Hello,
„Challenge“- camp for people with disabilities is finished for this year. It took place from June 29th till July 6th at Talsi Christian School. Maybe it wasn’t exactly perfect place for people with special needs, because most of our participants had to sleep with mattresses on the floor and toilet/shower wasn’t close enough, but all of us survived. We had this year 13 participants and 16 staff/personal assistants from all over the Latvia. For some people it took two days to get to Talsi.
During this week all participants were able to take part from many different activities. We had lectures – Bible and Disability, Bible and Depression, How to Study Bible, personality test; we had music and art workshop. Some of them had no idea, that they are artists or that they are able to paint. For example Madara who is not able to use her hands very much, completed her work with elbow. I am not sure that I have heard elbow artist before, but now we have one. We also had sport and games, morning exercises, orienteering in Talsi, movie night and Kaspar did for most of participants physiotherapy or/and massage. We also had some guests: Xenos (famous Latvian Christian music group) did concert, Pastor Sam from India came to preach and we had photo show from person who spent 11 years on YWAM ship “Anastasis”.
Participants really liked Pastor Sam, Xenos and art workshop, but highlight from the camp was rope course in YWAM Valdemarpils Training Centre. We have there many low and high elements where people can learn teamwork and develop personality. Most of these elements needs strong hands and legs, but we where able to offer for every participants two high elements – “Flying squirrel” and “Giant swing”. During first one person is pulled 20m high to “play squirrel”. It is not much asked from person himself, just trust people who are pulling you. It was so cool to see how people were pulled out from wheelchairs and flied up. Second element originally asking to climb up to tree to 9m high platform and make from there step to down what bring you to a giant swing. Some people from us did climb up even that it was really hard for them, but most others where pulled up to platform to sit and then they decided when they are let to fly. Feedback time participant said that first element was nothing comparing to second, but all of them who did both where really happy that they got challenged. This was something they never experienced before. One participants said that she have done and seen many crazy things, but something so crazy she even never thought. From other participant was asked what other activities he would like to see in next camp and he got confused and asked: “You mean something even more extreme?”
After people finished their rope course elements we were offering for everyone Quattro cycle ride. We didn’t have special seat this year, but every participant was able to experience “sandwich” when he was sitting behind Kaspars and secured by Andis. Some people was really scared and said that physically they are not able to do it, but there were way for everyone. Adding for all extreme things people did, they were also able to receive “pet therapy” (we had in training centre one cat, two dogs and 8 puppies) and finished day with bonfire.
Adding for our planned events came out that many participants where able to give interview for Latvian Christian Radio and Talsi TV. One of our staff is working in Christian Radio and this didn’t come like surprise that she asked interviews, but Talsi TV was definitely surprise. During orienteering Talsi TV saw many wheelchairs (in Latvia people with wheelchair are seldom seen outside from
home) struggling on Talsi bad roads and they came to ask what happening. They got so excited that decided to come to film our activities and to take some short interviews. So it came out that we challenged our participants to be also radio and TV stars.
Of course we did some mistakes and maybe some things wasn’t thought still end, but generally people where really happy with camp and some even refused to go back at home. They complained that camp was too short and would need to be once a month not once a year. This camp was challenge for both of participants and staff, but sure it is just beginning.
Thank you for all your prayers. We did have nice weather (especially when we needed to be outside), no serious accidents happened (especially during rope course and Quattro cycle ride), we had (almoust) enough staff, we came out financially. We did LOT of pictures and around 100 of them are out in internet. We also recorded video and need to have this edited. Photos you can look from here.
Blessings,
Evelyn&Kaspars