Rainbow Acres is a community established in Camp Verde, Arizona about 20 minutes from Sedona. This community is a place where people with cognitive and developmental disabilities – such as Cerebral Palsy, Down syndrome, and within the autistic spectrum – can come to live. These residents, also called Ranchers, live a full and happy life, as they explore their talents, find meaningful work and discover a purpose for their lives! They receive healthcare, friendships, and security in this community.
I have wanted to go to Rainbow Acres for many years. I have severe food allergies, which makes it difficult to travel on my own, and it wasn’t an option to travel to Rainbow Acres with my whole family until this year. And although it was my first time going this year, it will certainly not be my last. The impact this place had on me was major – it will forever hold a special place in my heart!
While we were there in May, Hillside worked on three different projects. One was plowing the horse corral; another was helping to move boxes up and down stairs; and the last one was moving the learning center, which is where I helped.
The learning center is where Ranchers can go to read, do speech therapy, and do art. My friend and I met a Rancher named Charlie doing his speech therapy while we were moving computers. We learned that he loved to dance so we invited him to the prom Hillside was about to put on. As we began to work, along came Tim, another Rancher. He was very hardworking and a bit of a jokester. He helped us move the learning center.
After we finished that project, we went to lunch where I met Pauline. She was rather quiet, but I noticed she had a word puzzle book. I was able to bond with her over her love of word puzzles and my love for sudoku.
After lunch, we began to set up for the prom and also took a tour of the grounds. My family got to tour together and we saw how self-sufficient the camp is through its own greenhouse and store. We learned the beautiful story of how Rainbow Acres came to be and how the camp has begun to flourish with the new building setting the stage for comfortable living.
On Saturday night, we held a prom for the Ranchers. It exceeded all the expectations I had for the trip! Many of us younger girls got to help many female Ranchers prepare for the prom by doing their hair and makeup. They allowed us to enter into their private bubbles, and by adding a little bit of eye shadow and blush, the Ranchers’ faces lit up in excitement. In that period of time I was able to make connections with some of the Ranchers. I got to learn about their lives, romantic relationships, and what they looked forward to. It felt like a privileged experience to be able to take part in.
We later shifted gears and greeted the Ranchers at the door of the prom. The same Tim that worked extremely hard with us moving furniture and books showed up with an alligator hat on, putting smiles on everyone’s faces.
We served appetizers and joined the Ranchers in dancing. I got to talk to Phil, one of the original Ranchers that has been with Rainbow Acres since the very beginning. Even though he couldn’t speak, he communicated through hand motions that he was able to stand back and enjoy what he has seen grow since day one. It was such a special night and I’m grateful to have been a part of it!
The next morning we got to go to church with the Ranchers. I was able to sit next to JJ, a female Rancher whose makeup I did the night before. It was a beautiful service that catered to the Ranchers, keeping them engaged in the word of God. It was an incredible experience to worship in hymns with the Ranchers purely praising God and giving everything to our Abba.
I saw God everyday on Rainbow Acre’s campus. The Ranchers smiles were so genuine. The way they take care of one another simply by walking slower for their friend with a cane; the way they jump in to help like Tim. Ranchers build lifelong friendships among one another; their love and respect for each other is very visible.
One of the first things we are taught in order to communicate with the Ranchers is to find their friend. The Ranchers that can be difficult to understand often have a higher functioning friend or even a caretaker with them. This allowed us to connect to the Ranchers, even when it was difficult to understand.
Seeing the way they live life gave me the perspective that authentic community can change so much – especially when it is centered around Christ. The joy the ranchers have is contagious!
I have a special place in my heart for Rainbow Acres because these Ranchers just want friends – like me and all the people I know. During the prom one of the Ranchers shared a song he wrote. One of the lyrics has stuck with me: “We are all the same in God’s eyes”.
By Kili Mattson