SERVING WITH DETERMINATION WITH PARADISE IN VIEW

CREDIT: © WTB&TS, The Watchtower Dec. 15, 1991

A young sister who lost the permanent use of both legs writes: "The first time they put me in a wheelchair...I broke down. I saw ahead of me a life of complete passivity...and complete dependence on my husband and others. Little by little I began to realize that my handicap gave me certain possibilities. So, I decided to MAXIMIZE them...slowly I became more and more independent... My husband and I were accepted to Bethel and spent more than four years there. I worked in the laundry... It was a happy time!" M. ( Lapland, Northern Sweden) l A brother paralyzed from the waist down explains: "While helping others to see the difference between human wisdom and Godly wisdom, my past experience stands me in good stead. I have been privileged to assist several to ...take a stand for Jehovah. One of them was my mother who at the age of 94 got baptized. My life even though I am handicapped HAS PURPOSE. I have the hope and desire to LIVE FOREVER!" P.C. (Thailand)

Paralyzed from the neck down with colostomy and diabetes and other serious illnesses: A brother cheerfully says, "Yes, I have much to be thankful for. While my physical body is inactive, MY BRAIN is alert and I CAN talk! I have used this ability to make known Jehovah's name...several of my children have dedicated their lives to Jehovah and they in turn are training THEIR children to serve Jehovah. My wife was a baptized worshiper of Jehovah...my mother was baptized at the age of 75...INSTEAD OF COMPLAINING ABOUT MY LOT IN LIFE...I have learned to appreciate what I have...I am truly thankful for what I have now...I look forward to the day when "the lame one will climb up just as a stag does. Isaiah 35:5,6"
L. S. (Canada)

A sister left deaf at the age of two, tells how she is able to regular pioneer: "Because I cannot communicate orally for the field ministry, I use notes and show them to the householder. I make the first return visit by myself and then ask a hearing sister to go with me on the second visit. I have been able to start Bible studies that way. It makes me very happy to show appreciation for Jehovah's kindness this way." K.Y.

One brother, a regular pioneer & elder, unable to walk for 14 years relates: "I cannot walk even one step. For 14 years now the brothers have tirelessly helped me to every meeting and assembly. From the time I began to study, pioneer experiences were the center of conversation...I decided to try pioneering for one year...and I have renewed that promise every year for five years.

"In field service, I use a three wheeled bike designed for disabled persons...Bible studies come to my home and I have been able to help EIGHT PERSONS ADVANCE TO BAPTISM.

As presiding overseer and theocratic ministry school overseer, I arrive at meetings early so I am on hand to greet the brothers. Because I cannot call freely at their homes, effectively using the time before and after meetings is vitally important. I often use the TELEPHONE FOR SHEPHERDING WORK." A.T.

A brother with muscular dystrophy explains how a sense of humor helps: "Once when I was attempting to use my slide board to transfer from the car to my wheel chair, as my friend pulled, the board slid off the car seat, and I was dumped into the gutter. My wife was in the driver's seat, and when she saw me falling she jumped out of the car and ran to the other side to find me SINGING ' Welcome to my world!' WE ALL HAD A HEARTY LAUGH!

"Having a hope for a better life in the future by means of God's Kingdom can sustain all people including those of us with MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY!" D.T.D. (U.S.A.)

A sister who suffered from cancer from the age of nine & had part of her kidney, liver, lung & leg removed, relates: "I had coped with the loss of a kidney, part of my liver, most of my left lung, part of a leg...but nobody can survive with the loss of BOTH LUNGS...! Chemotherapy was started to shrink the growths [in the right lung]...

"I am sure that what is truly important is not whether we live or die now, but whether we gain the blessing of Jehovah God, the one who can give us everlasting life...how grand it will be to enjoy good health FOREVER IN GOD'S NEW WORLD!"
K.R. (U.S.A.)

A sister with rheumatoid arthritis, saddened after not being able to continue pioneering after
17 years explains: "Eventually, my hands, feet and legs were completely crippled and my hips fused. In l982, I reached the point where I could no longer get out of bed. I couldn't attend meetings nor could I pioneer, which I had done continuously for l7 years. These circumstances made me very sad.

"However, Jehovah's care was evident. Christian elders arranged to have a congregation book study in my small apartment.... Since I was confined to my bed all day, and could not get to my desk, I began to practice writing on a piece of paper THAT I WOULD LAY UPON MY CHEST. With lots of practice it became readable! "For a time I was again able to give a witness by writing letters and this BROUGHT ME A MEASURE OF JOY!"
C.J. (U.S.A.)

A brother, who fell and injured his neck, head and spine, resulting in a speech impediment, who is now a CIRCUIT OVERSEER writes: "I STUTTERED, even had difficulty forming wordsl Sometimes I wasn't even able to speak...as the years passed, I developed a real fear of any kind of public speaking. Help came in the form of the Theocratic Ministry School...and now I serve as a circuit overseer GIVING TALKS TO A DIFFERENT CONGREGATION EVERY WEEK!"

Despite becoming a quadraplegic due to a stray bullet severing the nerves in her spinal cord, a sister fulfills her childhood desire to become a REGULAR PIONEER: She relates her story: "The bullet hit me in the left side of the neck severing the nerves in my spinal cord. I was classified a "C2 Quadraplegic and was to be on a respirator the rest of my life, unable to speak above a whisper. The doctors inserted a tracheal tube through which I breathed...I began to get depressed and there was nothing anyone could say to make me feel better.

