Joshua Gidado's mother came to visit and to deliver two messages. First, there was to be a special service at the Kabong church on Sunday with Joshua preaching, and he hoped we could come. Second, the roof of Joshua's room had been damaged in a storm, and could we help with the cost of fixing it. We agreed to do that, but the first request was a little harder. The Hillcrest Living Stones praise team, including Sara, was to lead the entire service at another school, and we were planning to go. Not until Saturday night did we decide what we would do: I would go to Kabong, and Barb would go to the praise service.
We first met Joshua only days after we
arrived in Nigeria. A missionary neighbor, Janne Andrew, whisked us off to Joshua's 18th
birthday party. She had made popcorn and a beautiful birthday cake, and was bringing two
cases of "minerals," or soda. We drove about a mile up the road to Miango, then
turned off onto a bumpy, muddy road in a little neighborhood of mud houses. Hordes of
children surrounded the car when we arrived, all anxious for the party to begin. We adults
and "official guests" crowded into Joshua's tiny house and greeted him,
congratulating him on his birthday. While Cokes, popcorn, and rice with meat were passed
out, we got
to
know Joshua.
He was born at Evangel hospital, and because of frequent illness was in touch with our doctors ever since. We noticed that though obviously not well, he had a good sense of humor, sincere faith, and the will to do whatever he could despite his problems. He was coaching a soccer team of neighborhood boys, though he himself couldn't play. He loved reading though he couldn't hold a book by himself.
You see, Joshua was
born with a severe case of brittle bones, or osteogenesis imperfecta. Very early
in life his arms and legs began breaking. Even with all possible precautions and medical
attention, the bones broke again and again, causing pain each time, and soon Joshua's
limbs were shrunken and nearly useless. He couldn't walk or crawl. Someone made a wagon
for him, like the kind American kids like to ride in--maybe four feet long. Since then,
for many years, he has lived in such a wagon. He coaches football, reads by using a custom
made book-stand, visits friends, and shares the gospel, all in his wagon. And that first
day we saw him, his mother held the birthday cake down low, near enough that he could blow
out the candles.
Amazingly, his mother and brothers had been able to keep him alive all these 18 years,
through many cases of pneumonia, malaria, and other serious illness. His mother works as a
cleaner in the government veterinary center, but cares for Joshua whenever she is home. A
few years ago some Hillcrest students made it a project to build an extra room onto the
family's tiny mud brick house. It was the roof of that room that the storm had damaged.
I think God spoke to many people Sunday through Joshua's message, as he preached from
his little wagon on the platform. The electricity had gone off, so we were afraid the
people might not hear him, but he spoke loudly and clearly. He talked of the need for the
church to be more involved in ministry to people with disabilities. He described the
loneliness and isolation all too common among people whom the church does not fully
include. He called on God's people to be more caring of each other, as brothers and
sisters should be.
At the beginning of the sermon time the pastor had announced, in typical African
spontaneity, that I would be bringing a short message in response after Joshua spoke. That
c
aught me off guard, but it sure did help me concentrate on Joshua's message! So
at the end, in the few minutes remaining while the early arrivals for the next service
crowded around the door, I spoke from II Corinthians 1 and 4 about the God who understands
our suffering, our opportunity to comfort others after we have been through suffering, and
about the way Joshua's life has portrayed the truth that "though outwardly we are
wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." I also took the
opportunity to remind the church of the importance of ministering to those with HIV/AIDS,
who are often cast aside.
Thanks for your prayers for Joshua, as well as for all the physically weak, sick, and disabled people of Africa whom he represents.
