Camp Daniel

Galatians 5:13 " My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don't use your freedom as an excuse to sin.

 Instead, serve on another with love."

I spent the last week with Jesus. Yes, I know he is everywhere but there are definitely places where His presence is so powerful, you can really feel it and you walk away knowing you have spent time with Him. In the northern woods of Wisconsin is a place called "Camp Daniel." It is a set of four weekly camps for disabled people from aged 9 to 70. The camp organization has volunteers come on a weekly basis to be counselors. Most campers have their own counselor but some counselors had 2 campers and one camper had 2 couselors because she required so much care.

Our group of 5 high school girls and 2 leaders set out last Sunday not really knowing what we were getting into. We arrived to a run down camp north of Green Bay.  The cabins were primative and the bathrooms were worse. I wondered how over 50 women were going to get by with 3 toilets and 4 showers for the week. The Lord provides, Romans 8:28  " In all things God works for good for those that love Christ and are called according ton His purpose." The Camp Daniel organization is building a beautiful modern camp 10 miles away but so far have not had the funds to finish the all important dining hall. Part of me wonders how the atmosphere at camp will be different when the conditions are so improved. But these campers struggle in most everything they do, if we can remove some of the physical struggles, I am sure it will only improve on their experiences.

Some lessons learned at camp:

1. God has created such beautiful variety of people. I never ever heard one of the campers say anything negative about another camper or counselor. They just don't have it in them. When one got up to sing Karaoke or dance or juggle or even eat an ice cream sandwich as a talent, the crowd cheered and sincerely supported that individual for who they were. God makes no mistakes. My life is so much richer for having met them. Criticism seems so unprofitable. These people, that society has decided to treat as second class citizens, have overcame the critical spirit.

2. Be thankful to God for blessings I have taken for granted. My camper was a woman in her forties. She was very sweet and independent. However, you could not tease her. She hated it. I thought, thank you Lord for the ability to be teased. I know it sounds silly but it robbed her of a lot of fun. I will forever appreciate the ability to laugh at myself and realize that there are alot of quirky things about myself that deserve teasing and shouldn't be taken too seriously.

3. Never desire to be normal. The speaker asked the campers, what are your dreams. I don't think this is something these disables people get asked. They thought about it and the hands shot up. They were excited to share their dreams. He approached my camper and said, " What is your dream?" And she said " I have always dreamed to be normal. To be like my brother." Well, the speaker was set back on his heals and tears welled up in my eyes. Then Steve, the speaker, looked her in the eyes intently and had the perfect answer - " Don't ever hope to be 'normal'. I certainly am not normal. Normal is boring." he went on to tell her that God created each of us to be unique and what is normal anyway? They embraced and you could tell she didn't want to let go. She felt that her life was less valuable than her brothers because of her disability. In God's eyes, she has extreme value. In my eyes, she has extreme value. She taught me so much. Now my prayer is that in her eyes she has extreme value.

To be continued.....