Wheelchair Training and Evaluations

Monday morning we went to the Banja Luka Rehabilitation Hospital where we conducted a 3 day wheelchair training program.  A wheelchair training consists of teaching the participants how to interview, measure and properly fit someone for a wheelchair.  Our specialists also taught how to prevent pressure sores, transfer patients into wheelchairs and how to negotiate stairs. This is the second training that the Church has done at this hospital.  Part of the previous training and wheelchair shipment had several chairs which required assembly.  We invited the young missionaries to come learn how to assemble the chairs.  First we had to learn how to assemble the chairs ourselves. The final day of the training the participants were able to have some hands on experience fitting people to new wheelchairs.  The training was very successful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we were in Banja Luka we took the missionaries to dinner.  We were also joined by Vicky Tadic who will be going on a mission to Gilbert, Arizona in December.  You might enjoy this article which was in the Church News yesterday.

 

  http://www.ldschurchnews.com/articles/63916/Ushering-in-a-new-era-Adriatic-North-Mission-prepares-young-adults-to-serve-.html#

 

 

We returned to Tuzla Wednesday night, unpacked, repacked and departed Thursday morning for Zagreb, Croatia.  We visited the mission office and walked around Zagreb.  The weather was beautiful.

 

 

 

The Croatia Red Cross picked us up early Friday morning at our hotel in Zagreb and took us to the city of Osijek, Croatia for a wheelchair distribution.  We invited the senior couple, the Prestons, and the young sisters.  The press and the TV stations were also invited.  Gary spoke in behalf of the Church.  After the ceremony the press also interviewed the sisters.  Following the distribution we visited with a few wheelchair recipients.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday morning we put the Schneblys on their plane and made the 5 hour trip back to Tuzla.  We look forward to being able to stay closer to home this week.   

 

   

Another Baptism and Wheelchair Training Specialists

On Tuesday we had another baptism.  That brings our membership to 9.  Sanja is a wonderful young woman and a terrific asset to our group. 

 

Her baptism was early Tuesday morning.  After the baptism our district returned to our apartment where we had district meeting with President Rowe.  After our meetings the young missionaries had interviews.        

On Wednesday we were invited to a meeting with the directors of the 65 other schools in Tuzla Canton (county).  The meeting was called by the Minister of Education.  The school directors were told about the success of the vision screening program in Tuzla Municipality.  They were then told that they would be selecting a team of 3 from their schools who would receive training from the doctors at the University Klinical Center.  They were given the vision screening sets and all appeared excited about the potential good this will be for their students - 31,000 students!

Thursday morning we departed for Zagreb bright and early.  After a quick stop at the mission office to pick up a care package from home we went to the Zagreb airport to meet out wheelchair training specialists.  Andy and Roylene Schnebly are from Bountiful, Utah.  They will be conducting  wheelchair training in Banja Luka on September 2nd through 4th.  The Schnebly's arrived about 1:00 pm, but their bags did not.  Their route to Croatia was Salt Lake to New York, New York to Paris, and Paris to Zagreb.  The flight to New York was late arriving due to weather so they missed the connection to Paris.  The bags were put on a later flight to Paris.  This flight got them to Paris in time to make their original flight to Zagreb.  We returned to Tuzla with only their carry-on bags.  When they reported their missing bags it was discovered that the bags were still in New York.  The bags were put on a flight to Paris, then to Zagreb, and then to Sarajevo.  They were then driven from Sarajevo to their hotel in Tuzla.  Thankfully the bags arrived Friday evening and the Schnebly's could change clothes. 

Friday morning we went to the Red Cross.  The Red Cross had scheduled some visits with wheelchair recipients.  The recipients were interviewed and pictures were taken.  Each recipient expressed their appreciation for the chair and told us the difference the chair has made in their life.

  

We spent Saturday getting ready for Sunday.  We will make the 2 1/2 hour drive to Banja Luka Sunday afternoon as our training will begin early Monday morning. --- More next week.