HIS-ablity

I have been meaning to tell you about HIS-ablity camp all week, but simply haven't had the time.  It's been a crazy week of cleaning, packing, and girding up for this last week of ministry for the summer.

But back to HIS-ablity.  For the last 50 years or so, Barakel has provided a week specifically for mentally and physically handicapped campers.

And what a week it is!  The pace is just a little bit slower, ok, a lot slower.  And you can plan things, but it's up to interpenetration really.  Like ambushes.  Noah plans them, but most nights about 10 campers just don't feel like it.  And that's ok.

It feels more like a reunion.  Most of these campers have been coming for longer than I have been alive.  This is their favorite week of the year.  The energy they bring when the get off the buses on Tuesday is great!  And on Saturday, there are a lot tears at lunch because they don't want to go home.  In fact, yesterday one of the counselors told me that one of her campers locked herself in the bathroom because she didn't want to go home.  

The puppet ministry God's Helping Hands does chapels, there is a Birthday Party for everyone who has had a birthday this last year, and just a whole lot of fun.

There is something very touching about watching college aged guys hold the hand of a guy twice his age and help him pop bubbles.  Or the night that one of the guys sang "Jesus Loves Me" and everyone joined in.

This is a group of people that society has written off.  I read a statistic somewhere that said 90% of all Down Syndrome babies are now being aborted.  But these campers weren't a mistake or a malformation that should not being around.  They are an important part of God's plan.  And God loves them enough to send His Son to die for them.  What a privilege to give them a week of camp!