At the beginning of September, IAFR Jonathan House took our second annual retreat up north to Camp Amnicon. For three days, asylum-seeking residents, former residents, and staff camped next to Lake Superior. It was a chance to find hope and joy in creation.
Time Together
The time away allowed the Jonathan House community an extended period of fellowship. We ate meals together over the fire, took walks, and even got to enjoy an outing on a sailboat!
Mutual blessing is a foundational value of Jonathan House, and camping is a great chance for this to happen. Children of staff and residents alike find themselves surrounded by grandmothers ready with hugs, prayers, or useful tips for how to dry wet tennis shoes over the fire! Conversation comes unhurriedly and we share laughter over board games.
A Reminder of God’s Care and Presence
A retreat into creation also renews hope and joy, as we are present to each other and to God. One resident shared a dream she had the second night of camping:
“I dreamt that angels of the Lord were walking in line from the opposite side of camp into our camping area. They were glowing white, and they were singing and worshipping God in formation. They were walking by my tent. My heart responded with a cry of joy. I wondered to myself, “God, you are here? I’ve never been here before and it is so secluded. How could you be here in this forest?”
She continues, “As I asked the question, I could sense God respond that He is already present anywhere that we may find ourselves. Even if we weren’t present in that camp, the trees, the animals, and the angels are still there praising God.”
“This dream is very meaningful for me. It showed me that God is concerned for me and my little prayer. He has said that He will never abandon nor forsake us, that He is always with us. This dream showed me that that is true; God is everywhere, if only we look.”
We know asylum seekers have journeyed through many challenging places. A reassurance of God’s presence no matter where we go is significant. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to learn of God’s presence with and from our asylum-seeking friends. And we’re grateful to Camp Amnicon for hosting a space where we could find joy and hope in creation, in community, and in God.