By the Word of Their Testimony – Testimonials from Our Retreat Attendees
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.”
Revelation 12:11
There’s a shift that takes place in our minds, our hearts, and our spirits when we hear a firsthand account of one’s personal experience or story. Whether it’s a difficult trial turned victorious triumph or simply an experience so life-changing it cannot be contained, one story can inspire hope. Testimonies have a special way of piercing through the walls we’ve built up around our hearts — perhaps because of pain, fear, disbelief, or maybe distance from God — and touching the heart’s deepest caverns in a way nothing else can.
Revelation says it’s by “the blood of the Lamb” — Jesus’ death and resurrection — AND through the “word of their testimony,” they were able to overcome. God time and time again uses an individual’s testimony as an avenue to release healing, bring freedom, and spark belief and inspiration once again.
At the Beautifully Flawed Foundation, it is one of the greatest honors to have a front row seat to seeing God do some of His best work through a testimony. We have the privilege of hearing so many of these young men and women’s stories through our Forge and Beautifully Flawed retreats for those with limb difference and get to witness the forever impact these testimonies have on the attendees around them, and on us staff members as well. Not only that, we continually see new testimonies being birthed and forged at the retreats when an attendee has a moment of overcoming a hardship or challenge, encounters the healing presence of God, or experiences the joy of trying something new for the first time. There is nothing more beautiful and rewarding than hearing these stories of God’s goodness.
Many of you have played a key role in the making of these testimonies. When you give financially, you help make these retreats a reality, which in turn, forever impacts the lives of these young men and women with limb loss. The life-changing environment and activities we provide for our attendees to encounter healing, freedom, the love of God, and hope to overcome is a direct result of your generosity.
Your donation is a truly seed being sown that blossoms into a beautiful testimony — testimonies like the ones we’d like to share with you below. Just as Jesus told the man in Luke 8:39, “‘Return home and tell [about] all the great things God has done for you,’” we want you to be able to experience a few of these retreat testimonies as well and pray that they would bring hope, faith, and encouragement to you and your life today:
Testimonials from Our Retreat Attendees:
“I have struggled a lot with confidence, especially never knowing anyone like me. Going to the Beautifully Flawed Retreat and finding a community of people who have gone through similar trials changed my whole potential. I never realized how much I needed to find this community until I did. It’s like walls I didn’t even know I had put up had fallen and I realized I wasn’t alone. It was an incredible week filled with awesome memories all while learning so much about myself and my relationship with God.”
-2021 Beautifully Flawed Retreat Attendee
“Seeing the other guys [at the retreat] made me realize that I could still feel hopeful about my life. I realized that my version of what is ‘best’ is going to be different than what everyone else’s is and it doesn’t mean that I’m limited. Recognizing that I wasn’t the only person in the room with limb loss, it makes it feel like I’m not that different and that there are other people who have gotten along. They’ve figured out how to do things that they want in life. That was so encouraging for me.”
-Josh Rodgers, Forge Retreat Attendee
“The joy I have when being around my Beautifully Flawed girls is truly like no other! I was reflecting on it after the Kauai retreat, and I can only imagine that’s kind of what heaven feels like. Where your body is beautiful and without flaw, and you are fully known and loved! When all those around you share the same physical differences, you feel like you belong.”
-Natalee Pon, 4x Beautifully Flawed Retreat Attendee
“Probably the biggest thing God has done in my life this week is just open me up with all the other people that are around to share the pain that I have in the stuff that I’m really still working through as a new amputee, just to really find my peace with God and really find my peace with the whole situation.”
-Kelly Wood, 2x Forge Retreat Attendee
“I used to be ashamed of my arm. I didn’t used to want to show my skin growing up — I used to hide it. But now, I love to show it off to people to show that God is using me as His vessel to show the world that He is real, He is alive.”
-Verkilya Hogan, 3x Beautifully Flawed Retreat Attendee
“Since the retreat, I feel more connected to my true self. I can be more honest with myself and the people I love. And thanks to the amazing surfing session, I’ve got my love for sports back! Only the ONE can foresee how much good has and will come out of The Forge!!!”
-Timo Neukomm, Forge Retreat Attendee
“Getting up on that board and riding the waves was a feeling I will never forget. I felt so accomplished and so free from every worry I have ever had. Seeing every other girl surfing also opened my eyes so much to just how much we can accomplish when we set our minds to something. Any time anyone fell, they immediately got right back up on the board to try again and I think that surfing example represents our resilient lives perfectly.”
-Isabella Floyd, Beautifully Flawed Retreat Attendee
As we near our October retreats, would you prayerfully consider partnering with us in order to make these life-changing experiences possible? We have thirteen different giving funds for our retreats so that you can specifically choose and give towards an aspect of the retreat you feel called to invest into. We couldn’t be more grateful for your generosity.
Make Incredible Things Happen
Help further our mission and programs that support young people living with limb difference or those who’ve experienced traumatic limb loss by making a tax-deductible donation.
