anybody feel like complaining today?
You mean like “my eggs were cooked to hard, and the bacon was to crisp, this morning” No, no complaints, my eggs and bacon were perfect, except they were on my grandson’s plate , heart attack, bypass, and cholesterol and all that stuff. but I get to see my family every day, no complaints, thank you.
You said this lady had only one leg, I probably shouldn’t take for granted that, the one leg is a good leg. But if it is maybe a walker or crutches would be even better than a wheelchair, get more exercise.
I know I should not use myself as an example, so I will just say I knew a man once who was in a gas well blow out which resulted in multiple injuries, back shoulders and hips. This man refused to use a wheelchair because he was afraid if he did he would never leave
it . Instead he used a walker and crutches, he still has days he has to use assistance to walk, but never a wheelchair, If I live long enough it might come to that, but not yet.
complaining does no good, hard work and some pain will.
Good suggestions, Laymond. To be honest, I’ll work through the local guys if I try to do anything. They’ll have a better idea than I will of what is the best solution. I do know this woman holds some sort of bag with a tube connected to it; her situation seems to be more complicated than a mere amputation.
Amen to your thoughts on complaining!
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
I remember your post about that woman last year when she was baptized. I’m not a really big fan of short mission trips (though I took a few myself in high school & college), but one thing I think is beneficial from them is that it reminds the participants of their blessings and that they can’t complain about not having name-brand jeans and the latest electronics when they have just been ministering to people who struggle to get a good amount of food on the table each day. I know people who have a much easier time giving to the poor in Honduras than to the “poor” in America, because of how much more grateful the Hondurans are. Reading your posts from trips to other countries reminds me that I have nothing to complain about and so much to be grateful of — and also that I need to share more!!!
I might mention that the top picture is 2008 and the bottom is 2009. She’s still smiling!
I have heard that Joni Erickson Tada’s ministry collects wheelchairs for impoverished people around the world. I have not looked up her web site, but you should be able to google it. They may be able to help.
Thanks Terry. I’ll check into that. Maybe I could pretend to need it when I go in July. Surely they would let me bring it in. (I’m kidding)
Tim, I had a little more time today to check into Joni Erickson Tada’s wheelchair ministry. The link is http://www.joniandfriends.org/pg_wheelchair.php. I hope this can help.
Thanks!
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