Family Retreat in Sicily for People with Disabilities

Family Retreat in Sicily for People with Disabilities
From June 21 to 28, a Christian family retreat was held in Sicily for 50 families with disabilities who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the war and are now temporarily living in the Netherlands and Germany.
A total of 156 people from Ukraine, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA took part in the retreat.
🏖️ Every morning, participants were transported to the sea, where volunteers lovingly assisted those who were unable to enter the water on their own.
In the afternoons, we held spiritual gatherings: worship, testimonies, preaching, and sincere fellowship in small groups.
Among the participants were families from frontline and occupied regions of Ukraine, who had lost their homes and no longer have the possibility to return. Their houses were either destroyed or remain under occupation.
For many, this retreat brought life experiences that happened for the first time:
🔹 First time flying on a plane
🔹 First time seeing and swimming in the sea
🔹 First real rest after years of daily caregiving for loved ones with disabilities
✨ This retreat became a breath of fresh air, a space of acceptance, love, hope, and deep restoration — both physical and spiritual.
✨ Real testimonies from participants:
“I’m 87 years old. I’m from Donetsk. The last time I swam in the sea was 30 years ago. The retreat experience was incredible!”
“I’m from Pokrovsk. I have tetraplegia after a neck injury. Before evacuation, I had never been abroad. Sicily, the sea, and this community — it’s a gift for both body and soul!”
“I live in the Netherlands and was evacuated from near Kyiv. I flew for the first time and swam in the sea for the first time. It’s truly a miracle!”
🙏 Our heartfelt thanks to our faithful partners and friends who made this retreat possible:
• NGO Agape Ukraine
• Reach Global Mission
• Cornerstone Church (Parma, USA)
• International Messengers Mission
• Kosciół Ewangelicznych Chrzescijan (Hrubieszów, PL)
🌟 Special thanks to all the amazing volunteers who served every day with joy and love.
🏡 Sincere gratitude to the welcoming base Kikivillige for the wonderful and comfortable accommodations.
We thank God for everything. ♥️