For the homes, July was ALL about Camp L’Arche. During that week we gathered to sing and eat and have fun together. We rode trains, danced at live music events, had water fights on the farm, took ferries, went to festivals and ball games.
It was SO. MUCH. FUN! It was also SO. MUCH. WORK!
Since the conclusion of Camp L’Arche I’ve found myself reflecting on why we routinely invest so much time and energy into events like this. Obviously, a community value is celebration and having fun together. It’s also a very special time for core members. Sitting down with each of them afterward to ask their thoughts reassured me that our core members LOVE this kind of thing.
At the heart, our mission is about forming mutual relationships and sharing life together. The sharing of life and building of mutual relationships happen in our dayliness. But sometimes we don’t notice all that we are building together until we step out of our routines together and into new environments.
At the end of Camp L’Arche, I’m most grateful for how it gave opportunity to everyone to experience our mission in a different, maybe deeper way. Here are some highlights for me:
- Kendyl’s surprise in getting to see her friends from the L’Arche Seattle community on Vashon Island.
- Debbie and Lori shell hunting on the beach
- Bobby’s contagious joy at the pool
- Mary reconnecting with Sharilynn at Owen’s Beach
- Caitlyn, Bobby, Carie and Hayden quietly staring off at the water
- Nate testing out who does/doesn’t like getting hit with a water gun on a hot day
- Colleen and Kendyl diving into the kiddie pool at the end of the water fight
- Sharilynn finding new people to dance with everyday
- Debbie and Sharilynn playing cards at a coffee shop
- Doug and Leana finding mutual joy at the jackpot of freebies like magazines and DVDs at the library.
- Debra’s energy and enthusiasm for each activity bursting out of her in fits of laughter and singing in the van
- Les’ excitement to see friends and coaches from the Special Olympics joining us at events.
- Ricky’s sweet extroverted schmooze nature making him new friends everywhere he went.
- The wild discomfort and laughter inspired by the legendary “muscle muscle dance” starting with Drew!
There are SO MANY more moments of mission I got to witness during Camp L’Arche. And at the end of the week, that is what sticks!
