September 9, 2016
Travel Report: Romania (Rise & Walk Association for
Persons with Disabilities)
The travel and related assignments for the past several
weeks has made it difficult for me to write regular reports. Missing at this
time are reports for South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda. Each was insightful and inspirational!! We hope to write a summary report of these in
the future.
PICTURES WITH
CAPTIONS:
https://cincopa.com/~AsPAyt9SHYwB
Short movie clip (good
for 14 days): https://cloud.druva.com/home/link/browser?ll=AAAGjwABEzUAAALYuWoVubuZoS-xIa7lCAdVKSh6-Pc%3D
Highlights of the Organization
Most of my work with Special Needs Ministries in the past
few years has focused on the work for/with the Deaf. With my now expanded
responsibilities (extended to also include those with physical, mental
disabilities and orphans) I looked for places where a ministry for those with
disabilities was in place. I found one
in the Euro-Africa Division and specifically in Romania. I altered my personal schedule to accept the
invitation to attend. I had first
visited the church of Pastor George Uba in Bucharest about three years ago – at
that time I even referred to it as the “wheelchair church.” What I did not seem to realize at the time
was that from this central church 20 branch groups of an association were to
form and be organized into what is called “Rise and Walk Association for Persons
with Disabilities.” The membership of
the Association has grown to 3000 with 1500 volunteers all in Romania. While
organized and sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the association is
open to all faiths including those who may not have a religious life at all. While it refers to itself as a “non-confessional”
church, the Adventist pastor and his team of Adventist leaders coordinate an
adapted Sabbath School, sharing of Christian sharing, prayer, singing,
Christian poetry, mission offering, evangelism and seminars to help meet
spiritual needs on Sabbaths. Branch,
also called subsidiary, meetings occur monthly on Sundays. Every effort is made to identify with persons
who have disabilities and then recruit them to be part of this ministry and
service to the community. Pastor Uba has
been interviewed multiple times by the press as this ministry speaks to the needs
of the wider community.
My Experience, My Observations
What I attended was a “camp” held on the grounds of our
former seminary in Romania. This
provided inexpensive lodging, cafeteria, recreational/social rooms and a large
meeting hall. I went although I was asked to speak three different times. I saw my role, however, as insignificant. I went observe and learn and I did.
I arrived a few days after the camp had begun. Paralympics were
underway. There was archery and
wheelchair racing – some motorized and some not. While there was a sense of competition the
real focus was on participation. It was
a fun time, social time and a team-building time. Social interaction is a vital
part of the whole event.
There were a number of blind in attendance. I especially remember the hour and a half that
I spent with Camelia who is blind.
During an excursion trip we had some slack time. Knowing that she liked to walk I offer to
lead her on a walk. It was an amazing experience for me and the most time I had
ever spent one-on-one with a blind person.
I had done some reading as how best to help a blind person but this was
the real thing. Informing her of uneven
ground and obstacles were expected. What
wasn’t expected was when she asked what color the sky was and how tall were the
mountains. She described colors with
music – bright colors and more dull colors were compared to major and minor
keys. I directed her hand to the top of
the mountain so she could sense the heights of large mountains surrounding us. She heard things that I dismissed as
insignificant but she drew meaning out of them that I overlooked. Her sense of smell was amazing. We found fir trees and twisted the branches
to get the scent only to discover that some firs have a stronger scent than
others. I discovered her passion to be involved in ministry. She asked how she could become more
involved. She is very articulate and
offered to translate materials I have from English into Romanian. She willing accepted to translate some
materials I have for the Deaf into Romanian.
On another day I was introduced to another blind lady who had asked to
visit with me. Her husband had been
killed in an accident leaving her with the care of her daughter. Her request was simple but ardent: How can I become involved in a some kind of
ministry? Over and over again people
attending this Association asked how they could help others. I don’t remember hearing them complaining
about what others were not doing for them! The issue of “rights” of those who
are disabled was never discussed with me.
Nevertheless, I do believe we as a church and as a society must address
some serious needs. My sense of my own responsibility grew each day I was there.
I know some complain about the length of my travel reports,
so if that’s your case then by all means stop reading. J But I must tell you about the person with
Down Syndrome. As often is the case they
are some of kindest and caring people you will ever meet. They are also very sensitive. You will see the picture of one such
person. He appointed himself to lead the
music whenever there was music. What
really got to me was when I observed him crying when he heard the words “Blessed
Assurance.” Can you imagine how he will
respond when Jesus comes! His heartfelt assurance
will come in ways that far exceeds his understanding . . . or perhaps his
understanding actually supersedes my own!
Over and over again I had to ask myself while in this group – who really
is the teacher? Them or me. It clearly was them.
Balloons and More Balloons
The Association and those with disabilities are not without
moral convictions. Transporting about
150 individuals, many in wheelchairs, to the city square of Brasov was no easy
task. Crippled, some without legs and
others without the use of legs or arms, boarded two large buses and two
additional vans and headed for town.
Once there, the filling of balloons took place. Then with felt pens, the words “Thanks for
Existing” were written on the balloons in Romanian. In many societies today, babies and adults
who have serious disabilities are given less value and in many cases babies are
aborted. Hitler “exterminated” 270,000
disabled individuals. Can you imagine the impact of seeing “an army” of disabled
individuals thanking individuals of a community for the privilege of existing! Who could raise the moral conscience more
clearly than they?
Community Night
After a stimulating Sabbath School and church program, the
community was invited to the Saturday night program. The program consisted of personal testimony, music
and poetry readings and spiritual challenge. I was asked to share my vision for
the global ministry for those with disabilities. I was followed, and more importantly, Pastor
Uba sharing his own vision for the Association. The evening meeting was an
amazing climax for the camp.
