This year, the Challenge camp took place in Spāre boarding school from 2 to 8 July. The 19 participants along with the assistants and team members made up a multicultural company of around 70 people. Since this was already the 10th camp, the birthday atmosphere gave a good reason to look back on what God has done throughout the decade. At the same time, we could see and rejoice over His works in this year’s camp.
The week included all the parts Challenge is known and loved for: interesting lectures, fun sports activities and workshops, the opportunity to get a haircut, visit a physiotherapist and consult a orthosis & prothesis specialist for free and of course the Extreme Day. On the request of last year’s participants, we heard lectures on the reasons behind having no friends, whether it is possible to be single and happy, the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection and God’s calling for our lives. The workshops gave everybody a chance to try out line dancing, learn more about etiquette and make a lovely photo frame as a keepsake. In addition, we travelled to Brazil with the help of our imaginations and some Brazilian friends, were encouraged to push our limits in sports and enjoyed a concert by the popular Latvian band My Radiant You.
But what made the camp probably most of all was the warm, open atmosphere where everybody was welcomed, no matter the nationality or abilities. Our time together had space for encouraging and challenging conversations that defied physical and language barriers, as well as just relaxing and enjoying each other’s company and the Latvian countryside. The Extreme Day with its raft ride also gave a chance for just that. After the first challenge of getting on the raft from a very steep river bank –wheelchairs and all –, we were rewarded with a beautiful ride on the Gauja river in nice summer weather. But that was not it – after coming on shore again we had a four-kilometre hike on gravel and sand before reaching our final destination, the Rakši zoo where we met and petted camels, alpacas and llamas. A campfire with lots of good food and testimonies about God’s works was the perfect ending to the day full of joy, excitement and surprising ourselves.
The camp had a good prejudice-shattering effect on people both with and without disabilities. One of the earlier participants testified about how the first Challenge camp he attended radically changed his view on Christians and led him to trusting his life to Jesus. Another participant shared her surprise over the realisation that in this camp, people actually care when they ask you how you are doing. One participant’s mother admitted that before the camp, she did not imagine people with disabilities could have such joy in their lives and sometimes even seem happier than people without. Another lady who took part for the first time said she had never experienced such genuine care in any church. Perhaps this is the challenge we should take to our home churches with us – how to really notice eveybody’s needs and respond to them in God’s love in our everyday life.
In Matthew 18:20, Jesus promised that „where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.“ Of the 70 of us, those who knew God beforehand did just that – gathered in His name to do our best and let Him do the rest. But when a number of imperfect people come together with the sincere wish to do God’s will, He takes over. During the week, five people decided to join the family and give their lives to Jesus. Let us pray that the ripple effects of what God started in the camp would continue in the lives of everyone involved, letting His will be done and His kingdom come.