God Doesn’t Abandon His Children!

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11

9-year-old Adriano didn’t have much reason to smile before he received a wheelchair and Bible in his own language at our Wheels for the World outreach in Peru. Born with cerebral palsy, Adriano spent most of his young life lonely and forgotten.

His parents sank into a deep depression at his birth. His father chose to abandon his family, leaving Adriano’s mother with no choice but to move to another city where she could find work to provide for her son. Without either of his parents in his life, Adriano relies on the love of his grandmother, Carmen, to care for him and his relentless needs.

Can you imagine the heartbreak felt by both this dear grandmother and little Adriano at the loss of both of his parents?

Desperate for a wheelchair for her grandson, Carmen traveled for over two hours with Adriano in order to reach our wheelchair distribution site. Both Carmen and Adriano had endured the heartbreaking shame of being impacted by disability in a culture where cerebral palsy is seen as a curse. And Adriano’s growing body was becoming too big for his grandmother to carry.

The future looked bleak for them both, but a wheelchair – and the Gospel – would change all that!

After Adriano was custom fitted into his brand-new wheelchair his smile could not be contained! With the gift of mobility, Adriano is now able to fully participate in life all around him, and the burden of his disability has become so much lighter for him and for his grandmother.

Though abandoned by his earthly father, Adriano learned that day that his heavenly father will never leave or forsake his children.

And Carmen’s smile lit up the room when she was given her very own Bible right alongside the Joni book in her own language. Receiving the Gospel and a wheelchair that day gave Adriano and his grandmother the practical and spiritual support they needed for a future full of hope.

“We are very grateful and thankful to the people who sent us the wheelchair and Bibles,” Carmen said. “I am very happy for my grandson. This is his first wheelchair and I won’t have to carry him around anymore!”

Lives are being transformed all around the globe through the many programs of Joni and Friends. And little children like Adriano – and their families – are experiencing first-hand that God is good – and because of Jesus, the best is yet to come! It’s true for Adriano and Carmen, and it’s true for you, too!

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

Jeremiah 29:11