With the Winter Olympics on our minds, I must brag and say thank you to my countrymen! No, not for our athletic accomplishments, but for your generosity! According to Wikipedia’s research for 2016, if you look at these 3 questions — have you helped a stranger, have you given to a charity, and have you volunteered your time for an organization — the USA came in as the second most generous nation in the world. If you look at the amount given, America was in first place! Do you want to know who was near the bottom?
One of the reasons the work of Global Partners in Life is so important in China is because their culture hasn’t been very involved with charities for very long. Unfortunately, China came in as the 140th most generous nation, and the horrible earthquake in 2008 was the first large-scale giving to charities for China.
During a recent visit to the special needs orphanage in China supported by Global Partners in Life, we saw a representation of American’s generosity. See some amazing gifts from Americans below!
The wheelchair above was an amazing gift for the young lady you see with it. Her hand is on a joy stick, and the wheelchair is a battery operated one, which helps so much with the difficulties our young friend has. She has a VERY severe case of scoliosis and dwarfism, her hips joints are out of the socket, she has had knee and club feet surgery, and she has a metal rod in one of her legs, so this version of a wheelchair helps her so much with her walking.
This particular wheelchair was designed especially for cerebral palsy patients, which our young friend using it has. It has many adjustments on it which will enable the wheelchair to fit her as she grows, and it has a tray to help with feeding and many other activities. One of the best things about this wheelchair is that you can adjust it to hold a person in a sitting upright position, which is very difficult for many people with cerebral palsy.
I don’t know exactly who provided these wheelchairs for the special needs orphanage, but I was told they were Americans! So, as I think about the Americans that contribute to our work in China, and see how an American provided the desperately needed wheelchairs, I am thankful to see how our country responds to those in need. Thanks to all of you who help strangers, give to charities, and volunteer!