“When I walk on my hands and pull my legs behind, I get sores on my feet and hands,” said Sibongele. Then she demonstrated.
“But when I have my wheelchair, I can ‘walk.’ My life is better.”
At age 39, Sibongele’s legs have not carried her since she was four years old. “Something happened one day, and they quit moving,” she explained.
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| Crystal Jackson, FWM program director, instructs The Luke Commission staff and patients alike in the intricacies and advantages of a well-put-together wheelchair. |
In the 14 years TLC has been in Eswatini, Sibongele has worn out three wheelchairs. She lives near a rural school and learned “long time now that The Luke Commission comes to our community every year to help us.”
A few months ago, though, Sibongele was called to come to the Miracle Campus. Three international leaders of Free Wheelchair Mission visited for five days to train staff, while actually fitting new chairs for patients.
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| Free Wheelchair Mission Executive Director Nuka Solomon visits the Miracle Campus and celebrates with Sibongele , who fits perfectly in her third FWM wheelchair. |
Married with two children, ages 23 and 18, Sibongele is “very thankful” to TLC and FWM. “Now I can move from one place to another without lying down.”
We, in turn, are thankful to our faithful and new supporters who realize the work here goes on year after year.
With gratitude,
Janet Tuinstra for all the TLC team and the Sibongeles waiting to be reached
PS The Luke Commission thanks Lorena Hernandez, logistics coordinator; Crystal Jackson, international program director; and Nuka Solomon, executive director, for their time spent with TLC staff demonstrating the “in’s and out’s” of wheelchair assembling and fitting.
