Labor Day has ended. School has started. Summer is starting to close. We hope you’ve had a chance to make meaningful memories with loved ones and be renewed in the sunshine.
Before summer ended, IAFR Jonathan House also had a chance to make good memories. We’re so grateful to Camp Amnicon for hosting the Jonathan House community for camping on Wisconsin’s North Shore!
Here were some of the highlights, in residents’ own words:
- It was my first time since I’ve come to the United States to be able to get out of the city and see scenery like that.
- I had never been canoeing before. At first I was scared to get into the canoe, but then I did it and really enjoyed it!
- I loved getting to eat food that was cooked over the fire.
- I enjoyed getting to make new friends. It made us feel special that you [a new staff person] wanted to spend time getting to know us.
Rest and re-creation is a necessary and healing thing for everyone. Time for fun and relaxation contributes to emotional wellbeing and builds hope. Spending days together with no agenda allowed stories that haven’t been previously voiced to be shared and received in compassionate community.
Thank you to Camp Amnicon for providing a place for asylum-seeking refugees to rest and recreate in the beauty of God’s creation as they recover from forced displacement. Jonathan House is already abuzz with plans for next year’s trip!
