3 replies to this topic

[Kelly]

At the 2010 Project Jason Keys to Healing retreat, all attendees were treated to a free hot air balloon ride. On day one of the retreat, attendees were asked to write down "Things I want to leave behind."on a piece of paper. When It was their turn for a ride, they tossed these out of the balloon as they experienced the joy and freedom of not just a tranquil float into the sky, but a release of fear and other negative emotions. There was never a more perfect morning!


Photo by Duane Bowers


Click on the photo above to see the slideshow.


Short video by Don Ross:


YouTube videos by Denise Harrison:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=F4FFiMHwfeo

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=0K-vxfxbnqg

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=2YJMjiKNyII

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=0mym_G_j5R8

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=6OBOYhZCf48

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=y_InlcegCtU

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ykN0s0O02u4


On Saturday night, the Keys to Healing Vigil of Hope was held. This year's event took place at the beautiful Holy Family Shrine. Attendees took this time to honor their loved one in word and song. Each attendee lit a candle and either observed either a moment of silence, or read something of meaning for them and their loved one. McKenna Murphy, niece of Project Jason founder, Kelly Jolkowski, sang "Angel", "To Where You Are", and led the participants in singing "Amazing Grace". The larger community of missing persons was also included in our new Community of Hope ceremony, in which everyone present chose a family of a missing person not present to pray for or remember throughout the year.


View a slideshow of the Vigil of Hope by clicking on the photo above.


Slideshow of photos taken of Holy Family Shrine

Thanks for Rich Jaworski of Euphoria Balloons for helping to bring joy and tranquility into the lives of the attendees.
http://euphoriaballoons.com/index.html

[Denise Harrison]

Our lovely candle-lit Hope display, courtesy of a wonderful, talented, anonymous carpenter!

[Denise Harrison]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Denise Harrison
Denise.Harrison@projectjason.org

2010 Project Jason “Keys to Healing Retreat” Wraps With
30 Percent Registration Increase, Unique Special Events

August 19, 2010 -- OMAHA, NE -- Information-packed classes, guest speakers, and an uplifting experience were some of the many activities during the 2010 Project Jason Keys to Healing Retreat, held August 13-15 at a remote, scenic retreat center near Ashland, Nebraska. This second annual retreat, open to families who have experienced a missing loved one of any age, had a 30 percent increase in enrollment over the first year, with attendees representing all parts of the country.

“We're so pleased to be able to give our Project Jason Families the gifts of joy, hope, and sometimes, peace, that are difficult to find on one’s own when you must live your life while a loved one is missing,” said Kelly Jolkowski, president and founder of Project Jason. “Everyone left with a smile on their lips and in their hearts. “

Jolkowski said the retreat is about providing strength during this journey, no matter how long it lasts, and also about a sense of community. “Another benefit of the retreat is connecting with others who truly understand their situations because they, too, are living it,” she said.

[table][tr][td][/td][/tr][/table]Classes were taught by internationally-renowned grief and trauma counselor Duane T. Bowers. One of the few therapists specializing in the ambiguous loss of having a missing loved one, Bowers taught attendees about how this unique trauma impacts the mind and body. He also taught families of the missing how to recognize which feelings are normal, and how to recognize, intervene, and reduce the effects of those that are not.

As the Keys to Healing Retreat is for healing the mind, body, and spirit, Ric Chamberlin, a massage therapist specializing in ortho-bionomy explained the principles of this form of body therapy then provided massages, Mary Glassman, R.N., presented anti-stress techniques, and Teresa Monaghen, A.O., a spiritual advisor and national director of the Pro-Sanctity Movement, discussed how people can move from suffering to joy.

A prayer vigil was held at the beautiful Holy Family Shrine church, a glass structure atop a hill offering scenic views. The vigil, which coincided with a stunning sunset, offered prayers for missing persons whose families were present and for an equal number of families not in attendance.



Attendees were treated to a surprise event the last morning, when they were driven to a secret location where a hot-air balloon ride awaited them. Everyone went on the balloon ride, some conquering their fears in order to do so.



Documentary filmmaker Christina Fontana, at the retreat to continue filming her documentary “Project Jason: A Voice for the Missing,” also filmed individual stories of each family whose missing loved one has an open police case. These films will be submitted to America’s Most Wanted to be considered for AMW’s “My Story” segment. (Fontana, as all other guest experts, offered this service free of charge.)

Another benefit of the retreat: free DNA sampling was done by the Omaha Police Dept. for several families in attendance.

Attendees, both those returning and those new, have already expressed positive feedback about the experience and its results.

"This is my safe haven. I've looked forward to coming back all year long," was the comment from one of those returning for the second year. "This is the first positive thing to happen to me in six months," said a first-year attendee.

Plans are already underway for next year’s retreat, which will carry a special theme requested by attendees. The 2011 retreat will feature advanced learning techniques that will help first-time attendees, but will be presented in a new, unique interactive format especially suited to second- and third-year returnees’ continuing personal growth.

Project Jason, which subsidized 40 percent of attendee fees for the 2010 retreat, is asking for donations of needed items from our wish list http://projectjason....g37000#msg37000 for the third annual retreat, scheduled for August, 2011. Monetary donations http://projectjason.org/help.shtml are also welcome in order to reach the goal of offering the retreat 100 percent free next year.

About Project Jason

Project Jason, founded in 2003, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting families of missing persons. The organization offers tactical guidance, emotional support, and hope for families continuing their searches for answers.

The families working with Project Jason benefit from increased public awareness of their missing loved ones through a variety of outreach and educational activities. The families are also guided toward existing resources available to help with their efforts. Project Jason is based in Omaha, Nebraska.

For more information about Project Jason’s objectives, activities and services, go to http://www.projectjason.org

[Kelly]

Videos from the Vigil of Hope, an event at the Keys to Healing retreat:

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=HQj2b6mNRwo