These videos and photos show Emerson, age 6, being introduced to his new wheelchair. His mother had carried him wherever they went before this. There is still a challenge for her, as their apartment in a basement and there are stairs to negotiate when they leave it.

The presentation was emotional. The mother had been struck by a car just yesterday and had some stitches in her chin. She was carrying Emerson when it happened, and he was unhurt. I believe we all choked up a little bit and cried some upon seeing his joy and hearing him squeal with delight.

There is some irony in this situation: The wheelchair was obtained by Rotary International from the Wheelchair foundation. It was made in China and sent to Rotary Medical Service Network in Tulsa, OK. When I found out that we needed three children's wheelchairs, I contacted MSN and was told they would soon have some. I later picked them up at Tulsa as a representative of the Monett Church of Christ, and they were shipped on the containers to El Salvador. When we had trouble getting the containers released, we re-consigned them to Rotary, and the release was obtained. Rotary then gave the containers back to us, and we gave the wheelchair to Emerson today. A couple hours later 2 representatives of Rotary visited us and were told the whole story. We gave them a tour of our school, church, and the stored goods from the container.

As we left the home after presenting the wheelchair, Mary said, “Well, how are you going to top that one?” I said that it almost made the wait worthwhile!

We had a great day with teaching and working with program children and sorting the goods from the container and the presentation to Emerson.

Sorry, I can't get the videos to load. Will try again tomorrow.

For those of you coming Saturday, the room outlets are 2-pronged. If you have 3-pronged plugs, bring adapters.