The Burys

The Burys

Monday, October 4, 2010

Seasons of Change

If their was something that I deal with every day, something that is the carrier of that newness that I long for, that would be change. Most of the changes that take place usually represent other forces that are outside my control. It’s this point of control that I sometimes embrace and sometimes it drives me near insanity. The experiences that come when helping my friends face the issues of life at Able Church are usually ones that are hard to predict and sometimes hard to manage. The freshness of spirit is also the byproduct of our fellowship. It is this freshness that I long for and experience every morning. The beauty of it all is that somehow my sacrifice and service have brought me to the place where I reap this benefit every day. I rub elbows with those with disabilities every day and the outcome is change and the byproduct of this change is a newness that is fresh and invigorating to my spirit. To all I owe my brothers and sisters in Christ and to that end do I serve them because truly they are the beautiful ones who impart to me that change that recharges my soul.

Here are some of those events that have been points of change and growth for Jen and I. This week we were taken through the life changing experience of death. One of our member’s grandmother passed away. The Able Church stuck close to each other through the process. It was an amazing sight to see our fellowship intersect with the community around us and how they spread their love in a time of grief.

Mega for Kids is a consistent display of creativity for Jesus. I had encouraged the Professor commenting about the great job that he does and that he is the right man in the right place and a valuable tool for the kids at Mega. I observed the new puppet master and shared with Jen how he has really grown into that roll and his ability keeps improving every week. She told me I needed to tell him that. Their is even hope for the Mega bus. It keeps stretching me to the point of insanity and growth. I think that "MAX" will very soon be a frequent sight on the roads of Green Bay.

Camp Daniel is ever coming closer to its maturity. Some of the machinery comes and goes. We just sold some of our equipment. I will miss our ex. I started it up from a long rest and kept her running only to see her leave. Tony and I are grieved because we both know the great story of "Mike Mulligan" and how this story from this little book was alive in our excavator. The great thing is that I don't think that Senior minds a bit.

The bowling squad is at best full of great pizza. My wishes are that Tina would become that champion on the bowling lanes that she is at the Able church. I hope that the boys of Camp Daniel could repeat their last year's performance. We will feel the power of the Weids, as John will join us on the bowling lanes in competition this year.

There has been chatter that Milo is trying to use the computer. We did see them show up at Able with his new wife Mabel. They were both trying to protect the newly found love during their honeymoon. Jen and I wished them well but commented that they kind of needed some new cloths.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Monday, April 5, 2010

The reality of the presence of GOD is shocking to me especially when I just settle in the realization of the work that He has accomplished and is doing in my life. What a wonderful year it has been. A few weeks ago Jen and I celebrated the one year anniversary of my moving from Montana to Camp Daniel. It has been the best year of my life and it just keeps getting better. The labor at Camp has been exhausting. I remember thinking before I left Montana a year ago, "How much work is there really to do at a summer bible camp in the off season?" My experience is that the labor in the ministry for the disabled is huge and like most effective ministries the laborers are few. I think that my social life has been given a complete overhaul. Those deep personal relationships with people with disabilities are the best. They are deep, difficult, fulfilling, loving, colorful, and even strange. The greatest is that they are not predictable and they take me places that sometimes I am not willing to go. The greatest of all is the true heart filled praise and worship that I get to take part in every Friday at Able Church. It really is a piece of Camp Daniel every week. I look ahead and pray that the Lord would help Able Church grow and that the relationships that were formed at camp would not be lost. That our staff could have the time and resources to foster and grow those relationships and create new ones with the surrounding group homes. That the Lord would raise up laborers in Able church so the ministry could stay fresh and vibrant. THANK YOU CAMP DANIEL AND ABLE CHURCH for a wonderful opportunity to invest in things above.
Marceaux

Friday, March 12, 2010

Our Wedding

We are excited for the approaching wedding on May 22nd!

We will give some extra details at this site and put up any updates along the way.

We are registered at amazon.com, FleetFarm, & JCPenny. All can be accessed online using my name "Jen Allard" under each site's gift regristry. You can also go to FleetFarm & JCPenny and have a print out in the store.

