Summer, 2009

 

Creation Vacation

 

Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the United Methodist

Church, twelve Bienestar families had an amazing vacation on the

Oregon Coast this summer.  Creation Vacation is a project of the

United Methodist Church to offer very low-income families the

opportunity to experience a few days of family vacation, enjoying a

supportive community and the wonder of creation.  For many, it is a

respite from the struggles of daily life. 

 

A year earlier, Bienestar was approached by Mira Conklin, Hispanic

Outreach director of the United Methodist Church based in Washington

County, to offer the camping opportunity at Camp Magruder on the

Oregon coast.  In a meeting early on Conklin and Lisa Jean Hoefner,

Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries, Bienestar staff

noted that most of our families had never been on vacation, had never

 been to the Oregon Coast, and would be reluctant to attend on their

own.  It was agreed that 3 staff families would participate along with

nine resident families.

 

Since the experience was completely unique to the families, Mira

Conklin worked with the staff in several pre-meetings with the

participants so that they would know what to expect.  She explained

that volunteers from the camp and from the United Methodist Church

in Cornelius would serve as ‘family friends’ during the camp and after. 

According to Conklin,: “Creation Vacation is an opportunity to offer the

gift of camping and of significant together time for families while

building long-lasting relationships with Family Friends that could be

huge blessings for everyone.  We are called to know and care for our

neighbors and to allow them to know and care for us.  This could be a

huge step forward in our efforts to build relationships with our

Hispanic/Latino sisters and brothers.”

     

 

Bienestar Program Services Manager Gracie Garcia writes of the

experience:  “The families were greeted by volunteers from the United

Methodist Church as well as staff from Camp Magruder.  The warmth

that we felt when getting off the bus was overwhelming.  Every family

was paired up with a ‘family friend”.  The cabins were beautiful; the

families couldn’t believe how nice they were.  For the first time ever,

we experienced boat rides, archery, crafts and nature walks.  Some

families made jewelry, candles, crosses form nature materials, while

others took their children on donkey rides.  Families were able to play

basketball, soccer, board games and ping pong together.  For the first

time mothers didn’t have to cook, and everyone shared in setting

tables and cleaning after each meal.  Our families were willing to try

new food that they had never eaten before – they even asked for the

recipes.  In the evening everyone gathered around the campfire to

sing songs, accompanied by our staffer Jorge Tello on guitar, and

enjoyed smores.”

 

   

“We were so happy to see parents and children participating together

in activities, building stronger families and sense of community.  One

17-year old who is wheelchair-bound visited the beach for her very

first time.  The church volunteers had a special wheel chair that

allowed her to go on the sand at the beach and into the water –

enabling her to realize a lifelong dream.  Our families had the most

wonderful time, and for the first time in their busy lives they forgot all

about stress, work, money problems, responsibilities, and just enjoyed

their children, each other and their new family friends.”

 

The Rev. Kevin Witt, the conference’s former camp and retreat

ministries director, says that when these vacationers step away from

their environments, they have an opportunity to value and enjoy each

other in a new way. He adds,:  “The natural world is a way to connect

more deeply with God.  It’s part of a faith journey.  The families leave

with strengthened relationships, a feeling of community and deepened

spiritual practices.  It is a renewal that continues for the summer and

beyond.”

 

You can see a video about Bienestar’s Creation Vacation here.