Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a special edition of Joni and Friends. Every once in a while I love to reach way back in the archives and pull out programs that you and the rest of our listeners have really enjoyed and today I’ve got a special interview I’d like to re-air. It’s a conversation with my friend Wesley who served at our Family Retreats. Let me introduce you to Wesley…
Joni: Here we are at Camp Allen Family Retreat down in Texas and I’ve got a good lookin’ guy in front of me named Wesley. And he’s got on a shirt that looks like it’s from a pro-bass fishing tournament with all kinds of advertisements all over it. But you are a fisherman to the heart, aren’t you Wes?
Wesley: Yes, ma’am, but more than that, I’m more of a fisherman for people. Just like Jesus, He’s a fisher of men, that’s what I want to be. Fishing is just part of an avenue, but that’s truly my love.
Joni: Well, you are here with a big boat and lots of fishing equipment and what’s the catch? Why is it?
Wesley: We’re here, I believe, to give an opportunity for kids… for young adults… who feel they are disabled and they can’t fish. But that’s not true. Just as you experienced yesterday, we’ll put a rod in your hand and you felt like “I can’t do that”. But yes you can, you can. So I feel like we’re here to give an opportunity for young adults and children to be able to experience something that they don’t feel like they can.
Joni: And I did experience that yesterday. You guys wrapped that rod around my hand and I could not believe how light a graphite rod really can be. Hey! Wes, I’ve seen the disabled kids around you with their fishing rods and I’ve seen you work with them. What impresses you about Joni and Friends Family Retreat?
Wesley: Well, it’s more than just a retreat. It’s really a life-changing experience for any family that would want to come. This my second one and I just go home going “when’s the next one?” I want to go to another one. People have their lives changed. You get a sense of confidence in yourself when you leave here that you can conquer the world. We can do anything. Just because I can’t walk doesn’t mean that I can’t do things. Let’s go do something!
Joni: You know, you have been so kind to bring out your boat, to bring out your rods and reels and teach the kids with disabilities how to fish. I just bet there are a couple of people listening who have a special occupation or career or gift and they’re wondering if they might be able to use that gift, or that hobby to in some way serve at a Family Retreat. What would you say to them, Wes?
Wesley: I’d say, “bring it on!” Just because I fish doesn’t mean I am the only person that can offer my talent. God uses us in many ways. Whatever your gift is, whatever your occupation is just give it to God and let Him use it.
Joni: Well, I’m hoping that a couple of friends listening will do just that by contacting us at Joni and Friends. Wes, I love your accent. Everybody’s wondering, where you do come from it? Where did you get that great Southern drawl?
Wesley: Well, I live down here in Southeast Texas.
Joni: And I know that you are a true Southeasterner because you had 20 frog legs for dinner last night. I wouldn’t eat those frog legs off my dinner plate and you ate them all. So, I think you are the champion frog leg, crawdad eater of them all. Congratulations Wes!
Wesley: The only thing that made me sad about the frog legs is I didn’t get to catch them myself.
Joni: And once again let me remind you of our website, it’s joniandfriends.org.
Used by permission of
JONI AND FRIENDS
P.O. Box 3333
Agoura Hills, CA 93176