It’s the everyday activities of life that remind Shiloh Binder of the accident.

Zipping up his jacket. Squeezing toothpaste onto his toothbrush. Putting the key in the ignition of his Ford pickup truck.

Each simple motion usually requires two arms and two hands.

Since Jan. 11, Binder has had to relearn how to accomplish these things with only his left hand. He lost his right hand, and some of his arm, in an accident involving a meat grinder.

Every time he tries to do something one-handed, he’s reminded of what he lost.

But he has refused to give in to doubt, and has become a real-life MacGuyver to create solutions. He used a welder to attach the end of a knife to the end of his prosthetic arm so he could cut round fruit without it flying off the counter.

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For three hours, Shiloh Binder’s arm was stuck in a meat grinder. He emerged stronger than ever.

“There are a lot of things that I’m scared of, in a foolish way,” the 18-year-old Binder said recently. “But I try to push myself past them. Honestly, a lot of good comes from my faith. I know I can do things, primarily because I know my faith can equip me.

“I want to live my life and get the most out of it.”

It would appear he’s doing just that. For the teenager who hiked 460 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone, when he was 14, and helped rescue an injured hiker a year later in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, slowing down is not an option.

Since the accident, Binder has built a cedar deck around his trailer, where he lives by himself. It was during construction that he realized using a tape measure one-handed is challenging.

He took a full-time job, working as a sales associate at The Lumber Yard in Prineville.

In May, he took a 5,000 mile drive — alone — from his Prineville home, camping along the way through Canada, Montana, Idaho and eastern Washington. In August, Binder went with a group of teenagers backpacking in Canada to see if he could still mountain climb.

He can.

On that trip, he had to figure out how to get his hiking boots on because they’re lace up shoes. He ordered a new pair of boots that don’t require tying laces.

The spring driving trip was a test, Binder said. He wanted to see if he could still be the outdoorsman he was before. Among his discoveries: Carrying camping gear, a kayak and a paddle were easy enough with one hand.

It was paddling his kayak that required a little help from duct tape. He taped the right end of the paddle to what’s left of his right arm. The trip settled his feelings and tested his abilities, he said.

“I came back different,” Binder said. “I always knew I’d be ok. I am joyful and happy that I have a renewed spirit. ”

Therapeutic traveling

An avid outdoorsman, Binder developed a way to pack in his kayak, his backpack and his paddle alone. He said whatever happened in the woods or in the rivers, he figured he could swim or float or hike back to his car.

In Montana and North Dakota this summer, Binder camped and hiked about 100 miles, kayaking with his duct tape solution.

He called it therapeutic traveling.

“It’s been busy,” Binder said. “I’ve had to figure out and learn a new life. There was just so much to process and I needed time to be quiet and reflect on what happened.

“I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do things on my own, like I had done before. I needed time alone to figure out what my future was.”

When her son decided to hit the road on the spring driving trip, Laura Binder said she had to let go. She had to trust that her son would know his limits and reach out when he needed help. And he did. At several points along the road trip, he met up with his sister. He stayed with family friends and kept in contact.

Last month, Binder went with two friends to Uganda to visit the Redeemer Ministries orphanage. The group went for nine days to the orphanage from which Binder’s friends were adopted . While Binder was there, half a world away, he found his hope again, his mother said.

That trip brought out the old smile in her son, Laura Binder said.

“His smile is different since his accident,” she said. “In Africa, he had a peaceful expression that came over him. That place has captured his heart. He wants to return so he can be of use, or in service of others. “

While in Uganda, Binder helped a woman ventilate a cooking shack. That came easy for him, much easier than putting up a tent by himself, Laura Binder said.

“Since his accident, he’s had to learn how to do things,” she said. “He’s figured a lot of stuff out and found himself again.”

Kathy Vaughan, a missionary from Prineville stationed in Uganda, believes Binder will inspire the children there. Poor nutrition in Uganda has caused many children to be born with disabilities. Seeing Binder overcome his injury is inspirational, she said.

“Shiloh is a resourceful young man,” Vaughan said in a call from Uganda. “There’s a lot of things he can do and teach and help here. There’s a lot to do here.

“I enjoyed him so much and was inspired by him.”

In order to go for a year on a mission, however, Binder will need to raise enough money for the flight and living expenses, which could be about $500 a month, Vaughan said. He’ll also need to apply to the mission for approval.

Strangers want to meet him

Back in Central Oregon, strangers have approached Binder when he’s at the grocery store or at a gas station. They want to meet him, or talk about his accident, Laura Binder said.

“There’s been a lot of hard, but you wouldn’t believe the connections he’s made and the conversation starters that his accident has caused,” Laura Binder said. “People with one arm come up to him and ask about his injury. It’s a conversation starter.

“An injury like this opens up your eyes to others in the world. It gives you an opportunity to talk to people and to see them as they really are.”

There is only one activity that Binder has been unable to overcome: Shuffling playing cards.

Figuring out how to shuffle cards one handed has been a challenge, Laura Binder said. They bought a few different card shufflers before they found one that worked. Now when his friends or family gather to play cards they all play one handed or just with their left hand, Laura Binder said.

“We’re past the sadness,” Laura Binder said. “The hardest thing for a mom is to see your child in despair. He was so deeply despaired for a while. It was to be expected. But we’re well past it now.

“Now we’re onto the good stuff. Now there’s hope. We’re beginning to see what normal looks like.”

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To help Shiloh Binder return to Uganda and work with the 501(c)3 Central Oregon Redeemer Ministries Inc., mail donations to P.O. Box 311, Prineville, OR, 97754. Or mail a check directly to Binder at 1050 NE Peters Road, Apt. 128, Prineville, OR 97754. Donations also are being accepted via Venmo, @shiloh-binder and Zelle at shilohbinder12@gmail.com.