Everything happens for a reason whether or not we understand it in the moment.  It is our human duty to make the best of all things that come our way, positive or negative; life goes on J

After 8 years of our operation, The State of California, Department of Fish and Game is buying the property to add to the Wildlife Refuge that borders our site.  It's hard, it hurts, but it is. We can't fault the property owners for selling, it's a practical business matter.  The State has the money, we don't. We made a deal to buy it, but due to the uniqueness of the property (for a loan) and our investing in others lives instead of our income producing jobs we couldn't perform. (We do not regret our investment of time. Why?  We live this life once, when we get to the end it's all about WHO we are, NOT what we have.  Neva's spent the past 7 years giving care to her dying elders and concluding their business; we've changed folks lives by spending time with them at the Pond.  Some of them couldn't wait for us to earn the money to buy the Pond, their lives needed us then, like our beloved friend Dave Wysong, we met him in 1999, he died in March 2001.) Three separate investors didn't come through, so we've accepted what we cannot change, and in typical KeNevA style we’re going to make the best of what is.   

We asked family, friends, former members and guests to join us for a weekend long Farewell Party; Paul  flew in from Oregon, to touch base with us & KeNyA, she remembers everyone.  We opened the pond when she was five, she’s a freshman in high school now.  Every person that’s been to our site has helped in her education, she wanted to say so long and thanks for her raising J  As did we.  Photo is a Mike Suyderhoud (WaterSki Hall of Fame) advanced men's clinic.

 KeNyA adopted the magnificent dream of Dr Martin Luther King when she was in kindergarten, longing for the day when little children of all colors would play together. We gave her the pond, where children of all ages, all colors, all abilities play together in a serene natural setting that washes the yuck and hardship from a human heart, just by being present.  

KeNyA plays a game of catch with Comedian LG Brown  

The pond gifted us skiers with disabilities.  Our association with DisAbled skiers changed our lives by changing our perspective. They live the Secret of Life (If it is to be, it is up to me!) 

We traveled to Ireland, England and Australia with the US DisAbled Ski TEAM, because of the pond.  What KeNyA learned in those places was what she learned here at our pond . . . people are people, regardless of what they look like on the outside, we're all the same on the inside. We live, we love, we laugh, we cry, a very few really live before they die. Photo is 2001 US TEAM down under (Australia)

That's KeNyA with 3 time World Record Holder Jennifer Leachman, 2 Time World Record Holder Sherri Slone, and Masters Champion April Coble at our pond during a WOW Clinic.  The pros taught women of all levels for very close to free.

Indeed it's sad we're losing the pond.  Remember that old adage, "it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all"? 

We're thankful we had the pond for even a day:) 

There's another old adage, "if you love something set it free, if it doesn't come back to you it was never really yours in the first place."  (Duh, we were leasing the place:)

This isn't the end for us, it is a new beginning.  We're asking to lease the site from the State for 3 years, while we form a non-profit organization called "KeNyA's World", and put together a plan to buy a 100 acre site here in the Central Valley.  We'll be building 3 competition ski lakes and a wheelchair accessible dormitory for summer camps.  We will offer programs to make waterSkiing affordable and accessible to people with disabilities, at risk youth and latch key kids. We'll ask high school and community colleges to share crop a fish farm, putting much needed revenue into their department budgets, a learn while you earn program. We'll be mixing different groups of kids with other types of folk that will be at our site.  You see, if we have opportunity to be around someone of a different culture, a different color, a different physical ability we learn not to fear them, not to hate them, for we learn we are all God's children. 

If you will,  please and thanks, do us a favor?

We would very much appreciate any letters you can email us that describe (in your opinion) who we are, who you are, how long you've know us, what we do, what we've done for the sport of waterSkiing, skiers with disabilities, what you think of our program, and how visiting our site affected you.  If you've skied our site please also mention your experience with nature and people with disabilities. If you've just gotten to know us through our site, please also share your opinion. Your letter doesn't need to be long or worded by a pro, we just need your personal opinion. We'll be adding your letters to our request to the State, and the IRS packet for non profit status, as proof of what we've done.    

And hey - thanks for the memories - it's been absolutely outrageous!

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Last Updated 04/15/04