Friday October 13th-
Day three in Ecuador. And day one of ministry.
For those of you who are curious as to what my team’s ministry this month is, I hope you share in the overwhelming joy I know we all walk in. For the first two weeks of this month we get to serve at a sweet place called Camp Hope. Its a facility for kids, teens, and adults with mental and physical disabilities all over the spectrum. It ranges from minimal disability such as down syndrome or autism all the way to cerebral palsy and being wheelchair bound(and everything in between). And the following two weeks we will be packing up and moving to a place they call “the farm”. This is, just as it sounds, a fully functioning farm where we will be harvesting the crops that go directly to feed the sweet friends we just spent our weeks serving. The father has already been so faithful to fulfill our heart desires that match up with His own. And man are we wildly passionate about serving these people. Loving them just as we know He does. So so well.
I will be honest. I loved the thought of working at Camp Hope. But I think subconsciously, I was a little afraid and a lot intimidated. I have very minimal experience with people with disabilities. And the experience I do have, is with high-functioning downs friends. There is always a little bit of fear that comes with the unknown. And I know absolutely nothing.
But, like i’ve previously stated: where there is less of me, there is more of Him. That rings so true here at Camp Hope. In the knowledge and experience I lack- He fills with love and compassion. Truly the love I have for these new friends i’ve found at Camp Hope can simply not come from me. Its more than I could have mustered up on my own. Its deeper. Its fuller. Its truer. Its Jesus through and through.
Today, we were instructed that ministry would start Monday. And that today would be our orientation to get some instruction and learn the ropes. So, after following a brief 10 minute tour of the grounds, we were split into groups and started working. HA. All of it was a bit of a whirlwind. Thinking back on it, they most certainly fulfilled their end. We got instruction in moments of chaos, and we have quite a solid grip on the ropes. It looked a bit different, and a bit more hands on than we all expected. But hey, when is life with Jesus ever spick and span? Or done at a distance? He always meets us in the chaos and the muck. And today, He walked hand in hand with us through the wildness that was day one, as we walked hand in hand with our new pals. He is so faithful like that.
Two weeks of feeding, diaper changes, and leg stretching might not be enough. I wrote in my journal before we left this morning that I have the door cracked open in my heart for people such as these. But if I just go, and love whoever is put in front of me, The lord will swing that door open wide. And today, He did just that. The door, is so, open. Im counting down the minutes until I get to go back to see my new buds.
A special thanks to my sweet new friends for returning the love I gave is giggles and hand holds:
carolina
anderson
alexander
kevin
amanita
I promise to love you all like I know Jesus does. You. Are. Stars.
