It was off to Osceola, Wisconsin this afternoon to bring McKenna to camp. She goes to Cristo Vive Camp for kids with disabilities. For five days, she will have a one on one friend that has been trained to serve those with disabilities. McKenna was so excited to see Katie at camp--Katie goes to school with Kenna and was a camper two weeks ago and is now a helper this week. After a week of stress and anxiety about going to camp away from her family, she handled the transition well. She actually asked me to leave!
What I love about this camp and the people who run it (Gene and Jordana Engebretson) is that it is both understated and over the top in the way that camp is done..the facilities, and the details that don't matter to our kids particularly to our kids with disabilities are adequate but not the focus. What is over the top for this camp is enthusiasm, love and acceptance that is poured out to the campers from the moment they arrive at camp! It is amazing to see young people serving in such a tender way. But, if your camper is more of an adventurer, then they will be matched up with a friend that fits that child's need. There are 17 campers and 24 helpers this week...over the top in the ways that make a camp successful.
And what touches my heart most is watching the "over the top" love for Jesus that is evident in the staff at camp. By the end of the week as the kids settle in, the whole place will be filled with pure and heartfelt worship and praise from the campers as well. Our kids will deepen their walk with the Lord on the level that they can comprehend. Instead of sitting through a sermon or regular Sunday School class at Church that might as well be in Swahili, McKenna will hear and see the gospel in ways that will impact her immensely. And this camp is not all about serving those with disabilities, but giving the kids a chance to exercise the gifts they have been given from God. They serve in many ways at camp.
So what makes this camp a vital and precious gift to our family and particularly to McKenna is that they have their priorities right...reflecting Jesus in everything they do as the celebrate the gift that each of these precious campers are to the body of Christ.
I am so thankful for Cristo Vive camp!
