The Family Retreat

The family retreat was amazing! Partnering with Joni and Friends International, the Averys and other local team members were able to bless 31 children with disabilities and their families. In all, about 150 people were part of the retreat. The above photo shows the children playing outside, which is a rare treat in our city of 7 million people. We chose this hotel largely because of the ample playing area for the children.



Prior to the arrival of the families, I helped emcee for the volunteer training. I was also able to share my story about Multiple Sclerosis -- the pain and fear involved during the time of diagnosis as well as the freedom that later came from my healing.


When the families arrived, they were greeted by flags and cheers. Each child and family were able to meet their assigned volunteer for the retreat, and the children were given special bags. The bags were made by GAs (Girls in Action) from Texas.

Dayna, Molly and Hudson arrived with the families. I was very glad they could come for a day ... as well as the other 145 people at the retreat. Wherever they go, the kids are very popular. Almost daily, numerous strangers take their pictures. One reason for this popularity (as explained by friends) is that the dolls children play with here in China are all Caucasian, looking a lot like Molly. Most Chinese think Molly and Hudson look like living, breathing dolls. Also, they can look like twins.

But the most important reason why it was great for the kids to be able to come to the retreat relates to the friends they could meet -- friends affected by disability. We want our kids to grow up loving people for who they are, not by what society says about them. In fact, we hope they will one day serve as catalysts to improve the lives of the less fortunate.

The above photo is of our friend Teddy. This was actually his third retreat, since he is a foster child of our organization's head director. The other 30 children all came for the first time.

This photo focuses on a thirteen-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy and his volunteer. The boy's mother was the one who asked me, "Would you start a school for my son?" We are looking into how to help.
~Kevin