(Blog written about a week ago)
Higher Ground has been our ministry this past week. What is Higher Ground?
Well, its a Christian adventure camp. As part of ministry we have gone kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, had campfires and s’mores, done archery…all the usual camp activities. It just so happens we are doing all this with 16 blind or partially sighted campers. And it has been amazing.
I fell in love from the moment we arrived and met Emma and Kerneels, the couple that runs the camp. We arrived at night and they greeted us as we got out of the van. Kerneels offered to help us with our bags and lead us inside. I noticed a few clues that let me know he was blind, but at least one teammate I spoke with later didn’t notice until halfway through dinner.
As the week has progressed I have fallen deeper and deeper in love. Where do I start? I’ve fallen for Ella, Kerneels and Emma’s 4 month old baby girl, who loves people and whose smile could melt the heart of any man, woman or child.
I’m head over heels for Sarah and Tina (Christina), 
the two sisters who, as I wrote this, were singing Old Rugged Cross while they did their laundry by hand in the bathroom sink. They are little pint sized women, 74 and 76 (or ageless as they say). You can find them playing dominoes until 11pm after a full day at camp, kayaking (for the first time ever), or trekking 30 minutes to the archery range to shoot a bow and arrow with timid smiles on their faces. We haven’t found an activity they aren’t keen to try, from learning to play Monopoly to going for a boat cruise up the river.
I am in love, love, love with Rieta, Dewald, Rose, Trevor, Marinda, Daleen, Princess, Arne, Lin, Ilana, Desiree, Veronica, Andre and Nadia. I love their energy and enthusiasm, their joyful smiles and courage. I love that they are willing and ready to try new activities and that they don’t let being blind be an insurmountable obstacle, but merely a speed bump on the road of life.
I have found such joy in being the eyes of these campers for the past week. I’ve gotten to play and sing and laugh and love. As the camp draws to an end I sit back as I write this and thank God for this opportunity. This is my life, I am so blessed.
