The Good News Hits Home

Dear Sam,
       Today was such a special day. You have started back to school, but today you were with me all day, so I scheduled a play date with my friend Kara. You and her son are close in age, so we dropped off Mattox at school and headed to their house to play. You were very excited for this play date because they have hermit crabs. On the way to their house, you told me that you wanted to pray and ask God to come into your heart! I lead you in a prayer saying, "Dear God, I know that I am not perfect, and I want you to come into my heart and help me make good choices and be more like you. I want to give my life to you today. In Jesus name I pray, amen." As soon as we said amen, you said, "Mom…and He will NEVER EVER leave me, right?" I said, "That's right Sam. No matter how good or bad you are, He will never leave you. That is one of his promises, and God always keeps his promises."Once we got back to school to pick up Mattox, we told Mrs Pat, the director. She told you that all the angels in heaven are having a party and saying, "yayyyy Sam!" You liked to hear there was a party on your behalf.
       Sam, today you totally made my heart melt. You are such a good, funny, sincere, and loving boy. I am so happy that you gave your life to Christ. I pray that you learn to develop the courage to let Him mold you into the man He calls you to be. I pray that you will practice saying "no" to yourself and "yes" to Christ going forward for the rest of your life. I love you Sam. My heart overflows.

Love always,
Mom

Joni and Friends

  I finished my first year of college and was spending the summer as a youth intern at Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC. My boss for the summer was Pastor Clint Echols, the middle school Pastor at Calvary, and the Joni and Friends summer camp pastor. After spending the summer with middle schoolers, we took what I thought was going to be a break, and drove to Bonclarken, NC to work Joni and Friends camp. I wasn't sure what to expect. I had never heard of Joni and Friends, and I don't recall Clint telling me a lot about what I would be doing. I just rolled with it and hoped for the best. I had no clue the impact that Joni and Friends camp would have on me from that point forward.

       I will never forget the little girl I worked with that week. She was a skinny little red headed girl with glasses. I recall her having a chromosomal disorder, but for the most part, she was very high functioning. She always wanted to hold my hand, and would look up at me and ask, "you my priend?" She was so easy and fun. I felt bad that I didn't have to work really hard that week. My little buddy for the week was a walk in the park. I soon realized that my ministry that week was not really about my buddy. Of course I focused primarily on her, but God opened my eyes to several other kids at camp that needed attention. They were the siblings. They were the brothers and sisters of the campers. They were the ones that were always, out of necessity and not on purpose, on the back burner . The kids that, because of their family dynamics, had to grow up quickly, be responsible, and put themselves last. Always. 

       That week, I had extra energy to give to some of those siblings. Those siblings were used to being overlooked, but this week in particular, I made it my mission to give them attention. I will never overlook the siblings again. They are AMAZING kids. They are selfless and loving kids. They know the hard lesson of putting other's needs ahead of their own. They are helpful, graceful, and mature. Many of the siblings I met that summer are older now. Their hearts are beautiful and I have the utmost respect for them.

      For the next few summers, I worked camp. As I am typing this, I am trying to put into words what goes on at camp. In some ways, it's so pure. Volunteers come from all over, and put their needs aside, to embrace the needs of others. Campers travel from all over to have their much needed vacation. In some ways it is pure love mixed with complete chaos. Every special need: physical, mental, behavioral, are all together in one place for a week.
       The first dinner with everyone, for me, is always the hardest. In the mess hall, it is so loud. People are yelling and drooling. Wheel chairs are everywhere and some campers are sneaking around trying to steal food they aren't allowed to eat. It is complete and utter chaos. However, something magical happens that week. By the end of the week, none of that seems chaotic. None of it seems abnormal. Over the course of a week….the chaos becomes the new normal and is actually pretty awesome. As I look around the mess hall, I have no problem eating my food as I wipe my buddy's mouth. I have no problem taking my dinner roll BACK from the little girl who can't eat bread….but stole it off my plate while I was looking the other way. It's magical and fun. 

       In general, my experience with Joni and Friends has taught me many things. It has opened my eyes to the reality of what moms and dads go through, caring for someone with special needs. They are true heroes. They fight for their kids. They sacrifice for their kids. They lay down their life for their kids. My friends who are siblings, have taught me how to put myself last, a lesson I struggle to learn even to this day. My friends with special needs have taught me, that they want the same thing I do. They want acceptance. They want a future. They want friends. They are talented and have a lot to offer. They help us see the world differently. They challenge us to give more of ourselves. They are true overcommers. They teach us perseverance and surrender. They show us strength through humility. Their lessons are ongoing. 

       As I think back to all the memories I have working Joni and Friends camp, there is one conversation that sticks out. I remember asking a teenage girl who was paralyzed and in a wheel chair, on the last day of camp, "so, what did you learn this week?' Her answer I will NEVER forget. She said, "That we are not second class citizens." Volunteering with Joni and Friends has taught me just that. People with special needs are not second class citizens at all. They are truly unique and amazing people. 

Not long ago, Lara Liszka (one of the siblings I met at camp), whose twin sister has Down Syndrome, shared this verse with me: 

Isaiah 64:8 "O Lord, you are our father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are ALL the work of your hand."

Volunteering with Joni and Friends has truly been one of the most valued experiences of my life. If you want to join the fun visit: www.joniandfriends.org