Meet Spencer West an amazingyoung man with a great walk

Separated from the pelvis Spencer used hands as feet.

I came across a story today that that really impressed me, reported on the net today A 31-year-old man from Toronto with no legs has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro this past week. His name is Spencer West, and he was raising about $500,000.00 for charity to help kids in Africa with education and clean water for Africa. Mt. Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa. As a young man I remember Reading Earnest Hemingway's collection of short stories. When I lived and served as a missionary, educator who also helped set up a medical clinic my adventures were in the jungles of West Africa. I never made it to east Africa and to  the Mountain. I visited his face book page and his photo journal of his exciting walk.

Spencer is showing his determination as he faces a new day

It took him seven days to reach the summit with the support of his two friends and guide and team of climbers. He used his wheel chair 20% of the time and walked on his hands 80% of the time. They started in the savanna and ended up on the snow capped peaks. You can track his journey at http://www.freethechildren.com/redefinepossible/2012/06/thank-you-from-africa.php His training and fitness is outstanding. I was impressed with his friends, they carried his chair and were with him as he walked. The guides and porters played their part to make sure it happens. What he did was amazing but the wisdom of others played a big part in making it happen.
I have cerebral palsy and if I thought I could raise money to help with education, medicine, making people lives better I be tempted. I can remember walking in 20 mile walks with little sponsorship. As I recall a couple of dollars. Helping those less fortunate I have done all my life. 
Jesus once said "there will always be the poor," And there will always be a problem in Africa. I know it sounds like I have given up. But I haven't. Lately, I have been focused on abuse and helping those recover from that. Everywhere we look there are problems. But in our efforts there is one here and another there who finds help and lives a better life.

Loosing legs at pelvic bone how easy o give up

When I think back on my service in Liberia, did it do any good? I know people we helped with their suffering. I know kids were given a year of education with care. I know I shared the gospel freely and there were those young and old who trusted the Savior.  I know I wrestled a local bully and prevented harm to one of the young girls serving with us. I know I mentored four young men who survived the war and used the intelligence and talents I saw in them. I am proud of my service as a 20 something, I served the King of Kings and we gave everything we had into the work. For me it was a substitute for not being able to sere my country. I actually only had a dollar in my pocket when I returned home. St. Joe's hospital welcomed me back to work and Silver Cross welcomed back Barb and our family was cared for.

You it just easy

Hundreds were treated medically, hundreds were cared for spiritually. Daily we cared for about 50 children in our school and provided a meal for them. School was free and in the clinic we charged 25 cents. No body was turned down, but I believe all came up with the fee.With their 25 cents we paid for all their medicine. Most people suffered from one of five common tropical diseases. #1 on the list even today is Malaria. Spencer wanting clean water which is right up this ally. I got malaria and it is no Small thing. Think of your worse flu, malaria is worse. To top it off it is still in my marrow waiting for round two. My GP has treated tropical diseases and he know my problem. We helped hundreds but soon a bloody civil way would ripped through the fabric of our work leaving easily a half a million dead.
I am impressed with Mr. West determination and skill sets and his friends they mean everything. Walking for him is walking in a chair and at times on his hands. He uses his experiences to motivate people to rethink possible in their lives and be a world changer.

Excellent

Can walking change our lives? Can we move from poor health to good health? Can we lead more active lives as we age and be able to do more things we may want because we get up and move? Because I am walking, will I be able to move around and live one or two years longer than if I don't walk. Can I choose to lose weight and move from obese to overweight, from overweight to within range of a healthy weight. As we get lighter we are gaining more time to walk and move. Is it worth a couple of more years to be independent and active with family and friends. Is it worth decreasing our joint pain? Is it worth improving our fight with heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Walking is one think that helps us to renew our health and turn back the clock a few years.
On a private note personally I a grieving a loss of a friend. Grieving is a hard emotion. I know I don't like it but it will be with for now for a little while. My experience with losses is they never really go away. Tonight weep with those who weep. Keep walking