Sanjit’s Story
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story from Wheels for the World.
I’m sure you know that Wheels for the World is a wonderful ministry that we do at Joni and Friends. We take wheelchairs around the world to needy disabled adults and kids; we give Bibles, the Gospel, and help those special-needs families connect to a really caring, Evangelical church. Well, not long ago we were in India, a country where, well, to have a disability is to have a curse on your head. When you consider that most of the country is Hindu, with a well-entrenched caste system, the disabled are put in a cast that is about as lowly and demeaning as you can get. It’s even harder for kids with disabilities because they are often rejected by their own parents. Such was the case for Sanjit Kumar. He was born with multiple disabilities and unable to walk. That did not fare well in his family, especially with his father who had mental health issues.
But Sanjit’s mother took great pity on him. She shielded her son from the abuse of his family, the screaming and the slapping, but it was so hard. And it was hard for a long, long time. Many times, Sanjit’s mother wanted to abandon him, just leave him on a street across town with the hope that someone, anyone, would feel sorry for him; but she just couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was his mother, she just couldn’t abandon him. Then she decided to take Sanjit to an orphanage, but she just could not bring herself to leave him there, either, even after carrying her disabled boy up to the doors of that orphanage. This torturous way of living lasted for a long time.
But one day, this little family heard about Wheels for the World coming to their town. So Sanjit’s mother hired a taxi, and brought him to our distribution site. At first, this young teenager was frightened and withdrawn, what with so many people examining him. But then, our physical therapists brought out what is called a tilt-in-space wheelchair. The lateral side supports were perfect, and so was the headrest. This wheelchair was exactly what Sanjit and his mother needed. But wait, there’s more. Our team gave Sanjit a communication board and a few simple instructions. In no time, this teenager was able to point to graphics on the communication board, and soon, his smile was big and bright! Miracle of miracles, he was now able to communicate. Sanjit and his mother listened as the Gospel of Jesus was shared with them. And before they left that day, she looked at her son ‘talking’ through the communication board and she said with great joy, “I have found hope. I’ve never seen such joy on the face of my son.”
Oh friend, you really must visit joniandfriends.org/radio and see a photo of Sanjit smiling as he sits in his wheelchair. And while you’re on my radio page, ask for your free copy of the DVD we’ve produced all about Wheels for the World, the stories will really surprise and bless you. Because the lives of kids with disabilities are terribly threatened in certain parts of the world, but our Wheels for the World teams are bringing relief, practical help, wheelchairs, the Bible, the hope of the gospel, and we’re working with churches to make a long-lasting difference. So again, stop by joniandfriends.org/radio to see a marvelous photo of Sanjit and his mom, and then ask for your free copy of our TV episode on Wheels for the World. Pray for the ministry of Wheels would you? Pray as we reach the littlest, the last, the least of these, and the lost, all in the name of Jesus Christ. See you later at joniandfriends.org/radio. God bless you today and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
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