Adventist Church holds first camp for the visually impaired in North Colombia

Dozens of blind and visually impaired persons and their families participate in a fundraising Eye Run sponsored by Christian Record Services for the Blind at the El Bambu Adventist Camp near Bucaramanga, Colombia, on Oct. 4, 2015. Most of the campers participating in the weekend-packed activities for the blind and visually impaired are from the government-run Workshop School in the city of Bucaramanga. Images by Shirley Rueda/IAD

November 12, 2015 | Bucaramanga, Colombia | Shirley Rueda/IAD Staff

Participants gather in group activities during the weekend camp activities.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in eastern Colombia held a three-day camp for dozens of visually impaired individuals near the city of Bucaramanga earlier last month. The activity was the first-of-its-kind organized by the church in North Colombia and sponsored by Christian Record Services for the Blind (CRSB)—a Christian organization based in the United States serving the blind and visually impaired individuals worldwide.

The event drew 40 young people and adults mostly attending the government-run Escuela Taller or Workshop School in Bucaramanga to participate in physical, social and spiritual activities at the church-owned El Bambu Camp. Family members and teachers took part in the weekend activities as well.

“We wanted to show them that the church is interested in their well-being,” said Pastor Ezequiel Rueda, special needs ministries director for the church in North Colombia and chaplain of the Camp at the time of the event. “It was a very unique experience to see their excitement, their happiness, how they enjoy every moment and every activity.”

Every morning and evening Pastor Rueda spoke to the participants on the hope of seeing Jesus with their own eyes when He returns to earth for the second time.

Pastor Ezequiel Rueda of North Colombia, introduces 17-year-old Felix Villalba during the camp organized by the Adventist Church, near Bucaramanga, Colombia. Image by Shirley Rueda/IAD

Sunday morning, campers participated in a walk called the Eye Run, an annual fundraising event by Christian Record to support free programs for persons with visual disabilities.

“I have felt so good here,” said Esperanza Cedano. She particularly liked how the the ministers explained the Bible. Cedano, who is in her mid 40s said she lost her vision just a few years ago due to a very stressful situation with her family. “My wish is that God can restore the light in my eyes so that I can see again.”

Felix Villalba, a blind 17-year-old youth, said the camp represented a welcome change from the routine activities of the week. “This has been such an interesting weekend because we have had a personal and more intense encounter with God,” said Villalba. On day two of the camp activities, Villalba decided to get baptized along with two fellow attendees.

Manager of the Workshop School Herman Gomez thanked the Adventist Church for organizing the camp for 40 of the 90 visually impaired persons who attend the school every day. “During this event here, I have seen that disabilities have been set aside on the background and great values and the potential move forward have been highlighted,” said Gomez.

According to the National Statistics Department of Colombia (Departamento Administrativo de Estadisticas) individuals with visual impairment represent 43.5 percent of all cases of disability in the country.

It is a high percentage for which the church can make a difference, said Rueda.

The camp activity was part of an initial long-term initiative of answering the challenge placed by the Adventist world church and the Inter-American Division that calls to minister to those with special needs in church and communities, explained Rueda.

Camp participants pose for a group photo at El Bambu Adventist Campsite.

The Adventist Church has been participating in activities with the school for more than three years now thanks to a need church member Luz Marina Ardila saw when she found out that there were blind persons in her community. It turned out that many of the visually impaired she met were attending the Workshop School for the blind. Ardila told her local pastor who notified Pastor Rueda. Rueda then reached out to Jose Martinez, CRSB Hispanic Development director and worked together to raise funds to hold the camp event.

Special Needs Ministries director in Bucaramanga Dorlay Tarazona was so happy to participate in the organization of the event. “I believe that better times are coming and this is an initiative that strengthens and gives wings to this ministry,” said Tarazona. It is the kind of activities the church needs to repeat every year, he added.

To view a photo gallery of the North Colombia’s camp for the blind event, visit https://flic.kr/s/aHskifNcsW