God’s Work in a Family’s Life Through Joni and Friends
Don and Sarah and their sons, Jeff and Tim, who has cerebral palsy, have been part of the Joni and Friends community for more than twenty years. From not knowing what to expect at their first Family Retreat, to stepping into fulfilling volunteer opportunities, Don shares how he has seen God at work in his family through Joni and Friends.
A First Taste of Family Retreat
“Our first Family Retreat was in 2003. Tim was eleven years old and Jeff was seven. The week was far beyond our expectations,” says Don.
From the moment they arrived at Family Retreat, Don’s family knew they had found a safe and welcoming place.
The volunteer paired with Tim immediately stepped in to take care of his needs while Jeff enjoyed the company of other siblings who understood the realities of living with disability in the family.
“Joni and Friends Family Retreat provided a safe environment for both our kids which allowed us to spend time together without them (a rarity). We worshipped together, met and discussed our situation with other Christian couples, and just took walks together in the woods to talk. It enabled us to draw closer together as a couple. We saw how blessed we were… reminded that Jesus has a heart for our special children and has blessed our family beyond measure!” – Don
Lifelong Friends and Lasting Change
Don’s whole family wanted to return to Family Retreat year after year as they were forming enduring friendships:
“We made friends who had similar interests and experiences, and each year became a reunion of good friends.
It was wonderful to see Tim flourish in an environment that encouraged and celebrated his skills and personality. He made friends and socialized without us needing to invite people. Everyone wanted to interact with him and were willing to invest the time to listen and understand him, and he shined!
Tim was in public school where he was the only child with a physical disability, so this was a new experience. Some people even discovered his unique sense of humor. Tim also made lifelong friends and even enjoyed his senior prom with one friend, despite living in different states. They stay in touch even after all these years.” – Don
Finding Joy in Serving Others
After years of enjoying respite, community, and encouragement at Family Retreat, each member of Don’s family felt called to serve with Joni and Friends as volunteers.
For Jeff, stepping into a leadership role in the Family Retreat sibling group allows him to give others the experience he has had, finding connection and understanding among peers.
To use his videography skills, Tim created a new volunteer role! Using his GoPro and scooter, he takes video of activities throughout Family Retreat. Throughout the week Tim can be seen laughing and making friends, encouraging others, and capturing moments worth remembering. Then, at the end of the week, he shares an edited montage of all the fun with the attendees.
A Parent’s Perspective
Watching their sons serve with Joni and Friends has been a great source of joy for Don and Sarah. As Don says:
“I really enjoy enabling and watching Tim throughout the weeks (he and I have been volunteering at as many weeks as we can). Volunteering gives Tim a feeling of worth and inclusion that is hard for him to find outside Family Retreat. Families have shared with me stories of how Tim has encouraged and inspired them.”
Don and Sarah have also found places to serve as volunteers. Don has served in a variety of roles while Sarah enjoys working at the information table, helping families navigate the many activities offered and answering questions.
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