Do You Need Hope and Courage?
Before finding Joni and Friends, Jayna and her 17-year-old son Nicholas didn’t have anywhere to go for support. And as the single mom of a child with severe special needs, Jayna needed a lot of support.
Nicholas has cerebral palsy, seizures, cannot walk or talk, and requires a feeding tube for all of his nutrition. His medical needs are so intense that Jayna has to use a trailer to bring all of his equipment and daily care supplies to Family Retreat. But for Jayna and Nicholas, the six-hour drive to Family Retreat is so much more than worth it!
“Joni and Friends shows me that I can get through this and that I’m not alone,” explains Jayna with tears rolling down her cheeks. “At Family Retreat, I feel safe. We don’t have to worry about what anyone thinks about us. Everybody understands us.”
“I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”
Psalm 73:23
“It was so peaceful being in God’s creation. I saw Jesus on the hiking trail with Nicholas.”
Jayna
Nicholas went on his very first nature hike using a special adaptive wheelchair at Family Retreat!
God uses Family Retreat to give special needs families opportunities they could never experience otherwise.
“Family Retreat lets me forget about everyday life and connect with God and not worry. It’s the only place where I can be myself and not be judged. Family Retreat shows me I can face my fears, and it shows Nicholas that he’s loved.”
Choking back the tears, Jayna continues, “I don’t want to imagine life without Family Retreat. Nicholas can’t do anything for himself, but he has so much joy at Family Retreat because he gets to do things!”
Every activity at Family Retreat is fully accessible, which means that Nicholas can do things he’s never done before.
Whether it’s hiking, swimming, going down the water slide or horseback riding, Nicholas was well cared for and had the absolute time of his life! And Jayna’s heart overflowed with pride and joy as she watched her son live life to the fullest!
At Family Retreat, Jayna and Nicholas finally found a safe place of belonging within the body of Christ – a place where they experienced all that God has for them and grabbed hold of the truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. Rescued from worry and fear, Jayna and Nicholas basked in the delight of Jesus at Family Retreat.
“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”
2 Samuel 22:20
I’ve never been able to walk beside Nicholas because I’m always behind him pushing him. But at Family Retreat, I’m able to be beside Nicholas and hold his hand.”
Jayna
Send a Family to Retreat!
There are so many more special needs families who desperately need the freedom found at Family Retreat, and God can use you to pave the way to send them to one of our Retreats and Getaways!
