For the last three weeks Team Unveiled Pursuit has been working with Higher Ground (HG) out of Durban, South Africa. They plan and run camps and retreats for teenagers and adults with disabilities – so that’s what we’ve been doing. But, once again, time has passed so fast. Our first and last weeks of ministry we stayed in the valley district of Baynesfield working with teenagers and young adults who are blind or partially sighted. Our last week we ran a camp for those with intellectual impairments such as autism, Down’s Syndrome, etc.
It’s quite difficult summarize our last month in one blog since each week was varied as we learned and experienced many things. So instead I will try and share a bit by telling you a story I heard:
She used it only for special occasions when she pulled out her best China set.
One day she had visitors over and the teapot got knocked to the floor and shattered into pieces.
Instead of tossing it out like some might suggest, the woman glued each piece back together
and filled it with soil to house a plant.
The teapot looked a little different it and couldn’t hold tea anymore
but, it took on a new purpose and was just as valuable to the woman as before.
Now let me explain what that story has to do with our ministry this past month. During the second week we ventured down the coast to Pennington and stayed at a retreat centre close to the beach. There we put on a camp for adults who have acquired brain injuries. Rebecca and I tag-teamed three of the six ladies and became their carers for the week (24 hrs a day).
The thing with acquired injuries is that it’s hard to wrap your head around it all. These people once lived like you and I.
They had successful careers.
They had spouses and children.
They had hobbies; went fishing, played music, created art and travelled.
They drove themselves around to meet friends and family.
Many of them can no longer work or create income.
Some of their spouses have left them or asked for divorce.
Many of their children now care for them.
Previous hobbies are difficult for those who can no longer walk, are in wheelchairs or paralyzed on one side.
They have to be driven around everywhere they want to go.
Many can no longer speak properly to share their stories.
Many cannot feed themselves and need people to care for them 24/7.
And it happened in a split second. One stroke, one bicycle accident, one car crash, one driver that wasn’t paying attention, one step in the wrong place at the wrong time and life changed.
These precious people are like the teapot from this story. They’ve been broken and their lives have been shattered; no longer able to be used for their original purpose. But they worship the Almighty God and he has put them back together again. He makes them whole and is now using them for a whole different purpose that is just a valuable.
And they know that.
And they’re glad to still be alive.
And they are strong and determined.
And they continue to praise and worship our living God.
And they laugh – hard.
And they love and are loved.
