JOURNEY

For more than 30 years, Rosalind has found peace at Koinonia. She first came with Dobbs

Ferry Lutheran Church on retreat, but the connection quickly became personal. Her

husband, Bob, had grown up coming to camp, and together they brought their daughter to hike the trails, fish the lake, and spend time surrounded by God's creation.

"Being at Koinonia reminded me of childhood summers I spent in North Carolina with my

grandparents, who were farmers," Rosalind said. "Both places filled a gap in my life with

sweet water."

Over the years, however, life became more challenging. After years of dialysis, Rosalind

eventually lost the ability to walk and now uses a wheelchair. Although she is mostly

limited to the Conference Center, she continues to return. "When I come to the entrance of the camp, I let out a long sigh of relief."

Last spring, Rosalind attended the Women's Retreat, led by Pastor Kathleen Koran, where participants walked large cloth labyrinths as a spiritual practice. She was excited to attend but unsure whether her motorized wheelchair could safely travel across the fabric. With encouragement, she decided to try. She guided her wheelchair through the labyrinth several times, discovering that the journey wasn't about the path beneath her wheels—it was about the spiritual journey taking place within her.

The experience stayed with her long after the retreat ended. Rosalind purchased a small

wooden labyrinth that now sits on her kitchen table, where it reminds her each day to enter into her relationship with God.

For Rosalind, Koinonia has never simply been a place to visit. It has been a place that

continually finds new ways to nurture faith, even as life's circumstances change. "Koinonia, and the programs it offers, has made my journey through life deeper and sweeter," she said. "Coming to camp is a welcome break where I can connect with people, with nature, and with God." She is already looking forward to returning in her upgraded wheelchair, hoping to once again explore more of the land she has loved for decades.