Wheel Chair Recipient

We ran across these photos when we were going through the recent wheelchair distribution picures. Back in March, when we first started thinking about wheelchairs, we saw this man on the street in downtown Ulaanbaatar. Elder Clark saw him on ths sidewalk and had the taxi driver stop. He and Ariuka, our translator, went to talk with him. Hewas homeless and his wheelchair was pitiful. It had no tires, no push handles, no foot rests, and was barely usable. We told him we would like to make arrangements for him to get a new one, but that it would take a while for it to come. We took his name and gave him our card.The next day he appeared in our lobby at mission headquarters. Wecould hear his wheels as they screeched across the granite floor. We visited with him and his companions and explained again that it was going to take a while for the chairs to be made and shipped. We told him we would come and find him in the neighborhood where he usually stays, which was down by the circus, south of State Department Store. When the chairs finally arrived a week and a half ago, we went looking for him. We drove up and down the streets and all around the circus area, but could not find him. We were afraid that something had happened to him. But, when the Red Cross organized the big distribution which was held at the Children and Youth Palace, we looked across the audience and caught his eye! He saw us at the same time and started to wave. We could hardly believe it! He looked so much better that we hardly recognized him. It was a great reunion. He was so happy to receive his new chair, and we were so happy to have finally found him or that he found us. We've had so many wonderful experiences during the last two weeks, it's been some of the most precious time of our mission. We are so very grateful to be here and to feel that we are doing a little good for these sweet, humble people of Mongolia. We love you all and pray for the Lord's richest blessings to be yours.