Kid Volunteer Spotlight: Lily Tiemann

One thing that makes Lighthouse Family Retreat so special is that families serve together, and kids especially play a key role on the volunteer team. They not only get to serve in the traditional sense—carrying plates, cleaning spaces—but their most important role is hanging out with all the other kids and creating a fun, welcoming environment for the kids of the Retreat Families. We thought it would be fun to interview some of these rock stars and share their insight and experience with you!

Note: Not sure what some of the Lighthouse terms below mean? Keep scrolling down for a little “insider language” tutorial! Then join us on a retreat and you’ll be “speaking Lighthouse” like a pro!

HOW OLD ARE YOU? 12

HOW MANY RETREATS HAVE YOU ATTENDED? 9

WHO USUALLY COMES TO SERVE AT LIGHTHOUSE WITH YOU?

My family (my mom, dad, and my sister, Amelia), and sometimes we bring a family friend.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE EVENT AT LIGHTHOUSE, AND WHY?

I love Flip Flop because of all the time we get to spend getting to know the Retreat kids and giving them a chance to relax. I also love Beach Picnic because we spend some time on the beach just chilling and getting to know the whole Retreat Family better.

TELL ME ABOUT A FRIEND YOU MADE AT LIGHTHOUSE. WHO WERE THEY? HOW DID YOU CONNECT? WHAT DID YOU LIKE TO DO TOGETHER?

When I was at Lighthouse, I became good friends with the sister of a Retreat kid named Claire. I have her email, so we still talk sometimes and even serve together at Lighthouse. We really bonded during Flip Flop, and we're still pretty good friends today.

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE MEMORY FROM ANY LIGHTHOUSE TRIP YOU'VE TAKEN.

One of my favorite memories was when we did the Talent Show one year and our dance didn't quite work out, but we didn't care because we were having too much fun together.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU DO WELL AT LIGHTHOUSE? WHAT GIFTS/TALENTS/QUALITIES DO YOU PERSONALLY BRING TO THE TEAM?

I think I'm pretty good at just being a friend to the Retreat kids I meet, and it's fun for me to hang out with them.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR LIFE IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE YOU'VE SERVED AT LIGHTHOUSE?

Lighthouse has really helped me to put others first because they have deeper needs than I do.

WHY WOULD YOU TELL OTHER KIDS THEY SHOULD COME SERVE AT LIGHTHOUSE?

They should come to make a friend and learn that it does not take much to help someone in need.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?

I think that it's important to give families living through childhood cancer a break, and Lighthouse makes it easy and fun to help them.

Lighthouse Family Retreat Glossary:

Flip Flop: This happens while the parents attend Common Ground and is a time for all the kids and volunteers to do crafts, swim, play games, and have fun—all together!

Retreat Family: These are our families living through childhood cancer who we are giving a week away from the chaos of cancer to experience rest, joy, restoration, and hope.

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