Joni and Friends Family Camp – Muskegon MI – June 2010

Jill Black (from Ottawa) and I just had the privilege of spending a few days in West Michigan at the Joni and Friends family retreat. Fifty-five families (about 350 people all told) came from throughout the mid-west to attend this camp. Each of these families had two things in common. Firstly, they all had a family member or more, with a disability, and secondly, they all needed hope and refreshing. As we interacted with the families, I was deeply moved by the intensity these families constantly live with. One family I chatted with had 2 sons with Angel Man’s Syndrome and a daughter who was ‘normal’. They come every year because this week gives them the strength to get through another year. Their daughter loves coming because she can connect with other siblings, who like her, have brothers and sisters who, by the nature of their conditions, absorb the majority of the family time, energy, resources and focus. The parents love to come because they have the opportunity to connect with other families, to laugh – and cry, who ‘know’. The highlight for them is Thursday evening, when once a year, Dad and Mom go on a date – alone together. A first time family told me that this was the first time they’d have been out together alone for 10 years!

Joni and Friends, Chicago (who manages 2 of the 23 national family retreats) recruit over 100 volunteers (Short Term Missionaries – STM) for each week. These volunteers range in age from 18 to 88. They are paid $450 a week to ‘volunteer’ and many of them have been returning for many years using their work vacations to do so. The STM’s amazed us. They typically commit themselves to one family, although in some cases, they commit themselves to two or more depending on the depth of need. Some of the STM’s have been serving the same family for 5 or more years. It was moving to see the families arriving, the STM’s cheering and the families beaming and weeping as they hugged their STM.

At this retreat, the whole family is ministered to. Moms are pampered with Spa days, Dads with golf or fishing – kids with zip lines and climbing walls and so much more. I had the opportunity to sit in on a Dad’s group. Again, I was overwhelmed as these men shared their pain, disappointments, joys, guilt – and the deep impact on their marriages. Some fathers confessed to almost leaving, but because of the yearly camp and this men’s group, they’ve experienced healing and hope in the midst of unrelenting challenges. Some of the men themselves are disabled – mostly physically - and offer unique insights and encouragement, as well as their own struggles. Sadly, the reality is that there are many moms – and some dads – that are walking this road alone.

I am reminded as part of Christian Horizons that we often understand so little about the journeys – the joys – and the deep valleys. We must be slow to judge, quick to encourage – and ever gentle and compassionate regardless of the ‘moments’ encountered. We want to make sure that we are lifting, rather than adding to often an already crushing load.

Check out the video's at www.joniandfriends.org/family-retreats

Anyway I was just thinking…..



Neil