Her name is Samantha.
She has cerebral palsy.
She was my camper during session 3 and she legitimately left
camp and I was a changed person.
So, T Bar M partners with an organization called Camp Hope.
Camp Hope helps kids with disabilities come to camp. Our partnership with them
started the first year I was a coach and we had only 2 campers join us. Now, we
have at least one Camp Hope child with us almost every single week.
Before camp started I never wanted to have a Camp Hope kid
in my cabin. People with disabilities made me feel uncomfortable. I felt bad
for thinking that way, but I still didn’t want to be around them. Then session
3 came and we found out that we would have Sam in our cabin.
Her information sheet said she was extremely mobile and
would be able to do everything on her own besides a few specifics like cutting
her food and tying back her hair. Well, that wasn’t really true. I mean, she
probably could do most things, but it
would take her awhile.
The week we had Sam we had mostly girls going into the 4th
grade and a few going into 5th. Sam was a 4th grader, but
she had the body of a 6 year old. She has braces on both legs and walks with a
limp. We definitely were worried about our cabin accepting her and welcoming
her.
Then she started talking. Pure joy is literally what would
fall out of her mouth every second. She was probably one of the funniest people
I have ever met. She loves Justin Bieber (Hello, instant connection). She
called us all her babies and my co, Callie, was Baby T Rex. She was such a joy
to be around and what was even more amazing was that she was such a joy to
serve and take care of.
When I say take care of I mean it in the most real way
possible. We had to bathe her, help her with her clothes, help her tie her
shoes, hold her hand every where we walked, hold her in the pool, get her food
for her, cut her food, hold her up at Team Meeting because she couldn’t support
her weight that long. It seems like a lot, but it was such a joy. We switched
off days for who had to help her with all her stuff and I was legitimately sad
the days that it wasn’t me. I loved her and therefore I loved serving her.
The way we had to care for Sam ended up giving me a great
picture of Jesus. Sam was utterly dependent on us for so many things, but she
was joyful and so were we in the midst of her need and our outpouring. Whether
I realize it or not, I am utterly dependent on God. The thought that I can do
ANYTHING with out him is almost funny. The difference, Sam thanked me after I
helped her and rewarded me with sweet hugs and kind words. How often do I let
the good works of God in my life go by with out even a thank you? Dang often,
but he still loves to serve me and help me because he loves me. He loves me a
lot.
