My Mission trip Adventure
Earlier this summer, my youngest son and I volunteered with Lighthouse Family Retreat.
Lighthouse serves families who are living through childhood cancer. Families who have a child with cancer are invited (free of charge) to spend a week at a seaside retreat to rest, get rejuvenated, connect more as a family, gain support from other retreat families and temporarily forget all the daily stresses of medical issues.
To say the week is lifechanging, is an understatement. Imagine volunteers from all different areas, coming together for one purpose – serving these families. Not only does the week allow you to get really close to the retreat family that you are serving, it also gives you new friendships with other volunteers.
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So what kind of things did we do as volunteers? Our main job was to take care of our retreat family so they could truly relax, unwind and enjoy themselves.
The volunteers:
– Decorated the family’s hotel room before they arrived
– Greeted them at check-in and carried their luggage
– Cleaned their hotel room every morning
– Assisted at mealtimes (finding a table, getting drinks, talking with them, cleaning up)
– Watched the kids while the parents had their own support group time
– Rotated through play activities with the kids every morning including swimming, crafts, board games, nine square, corn hole, throwing football, and/or fishing.
– Delivered beach chairs to the family
– Arranged bicycle reservations
– Handled dirty laundry so families go home with clean clothes
– Babysat kids one night while parents go on a date night
– Celebrated with the family at the ice cream social event
– Spent time with them at the worship night
– Wrote messages for their Hope Jar that is given to them on the last day
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Our designated retreat family lives in Arkansas and they have 5 kids.
The kids consist of 4 boys and 1 girl – ages 14, 12, 10, 5, 4.
The second to youngest child (age 5) is overcoming brain cancer (a true miracle). He is doing very well right now!
The youngest child (age 4) does not have cancer but has severe medical issues with his digestive system and has to be very careful with what he eats and adhere to a special schedule for using the bathroom.
Even with these medical challenges, this family was so full of joy! They had a love for each other that is unlike anything I have ever seen in another family.
The mom told me that when you live through childhood cancer, your whole life perspective changes and you begin to truly enjoy all the small things in life! You learn to really live in the moment and appreciate all victories – no matter how small.
What a valuable lesson for all of us!
Want to Create more Meaningful Connections in your life?
The Real Connection Starter Guide will give you:
* Personalized Prayers for Positive Change
* Roadmap to Real Connections
* Mind Full Eating
Best of all, it’s completely FREE –simply opt in below!
During this mission trip, there were so many God moments. I am so humbly grateful to have been able to serve and get to know my retreat family. The mom and I text every week so we can stay connected. I actually will be going to Arkansas to visit them in January! Can’t wait!
My retreat family has given me permission to share these pictures with you!
If you are interested in serving on a mission trip, I highly recommend Lighthouse Family Retreat. They have mission weeks throughout the summer in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
What is really great about serving with Lighthouse is that it can be any combination of volunteers – families, parent/child, one person. The youngest volunteer on our specific retreat was 4 years old!
Mission work does not have to be overseas. It can be right where you are. Always keep your eyes open on how you can serve others. You will be very blessed by it!
I definitely plan to serve with Lighthouse again next summer. It would be great to have a group of women from Real Connection Ministry to volunteer together! Hit reply and let me know if you are interested!!!
Want to Create more Meaningful Connections in your life?
The Real Connection Starter Guide will give you:
* Personalized Prayers for Positive Change
* Roadmap to Real Connections
* Mind Full Eating
Best of all, it’s completely FREE –simply opt in below!
Did you know that Lighthouse Family Retreat is the designated charity partner of Real Connection Ministry? Since I’ve personally seen the impact that Lighthouse has on families, I happily give a portion of all sales to this great organization.
To find out more about Lighthouse, visit their website:https://www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org/
