Can you imagine hearing the doctor say, "I'm sorry, your child has cancer." Can you imagine watching your child go bald, getting stared at, or being treated unkindly? Can you imagine the weariness of sleepless nights, hospital smells, losing control of your world?
Can you imagine living in unspeakable anger or just wondering, "Why?" Can you imagine your family growing apart?
Now just imagine a place of retreat.
Imagine a place where the warm sun, rolling waves and ocean breezes rejuvenate you, where the sunset brings peace to your soul. Imagine a place where you and your children can laugh and play together, where family relationships are restored, where caring friends walk beside you. Imagine a place where volunteers serve you willingly and joyfully, a place where the staff understands your child's needs. Imagine a place where the spirit of God resides to heal and restore, a place of comfort and encouragement.
Just imagine...
I wanted to share with all of you an exciting service opportunity that I have decided to be a part of called the Lighthouse Family Retreat. From October 14-19 I will be heading to Watercolor, FL to take part in the Lighthouse Family Retreat as a volunteer. Some of you may have heard of the Lighthouse before, but for those who have not, let me tell you a little bit about it.
Lighthouse was founded by Melinda Mayton, a pediatric oncology nurse. Melinda felt there should be a place of retreat for families who have a child going through treatments for cancer. Every year, Melinda and her team host a series of 10 family retreats at donated beach houses and condos at various beaches on the gulf. The idea is to give families a break from the disease...the h ospital visits, the chemo treatments, and the feeling of being "different..." and a time of reconnecting with one another free of cost. Volunteers serve families during the week and help facilitate activites such as a spa day for the moms, parents' date night out, a talent show, beach olympics, a movie night, and family style meals every day. We also do all the laundry for families and help them with whatever they could possibly need or want during the time they spend at Lighthouse. There are also times of counseling with the parents sharing their stories, and kids and siblings connecting during a time of play and crafts in the mornings. Each Lighthouse family brings their entire immediate family...Mom, Dad and siblings.
The week is sure to be an amazing experience and one that I will not soon forget. In order to make this cost-free f or families, every volunteer is asked to raise $750 to cover the cost of food and other materials. If you would like to partner with me as I go and serve at the Lighthouse, you can make checks out to the Lighthouse Family Retreat and send them to me here at home (Autumn Ginn, 6520 Roswell Road #94, Atlanta, GA 30328). I'd love for you to learn more by visiting the Lighthouse website here:
http://www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org
I hope you are having a blessed fall and that I can see you all very soon!!!
Love,
Autumn ><>
