Pictures of Humanity

On our website, we use two pictures related to the topic of humanity.
These pictures were taken during a trip I took to Cuba. Joni and Friends (yes, same spelling, but not me!), a ministry founded by Joni Eareckson Tada for people of disability, delivers wheelchairs around the world. The young woman and the elderly farmer came to the distribution site in Cuba to be fitted for wheelchairs. The woman is shy, quiet, and reserved. She is finishing college and wants to be considered for a job. She has no prospects for employment without mobility. The farmer is in his 80's and suffers with both a tracheotomy and little use of his legs. He has a sly smile, weathered hands, and is an outrageous flirt!

Both came to the site in their finest clothes. They waited patiently throughout an entire day for their turn to be fitted. Yes, Cuba is hot and sticky, and, no, there is not air conditioning. As the ministry team hovered around them, the smiles came more easily and anxiety lessened. The team fell in love with these precious people. Our desire was to be obedient to the law of love. How did we love well? By honoring the need to have dignity in the midst of vulnerability. By making hilarious attempts to speak a foreign language. By sitting down on the floor so that eyes meet. By listening to the story of life in a hard place. By respecting a dream to be simply be able to move through the moments of a day. By ministering to human beings loved by God.

We use these two pictures on the website to represent the beauty of communing with other human beings. I am richer for having made these Cuban friends. They are richer for having the love of Christ flow over them. May God be praised.

Joni