Six months later, ready to attend, she was having doubts that she could actually make it! I shared that although I did not know what she was facing, I would be as a sister to her, and no matter what she needed, I would be there to help. I assured her that she was not going to be alone, and that this retreat was exactly what she needed. She summoned the strength and faith to trust we would be there for her. As Amy walked up the stairs with new prosthetic legs that day, her smile spoke to how proud she was that she made it to the retreat. Throughout the week, Amy was not only encouraged and motivated by all the attendees, but also motivated each of us by her drive to overcome.
Faith can so easily be complicated especially when it calls for us to step out of our comfort zones. I love how the Bible describes faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.” As Amy came to the retreat, she knew God was going to work in her life but did not know how. I think of how in this holiday season many of us are trying to conjure up the faith to believe that we will get through all that is going on. To believe that even in the hard, there is still a story to be told, a life to be lived. For some the concept of faith seems too big to grasp, and yet I can bet you displayed your ability to have faith today. Did you sit down at all today? Did you sit in a chair? Before sitting in that chair, did you evaluate it? Place weights on it to see if it would hold you up? Probably not, you probably sat down in that seat without giving it a thought, and I bet it held you up.
Faith sees beyond the immediate, past the difficulty, and to the possibility. When we know the possibilities are limitless, we find the courage to keep going. 2020 is almost done, and as we dream up all the great things 2021 will have in store, I want to encourage you that you will be ok. You have people who care about you and love you. Believe bigger than what you see, and watch God blow you away with all He has in store for you!
As we wrap up the year, this is also a great time to give to all the incredible stories still waiting to be told at FOBH. We have three retreats we are planning for 2021, and that is a huge step of faith for us as an organization! We are looking for partners and donors to help us cast our nets to wider territories, where we can have a greater impact. We cannot do this alone, especially after a tough year! We ask that you consider us when giving to your tax-deductible donations this year. We also have opportunities for you to become a monthly donor, which helps us tremendously. On our website we have also set up a giving campaign where you can allocate your gifts to one of our very special programs. We are so thankful to each of you and want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Aloha,
Sarah Hill
Executive Director
Friends of Bethany
Check out other inspiring stories
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.
Mahalo to Our Sponsors
Thank you to the following corporate sponsors who have already made direct contributions towards our upcoming retreat! We couldn’t do this without the support of:
- Certified Brands Group
- Cobian
- Dukes
- Fjallraven Kanken
- Mae Cargo Jewelry
- Pain Free Kauai
- Primal Kitchen
- Rank Up Academy
- RX Smart Gear
- San Diego Picnic
- YETI
- Feast on This
- Hakus and Love
- Health Ade
- Hoa Kai
- LinkSoul
- Love Handle
- Now Foods
- Point One Vision
- Rustico
- Blender Bombs
- Crossway
- Gnarly Nutrition
- Greenhouse Foods
- Greyston Bakery
- Kokua Suncare
- Mo’s Dough
- Nooty
- PalmDream
- Paper Sunday
- Surfwater
- Palmdream
- Ponyback
