This story comes from David Day, Director of Growers First. He runs a mission in Oaxaca, Mexico. We sent him a container of wheelchairs this past Christmas.

Maria is the Mom, and Juana is her daughter. Kneeling beside Maria is Paco, Latin American Director of Growers First. Juana was born with physical disabilities. Maria refused to have more children, blaming herself for the disabilities. Her husband abandoned her, and they have been on their own now for 6 years. Maria has no job and is just barely scraping by, how no one knows. She cannot work, as she devotes all her life to caring for Juana. Along with her guilt, she carries Juana on her back wherever they go. Juana is getting heavy and Maria is beginning to have back problems.

The photo was taken an hour or so after Paco gave them a wheelchair, and both Maria and Juana had a chance to recover from their emotions and dry their eyes. We are all praying that this wheelchair will help Maria and Juana start a new life they both deserve.

David tells me that this is just one of hundreds of stories he heard from the poorest of the poor living in the mountains of Oaxaca.

God bless,

Don