Camp Hope is a day camp for children of all ages with mental and physical disabilities. The class that I have been working in has about 8 kids from the ages 1-12. All but 2 of them are in wheelchairs.
Monday through friday we start our 30 minute walk to Camp Hope around 8:30 or 9. Each morning my team stands outside and prays for the staff and kids. In the mornings we are normally pulling weeds, peeling garlic, sorting peas, or helping Lucy, the cook, with whatever she needs in the kitchen.
At lunch we are always in awe of what Fabi, our host, makes us for lunch. Some of the weirder sandwiches we were fed was, caramel with a slice of cheese, cream cheese tomato and olives, and a tortilla with caramel and banana. Lunch is always a mystery.
When we finish eating, we start by helping all the children with their own lunch; most of the kids aren’t able to feed themselves. For the kids in my class I help spoon feed them. There is about 50 kids in the lunchroom at the same time. Lots of the kids seem to hate eating; they make a sour face every time you give them a spoon full of food, or they will smack the food out of your hands.
Once lunch has finished we take the kids to go brush their teeth. This week I always ended up brushing the teeth of a little girl with autism named Carmen. She hated having her teeth brushed. On monday when I was brushing her teeth she was fighting it hard, then she bit down on my arm and would not let go. I had some teeth marks on my arm for the first day that soon turned into a perfect bite shaped bruise.
Once all their teeth are clean, we take them into their classrooms. My class is absolutely fantastic. We get to do physical therapy with the kids and we use textured objects to rub on their legs and arms, we also get to use essential oils or plants to have them smell to heighten their senses.
Marta is the teacher and she is the most amazing women ever! She loves the kids so genuinely. She doesn’t speak any english but even with the small amount of spanish I know we were able to communicate well. I spent lots of my time with all the kids in the class but I mainly worked with 2: Maria and Juan.
Both Maria and Juan have cerebral palsy. They are wheelchair bound and aren’t able to go to the bathroom on their own and need to be changed. Maria is 12 and Juan is 8 both have a amazing smiles and always seem to be happy.
I already miss Camp Hope so much. The staff, volunteers, and kids are all so fantastic. I hope that one day I will be able to go back. Please be praying for radical healing in these children!
*names changed for confidentiality.
