Rex wrote:

     The Fourth of July was a big day here in Labasa. There were no fireworks or parades, but it was very exciting. The Roths came to town bringing a new wheelchair for Roop. He has been waiting for it for almost a year, and we played a small part in getting it here.

     We met the Roths at the church and rode with them. On the way to the rest home, we drove by the sugar factory and Sister Roth could not believe all the trucks and tractors parked alongside of the roads. She had to stop and get some pictures. She ran from spot to spot for over a half hour excitedly taking shots. Betty talked to two workers directing the trucks, and they told her there were about 500 vehicles waiting in line, and it would take each up to 18 hours before they could get the cane unloaded. I got a picture of the cars of a Sugar Cane Train. It was not moving, but it looked fun.

Rex and the Roths by the Sugar Cane Trucks

Sister Roth was literally running to get all her pictures.
These are the loads of the Sugar Cane Train

     When we got to the rest home, we unboxed the wheel chair, and Brother Roth and I carried it in as not to get the wheels dirty. Roop was sitting on the front porch as we came up the stairs. We carried it up to him, but he really didn’t see it. He had a blank stare on his face from sitting so long with nothing to do. When he did see it, he wheeled his old chair around and rolled away from us toward the main room. That was not the reaction I had expected. It looked as if he didn’t want the chair after all. As he got into the main room, we saw his little sister and a brother. Roop had headed there to share the celebration of the new chair with them.

     We put the new chair close to him, locked the wheels, put the new padded seat in the chair, and helped him into his new ride. He was very proud and happy. His little sister could hardly contain herself with joy. Sister Roth had never met them before. She couldn’t get over how happy “The Little One” was.  

     We took pictures and talked for a while. It was a long overdue event but worth the wait. 

With Roop Chand and his new wheelchair from LDS Charities

Roop's old wheelchair.
The armrest and seat were broken, and it had no cushion to sit on like the new one has.

Roop with his brother and sister.

With Elder and Sister Roth

It was enough to make my day. But my day had just begun. I took Betty back to the flat to work with Joana on her PEF loan. I changed into Pday clothes to help a family move. I met the the Labasa elders and the Nakawakawa elders already in progress at the home. They had already carried the belongings down from the upstairs and had half loaded a cargo truck. We finished loading the truck and then put as much as would fit into my mission truck.

     We took both trucks to their new flat; and with the elders and the Narayans there to help, they made fast work of it. We all rode back in the transport/cargo truck, loaded the rest of the belongings, and returned to their new home. We tried to put things in the house where they should go if we had any idea of what they were or where they should go. As we finished unloading, we were told to wait for the food that was coming. As I waited, I talked to the lady of the house. She had served her mission in Hawaii in around 2004.  She had hurt her leg about halfway through and spent the last half working in the Polynesian Cultural Center.    

     The food they brought was chicken curry with rice. There was pop and cookies as well.

     When I got home I was tired, but I helped Betty get some things scanned for Joana before I crashed. It was a full day.

     P.S. The whole family we helped move has been less active, but they came to church the next Sunday. We loved seeing them there, one of the rewards of serving!

     Hope you all enjoyed July 4^th as well!