ELLINWOOD — Promote handicapped children in a healthy environment - physically, emotionally and spiritually - for a better future. That is the theme for this years conference/summer camp for families of children with disabilities in Romania sponsored by Star of Hope out of Ellinwood. Mark Aug. 21 - 24 on your calendar and pray for the families who will be gathering to share burdens, joys, exchange information and helpful suggestions.
Pray for spiritual renewal in the lives of each participant.
At the heart of what matters, there is no difference between families. This family, too, experience all that comes with loving and raising a disabled child. It is easy only to love.
All else is a challenge that you and I can never understand unless we have a child with special needs. This family will be traveling to the
Romania conference this coming August. Will travel be easy? Are they going as your typical sight-seeing tourists? No. They are going as a StarTeam to minister and be a witness to what God can do.
Debbie, a pediatric nutritionist, and Scott, physical therapist, go first and foremost as Chase’s parents.
Of course their distinctive professions gives them extra words, thoughts and advice to share BUT they go as parents with tender hearts that will be able to empathize with the Romanian parents and be able to share their faith in and love for Jesus that sustains them on a daily basis.
Scott will be an enigma to the Romanian men when they hear how he involves himself in Chase’s life, something they are not accustomed to doing in their culture. Then there is Chase. A disease has captured his body but not his mind nor his spirit. His faith is active and evident in his life on a daily basis. His hands have gnarled so that he can no longer ‘sign’ but that does not stop him. He uses his elbow to type messages on an iPad. He is anxious to share his testimony with the Romanian people at the conference. He is a walking testimony.
So please keep post this and pray for the funding that many will receive the blessings that will come from this special conference.
Most of the families who have children with disabilities are isolated, and experience some degree of discrimination in our (Romania) society. It is considered a shame to have a child with a disability (mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, etc.).
During the conference, the parents will have the opportunity to go for a short holiday, be together mother, father and child and meet other families who are in the same situation. They will see that they are not alone in this world.
Many families have never been in a hotel before and enjoyed being served by other. During this conference, the parents will stay in a hotel and be served good food and be the recipients of spiritual guidance.
There will be an opportunity to present the Gospel in a way the people have not heard before.
Most of these Orthodox people have not visited an evangelical church.