Dinner is over, and the house is quiet. The neighbors aren't fighting that we can hear, thankfully, as dear wife and I sit in the living room with our i-pads. TV is off, already heard all the latest scut about Obamacare.
I naturally tune in to SI to enjoy the fresh postings and wonder whether I should entertain you all with details of camping with the handicapped last weekend.
About 75 folks, most of whom are adults with some degree of serious mental impairment and physical issues as well, gathered at a Christian camp not far into the local back country. We had cabins which were glorified tents, and I was a cabin leader with five men all over 50. On the outside...younger in some aspects of development.
I had made a comment in another thread last week about this, mentioning that I fully expected to have issues where rubber gloves would be very appropriate- I was not disappointed! One of the girls had apparently eaten enough breakfast for several people, and while sitting in the front row at morning chapel on Saturday sort of exploded. Yikes! The theater group doing a song and dance routine, with the girls in stocking feet, had to dance right through some of it as chairs were being removed for flushing with a hose outside. The floor would have to wait a few minutes.
In my cabin, one of the guys had a bed wetting problem that only came to my attention when I saw him roll out of his bunk on Saturday morning. Why he had been sleeping on two comforters, a blanket, his towel, shirts and his jacket escapes me. Laundry time, big time!
I asked him about whether he ever used diapers and he showed them to me on the floor by his bed. He never told me about them!
That evening I noticed he was again sleeping on his bunk fully dressed on another sleeping bag he had.
" Chester, did you get that diaper on?"
"I'll do it in the morning," he said.
I worked hard to retain my Christian composure, and moments later he was diapered up. He got a little surly, grumbling that I was just like some other guy at his group home, an attendant who also didn't like cleaning up after him.
Oh but it gets better.
During the night, most of the guys got up for that midnight shuffle out of the cabin and down the dirt path to the bathroom. I was on a top bunk, and suddenly in the darkness I heard a rather frantic shuffling and someone went out the door rather quickly. Half asleep, my mind noted- whoever that was didn't put any shoes on. Hmmmm. Then I went back to sleep sort of.
Chester didn't come back to the cabin so I knew I needed to check on him. As I climbed off the bunk, I began to notice the aroma. When I turned on the light- ewww, boy! It was a trail of evidence that said in a loud voice, "The day has begun!" So much for inadequate diapers...
I slipped on my flip-flops, grateful that my bare feet has missed the "evidence" by just inches as I climbed off the bunk. But when I grabbed the doorknob to go find Chester, my luck ran out. I now had the evidence in hand.
Well, we got it all cleaned up and my brain has a brand new and exciting fresh reminder why, when someone suggests going camping, it's never a good idea.
On the other hand, what a fabulous diversion for a population of people whose routines are normally pretty bland and predictable. They have found a ministry that genuinely cares for them and provides both a weekly worship service and regular activities to challenge their hearts. Watching the interactions they have loving Jesus in simple ways and each other is amazing. They teach me a thing or two!
The ministry is called "Luv-Em-Up" and it is just that. Haven't worked that hard for a weekend in a long time, but I would do it again- and probably will!
Oops, may have drifted off topic a bit- sorry!
