Equipment for Uganda

We're greatly satisfied to have loaded up our friends' trailer with all the special needs equipment that has been donated for Uganda. Wheelchairs, standers, gait trainers, AmTryke bikes, a fleet of tumbleforms, various seats, trays for wheelchairs, crutches, gloves, chuxs, etc.

We installed a hitch on Josh's dad's SUV. We borrowed our friend's flatbed utility trailer. We were to leave today to start our journey down to VA to put it on a shipment that is going out to Uganda. Thanks to the blizzard, our journey was delayed a day, giving me a chance to catch up on email and even blog for the first time in a crazy month.

Pray for us during this month of travels: Christmas with my family in PA, visits with many friends and churches along the way, taking us all the way down to VA Beach and back! As always, on these trips, I'll be doing all of Gracie's therapies and schooling. Something I enjoy but also find very challenging with the two other precious ones also wanting my full attention!

Pray for us that we would be able to take time together as a family and specifically as a couple to work on our relationships and grow in Christ during this month.

We are in need for funds to complete this project of getting the equipment in Uganda - around $4000 in total. If you would like to contribute to this project, please send your donations through www.actioninternational.org/rattin.

Amanda did so much to gather, deliver, and help to prepare all the equipment for shipment. Thank you!

It all looks much less impressive from this point of view... But it's all on there!

Comments

Katie said…

That is so cool!!!!!

Katie

8:17 PM

Amanda said…

That was cold work! :) but worth it!

4:47 PM

Anonymous said…

Hi, Josh and Abby! I am in Kampala, working with kids with disabilities, and would love to hear more about what you are doing. My e-mail address is julie_propst@yahoo.com, if you would be able to email. Thank you!
Julie Propst

12:30 AM

Check out this progress!

A year ago, my friend Rachel http://josiecomehome.blogspot.com/ emailed a photo of her beautiful son standing on his own... I've since dreamed of having a photo to post of Gracie doing the same thing. It was always one of those wild-don't-think-it'll-ever-happen kind of dreams, a romantic, fairy tale type of dream. But this week, Gracie made another leap in development and muscle tone. It started when I leaned her up against the wall and planted her feet a shoulder-width apart. For the first time, she didn't lunge for the safety of my arms or hands, but rather, she allowed herself to stand steadily on her own two feet and she kept her center of gravity centered over her feet instead of wildly in front of her or to one side or the other. She even quickly figured out that she couldn't lurch around in excitement while standing on her own two feet with no support but a wall behind her back, but rather had to express her excitement over this new development with a gentl

Amazing girls!

Gracie and Ana have taken to walking around the church together - Ana pushes Gracie's gait trainer as Gracie walks along. Between the two of them, they make a pretty efficient team (except for the steering part!). They love it and could do it for hours! Gracie has made amazing strides (no pun intended) in standing up - we'll get some video up soon of her standing, supporting herself ONLY with her right hand (her otherwise useless hand) - it's amazing! We didn't dream that we'd see her looking this strong and steady. Plus, now she's smiling and her little heart isn't pounding out of her chest with stress at the thought of standing up without human contact - God is SO good! Gracie went to music camp this summer at the Y which was somewhat fun for her, but definitely good to have her around other kids.

Family of Three!

We are in Liberia - the electricity goes in and out because the generator is having trouble keeping up these days! So hopefully it will stay on long enough to post and the internet connection will allow me this luxury! We were united with precious Gracie on Thanksgiving day - I will write more about this later. But, oh! is Gracie a joy! She is so beautiful, so joyfilled, and a bit mischievious. Her physical limitations do not permit her to accomplish much mischief, but we can tell that she is trying to push some limits already. If we were not in love with her already, she is irresitable and such a treasure and blessing from God. In our two days together, she has not cried once. She spends most of her days smiling, she loves to snuggle (good match for us!), and has the most contagious laugh! Life takes more effort for her - her cerebral palsy is moderate and every activity is a challenge and is clearly tiring for her. Meal times (which she loves) take a long time and much patience and d

Rattins living Coram Deo

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