What is We Are Able?
We Are Able is a three day workcamp, hosted by the Church of the Brethren, for young adults (16 +) with intellectual disabilities. It is held in New Windsor, Maryland, at the Brethren Service Center where participants serve together at the Material Resources warehouse and package SERRV fair-trade handcrafts from around the world. Registration closes April 1, 2016.
We spent some of our work time serving in Brethren Disaster Ministries’ warehouse where we were asked to assemble health kits. What could have been a tedious task turned into a time of fellowship. The group divided into pairs and worked together to make sure that nothing was left out of each kit. As the hours wore on, a friendly competition formed to see who could stack the most completed health kits before lunch. As we worked, we listened to music and shared stories with one another. Workcampers who had just met each other were quickly becoming friends. I’ve always found it inspiring to see how serving side by side can bring people together.
A balance of work and play
We also had plenty of opportunities to bond outside of the service projects as well. In the evenings we were able to explore some of the local recreational activities. On our last night, we went to a state park where we took a short hike to a waterfall, swam in the lake, and had a cookout. I think it is this balance of work and play that helps create lasting friendships and makes workcamps such a meaningful experience for those involved. The We Are Able workcamp is a wonderful opportunity to live in intentional community, serve alongside others, and explore new places.
If you are interested in being part of a workcamp this summer, either as a We Are Able participant or as a young adult assistant, please visit the workcamp website at or email Amanda McLearn-Montz. Registration closes April 1, 2016.
More pictures from the 2015 We Are Able workcamp.
Hannah Shultz is Campus Ministry Program Coordinator at Juniata College, Huntingdon PA