"I realized that if something impedes your spirituality, two things can help: PERSISTENT PRAYER AND THROWING YOURSELF INTO THE MINISTRY TELLING OTHERS ABOUT BIBLE TRUTHS. Well, praying was easy. I could do that.

"But how could I in my condition become more active in the ministry?? I asked my family to bring copies of the Watchtower and Awake! magazines and other Bible aids...these were placed in different parts of the room. Staff members often looked at me compassionately and asked, "Is there anything we can do for you?

"I would eye a piece of literature and by mouthing my words, I would ask the person to read it to me. I would count the time the person spent reading to me as my hours in the ministry! To show my gratitude to the person for reading to me, I would often make a gift of the book or magazine. I counted these as my placements!

"When someone read to me a second time, I counted a return visit. Sharing in this way in the ministry, kept me encouraged. Later I turned in my application to AUXILIARY PIONEER! To make my last six hours, I had to use a MOUTH STICK AND TYPE LETTERS TO PEOPLE WHO NEEDED COMFORT FOR SIX HOURS.

"Using a mouth stick, I can write, type, and open a speaker phone. On September l, l990, I finally joined the ranks of full-time PIONEERS, thus FULFILLING MY CHILDHOOD DESIRE! I' m eagerly looking forward to a wonderful future in the paradise earth when Christ Jesus and Jehovah God deliver me from this wheel chair!!

"Every day I thank Jehovah for his promise of vibrant health and the ability to "climb up just as the stag does" [Isaiah 35:6]E I am going to run for as long as it takes me to make up for lost time and then I'm going to learn how to ride a horse. Awaiting that time, I HAVE INDESCRIBABLE JOY EVEN NOW IN BEING ONE OF JEHOVAH'S HAPPY PEOPLE and in having a full share in the ministry." G.W. (U.S.A.)

A brother who is a quadriplegic and serves as an auxiliary pioneer & elder says: "I can conduct Bible studies. I have mastered the art of writing letters BY HOLDING THE PEN IN MY MOUTH so I can be active preaching any time of the day and I have been able to auxiliary pioneer for three years.

To give a PUBLIC TALK lasting 45 minutes calls for meticulous preparation...the children are intrigued at seeing me TURN THE PAGES OF THE BIBLE WITH MY TONGUE and sometimes they try to imitate me. But they soon give up. It takes a lot of practice to do it efficiently! With the help of my wife, I have been able to "widen out" and help others." T.W.

A brother who serves as an elder, writes, "It is not easy to be handicapped and happy. Most persons burdened by physical impediments get depressed, at least from time to time, and I was no exception. I was born with a severe physical impediment that prevents me from standing up, walking or even using my hands...My being able to aid those with impediments or those who need help in other ways makes it easier for me to forget about my difficulties.

In all, I have been able to help TEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO GET TO KNOW THE TRUTH of God's word. This has been a real source of encouragement to me...I also enjoy serving as an elder." I.M.P. (Spain)

A brother who is paralyzed from the chest down, with physical complications that are associated with spinal cord injury, such as lack of bladder & bowel control, pressure sores, and respiratory and kidney problems relates:

MOST OF THE FRIENDS DON'T THINK OF ME AS BEING DISABLED. As a matter of fact in our public preaching activity, they'll send me on a return visit at a house that has ten flights of stairs! Then I go back and tell them to send someone else!...It's great that they think I don't need any help. I appreciate that for then I feel that to them...I am just another normal person." E.D.

A field service overseer and regular pioneer who is a paraplegic explains: "Almost from the beginning, I felt that the purpose of my Bible study was that of preaching to others. So I seized the opportunity to talk to anyone who came to the house. To me the PIONEERS were the most enviable of persons. HOW I LONGED TO BE OUT PREACHING TO PEOPLE EVERY DAY!

"Paraplegics are predisposed to decubitus or bed sores, and on my hip I had a very bad one that emitted pus, fluid and blood. Thinking that I couldn't be a pioneer in this system of things, I was moved to tears when I read in the Watchtower publications the kind warm words directed to those unable to pioneer!

"After two operations, I began to serve as an auxiliary pioneer...The congregation had just been formed and I WAS THE ONLY ELDER. I felt that the best medicine for me was to become more involved in theocratic work. TWO MONTHS LATER I ENROLLED AS A REGULAR PIONEER.

"To pioneer as a paraplegic, PERSONALITY ADJUSTMENTS ARE MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN PHYSICAL ONES. You need so much help from others to accomplish what you want to do, so it is imperative to learn a pleasant way to get the cooperation.

"Since I can drive a car in the field service, I stop near the entrance of the homes. I always work with another kingdom publisher who sits in the passenger seat. My helper carries my briefcase and remembers what I need from it and in what order.

"As field service overseer, I like to sit in on Bible studies...Of course, I look forward to the new system of things and service to Jehovah with a healthy body. BUT IT ISN'T NECESSARY TO WAIT UNTIL THEN! Serving Jehovah NOW--with or without limitations--is the finest opportunity for young and old alike! " M.T. (Japan)