At 48-years of age Malita Mthita has not only been unable to visit friends, she has not been able to travel 500 meters to a church assembly, or journey five kilometers to the nearest healthcare facility for much needed attention. She has been unable to leave her immediate village, and could not even enjoy a pleasant trip to the nearby market.
Malita’s legs were paralyzed at birth, and as she grew there was nothing that could be done to help her walk. This left her in a near impossible state when it came to getting around. At least that was the case until the recent shipment of wheelchairs arrived through the Wheelchair Mission in Irvine, California and their co-operative program with the Malawi Project and the Namikango Mission. Because of the gift of a wheelchair Mthita can now move about outside of the confines of her home.
A wheelchair is a near impossible dream for nearly all who live in villages and have little income. There are not enough wheelchairs to go around, and even when one is available people in the villages like Malita do not have the funds to buy one.
To her surprise and disbelief the gift of a wheelchair arrived at her door. Her door. A real wheelchair. For her! It was hard to believe. “Now I will be able to go to church, visit friends, and go to the hospital using this wheelchair,” she commented.
– Wilson Tembo and Richard Stephens