Harmony 2020

“We really want such retreats to be organized more often.” These were the words spoken by 15 married couples in which one of the spouses has a disability as they left the Harmony Family Retreat. The retreat took place March 4-7, 2020 at the Fimiam Evangelical Church Retreat Center in the village Zaozerne in Lyuboml region.

Teams from the Agape Rehabilitation Complex and Joni & Friends, as well as faculty and students from the school of nursing at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota, spent four unforgettable days with these families. The students joyfully assisted the families in any situation and the Ukrainian volunteers served as their translators.

The faculty also participated by sharing their knowledge. Anne Skoglund, MSN, RN, Associate Professor of Education, taught on the topic of “Health screening.” She said that the attitudes of people to medical examinations are often the same in Ukraine and the United States. People offer a number of reasons for not going to the hospital: not knowing which doctor they should visit, distrust of doctors, lack of money and many more. Then when they finally have the desire, time, and opportunity to seek medical treatment, it is often too late.

Professor Skoglund also spoke on what children, teenagers, adults and people with disabilities need to pay attention to during screenings. She shared the story of how a timely screening helped doctors diagnose her mom with cancer at an early stage, prescribe the correct treatment and save her life. If she had postponed her visit to doctor, the outcome might not have been so positive.

Ginger F. Wolgemuth, Ph.D., Chief Nurse Administrator, Assistant Dean, gave a seminar about maintaining harmony in marriage. She shared that each person gives and receives love in different ways. For some, love is a spending time together or offering support, words of encouragement, hugs or touch. For others, gifts are preferred. She described the five languages of love and how knowing them can help spouses avoid some conflicts between themselves.

She also suggested that couples to take a small test to find out what language each spouse prefers. Afterward, the couples discussed their results and learned how to express their feelings in the language of their loved ones.

The last evening at the retreat was a romantic evening and it became the icing on the cake. As the years pass, it is not always easy to maintain passion in marriage. Then, when one of the spouses is affected by a disability, it can become impossible. So for a brief time on this evening we happily moved to Paris, ate delicious dishes with French music playing in the background, and chatted with each other, forgetting all about disabilities. Oleg Los also encouraged our hearts while performing his own songs.

While the parents enjoyed such an unusual date, a separate program awaited their children. Volunteers from Ukraine and the USA played, jumped, sang funny songs and made bracelets with the children. They also had the opportunity to try art and to draw a magic owl.

At the end of the festive evening, the spouses were asked to write five things which they value about each other and then put these pieces of paper in small, clear jars. Then when difficulties arise in their relationship, they were encouragement to take out one piece of paper and remind each other that together they can overcome everything. After all, marriage is not only emotions. Its value is not lost when problems arrive. On the contrary, its value increases.

A wonderful gift for each family was a magnet on which were the rules of the home, such as to be thankful, say kind words to each other, dream together, be joyful, trust, give kisses, forgive even when it's difficult and many others. A small picture drawn together by each couple will also be a reminder of ​the wonderful spent time at Harmony Family Retreat.

It was clear that all of the families very much enjoyed the retreat, so it was not a surprise to hear their desire that such retreats take place more often. People with disabilities and their spouses long to have such fellowship. Vladimir (broke his neck in a car accident) and Tetiana Gritsan remarked:

- At the retreat, we got acquainted with other families who have also experienced many difficulties in their lives. This experience gave us a belief in ourselves and faith that without which it would be difficult to live and fellowship. The atmosphere here was also very inspiring, blessing us and encouraging us not to lose heart, but to continue to live with joy, thanking God for the trials we have every day and for His love for us. So, we thank God for everything!

Alex and Victoria Novar:

My wife Victoria and I came from Lutsk. We enjoyed the seminars and small groups. We liked the groups because they reminded us of our main role as a family to live in the harmony that the Lord created.

We liked the seminars because clear and accessible information was presented to us on how to support our health. It is right. We need to study our bodies. Of course, we would like to see such meetings, retreats, family gatherings take place as often as possible. It is helpful for us to meet and fellowship and learn more about each other. To listen to the Word of God, repeat it for yourself.

There was much useful information. My wife and I have come away with an understanding of the five languages ​​of love for every day use in our lives. Everything was wonderful and done with love. We thank the team for their preparation. It was a magnificent evening, a magnificent meeting, a magnificent time. We are also thankful for the American team who served us.

I’m also thankful for my wife who was with me, supported me and served me.

Hi! My name is Vika and this is my husband, Alex. We came here from Lutsk, we are here for the first time. …

We have come to the family retreat for the first time. We have never attended such seminars before and it's cool to be here. We learned a lot, discovered what we are lacking in our family and what we have enough of. We came as participants and also to serve a little - to teach other people how to relax and draw. With the adults, we drew a picture of birds on a branch to symbolize harmony and tomorrow we will paint owls with the children.

We really liked everything. Thank you so much for doing such a tremendous job. This is very cool! People like us need this very much because there are not enough meetings for us. We rarely have the opportunity to go and visit places and hear something useful for our family.

Volodia and Tetiana:

Hi! My name is Volodia and this is my wife, Tetiana. We have two daughters - Evelina and Zlatka. One is 7 years old and the other is 2.5. At this time, I have been undergoing rehabilitation at the Agape Rehabilitation Complex, which has very good employees. They are responsible and you can see that they truly love people.

During rehabilitation, we were invit

ed to come to the family retreat. We spent three unforgettable days here. First of all, we got to know other families who have also experienced many things in their lives. This experience gave us a belief in ourselves, without which it would be difficult to live and fellowship.

The atmosphere here was also very spiritual and inspiring, blessing us and encouraging us not to lose heart, but to continue to live with joy, thanking God for the trials we have every day and for His love for us.

Every day was interesting and unforgettable in its own way. We enjoyed fellowshipping with friends whom we met, families who also had their own problems. What else did we like? – The comfort and the accommodations. So we thank God!