Joni and Friends Family Retreat 2013

It's my 4th year in a row at Joni and Friends but this year is a little bit different. We've started an Arizona Family Retreat and it's up in Heber-Overgaard at Bison Ranch. It's so beautiful here and the weather is great! :) It's so nice to take a step back from the city and see God's beautiful creations everywhere.

I'm so glad that God turned my attitude around as soon as I arrived here. I was really stressing about this trip and I didn't know how it was going to go. I'm one of those people who doesn't like change. Well since this is the first time we've had an AZ retreat I had no idea what to expect. Turns out everything is different but not in a better or worse way, just different. The people are still great, the food is still great, it's still a beautiful campus with fun things to do and most importantly I'm still here to do God's work. I'm so glad God has reminded me of that. I'm already full of joy for the week ahead.

All my worries were instantly taken care of almost as soon as I got here. My room mates are awesome. I didn't know either of them before today and usually that would really scare me to room with someone I don't know at all. But the two of them are really great girls and I already have enjoyed getting to know them. It's both of their first times to any Joni and Friends Retreat so I'm excited to see what God has in store for them too.

Tomorrow morning we finish up the training and the families arrive around 3pm. I am going to have a family where both parents are deaf and they have four hearing children! I almost thought I wasn't going to get this family but then it got all worked out and I did. I'm so excited to practice my sign language with them. They are friends of the family I had last year so I'll get to spend time with them as well. Since there are 3 deaf individuals there are also 3 interpreters. The interpreters are amazing ladies by the way. I just love them and they've been helping me practice. Please pray for me that I'm not overwhelmed because I will have the whole family of six to myself and no partner STM like usual. And also pray for the communication barrier. I already feel more confident since I've been practicing my signing but I really want to be able to connect with the family without having to worry about understanding each other too much.

I've already been challenged and blessed so much and the families haven't even arrived yet. We sang the song Words by Hawk Nelson tonight and I've hear it before but I never really paid attention to the lyrics. If you have the time look it up and listen to it. The song really challenged me to make better use of my words. I want everything that comes out of my mouth to be pleasing to God. I know there's a verse about that too! But I really want to make it my goal to speak more uplifting and encouraging words. I am so excited to see what else God has in store for me! Goodnight! :)

Words by Hawk Nelson

They've made me feel like a prisoner They've made me feel set free They've made me feel like a criminal Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart To places I'd never been And they've dragged me down Back to where I began

Words can build you up Words can break you down Start a fire in your heart or Put it out

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache Speak over the fear (Speak over the fear) God, Your voice is the only thing We need to hear (We need to hear)

Words can build us up Words can break us down Start a fire in our hearts or Put it out

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Let the words I say (Let the words I say) Be the sound of Your grace (Sound like Your grace) I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love Not just another noise Oh, I wanna be Your light I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life Let my words be truth I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Let the words I say (Let the words I say) Be the sound of Your grace (Sound like Your grace) I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You (Back to You)

Words can build us up Words can break us down Start a fire in our hearts Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word Unless it points the world back to You