Perspective

Work has been challenging lately. There are many reasons why, but I will not get into that today.


This morning I received an email from a group in Malawi that we work with to send wheelchairs to. This is the story of Fredson, and it made cry, and remember that despite the recent challenges, I am doing this for a reason, for the people around the world that have the same story as Fredson.

I’ve Had a Painful Day
“The most painful part of my work is telling children like Fredson we do not have wheelchairs, then watching them crawl away – helpless.
‘Life has no formula.’ my high school classmate used to tell me. When he said this, I knew something was wrong with his thinking. It might be that he had no food, soap or pocket money to keep him going at school. Contrary to this friend, who was very easy to read when his life was lacking something, another friend named Joseph did not complain when his food box was empty. For him life was just a mixture of good and not-so-good, or “challenging” moments.

Being involved in the work of helping others for over a decade, I have come to realize that indeed life is a mixture of both positives, and negatives. I have been in contact with people, especially children, who have left my heart in great pain over their life situation. I am hopeful that many who read this will view life and people’s struggles with the same feeling of pain.
When seeing a young boy’s life, who has never walked, some may think the negatives for him are beyond the extreme end. Meeting a 9-year-old village boy who has a burning desire to be educated, but cannot walk, may present unthinkable circumstances. It may be difficult for some of us to comprehend how such a child can view life positively when he is in an environment where there is no means of mobility. Although this may seem to be just another story, the truth of the matter is that Fredson Mtentha of Nkanda Village is the boy, and it is also true that he has never walked.
While some of us complain of worn out shoes, old-fashioned clothes, and boring channels on television, Fredson’s worries about how he can get to school. He has a burning desire that propels him to crawl a 4-kilometer stretch of dusty road in order to reach school each day. Even though he tries in his classes he is far behind, and at the age of 9, Fredson is still in the first grade of a primary school. His case is a symbolic representation of many young boys and girls who are struggling with being unable to attend classes due to lack of mobility aids.
At Namikango Mission each day is different from the others, and each day brings its own new challenges. Today I must tell a 9-year-old boy we do not have a wheelchair for him to go to school because people in other parts of the world need help too. I know for sure that I can say this without reservation:

The most painful part of my work is telling children like Fredson we do not have wheelchairs, and then watch them crawl away ~ helplessly.
Report by Wilson Isaac Tembo

I needed to read this today, to motivate me and remind me my problems are so small compared to others. If you feel compelled to help get Fredson a wheelchair you can donate here.  I'll be sure to update when we are able to send wheelchairs to Malawi again, it might be several months from now, but his time will come, I will do whatever I can to make sure it does.