The Big Question

Happy birthday Max! (from Andrew)

Now on to today's blog...

This is my sixth trip to Jamaica with Mustard Seed and I have never met anyone like Sandy. As you probably already know, Jacob's Ladder is a home for adults with severe disabilities who have nowhere else to go. Often the hardest part of being here is learning to see past the disabilities as they appear in adults -- the physical deformities, limited communication, ticks, drooling, screaming, and all the other things that come along with these disabilities -- and see that each of these is a child of God with a soul. It is much easier to see this with the kids we usually work with, but there are no kids at Jacob's Ladder.

Sandy is different from all of the other residents here at Jacob's. She wears a wide smile and is ready to talk to you about any topic at hand -- what she prefers to eat, her friends, her past, her dreams, and her ambitions. In terms of her mental capacity, she is no different from you and me. Like any other 22-year-woman, she is interested in dating and thinks about her place in the world around her. She is lonely, though, because she is the only resident here who can communicate these thoughts.

Sandy came here in March and she told me it is very hard for her because she doesn't have anyone to talk to. Her mother abandoned her when she was six because of her cerebral palsy (a relatively minor case) and she has been in homes since then. She started to cry as she told me this from her wheelchair, which is a plastic patio chair screwed onto a base with wheels. I cannot imagine the faith and strength it takes to face each day in Sandy's world.

Michael and I decided to see what her reading levels were like and we administered an assessment my teachers use in New York. Sandy scored on a third grade level, which may seem low, but we were both blown away. We think there may be a better place for her at Mustard Seed where she can use her talents to help others and to grow herself.

Sandy makes me think about my calling as a follower of Jesus. I have been very blessed in my life in every way a person can be blessed. I can use these blessings to make the world better, if I choose to. So the big question is... Am I doing my best to use my talents and blessings to help others everyday? And the bigger question... Are you?

~ Carla (Four Year Veteran)