I NEED WHEELCHAIR INSURANCE
by Erwin Bourne—April 14, 2002
I’ve lived in a wheelchair for the past fifteen years,
and I’ve had my share of accidents. After the loss of
my right leg (BK—below the knee—I refused to become a
handicap! I flew alone from Fairbanks, Alaska, to
McAllen, Texas. We had property on Victoria Road
outside Donna, Texas. On my arrival, I soon took a
headlong dive down a full outside flight of stairs,
landing on my right shoulder on a concrete slab. All
I broke was my glasses.
For the next twelve to fourteen years, I remained
quite active. We moved to the Hill-country of West
Texas where I did lots of home-missionary work. My
thoroughbred, April, pitched me sky-high down along
the Guadalupe River—did it twice—breaking five ribs on
the rocks, and damaging my prosthetic leg. Then we
moved to S.E. Nebraska near Indian Cave State Park.
We moved a big two-story farm house up to the top of a
hill—which gave us a million-dollar view. I was
working on two crutches and one leg. I drove a
Ferguson tractor doing the yard work, and we cut all
our firewood.
Sensing that God wanted us both full-time in Colombia,
South America, we sold our Rancho-Notso-Grande and
moved to Leticia, Colombia, where I had been doing
some missionary exploration. After my left leg (BK)
amputation and open heart by-pass surgery, Jean and I
finally settled down at the Casa Grande where we have
developed a mission base known as AMA—Asociaciòn
Misionera Amazonìa. Here we are full-time wheelchair
missionaries. Have I told you that Jean, my wife, has
both hip prostheses? The floor of this grand house is
tiled with ceramic, and a tiled veranda runs
completely around the outside of the house. From
there we go on a Yamaha four-wheeler to do business in
Leticia and Tabatinga, Brazil.
We both traveled recently to Iquitos, Peru, where AMA
is opening a Peruvian mission base under the
leadership of a qualified national leader. But back
to my title: I NEED WHEELCHAIR INSURANCE! I work day
and night at the computer. Three-times now, while
taking a midnight stroll on the veranda, traveling all
the way around the Casa Grande, I have fallen off the
edge. I’ve broken several more ribs. Here’s my
insurance policy: God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1
NLT). Keep it on hand.
Yours for OUTREACH AMAZON,
—Erwin and Jean Bourne