Getting Ready to See The Mouse!
Monday, October 15- With medals in hand and souvenir shopping now complete, the team is now prepared for the final event of the trip- A visit to DisneyWorld's Magic Kingdom! When asked who the athletes were looking most forward to seeing, answers ranged from Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy! It has been a good trip thus far and the team has been exceptional in their attitudes and teamwork. As breakfast now finishes being cooked in the kitchen, coffee is being enjoyed and maps of the park are reviewed a final time for information on rides and shows.
At this time, I would like to offer my appreciation for the caregivers for these men and those throughout all of our adult homes. These loving staff members treat these men as family; eating together, tending their special needs and providing loving encouragement and support during times of uncertainty or confusion. While I have always admired the kind and generous devotion of our staff members, my respect has grown tremendously during our time in Florida. To paraphrase, "truly blessed are the caretakers". It is only through their sacrifice and support that this experience has been made available to these men and the memories captured for a lifetime.
While I have attempted to avoid commentary about my personal experiences, I do want to describe the gift I have received from participating on this trip. At the weigh-in/registration of the Powerlifting event, all of the athletes had to stripdown and be weighed to determine their particular competitive division. One of our athletes, Daryl, partially utilizes a wheelchair for mobility. In assisting Daryl after his weigh-in, I was kneeling before him replacing his socks and shoes as he sat in his wheelchair. Although I was replacing sneakers rather that washing feet, I personally felt that God spoke to my heart and charged me with being a servant to these brave athletes. I hope I am living to this charge and am grateful for the opportunity to serve.
More later about our day with the Mouse!
