DIVINELY CREATED-SPECIAL IN EVERY WAY

Greetings friends,

The week of Elsie Conde Special Needs Camp has come and gone but what a blessing it was serving the Lord and meeting the 17 precious children and their families who participated in camp. The memories of this week will always hold a special place in my heart! I'm not sure if I can even begin to describe for you what I was able to experience but I will try.

Monday was our first day of camp and as we, the workers, prepared for the the activities of the day I don't think any of us truly imagined what would lie ahead as this was our very first "sports camp" for children with special needs . Some of our campers arrived in wheelchairs, some using walkers, some mentally challenged and in one case a child who could not speak but communicated through his eyes and hands. One thing we were all sure of as we watched these children arrived was that God's blessings were on our day and HE would meet us right where we were and meet our every need.

As we got acquainted and met our assigned child we had a very special guest who joined us that day, former Atlanta Braves player, Phil Nekro. The Field of Dreams in Flowery Branch was a dream of his and he helped start the funding so that this special place could be possible for use by special needs children and their families. During the opening ceremonies, Mr. Nekro threw out the first pitch of the game and also autographed a baseball for each child who was there. The campers were thrilled! The rest of our day was spent making friends, learning a new camp song, playing baseball and soccer, hearing our Bible story and simply laughing and loving in the Lord. We had some excited campers, happy parents and willing workers and by the end of the first day we were ALL excited about spending even more days together!

On day two as the campers arrived we watched them hurry to eagerly to hook-up with their counselors as they hugged and greeted each other as well. One mother came in that morning with tears in her eyes as she thanked everyone for giving her child (as well as herself) this special time. For many families caring for a special needs child is a never ending day. Someone always needs to be available helping to do those things that we so often take for granted.

By day three we were like one big happy family. The morning always began with prayer and singing. The middle of our day was spent playing soccer or baseball. You ask HOW?? Here are two examples:
One little girl, supported by her counselor, stepped up to the plate and with all her might hit the ball then grabbed hold of her little walker pushing herself to first base. When she slowly got about half-way there another little girl came out to the field, took hold of one side or her walker and cheered her on until she made it all the way to he base.

Then, there was the 14 year old boy in a wheelchair (I think he had cerebral palsy). On the first two days of camp his counselor would help him hold the bat so that he would be able to swing at the ball but ,on this day, he told his counselor, "I want to try this all by myself". He took hold of that bat and started to swing with all his might at the ball. It took him a few extra tries but he finally hit it! How proud he was!! As his counselor pushed his wheelchair around the bases, there wasn't a dry eye on the field.

At the end of each day we would gather together before saying our goodbyes to have our Bible story and prayer time. Oh what beautiful prayers we heard from the hearts of these precious ones. We witnessed love and acceptance in a way I had never seen before. There was no personal judgement, no fear. Never one time did they look at each other and see "obstacles", they just saw "friends".

On Friday night we held our closing ceremony and provided a meal for all who attended. I think we had around 200+, the bleachers were full!! All the children, accompanied by grandparents, parents, friends, and siblings had one final opportunity to play baseball as part of a team and to sing their camp songs one more time together. A very special young man, Clay Dyer, was the guest speaker. He is a professional angler who participates in fishing tournaments but what made him such an encouragement to all of us is the fact that he was born without legs and only part of one arm.

When the baseball game ended each camper was presented with a camp t-shirt, a Bible, a photo album with pictures from their week at camp and a bag of goodies to carry home. We gathered to sing our camp songs together one last time. Their favorite song was---"My God is so BIG, so STRONG and so MIGHTY, there's NOTHING MY GOD CAN NOT DO" . For five days I had the privilege to witness this same determination in these 17 precious lives. As I looked at their faces one last time, I looked into " the very heart of God" and saw just how valuable each child truly is. My heart will never be the same again.

"Special Needs Children"......Yes, they are truly SPECIAL INDEED!!!

Thanks be to God for this awesome opportunity. I am already looking forward to camp next year. Want to join me?

I love you guys,
Judy

Psalm 24:1---The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

***For some photos & news stories you can go to:
www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/21366
www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/21544