Down time

     I am spending some time off at the Joni and Friends family retreat as a volunteer.  Everyone needs some time off and I am spending some vacation time with a purpose.  Families come to Marinatha Bible and Conference Center that have a disabled family member and a volunteer like me helps care for the disabled person giving the families a respite from the 24/7 care of the disabled person. 
     There are all sorts of disabilities here and I have served at this camp for 11 summers now. These week long camps receive families in great stress often.  The care givers get a chance to connect with other families facing the same challenges and it is often a healing time for a family that might otherwise not stay together as the divorce rate for a family with a disabled child is in the 80% range.
     Another statistic that really grabbed my attention this week was the 90% of downs syndrome babies that are currently aborted.  Down syndrome is easily tested for these days and our culture seems to regard these persons as disposable.  I have served as a buddy to downs syndrome children here and I find this to be a great tradgedy.
     I more often have served adults but the point of this camp is to serve the whole family no matter what disability is present.  A vacation where you travel and see another culture or just relax in a beautiful perhaps tropical setting is a good thing, but I find my batteries recharged by this kind of ministry even more.  The volunteers work hard here but I really get away from the business here and return with a new energy.