Updates From Jo Anne Lyon

Seeds of Yesterday-Today's Hope

Honking cars, traffic jams, and people shouting and selling their goods of newspapers and peeled oranges artfully arranged on trays surrounded us. Other people chose to visit in the middle of the street with the tropical sun sending its humid heat, when the driver of the vehicle in which I was riding decided to just stop and let us all out in the middle of this. I stepped out of the car in a crush of people in downtown Freetown, Sierra Leone, and heard someone shout, "Mommy Lyon!" To my amazement there stood Jusu, dressed in a traditional African robe with a matching hat looking very dignified with both his prosthetic arms that had been fitted for him by World Hope International's Limbs of Hope program some eight years ago. We embraced immediately.

Jusu was one of the first to receive prosthetics from us in our pilot program in 1999 led by Kim Kargbo. Jusu was a strong, muscular man who was a security guard for Barclays bank. Rebels invaded his home hoping to capture his two daughters as sex slaves. Jusu fought them off and saved his daughters but had both arms brutally cut off above the elbows with machetes. I will never forget as Jusu was being fitted for his limbs. He said, "I feel like I am in heaven." Within 12 minutes Jusu could write his name with his new device. He went on to be a spokesperson for the amputees of Sierra Leone, even speaking with Madeline Albright the then Secretary of State of the United States.

What a great reunion with Jusu in this busy street just two weeks ago. Since being attacked, he has formed a government-recognized association that provides ongoing occupational therapy, employment placement, and mental health assistance to other amputees. Jusu has also organized an amputee soccer team that has recently had international victories.

Later that day, I met with Ray, the official greeter of the World Hope International - Sierra Leone office. On one fateful day nine years ago, Ray was trying to go down the hill to get water for his children when he was attacked by rebels and lost his left arm. He too received a new limb from Limbs of Hope. Formerly, Ray had been a mechanic and he was able to resume his work with special occupational training. But on this day two weeks ago, he was eager to introduce me to his now adult son. Smiling broadly he said, "I want you to meet my son. Because of your help I was able to work and pay for his education. He is now one of your [WHI] accountants." Believe me, I could not keep back the tears. His son shook my hand warmly and tenderly put his hand on his father's shoulder, saying, "I owe him much."

Somehow the words of Jesus became even more alive, "Give, and it shall be given to you. A good measure, pressed, down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:35

Thank you for making possible this new life for Jusu, Ray and hundreds of thousands like them. We all rejoice together looking at the future God has before us in continuing to bring his restorative power.

I invite you to look at the many opportunities to affect someone's life available on our website and keep the healing power flowing.

Blessings,
.

Jo Anne Lyon
Founder & CEO