A Tale of Two Cities

We arranged for Motivation Romania to hold a wheelchair distribution and training workshop at our church building in Ploiesti. It turned out to be an ideal venue. First a little "meet and greet". There was an alarming number of amputees at this distribution.

These wonderful caregivers are this boy's foster parents.

This man told Mission President Hill that his grandfather hid a downed Amercan pilot from the Russians for 2 years during WWII.  President Hill said he was pleased we could thank him by providing him with a wheelchair.

Ploiesti Branch President Vasile Pasare extends a hand of kindness to the recipients.

Then he formally welcomes the group to the Church and on behalf of members throughout the world who donate to the humanitarian fund, expressed the hope that the wheelchairs they received would be a blessing to them.

President Hill addresses the group, explaining that as members of the Church we believe that to be followers of Christ we need to love and serve one another.  Humanitarian projects such as these are a way to do that. He described some of the work that Randy and Vicky do as Humanitarian Missionaries in Romania.

Then a short video presentation describing the excellent work that Motivation Romania does.

Demonstration by Motivation Romania trainer (and wheelchair user), Costin, on how to move from a wheelchair to a regular chair.  He encourages everyone by saying, "If I can do it, you can too."

Finally, some ramp practice for the wheelchair recipients and their caregivers.

On to Timisoara, where another team of physical therapists and trainers distribute wheelchairs we have donated.  We talked with people and learned their stories. The lady in pink had her vertebrae crushed when a big metal gate fell on her. In the middle is the coordinator of the Timisoara training team.  The fellow lost the use of his legs in a car accident.

Both of these men were in car accidents.  The man on the left said he had a tire blowout and he lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.  He lost both his legs.

This is a married couple - both with polio.  She was a real pistol! On the right is their caregiver.

This lady explains to one of our missionaries that she fell from a 4th floor open window when hanging drapes for her friend. She broke her back.

This man was a construction worker who fell from a 4th storey scaffolding.

In 1989, this man participated in a protest demonstration in Timisoara where he was shot in the back and paralyzed from the waist down. The revolts in Timisoara were the beginning of the revolution of 1989 that eventually overthrew Ceaucescu. He and his wife were a young couple at the time with an 11-month old baby girl.  The girl is now 22. He was considered a hero by many of the group who were receiving wheelchairs that day.

These two met at Motivation Romania's summer camp. Love is in the air!  Another rewarding day - meeting wonderful people and seeing how a wheelchair might turn the worst of times into the best of times for them.