Job, ("Yobbu" in his Ugandan language), is a young boy who was born without legs and has only the top part of his arms, which happened through a birth defect. He is one of 9 children in his family. Some time ago, my friends Teresa and Rick started sponsoring (Job) him faithfully. Job used to have a wheelchair, but his teacher at school began to lift Job out of the chair and put Job on the floor; then the teacher sat in Job's chair himself. Well, the chair broke. When I heard this story, I knew I had to get Job a new wheelchair somehow. So I prayed.
One day, I was talking with my cousin about going to Uganda and how I wanted to take a wheelchair to this little boy. Her eyes lit up, and she told me to go talk to Uncle Genie, that he had gotten 3 wheelchairs at a sale recently. I called Uncle Genie, and yes, he had some wheelchairs. He was willing to let me see them. I told him about Job in Uganda. He took me to a shed to see the wheelchair. I asked Uncle Genie if I could buy it for Job. Uncle Genie gave me the wheelchair, but he said it would take a few days to get to it, as it was in the back of a shed with things in front of it. He asked me to come back to get it after he got the wheelchair out and cleaned it.
Then we had a few obstacles thrown in the way to getting the wheelchair to Uganda: At first, Delta Airlines was not going to let me take the wheelchair. But I later called and talked to them again, and a lady wrote instructions to check the wheelchair through for the whole trip, along with my luggage. With each setback, we prayed for breakthrough and God's supernatural favor, and God made a way where there seemed to be no way!
Many people had a part in making this gift happen for Job. Job's sponsor, Rick, pulled an old seatbelt out of a car and attached it to the wheelchair to provide a way to keep Job from falling out of the wheelchair.
When I got to Uganda, I did not even have to go through Customs at the airport. A lady who works in customs met my flight and walked me through the airport. She got my visa for me, while I was still standing at the end of the line for visas, and helped me get my luggage, one cargo box, and young Job's wheelchair, and then walked me out of the airport to Pastor Bill and Aloysious, our driver. If you had seen what I went through in the hours I spent in Customs in the airport on my previous trip to Uganda, you would know this was a miracle!
We went to see Job at Bubala, Uganda, a Muslim village near Busembatia, which is about 2.5 hours drive away from Lugazi where we were staying. When we got there, the local children were not friendly to me, and they were so very cautious, so I prayed for favor from the Lord. Aloysious went to Job and lifted him into the air, talking to him softly; then Aloysious put Job down gently into the wheelchair. Job began to explore his chair, poking at the soft armrests (padded with memory foam) with his arms, feeling the back and the metal, even tasting the material of the back of the seat. Then we had some sodas and cookies (biscuits) with Job and his family. Later, Job's mother got out his school notebook and asked Job to show us he can write. I took some pictures of Job lying down writing for his sponsors in America. Lie down on your stomach and try to put your elbows together and hold a pen with them. That is how Job must write, but he stayed with it until he completed a note to his sponsors, writing their names in capital letters and then signing his own name. Job has only been in school for a few months, but this boy wants to learn! We cheered for Job and praised him for his wonderful writing!
Aloysious and I were briefly talking and discussing Job's situation as Job wrote to his sponsors, and we decided that Job was going to have to be able to get into his wheelchair by himself. Job immediately began to try to put the plan into action. I had watched Job, who watched the other children playing in the area; I saw in his eyes that Job longed to go and play with them! This chair was going to make it possible for Job to move around. I could feel the heart of Jesus for Job. So Aloysious later talked to Job in his language, and I showed Job a few times through hand motions how he would need to move his chair and get into his chair up on the verandah of the house. Job did what we asked of him, without any complaints, and with great excitement. His little body had to work hard to get that chair into position and get into it, but he was determined to do it himself! He got into his chair by himself! He got the victory! Job also enjoyed our cheering for him; he has had few affirmations in his life.
Jesus wanted this little boy, Job, off the ground and in a chair on this trip. He gave us compassion to help Job. Why would God want to bring Job into our midst?--Just so we can take care of Job for the rest of his life?--No, I don't think so. I believe Jesus is giving us a greater measure of faith and challenging us to believe Him for creative miracles by putting Job in our midst. I know our God who does the impossible everyday! I believe that we will do greater things than Jesus did because He has risen from the dead, has gone to the Father, and is seated at the right hand of God; and we are seated there with Him. I believe that Jesus will give Job creative miracles and grow out his legs and arms, but we will have to pray, participate, and obey instructions. Will you pray and intercede with me for creative miracles for Job?
Let's ask God to grow our faith to believe Him for miracles, as we believe and lay hands on people. Let's declare Job walking and talking in relationship with Jesus, and Job running and playing with other children. Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find." He says, "You have not because you ask not." Then we need to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking on heaven's door (Matthew 7:8). It's time to pray and declare miracles! It's time for miracles!
Thank you for praying, and God bless you and your family.
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