You’ve Strengthened Families with Jesus’ Love
“Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.”
Psalm 10:17
Back in 2017 when Patricia, a single mom, brought her son, Nathan to our New Mexico Family Retreat at Lone Tree Ranch, they had no idea what to expect. Her beloved husband had passed away, and it was their first time to attend anything like this. They needed to move forward into life, and so, as Patricia drove up the dusty road to the ranch, she hoped it would happen here for her son with Down syndrome. And for her, too, she nervously breathed.
Neither she nor Nathan were disappointed. Whether rock-climbing, square-dancing, horseback riding, or zooming down the waterslide, Patricia was there, cheering on her boy. She was thrilled to see a budding friendship grow between her precious Nathan and Dylan, his Joni and Friends volunteer buddy.
She fought back tears whenever she saw them doing fun guy-stuff. “Nathan doesn’t have a lot of friends,” she said, “and Dylan has made my son feel loved. He’s such a great role model for Nathan!”
Ken and I had a chance to hang out with Patricia at last summer’s Family Retreat (we got to watch Nathan go down the zip-line for the first time)!
Patricia told me, “Nathan’s confidence has grown because of the activities at Family Retreat. And he has really grown spiritually; he absolutely loves the morning worship time!”
“Families like ours desperately need this,” Patricia half whispered, looking through wet eyes around the busy dining hall. She’s right. Many of the families who attend are single-mothers with their child with a disability and their siblings – these valiant parents battle social isolation and deep fatigue from bearing burdens alone.
But at Family Retreat, weary hearts are transformed by the Lord Jesus, and families leave with fresh faith and new hope.
Honestly, your gifts and prayers are a life-line for them. So, thank you for standing in the gap for these needy parents and kids… especially big, lovable kids like Nathan! Learn more about Family Retreat today!
“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13:34-35
–Joni Eareckson Tada
Join Us at Joni and Friends Family Retreat!
At Joni and Friends, we value each person as an image-bearer of God, worthy of dignity and respect! We create a rich, Christ-centered environment at each Family Retreat that is safe and accepting for every member of the family.
