Joni’s House Provides Hope, Dignity, and a Place of Belonging
“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19
Can you imagine getting your little girl ready for her first day of school, seeing her excited smile light up your home and your heart in anticipation of the wonderful day ahead, only to be told that your daughter is a useless waste because of her disability? It breaks my heart to share this with you, but that’s exactly what happened when Lorena brought sweet Daniela to school.
Daniela had a stroke when she was an infant, causing partial paralysis and developmental delays. Now at 11 years old, she is able to walk with assistance, but falls frequently and does not have the motor skills to brace herself when she falls. The scar on her forehead attests to that.
Lorena resorts to carrying Daniela on her shoulders when necessary, which is how she got her to school. Daniela was eager to learn and make friends, but she learned all too quickly that the other children had no interest in calling her “friend.” They pushed Daniela down and pulled her hair.
They told her she was crazy… sick… crippled… and nothing but a waste.
When Lorena brought this horrendous bullying to the teacher’s attention, she was coldly told, “It doesn’t matter what you do because Daniela will remain ‘like that.’ Daniela will never learn.”
“Daniela cried and cried. And the other mothers called me ‘Sick Girl’s Mom.’ But I wouldn’t cry in front of Daniela. I waited and cried later,” shares Lorena with her own tears streaming down her cheeks.
“People see disabled people as sick people, like they can’t do anything,” explains Lorena. But she and her husband, Luis, still have dreams for Daniela. Yet those dreams seemed completely out of reach. As a street sweeper and garbage collector, Luis simply doesn’t earn enough money to provide the education and physical therapies Daniela needs.
The strains of poverty and daily discrimination at school and from their extended family almost defeated Daniela’s family.
“I couldn’t handle the burden anymore.”
–Lorena
When Daniela’s family came to Joni’s House, everything changed. “For the first time we had someone who listened to us! At Joni’s House, they listened to me. They understood me and what I was going through,” beams Lorena.
Luis found new hope at Joni’s House, too. “Joni’s House has helped us, and we are grateful. They evaluated Daniela and they give her the attention she needs. They are teaching Daniela to gain balance so she can walk. They give us food and vitamins. And when we had a mudslide, they gave us supplies so we could make house repairs.”
While Daniela receives the therapies she so desperately needs, her parents and sister meet with Pastor David at Joni’s House El Salvador.
“We are learning the Word of God. Joni’s House has changed the way we view life.”
–Lorena
“Through Joni’s House, God touches our hearts. Since we met Joni’s House, our lives have changed.”
–Luis
Without even leaving your home, God can use your prayers and generosity to:
- Feed starving children.
- Heal life-threatening wounds.
- Give the gifts of mobility and dignity.
- Provide educational opportunities and medically necessary therapy.
- Make homes accessible and safe.
- Teach children with disabilities that they are created in the image of God.
- Battle discrimination and eradicate bullying.
- Share the Gospel with entire families and whole communities!
Jesus lived, worked and interacted with the members of his community. He spoke their language and understood their culture. He shared their way of life. And at Joni’s House, we are following the very model that Jesus gave us when he walked this earth.
Through local churches, community and government partners, Joni and Friends is providing medical and mobility support, essential resources and spiritual care to entire families – demonstrating the love of Jesus and each person’s worth and dignity in him.
But we can’t do this without you!
You may never visit another country like El Salvador, but what you can do is let Jesus use you today to mend the hearts of children with disabilities who are broken and suffering. Tears are welling in my eyes as I write this. Life is too short, and there is simply no time to turn a blind eye to the crushing needs in the darkest corners of our world. Step out in faith today!
Oh, Friend, please hear my heart on this. Joni’s House is the way to rescue, defend, help, speak up for and care for the afflicted, all in the name of Jesus. So join Ken and me as we share God’s love in El Salvador and beyond. Link arms with me and join the movement as you give and pray! Watch Daniela’s amazing story and be blessed!
–Joni Eareckson Tada
Joni’s House
A place where people living with disability find hope in Jesus, wholistic care, and a valued role in their community!
