Charity’s Joy
This is Charity.
When I first met her, she did something amazing (more on that below!) What blew me away, though, was learning her story AFTER her amazing feat.
Charity’s Story
I learned later in getting to know Charity that she lost her left leg to childhood cancer and has endured ongoing health challenges. She has faced several life-altering experiences that have had every reason to steal her joy. She’s faced loss, pain, and uncertainty to an extent that most individuals couldn’t even imagine.
Yet this weekend at the Wilderness Adventures Ministries (WAM) Campout in Oklahoma, she exuded unshakable joy. She persevered, y’all. She persevered through hiking on crutches, rolling herself up rocky hills in her wheelchair, pushing through long days and tough conversations, and facing her fears head-on.
Her Amazing Feat
On top of her incredible grit throughout the weekend. This feat amazed me. On her own, she journeyed up a tall set of rickety stairs. With the help of the team, she strapped into a simple harness, and then bravely bolted off the ledge to zipline through the woods. The amount of trust that it took to lean into that discomfort was pretty unfathomable! But in the midst of plenty of unknowns, being surrounded by new people in new places and facing new challenges, she persevered with joy.
The smile on her face speaks volumes about how impactful the weekend was for her, and gives a glimpse at how impactful the weekend was for us as leaders.
Serving Others
I also saw her care for others throughout the weekend. She spoke truth in love and encouraged those around her. She helped guide individuals with visual impairments to ensure their safety. Then on the flip side, she leaned into the discomfort of being served instead of serving, as she’s used to doing back home.
Going Home
Our prayer is that Charity’s outdoor experience this weekend will shape how she tackles hard things in the future, knowing that she is seen, known, supported, and loved, no matter what life throws her way. She is a daughter of the King, covered in grace and radiating with joy and peace that transcend all human understanding.
At Summit
This is what we’re all about at Summit – leaning into Ephesians 4:11-13, which highlights the need for leaders to be encouraged in their God-given strengths, equipped to do the work God has set before them, & empowered to reflect Christ in the world.
We enjoyed partnering with Wilderness Adventures Ministry on their first ever overnight event, and would love to help your group! Click here to email us, if you are a part of a group who could use these type of experiences. We’d love to dream with you.
