Christ’s Outreach For The Blind, a non-profit, Christian-based camp in Mt. Vernon, hosted a mission team of four adults and six teenagers from Tabor United Church of Christ in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, August 11-17. Mike and Lori Gates, Directors of Christ’s Outreach, have coordinated the work of mission groups from across the U.S. this summer.

“I think God is teaching us to look on the heart of people,” said Joseph Hedden, Pastor of the church for five years. “We all have stereotypes of what we think blind people can do, what is going to be is archery, rappelling, things that we do not expect blind people to do,” he said.

The 800-acre camp for the blind and disabled continues to take shape as each mission team makes its own unique contribution. The team laid rocks around a large fountain in front of the center, finished the walls of four rooms and a large cafeteria and installed wood trim in lodge rooms and staff apartments. “The facilities are terrific,” Hedden said. But what we really like is how personal it has been. Mike and Lori have eaten with us and shared devotions with us.”

“We have liked being connected with Mike and his wife, his Mom and Dad,” Catherine Irwin said. “We have been so inspired by their stories of what they have been through to get to this point. We feel really blessed that we are going to be a part of this, that we helped. We are seriously considering coming back next year.”

Youth volunteers, a driving force behind the work at Christ’s Outreach this summer, have labored tirelessly to complete the camp. “He’s (Gates) got a good thing going,” Ben Mauer, 16, said. “It should be very successful when we get it all up and running. It is awesome here. I would definitely come back.’

Mike Gates, who was blinded in a hunting accident in 1989, enjoys interaction with the mission groups. With a grin, he told about teaching one of the young boys to drive a golf cart. “Oliver is 17 years old,’ Gates said. “He’s going to try for his driver’s license when he gets home. He can’t wait until he tells his friends that he got his first driving instruction from a blind guy.”

When Christ’s Outreach for the Blind officially opens, it will accommodate 600 campers per year. Camping activities will include horseback riding, hunting, fishing, swimming, mountain climbing, hiking, rappelling, gardening and independent living skills.

If you have any questions about this camp for the blind and disabled, please call Mike Gates at 1-888-254- 6319.