Continuing to share the stories behind the pictures shared on Facebook in January and February (If you missed the first one check it out here.), I thought I’d talk about the above picture, as it doesn’t come from Guatemala. This picture was taken in 2013 while doing a needs assessment and scouting trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While on this trip my friend Erin Cottos, PT, and I also trained rehabilitation promoters in the bush in Uganda in how to work with people with low back pain at the level of prevention and treatment. We also worked with some Kenyan therapists at a hospital in Kijabe. 

The woman in this picture is carrying at least a 50-pound bag of sand. With few jobs and a family to feed, it is likely this is one of the few jobs she can get living in poverty. As a physical therapist, I know the injury and possible disabilities that can result from this type of labor. My heart breaks for her. How could we prevent her from being injured, while also providing a means for her to generate income for her family?

Did you know that disability rates are 10x higher in developing nations as compared to developed nations? Compounding the problem, people with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty as compared to people without disabilities. 

This woman and the quote I chose convict me to examine my heart. What is my attitude? Is it in line with truth? What can I do to demonstrate the truth that all people are created in the image of God for a purpose?  

I’d love to hear your thoughts and feelings about this image, the quote, and the contents of this blog. Leave a comment below.