June 2010 – PET-TN Murfreesboro back to Benin, Africa
Excerpt from June 7, 2010 entry on the Gift of Mobility Blog:
We are happy to announce that the PET affiliates in East Jewett, NY and Murfreesboro, TN are teaming up to consolidate a container load (170) of PET carts destined for Benin. This is the second time that they have partnered with M.I.E.R.S., Mission Internationale D’ Evangelisation Et De Reveil Spirituel. This is a French speaking Christian organization that has a heart for the disabled in their country.
This year’s consolidated shipment is scheduled to leave the East Jewett, NY area on Friday June 18th. There are plans for representatives from PET East Jewett to again travel to Benin later this year to observe and help with the distribution.
Below are two photos from last year’s PET distribution.
May 2010 – Hendersonville UMC on-site PET Build!
Freddie and crew took all the wood subcomponents (bed, seat, back, etc), nuts, bolts, wheels, frames, all the tools, etc (yes the whole shebang) to Hendersonville UMC for an on-site PET Build. The photo below simply shows the parking lot setup, but click here to see a brief slideshow of the build.
On-site PET workshop at Hendersonville UMC
April 2010 – Latest Shop News…
Read PET Murfreesboro Update April 2010 for a brief update about our shop!
April 2010 – PETs for Haiti amputees…
Read physical therapist Jennith Bernstein’s discovery and impression of PETs while working with Haiti amputees.
April 2010 – She was crawling to church to pray…
Here is an excerpt of a PET International report (from April 2010) with another story from one of our partners The Luke Commission (also on our videos page):
In 2009 we began our partnership with The Luke Commission, Compassionate Medicine, in Swaziland, Africa. We sent a shipping container full of PETs (adult, child & Pull) made at different Affiliate production shops. They have already asked when they can receive another shipment. We are thrilled with this new PET partnership.
April 2010 Email excerpt: “Life in Swaziland seems cruel, too, but often The Luke Commission sees glorious deliverance. Take the lady we met recently. Traveling to a clinic site, we turned off a tar highway onto a dirt road when we spotted her crawling. Stop! We jumped out. “Where are you going?” Echo (on left) asked. “I’m going to church to pray,” she answered, pointing to a small cement structure on a hilltop. “Come with us today, please,” said Echo. “I think some of your prayers have been answered.” She agreed to come with us…
…. She wore rubber gloves to protect her hands from thorns and rocks. Below her calloused knees were undeveloped useless limbs. All day long, she sat under a tree and waited – for hundreds of sick folks to be triaged, …, and for her wheelchair (PET) to be built… Now 59 years old, she had not walked since age 5 when she contacted meningitis…
As she was lifted into her new chair, about to be mobile for the first time in 54 years, tears coursed down her cheeks. She brushed them away with her rubber gloves. Then realizing she no longer needed those gloves, she waved them in the air. Eyeing the crowd, face to face this time, she exclaimed, “Hallelujah, hallelujah.”
From the nation of Swaziland to the nations of the US and Canada, we say thank you……
Gratefully in Jesus, Janet Tuinstra for The Luke Commission”
