Together for Mobility

Meet Ruby

When we first met Ruby over twenty years ago, he had already accepted a life that consisted of begging on the streets. He contracted polio as a child and lost the use of his legs. He never attended school and would only leave the house to beg for money when he needed more. His self-esteem was at rock bottom, but what Ruby didn’t know was that God had greater plans for his life...

"I learned about Bethel from a man who knew Marcos and Chito. He told me about what they were doing at Bethel, but I was scared to visit the Wheelchair Shop because I was ashamed of my disability and never left my house. A month later I ran into the same man and he offered to take me in his car to go visit the shop. That day I finally visited Bethel's wheelchair shop and was amazed that there were other people in wheelchairs who worked there. I started playing basketball with the guys from Bethel and three months later the director of the Wheelchair Shop offered me a job fixing wheelchairs. I decided that I no longer wanted to stay shut up in my house, so accepted the job, comforted that I would be working with other people who were in wheelchairs like me.  

Working for Bethel has changed my life in many ways. First, it allowed me to have a better wheelchair and mobility, and Bethel also gave me the opportunity to study during work hours so I can now read and write. I always thought people would make fun of me if I left my house, but working for Bethel gave me confidence and self-esteem, so I no longer worry about going out. I have become a more social and independent person and am no longer ashamed of my disability. 

Bethel has also helped me to learn more about God and encouraged me to build a relationship with him. We have devotionals every morning, which is something that other jobs do not have. I have worked for Bethel for 25 years and have not heard of another ministry like it. My favorite part of working for Bethel is fixing kids’ wheelchairs, and it makes me extremely happy and content when I see a kid receive their chair that has been especially fitted to their needs." 

When you give for a wheelchair, you are not just giving mobility to someone in need, but also supporting those who refurbish the chairs, like Ruby. Click here to donate now. 

Called to Love!

Dear Bethel Friends,

Expressing the heart of Jesus can at times be difficult, but how do we show His love in our current circumstances? This is what we are called to do: love others no matter the situation. We may be doing okay or we may not, but our focus can never change: love others as you would have them love you.

Even during this time when finding peace, joy, blessing, and happiness can seem to be challenging, we must not forget that we are the people of God and it is our privilege to show others who Christ is every day. 

Now is the time to show others His magnificent love, and we can all work together to accomplish this. Your donation can help a family receive food during this very difficult time, help to build a house for a desperate family, give a child an education, give a wheelchair to someone unable to walk, or give medical supplies to those who cannot afford it. Through these simple actions, all will hear His story of love.

Thank you for your faithfulness. Let’s work together to help others.

Blessings to you all,

Chris, Donna, and the Bethel Family

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31 NIV

We're excited to share this video with you of what we did this summer with your help. We want you to be able to see the blessings you are giving, even though you cannot physically be here.

Bethel Aid

Place of Hope

Hello Loved Ones, 

I would like to talk to you today about the importance of staying in a place of hope all of the time, but even more so when things are out of OUR control.

There was a man at a pool called Bethesda, and the Bible says he had been there a long time - 38 years. He had major problems being paralyzed, but even with all the obstacles he faced, he did not move away from where hope and life were. For it was said that these waters would move from time to time, and those that got into the waters would be healed. 

One day, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals, and He visited the pool where the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed were.
When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be well?” The man replied, “I have no one to help me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up and walk,” and he did just that! You may be in a place just like this. You may feel blind, lame, or even paralyzed.
The Bible tells us something very important; those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. Waiting in hope is powerful when we wait upon God.

This paralyzed man was able to have hope in a hopeless situation, and so can we. Looking at the man by the pool, you may think “He does not have much of a chance,” “It’s a long shot,” “Will he ever be able to get into the water and be healed?” Similarly, you may be looking at the situation that you are in, or maybe it is someone you know, and it seems hopeless. But then Jesus shows up. He makes a way and He restores hope. Other times, it may appear that we are doing nothing, but do not be deceived, for waiting on God is not only important, it leads you to the next step. 

The old song says:
“Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”

Carmen (56) and Agusto (63) have one son and four grandchildren living with them. The grandchildren are in their care, because their daughter abandoned them. Agusto is the only one in the house with a job, and he works in the fields three to four days a week when he can find it, making approximately $20 a week. 

When we met Carmen and Agusto, the family's house was in terrible conditions: built of old boards, plastic, tarp, and rusty sheet metal with a dirt floor. They are very thankful for their new home that Bethel was able to build for them, along with homes for three other families this month. These families were scheduled to receive their homes early in the year, but because of COVID restrictions we were delayed until now. We are thankful the government has now given special permission to Bethel and other ministries to continue working. We also praise God for a container of food that was recently released from customs; sent down by friends like you who care! This will go a long way to helping the desperate need that people are suffering right now.

 

With much appreciation for your love and support, 

Chris, Donna, and the Bethel team