Hear Peter and Christy’s account on how their experience was at a Joni and Friends Family Retreat.
SHAUNA: I’m Shauna with Joni Eareckson Tada: Sharing Hope. Thank you for joining us!
JONI: Today is National PTSD Day. Post-traumatic stress is something that we see in so many U.S. Veterans with disabilities that we serve through our Warrior Getaways. Veterans like Peter, who retired from the Army as a Sergeant. Peter struggles daily with Post Traumatic Stress and brain injuries. Plus, his youngest child has autism; it means there are two people with disability in his family. And Peter and his wife Christy – they used to think that life was so unfair. But deep down, they found what they needed. They found Jesus Christ at our Warrior Getaway. So, listen in as Peter and Christy talk about their time at Warrior Getaway.
PETER: Joni and Friends was the first place where we didn’t have to worry. Our youngest could go play and she had trained professionals there with her at all times which allowed me and my wife to feel actually relaxed!
CHRISTY: It was special for me because it allowed me to know there are answers. You may not have them all, but there are other people that are going through it with you. And that was reviving to me. And the respite it gave me – just to take a break was so good.
PETER: They even gave us a date night together. That is a rarity. These Warrior Getaways have been really good for my family. Between my kids and my wife and myself understanding these issues better brings – it makes them so much easier to cope with and not feeling like you’re alone in all of this.
CHRISTY: I think seeing other people there with the same things and seeing how they deal with similar things of that sort really helps me to be like okay, well, I need to have more compassion because they’re having more compassion.
PETER: Coming from the infantry and what I did; being able to relate and be the more sensitive father that she needs in her life is something that Joni and Friends helped out with. We’ve gotten a much better relationship now than we’ve ever had before. Feels like she understands a little more. But I understand so much more on what she’s going through and what she has been through. No other place I know has done that.
CHRISTY: For veterans there are wounds that no one can fix. Only God can. And when you add in that element, you provide a level of healing that other people will not be able to find because there is only a healing that comes from God. And there is only a surgeon like him that can go into those broken places and make them like new.
JONI: Amen to that – Jesus makes us new; even with a former army sergeant who has PTSD and brain injuries – wow! You know, I just love that Peter, Christy, and their family are thriving since their attendance at Warrior Getaway. Also, they were blessed through Heart for the Disabled! You may recall when I told you about the fire that destroyed their home? Well, you responded, and your generosity enabled Peter and Christy to rebuild after the fire. And they were able to replace items lost in the fire that insurance did not cover. But Christy says the greatest gift was the handwritten letters that you wrote. And we here at Joni and Friends would love to pray for you. Share with us your prayer need today at joniradio.org.
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