Ja’s Presence Brings Great Joy to His Family
A Calling to Adopt
From a very young age, both Steven and Erin felt called to adopt a child one day. After they fell in love, and realized they had a likeminded calling, it was just a matter of time before they welcomed a child into their home through adoption.
In February of 2009, Erin got the call that a baby boy from Ethiopia was available for adoption and had been matched with their family. They eagerly welcomed their new son and named him Isaac.
Several years later, Steven and Erin felt God tugging on their hearts adopt another child. He brought a four-year-old boy named Ja’irus (Ja for short), who lives with autism, to Erin’s attention. She knew that Ja was meant to be part of their family.
The Realities of Living with Disability
Ja’s presence brings great joy to his family. At the same time, raising a child with a disability comes with hardships. With multiple therapies, IEP meetings, and needs for advocacy and care… the realities hit hard and fast.
As a family of four navigating disability, daily life posed plenty of challenges. Since Ja is nonverbal and impulsive, he requires attention at all times, especially when he is outside of his comfort zone or routine. This makes any attempt to “vacation “exhausting. Yet the whole family, especially Isaac, needed an opportunity for a change of pace.
Coming Home to Joni and Friends
Both Steven and Erin knew about Joni and Friends as they had served as volunteers at Family Retreat as teenagers. They didn’t know then that one day, they would return to Family Retreat seeking respite, healing, and joy for their own family!
As they arrived at the Family Retreat site and saw the crowd cheering to welcome them, Erin was in tears. She felt relaxed and at ease, which was a huge relief. She knew that in the Joni and Friends community, Ja would not only be welcomed but celebrated. Erin and Steven also hoped that Isaac could find meaningful connection with peers. As she says:
“One of the biggest desires of our hearts was for Isaac to meet ‘sibs’ who understand the struggles of having a sibling with special needs. Outside of retreat he didn’t have friends that understood what life can be like as a special needs family. God has answered this prayer, through the connections made at Family Retreat! He has made life-long friendships that he does life with all year long.”
Joy and Restoration for the Whole Family
At Family Retreat, Steven and Erin found exactly what they needed: true respite. All the while, Ja thrived as he received one-on-one attention from his volunteer buddy. Erin shared how returning to the Joni and Friends community has made a lasting difference for their whole family:
“Family Retreat continues to bring us the joy and restoration we truly were praying for in our darkest hours. Thank you!”
Erin
When you partner with Joni and Friends through prayer, volunteering, or financial support, you give families struggling with disabilities the opportunity to find belonging and hope in Christ!
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