The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints distributes approximately 700 wheelchairs a year through LDS Charities to the people of Papua New Guinea. Read the story about one recipient whose quality of life has just improved due to receiving one of these wheelchairs.
[1].jpg)
Gunina Vodu lives in the remote village of Geresi in Papua New Guinea. There are approximately 300 people living in her village. She was born in 1930, and because of age, can no longer walk. Her family joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2001. She has 10 children, 60 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.
Pictured above is Vodu with some of her posterity. Her grandson, Gouga Torara is a local leader in the Geresi Branch (congregation) in the Rigo District in Papua New Guinea, pictured in white shirt and tie. He has been praying that his grandmother might one day be a recipient of a donation such as this. His prayers were recently answered.
Paul Whippy (LDS Service Centre Manager) and Eddie Alembo (Welfare/Humanitarian Manager) travelled to Geresi to deliver her a wheelchair because each person is important.
Andrew and Alma with the NOPS (National Orthotic and Prosthetist Services) Team from Port Moresby, assisted them with the donation.
Her grandchildren were so excited, they thought it was a toy. They had never seen anything like it before. Everyone wanted a turn pushing her around in her new wheelchair.
Thanks to the generosity of others, individuals such as Gunina have their mobility enhanced because of the LDS Charities Wheelchair Program. See below for more information about this program.
