Carefree Truth

Issue #273, September 9, 2013

 

 

Mike Wold, a Navy veteran who served in Viet Nam, has launched  a project aimed at helping veterans heal from painful memories of their combat experiences.  Mr. Wold submitted the following video on a disc to Carefree Truth, which Herbert converted into a YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhMtlzLhxQ8

 

 

 

 

Mr. Wold, who lives half time in Minnesota and half time in Carefree, belongs to a church in Minnesota whose congregation decided 6 years ago to provide support for the veterans associated with their parish.  They did so for more than 40 members of deployed military personnel and their families.  They held events, sent packages, and adopted two military chaplains.  They joined the statewide Warriors to Citizens Program to coordinate activities and share the best practices.  Healing of Memories was derived from that association.  Anglican priest, Father Michael Lapsley began Healing of Memories in S. Africa, then expanded it worldwide.

 

 

 

The workshops have been held 5 times in Minnesota, with over 8 events, and the program has been very successful, creating a safe environment in which veterans can share their stories in the company of other veterans.  Mike Wold attended the workshop, so has firsthand knowledge of the benefits bestowed, and is now bringing it to Arizona.  It will be held at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, in downtown Carefree, October 18th-20th.  In the video, he quoted a veteran who participated in a Healing of Memories workshop.  "I have a better grasp of my experiences from my last deployment, and the negative hold they have had on me.  I feel as if I have made progress in working through these experiences, owning what I am, letting go of the rest, and moving toward freedom and healing."

 

 

 

Mr. Wold said he has received great support from Carefree Mayor David Schwan, who was instrumental in connecting him with wonderful people in the community.  Assistance is being provided by the American Legion, the Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce, local pastors, the Foothills Caring Corps., Carefree Kiwanis, the Desert Foothills Library, and the YMCA.  The workshop is being partially underwritten through a grant from the Scottsdale mortgage company, Homeowners Financial Group, but additional funding is needed, and donations from individuals or groups are being solicited.

 

 

 

Mike Wold ended by saying, "Thank you for your service.  Also, thank you to the families that support them.  They're kind of the unsung heroes of the veteran military families.  Also, I just wanted to say from personal experience that the veterans who are able to attend this free workshop will definitely benefit from it and they'll also help other veterans who are dealing with the memories of difficult combat experiences to benefit."    

 

 

Below is the comprehensive information from the official brochure:

 

A world renowned Anglican priest is coming to the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree to conduct a residential Healing of Memories Workshop for Veterans on October 18 – October 20, 2013. The workshop begins with dinner at 6pm on Friday, October 18 and ends at 2pm on Sunday, October 20.The workshop is open only to veterans and is free of charge for them, including all meals and two nights lodging. It is being brought to Arizona after having been conducted five times for veterans in Minnesota where it received high grades from the veterans who attended. Transportation will be provided to veterans in the Phoenix area who need it.

 

The Healing of Memories Workshop was created by Father Michael Lapsley, an Anglican missionary priest, who in 1990 suffered the loss of his hands and the sight in one eye from a letter bomb that was sent to him in Zimbabwe by a supporter of the pro-apartheid government in South Africa. After a long recovery from the bombing, Father Lapsley decided to dedicate his life to helping victims of emotional, psychological and spiritual wounds inflicted by war, human rights abuses and other traumatic circumstances. He founded the Institute for Healing Memories in South Africa in 1998. Their mission is to facilitate the healing process of individuals, communities and nations.

 

Veterans of any era may register free for the retreat by calling Cyndy at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, 480-488-5218, email: cyndy@spiritinthedesert.org, or on the web: www.spiritinthedesert.org. Registrations are limited to the first 24 veterans who register so if you are interested register early.

 

If you are interested in donating a full or partial tax deductible scholarship for a veteran, please contact Cyndy or visit the website.

 

The retreat is being coordinated by Mike Wold, a Navy Vietnam veteran, who is a Minnesota native with a home in Carefree, AZ. For more information about this workshop, its leaders, goals, concepts and any other questions contact him at michael_w_wold@msn.com or 651-687-9767 (cell).

 

 

Submitted by: Mike Wold, PO Box 1463, Carefree, AZ 85377

 michael_w_wold@msn.com

651-687-9767 (cell)

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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