Family Retreat Makes Their Hearts Soar…

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Patricia has always had a heart for people living with disability. An affiliated faculty member of the physical therapy program at the University of Minnesota, Patricia first became part of the Joni and Friends community by serving on our Wheels for the World® outreaches before meeting and marrying her husband, Hugh.

Now, as Patricia and Hugh prepare to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary, Joni and Friends has become a powerful and personal blessing to their family, which includes their two beautiful daughters, sixteen-year-old Bethany and fourteen-year-old Lily. Both girls have Down syndrome, and Lily was adopted from China after being abandoned behind a hospital by her birth family.

Living with the joy of Jesus

If you met Bethany and Lily, you would soon discover their cheery, adventurous personalities and love for other people, much like their parents! It’s why the whole family loves coming to our Joni and Friends events—especially Family Retreat!

Last summer, at Family Retreat in Minnesota, Bethany and Lily had a blast with their compassionate, friendly buddies. As Hugh says:

“I have found Family Retreat better than winning the lottery as attendees are embraced, treated like royalty, and don’t want to depart at the end!”

My heart soars with encouragement…

On a recent trip to California, Patricia, Hugh, Bethany, and Lily came to visit our Joni and Friends headquarters in Agoura Hills. The family loved meeting Ken Tada and getting to know some of our staff.

Describing what Joni and Friends means to his family, Hugh said, “Joni and Friends brings light into our life. Family Retreat in particular gives us opportunities to relax and moments to cherish. My heart soars with encouragement and joy given to castaways and outcasts, and all image bearers of our Creator, Jesus Christ!”

As Pat added, “Thank you, Joni and Friends, for continually encouraging families in trying times.”

You can bless families living with disability!

When you give to Joni and Friends, your generosity sends powerful encouragement and joy to families living with disability.