Picnic Ponderings

Today was our Family and Friends Picnic.  When I say "our" I mean Joni and Friends Greater Philadelphia.  It's a bit like a family reunion.  Everyone who is a part of the Joni and Friends family is welcome to attend.  Those who come include families who attend one of our three weeks of Family Retreat, volunteers who just want to serve and make the day stress free for those who come, Short Term Missionaries who serve one of the weeks at camp and want to reconnect with those who made such an impact in their lives.  Others who come are those who have been part of a support group, or church ministries, families who come to the Easter Egg Hunt or a men's baseball game, or even those who don't know anything about us, but heard there was an opportunity to connect with other families who live a similar life journey.  

What struck me most at this gathering was the distance people traveled.   Our picnic was in Lansdale; which is a relatively central location for most of our "locals." But so many more than the locals (a geographic radius of about 30 miles) joined the fun.  

Three families came from the Pocono area, a 50-60 mile trip each way.  A number of others traveled about 80 miles each way to come from the Lancaster, PA area, northern and southern New Jersey.  That is significant, especially when you recall they are traveling on a HOT day, with at least one person in the car who has special needs or a disability.  

But - the award for the longest travel goes to the family who drove up from Virginia, and went home again the same day.  Their drive was about 4 hours one way.  (I'd like to claim that the family there from the state of Washington came the greatest distance; and while they did they didn't come specifically for the picnic. They were in north Jersey with family and came over for the day).

But back to the Virginia family . . . .Wow, they drove through the DC metro area to attend a picnic for a few hours.  While I am humbled and honored, I find myself asking the question, "Why?"  

Without being asked that question directly they talked repeatedly about how they missed us - the larger Joni and Friends family. Some say Joni and Friends really is more like Joni and Family!  They just needed a "booster shot!"  

For me, I think the answer goes deeper . . .  it is just THAT HARD sometimes to live life with disability.  To be able to have real, honest conversations, support, friendship and connection with those who "get it," distance is no barrier.

What makes me sad about that is this . . . we at Joni and Friends want to equip churches, the body of Christ, to be that source of connection, friendship and support right where people live.  While we've seen an increase in recent years in the number of churches who are creatively ministering

with (not just to!) people affected by disability it's not yet enough.  

Disability is so pervasive and varies so much from person to person it is sometimes hard for churches to know where to begin; or how to maintain a ministry for the full life spectrum of families affected by disability.

So while we continue to pursue our mission of equipping churches to be the front line of ministry, here's to valuing, honoring and embracing families affected by disability through picnics, Easter egg hunts, baseball games, support groups, pampering days and so much more!

A favorite picnic activity - exploding watermelons!

52 Weeks

This was written on a board in the first room I walked into
this week at Spruce Lake!

Spruce Lake . . . sitting here in my cozy little nook pondering memories as I think back to some of the other weeks of Family Retreat I’ve been blessed to be part of here.

This week is my 52^nd week of Family Retreat, that means as this week ends I will have spent one full year of my life at Family Retreat.  AMAZING!!!!  (And I am not the one with the longest history; Sib has me beat by several more weeks). 

Jerry though, is quick to remind me that if I add in my camping experiences with Oaks of Hebron (not to mention my own weeks as a child camper) the number far exceeds one year.   Ah, those weeks at Westminster Woods camp in Guerneville CA.  Talk about bringing a smile to my face!  But that will be the topic of another post, another day.

So back to those Spruce Lake memories . . . .

• ·      Talking with a lady who brought her service dog with her.  Toward the end of the week she said, “you know what the difference is here?  Here people talk to me, not my dog.  It’s not like that at home.”
•     Interacting with “Gina” who said Friday after Family Retreat she planned to drive her van off a mountain road, she just couldn’t live with disability anymore.  Thankfully she did NOT do that.  I saw her a couple years ago, and was thrilled to see her doing well.
•      Meeting people who got out of their vans as strangers on Monday afternoon, and by Friday they left as friends.
•         Hearing someone say, after being asked if they wanted to have a loud or soft greeting when they arrived, “usually people cheer (silently) when we leave – no one has ever cheered for us when we arrive!”
•      Being blessed to hear those who love to sing, even if the world says they don’t have talent, praising God sincerely at the top of their voice.
•       Watching a young person begin the week serving with great shyness and questioning if they could do this, and seeing them blossom and grow!
•       Laughing at the thought of the men who decided to dye Jerry’s and Mike’s hair blonde.  Didn’t exactly turn out like anyone expected!  Or the time they shaved their heads . . 
•      Hearing a young boy say how much he hated his sister with a disability, but by week’s end saying he loved his sister because she is the reason his family came to camp and he learned about Jesus!
•      Listening and watching as “camp allergies” overtake even the biggest toughest guys when they care for a young one with special needs.
•      Seeing couples walk hand in hand and asking how long has it been since they have had time alone without the kids?   Most can’t recall, though today one said, “well when my husband went to get gas last week I went with him!”
•      Seeing churches begin to minister to families affected by disability because of experiences the pastor, and church members had at Family Retreat.
•      Learning new lessons in what it REALLY means to trust in the Sovereignty of God when a camper goes missing for a time.
•      Having my heart break again and again when families come in saying this is their last hope before divorce.  Disability in the family is just that hard!
•      Having renewed thankfulness for my husband and marriage, which is also hard at times, but with God’s help we are living, loving and serving together!
•      Hearing the young man with autism who has run by me for several years stop and say hello to me by name. 
•      Being invited in to the photo taken by the young woman with Down Syndrome who clearly has her mind made up as to who she wants in which shots!
•     Finding out that you are NOT the only one  in your situation and building relationships that last long past one week, or even a year.

Well, if you don’t believe me, or think I am exaggerating there is one sure way you can find out . . . join me in 2016 for my 53^rd, 54^th and 55^th weeks of Family Retreat!