Joni and Friends Special Needs Family Retreat Report

Last week my family had the honor of attending a Joni and Friends Special Needs Family Retreat at the Maranatha Center in Muskegon, Michigan.

I’ve been on the Joni and Friends Chicago Equipping Team for the last year, teaching churches about special needs ministry on Sunday mornings and about respite.

My friends at Joni and Friends gushed about Family Retreats that take place in several different locations in the United States, and in the world every year.

“You have to go!”

Our family signed up …

Well, we’re back.

Here’s my review in one word: WOW.

I’ll say it again: WOW!

Special needs parents, picture this:

A beautiful retreat center complete with a heated pool, Lake Michigan, horseback riding, a rock climbing wall, comfortable housing, tennis, putt putt golf, and a petting zoo, a talent show, a Hoedown, parent date night, and so much more!

Awesome food all week long, three times a day, Gluten-free if needed, plus snacks!

Short term missionaries (STMS) assigned to your family to help out/care for your child with special needs.

Adult worship and study and connection in the morning, while the kids learn the word of God together through stories, crafts, and songs.

Free time in the afternoon.

Yes, you read that right …

FREE TIME for families to hang out, do activities together or slip away for a nap while the kids have a blast with their STMS.

We were there from Monday afternoon until Friday Noon.

The best part

Our family was encouraged individually, spiritually, collectively. We rested. We played. We laughed, and yes, we cried. Wonderful and difficult aspects of the week melded the whole experience into a great time of learning and comfort.

I have to say, the best part of the week was just being with other families, being able to share our joys and struggles without confusion or judgement.

As one sibling put so eloquently:

“Here, we are just a normal family.”

Now we are back home in normal life, and our family really isn’t considered normal anymore.

At camp, we were encouraged to start with Jesus instead of our circumstances. I’m a mom who struggles with depression, and once we got home you bet it flared a bit after such a huge week. God gave me these words from the book of Hebrews:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in times of need. Hebrews 4:15-16

Joni and Friends Family Retreat allowed our whole family to pause every day life and draw close to the throne of grace. Camp helped me remember that the throne of grace is there, always, and at any moment in our lives, we can come close.

And all are welcome.

Thank you Joni and Friends! God willing, we’ll see you next year!