We do appreciate monitary gifts and gift cards as living arrangements are small.

Information about the chapel and the camp can be found at http://www.forestjunction.org/ Click on "Camp Forest" in the menu. Please note the number on the invitation for the camp was wrong. The correct number is (920)989-1606. Accommodations on the camp include RV w/electric $20/night, RV w/o electric $15/night, Unheated Cabins $25-45/night (space heaters allowed), Dorm rooms $5/night, Call for tent camping price.

FYI- the Fox River bike trail goes through close to the camp for those biking enthusiasts

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Which Game Would You Want To Attend?

This past Saturday The Able Church's Special Olympics basketball team took 2nd place in divison 4 in the Menasha tournament. All 2nd and 3rd place teams were put into a lottery in order to advance to the next tournament before the state tournament. Unfortunately, we didn't get picked. So, our season is over, but we had a great year. One of my favorite scrimmage games was against Sybel Hopp Allumni where we were tied 40 to 40.
These Special Olympics tournaments are some of the highlights of my year. Literally, hundreds of people with disabilities from all over Wisconsin come together in one building for a fun sporting event.

When you walk into the hallways and the gym, it is like you enter an entirelly different world. You get an overwhelming sence of peace, love, care, joy, kindness, you can sense it. People wave and are excited to see you. Even those you never met come up to you and give you a hug or hand shake. Fans and athletes don't fly off the handle if a bad call is made or if johny gets pulled out of the game for awhile.

Gosh, I remember my highschool games or watching college/pro game where fans and athletes yell at coaches and the refs. Athletes hating other athletes, ect and the spirit of the games being hostile. At the Special Olympics games, many times, I saw athletes go down to the grown and someone from the other team helping them up. Genuine "congratulations!" were given winning teams and genuine "Good game" given to losing teams.

Now, there still is aggressive compitition and athletes want to win. And there is even tiffs now and then. But very minor in comparison to what we see in most highschools and professional sports. And if offended, these Athletes seem to be able to let it go rather quickly.

I've talked to Special Olympics coaches who have coached highschool or college ball all their life and they express how much better they enjoy Special Olympics. They used to be all stressed out, players hated them, parents hating them, seeing ugliness come out of themselves, seeing fights, etc.

So, which game would you want to attend or be involved in?

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Open Mic



January 23rd The Able Church performed several songs at The Cup-O-Joy for Open Mic Night. Songs included God Made Me, With God I'm Able, He Has Made Me Strong, & Something Beautiful. Sarah sang a solo, Mary Did You Know. It was very beautiful. Here's one of the songs lyrics to the tune of God is good, all the time.



God made me
He has a plan
He made me just the way I am
God made me
God loves Me
He has a plan

When I am weak,
then I am strong
And to the Church of Jesus, I belong
Together we
are family
We are strong



You need me
I need you
Together we have work to do
We must go
Tell the world
God loves them so

Sunday, January 10, 2010


Great weekend! I think that my work with people with disabilities has expanded into that time in which is very personal to me. Its not work but its spending time with them in social situations. Visiting their homes and just hanging out. That is where I think that we both see each other in new and wonderful ways. The communication and intimacy opens to new levels. Jen, Amanda, Sarah, Jabberjaw(DJ) and I went to the Cup of Joy and enjoyed the praise music. Jen and I also visited Peter and we listened to old vinyl records that he had. I had not herd an old vinyl record in a long time. I was captivated. We celebrated DJ's birthday at Jens parents house. All five of us had "beaner pizza" and cheese cake. Great time of celebration with family and friends. Sunday we went to the youth convention in Green Bay. Three thousand teenagers in the convention center singing and dancing for Jesus was stunning.
The future for Able church is very inspiring to me. I am very thankful to be a part of it. I am amazed at the Lords work building and maintaining it. I am very excited to watch people with disabilities connect with Christ in new ways and watch that extend itself into worship and praise. I think that its the worship from people with disabilities that is very sweet and special to the Lord. Its my prayer that its that worship that would stay pure and uncontaminated from the world or me.