 Report from Deaf-Blind Camp 2002, West River United Methodist Camping Center, Maryland |
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by Noemi Fuentes |
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Deaf-Blind people can teach the world the gift of inclusiveness. There are no barriers of race, class, or gender here as deaf-blind campers reach new heights of achievement. 35 deaf-blind adults from seven different States in the U.S. participated in this camp. Two volunteer support service providers were assigned to each camper; some volunteers stayed full time, while others stayed for a day or two and left. Among them were massage therapists, hair stylists and beauticians, members of the Lions Club in Maryland, motorcycle riders, cooks, a dance instructor, and a band. Yes, it was great!!!! I was there at the camp for 6 days - not just to visit the project, but also to be one of the Support Service Providers. Since I did not know much American Sign Language or tactile signing, I was assigned to Barbara Moore, a partially deaf and blind elderly woman. She plays the piano and sings beautifully. She did not know sign language either. My partner support service provider was Beth Rogers. Barbara Moore received an award for having attended all the deaf-blind camps from the time it started five years ago when there were only six campers. A perfect model of "unity in diversity" Every time I got a break from being with my camper, I sat in the background to watch what was going on. I saw the commitment of the support service providers to their campers; tactile signing, helping with everything that a camper wants or needs to do. The dependency of the campers did not deprive them the right to be independent at a certain level: they made decisions for themselves in terms of choosing what activities of the day they would participate in such as praying, singing, sharing their experiences, expressing their opinions, asking questions, dancing, motorcycle riding, boating, tubing, canoeing, wall climbing, hay riding, swimming, arts and crafts, body massages, haircuts, manicures, pedicures and make-up; what food they ate, what drink they wanted, when to rest and have a break. One evening, we had a pizza party. The volunteer cook made 180 individual sizes of pizza (four different kinds). It was just wonderful. Every morning we had devotions and Bible workshops. In one of the devotions, Rodney Walker, a camper from Easton, MD, shared an experience he had at the camp while he sat by the water one early morning. He said, "I felt the cold breeze on my skin, then I saw myself walking on the water like Jesus did." He saw the sun rise. He described how he felt the heat of the sun on his skin, the strong wind; then came the huge waves that tossed him. He then plunged deep down to the bottom of the sea. He said he swam back up to the surface of the water. He saw the water calm down. He stood there peacefully as he saw the sun setting, the sea calming, the water rippling. Then, he saw the sunset. It became dark, the sky was clear, and he saw the stars and the moon, and felt the cold breeze again. The following day, he said he saw the sun rise again, a clear blue sky, and across the clear blue sky, he saw the rainbow - beautiful, bright colors of the rainbow. All that he saw, he compared to his life: the times when he is troubled are as if he was tossed by the huge waves; during peaceful times in his life he feels the ripples on the calm sea; the happiness and joy he experiences in his life and now at the camp, appear like the beautiful bright colors of the rainbow. This event enriched the lives and experiences of the campers as a whole - body, mind and spirit. I experienced the love, respect, caring and concern for one another, and unity - regardless of race, gender, educational background, faith, skills, class; a very diverse group. I thank all the members of The United Methodist Church who contributed to "Advance No. 982562-7, Deaf Ministry Advance". They helped make this deaf-blind camp, and many other deaf and deaf-blind camps happen. I hope the whole congregation continues to support the Deaf Ministry Advance. I thank Rev. Peggy Johnson, Aniko Samu-Kuschatka, Carol Stevens, and the rest of the staff who had coordinated and spearheaded this camp. It is such a wonderful experience! I want to be back next time.
Date posted: Jul 02, 2002 |
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