A Protective Presence

I went to another church on Sunday and I met a little girl with Down Syndrome. She is so sweet! I was immediately drawn to her. Wherever I go now, I scan a crowd or place I'm in for people with disabilities because disability ministry has become my life. I can sense their presence, but I am starting to realize that what I'm sensing is something more. I have become aware of this presence that surrounds them. I don't know quite how to describe it. It may be that they have guardian angels around them because there seems to be this protective presence on them.

I think that what I sense is the presence of the Holy Spirit because they have a connection with God unlike any other. I believe that God is especially fond of them. Why else would His Spirit rest on them? This little girl's parents had her in the sanctuary during worship and I strongly felt that presence about her because it changed the whole atmosphere. When they took the little girl to children's church, there was a void because that presence went with her.

I know I'm not crazy because I feel the same thing when Amanda (a young woman with DS), is worshipping during the service at Living Hope Church. That same presence is about her and worship is more powerful. Amanda is not in the sanctuary every week because she helps with Mega. I feel that same void when she is gone, worship is just not quite the same.

That is why chapel during camp and The Able Church are so amazing and life changing. That presence is in concentrated form because there are so many of them in one place. There have been many times when I have been speechless and in awe during a chapel service. This presence can be quite overwhelming and I couldn't believe what I was experiencing. I couldn't do anything but cry. I knew that something had changed inside of me and I would never be the same. I knew that I would never experience this anywhere else.

This change is what churches are missing out on until they fully accept people with disabilities into their congregations and lives. I have experienced the full body of Christ as it was meant to be. There is something greater going on, spiritually, around people with disabilities, more than I can comprehend or put into words. They are on a whole other level spiritually than me. They will always be far ahead of me. Until others come to camp and experience it for themselves, they just won't get it. That is why I am so excited about what's going on at Living Hope Church. They have begun to tap into something greater. God has radically changed so many in that church, but he is going to radically change their lives on a whole other level, more than they thought was possible. God is going to use people with disabilities to change the lives of those at Living Hope, forever.

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Life in a Jar

I just watched an amazing hallmark movie about a polish woman named Irena Sendler. During WWll in Poland, Irena smuggled 2500 Jewish children out of the ghetto and brought them to safety with polish families. These children stayed with those families throughout the war. She kept a record of each child and where she had placed them on pieces of paper in a glass jar. After a while the Gestapo figured out what she was doing and Irena was arrested and tortured. She was sentenced to death but some Zegota members(council for Aid to Jews) bribed the Gestapo at the last minute. She went into hiding after her escape. After the war, she dug up the glass jar with all of the names and helped the children to locate their relatives. Most of the children had lost their families in the concentration camps.

The children that Irena had saved knew her only by her code name, Jolanta. Many years later, her picture appeared in the newspaper. She received a telephone call from a man who said "I remember your face, it was you who took me out of the ghetto." She received many phone calls like that.

Irena risked her life daily for these children, she gave up everything to save them. This strong and courageous woman was being honored for her work and she said " I could have done more, this regret will follow me to my death." We have so much to learn from this amazing woman. What is God asking us to do? Are we willing to give up everything for him? God may be asking us to stand up for what is right at work or to love someone no matter what the cost. Are we ready?

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God Always Works Out the Details

I have become really close to Sabrina and Micah since they started coming to Camp Daniel a couple of years ago. They have a five year old with Down Syndrome which is why they started coming. Micah and Sabrina are part of the camp staff in the summer. I dearly love their kids Elijah and Lydia. I have posted many pictures of them. :0) Micah is in school and Sabrina works full time. Micah will be in Milwaukee for school this next semester while the rest of his family will be in Luxemburg. They weren't sure what they were going to do with Lydia during the day, so I started praying about it. This has been on my heart for a long time. I talked to the rest of the Camp Daniel staff and they thought it was a great idea to help Sabrina and Micah. I will have some extra time, especially this winter. I will be spending three days a week with Sabrina and her kids, kind of like a part time nanny. I am really excited about this because it is totally a God thing. I will be able to play with and love on these kids. I will also be able to encourage Sabrina and help her with whatever. I told Sabrina and Micah last week and they are very excited. It seems that God is working out all of the details and things are falling into place. I love this family. I am excited for what God will bring over this winter season.

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The Value of a Life

I had this strange dream the other night. I was in the middle of one dream and then all of a sudden I was in Africa. I was kneeling on the dusty ground and the sun was very bright. Someone walked up to me. I looked up but I could not see their face because It was so bright. I realized that they had something for me. I reached out and they put a small African child in my arms. This child was skin and bones, dying from hunger. The child looked up into my eyes, too weak to cry. As I looked into the eyes of this sick and frail child, it was like I had been given this divine understanding. I began to weep over this child. I felt the weight and value of the child's life. I understood how valuable each life, each heart is to my heavenly Father. My heart is still heavy, even a couple of days after the dream. I think this dream will be sticking with me for a long time.

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Basketball Game

I haven't posted anything in a while so I thought I would take a few shots of the Special Olympics Basketball Game from last night. The Able Church Attack did really well for their first game of the season.

Doing some stretches before the game

The huddle
That is Nick hanging on the hoop. He thinks he is Michael Jordan. Haha.

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Engagement Pictures

I took some engagement pictures for Jen and Marceaux a few weeks ago. We took the pictures at this old condemned house. It was a really great spot but a little dangerous. I found out later that there are 'no trespassing' signs all over the property. I never saw them. Oh well! At least no one came and yelled at us.

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MEGA in the Holiday Parade

Yesterday morning, the Camp Daniel crew woke up very early and went down to Green Bay to get ready for the Holiday Parade. We got the Mega bus and then we went downtown and found our spot in the parade. We had quite a few people join us and we all dressed up in orange. We had a blast and we got a great response from the crowd. Here are some pictures from the parade.The crowd loved the puppets. Somehow the puppets made it more personal.We handed out MEGA brochures to the kids.
This little hand represents so much. There were thousands of people there. We had the song "Born for a Reason" playing while we walked through the crowds. As I looked into the faces of hundreds of kids, my heart was overwhelmed. They may not know it, but this is what every person in that crowd was asking. They all want to know that God loves them and has a plan for their lives. There are so many people RIGHT HERE, especially kids, that we need to love. The MEGA crewThe MEGA Claus

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