On July 13th I got on a bus with 25 other people to go to Camp Barnabas, a camp for children with special needs. On the bus they asked us to share our stories {or testimonies.} I stalled, I really didn't was 13 people to know my heart. I didn't want to be vulnerable. This is the first time ever that I have ever shared my story. I shared it on the bus ride down, in my cabin, bus ride back, and with my small group leader! It was so refreshing and it got us all so much closer to hear everyones stories. I still had no idea what I was in for, I didn't know what my camper would be like, what disability, boy/girl, etc. So going down to camp there was an unsettled feeling in my stomach. I wanted to know who my camper would be.
When we got to camp I was in cabin G7 with one of my best friends Mikayla! At first everyone was asking, "How the heck did those two end up together?" But, it was totally a God thing. She was the last person I expected to be put in a cabin with but I needed her so much through out the week. She was my rock, my smile, my encourager. I would have never gotten through the week without her. When the time came to pick campers, none of them stuck out to me. It was really hard because last year I saw the list and my campers name stuck out. But this year no one did. Then I heard "Merideth, she's blind and has learning disabilites." Mikayla told me that she was my friends camper last year and something just clicked. I knew that she was exactly who I was supposed to have. On camper arrival day she was one of the last to arrive. But when she did we talked all the way back to the cabin. She kept telling me, "we're going to get along fine!" I started to believe her. It was so easy to talk to her and she was so sweet! I didn't feel like it was a job, I felt like I was talking to a friend.
The second day we went canoeing and fishing. There were no fish in the creek but we got to teach the campers to fish and it was a great bonding time. As we sat there waiting for fish to bite Merideth was telling me about what she does at home. It was so awakening to see that she doesn't get to do much and is content. It was really a wake up call to see that she just sits in her house except for going to work and is perfectly happy and I whine when I can't see my friends some weekends. So after fishing we went canoeing. Merideth was one of three girls that wanted to go. I am not good a canoeing at all. So we kept running into the shore and I was getting frustrated so I yelled up to my staffer and asked how deep it was. She told me it was about waist deep. Next thing you knew I was in the water. It was really funny and a running joke in our cabin.
As everyones personalities started to come out it was obvious, this was going to be a great week! They all knew each other and they were so funny together. It was so refreshing to be away from society and just pour into this sweet girl! We did all the typical camp activities: fishing, archery, rifles, swimming, excursion. wait, what? Yeah, that's right. excursion. We took 8 blind girls out into the woods. What an adventure that was! We cooked hot dogs, walked to the creek, swam in the creek, made dinner, and slept outside. Yep, under the stars. I must say, it was such an amazing night! All the CIAs bonded. As an added bonus, I took some benedryl and fell right to sleep! We left after breakfast in the morning. Honestly, I'm shocked I survived. {hehe}
One of the memories that I will cherish is excursion. The day was long and tiring but it hit nighttime and we had dinner with a boy cabin that was out on excursion. We just got to sit there and talk with them and have fun. After dinner we had worship and just sat there praising our God and looking up at the millions of stars you could see out there. It is a memory that I will forever cherish.Another little girl I met that had a great story was Emily. I wrote about her earlier but her story is just so amazing. When her mother died she tried to commit suicide by shooting herself. She was found and taken to the ER. They did surgery and got back everything but her eyesight. But the coolest thing about emily is, when she shot herself she shot out the part of her brain that makes her sad. She is filled with genuine joy, all the time. This was definetly a girl I needed to meet. I get so upset over the dumbest things, but this girl doesn't have a lot but is genuinely happy all the time. How cool is that? She made a huge impact in my life and will forever have a special place in my heart.
The last night was cross carry which is by far the most emotional event I have ever had the opportunity to be involved in. The cross has names if campers who have come to camp and since passed away. The cross is passed by all the cabins pray over it. It's really emotional because some of the campers know people on it. Every year I tell myself I won't cry and every year, I cry. It just is so heart breaking to see amazing kids who may not get to come back to camp the next year because of a disease. It always gets me. After cross carry we went to "sayso" which is a time for campers, CIAs, and staff to talk about their week. Merideth decided at the last minute to go up. It warmed my heart to hear her talk about how much she loved me and just being at camp. Hearing her talk that night made everything worth it. Camp Barnabas will alway have a very special place in my heart. The people I meet there are some of the sweetest and best people in the world. I wish the whole world was like camp. Every camper holds such a special place in my heart. Camp Barnabas has changed me for the better. It challenged me, broke me, and renewed me.
Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. {Phillipians 2:3}
I was eyes to the blind, and I was feet to the lame. {Job 29:15}
But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put shame to the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put shame the things which are mighty. {1 Cor. 1:27}
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