Mission Moroto Stories: Disabled Adorables
We are highly blessed by God to have 12 adorable children with disabilities at Mission Moroto. We wanted to take a moment to highlight each one just a little.
Moru Michael came to us as a very malnourished and seriously ill 5-year-old who was too weak even to hold his head up. He couldn’t speak, stand, walk, or feed himself. Our team has lovingly worked with him for about two years now, and today he can stand and walk behind his wheelchair, using it like a walker. He still doesn’t speak and may never, but he is loving and deeply loved.
Keem Veronica came to us about five years ago. She was 12 years old and had never walked. She could only crawl. After multiple surgeries and much physical therapy, she can now walk with crutches. We and the doctors believe she will continue to grow stronger and walk even better. She is a sweetheart and loves the mission.
Moru Esther came to us a few years ago. She had tuberculosis of the spine (Pott’s disease), which left her rib cage severely deformed. She is always smiling, is a good singer, and absolutely loves hugs!
Lowal Nicolas has multiple birth defects. He is in a wheelchair, doesn’t speak, and has trouble eating, but he LOVES to worship! He dances in that wheelchair during worship and beams with the biggest smile when Papa Matthew is preaching. What a blessing!
Opio and Ochen are blind twins. They have intellectual disabilities and some other birth defects as well, but these two guys are a happy part of our big Mission Moroto family. They love to be carried around by everyone!
Keem Teresa is a sweet teenage girl whose tuberculosis of the spine (Pott’s disease) left her paralyzed from the waist down. She was brought to us years ago on the back of a relative who was carrying her. Today, she has a hand-powered wheelchair that she can pedal to get around, but invariably, she always has two or three friends who love to push her wherever they go.
Sagal Patience is a lovely girl who is deaf and unable to speak. She knows that Papa Matthew is visually impaired, so somehow, every time he leaves the house, she shows up to guide him around the mission. She grunts and points out tripping hazards along the way. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she has the best smile and gives amazing hugs. We all love Patience!
Lomongin Mercy was born without feet and is paralyzed from the waist down. She used to sit in the dirt all day beside the road, smiling and waving at Rebekah as she drove by. Rebekah would often say, “I wish we could help that little cutie.” One day, her relatives came asking if we could take her in, and we did! The children love to push her around in her wheelchair. She has one of the best smiles ever!
Teko Moses is a little deaf boy whom we rescued six years ago. He loves school and loves to write, even though he cannot hear what the teachers are saying. We are blessed with loving and patient teachers who work tirelessly to help all of our children with disabilities.
Nakiru Hellen is our precious autistic girl who has been with us for three or four years. She can say a few words. She is always smiling and cheerful and loves everyone. She struggles with walking and requires constant care, but Mission Moroto is the best family ever when it comes to caring for one another. Early on, Papa Matthew would put up his “dukes,” pretending he was ready to box whenever he saw Nakiru. She would laugh, take a fighter’s stance, trade a few pretend punches with him, and then they would hug!
Achia Ayelen is our little angel with Down syndrome. She came to us this summer in terrible shape, but praise God, she is doing so much better! Today, she is in India undergoing major heart surgery.
“The dying, the cripple, the mental, the unwanted, the unloved—they are Jesus in disguise.” — Mother Teresa
We are humbled that God has entrusted these precious children to us, many of them for the rest of their lives.
We are their family. This is their home.
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