Love Fest News

Ryan Frederick, creator of the "Fierce Marriage" Blog, has been married to his wife Selena for 17 years. He openly shares a personal story in his journey to learning and understanding his wife's love language:

"I tell Selena I love her at least a few times each day – but the phrase has very little bearing on whether or not she feels loved. I can say it, text it, email it, and write it in the clouds but if my actions don't show her I love her, the words quickly lose their meaning – they're merely a quick breath of air formed into three syllables of consonants and vowels.

I also show Selena I love her by kissing her. But kisses I give to her don't mean as much as her kisses given to me. Why? Because we speak different love languages… Selena feels most loved when we spend good amounts of quality time together with good conversation. Nothing fills her love-bucket like a devoted day together – free from distraction and diversion. If I give her a kiss or tell her I love her after a day together, she knows it and she feels it." (Frederick, n.d.)

You're ready! It's probably the wedding of a lifetime; a beautiful candlelit ceremony in front of family and friends. Perhaps, you've chosen a destination wedding in the Caribbean, or maybe it's the spur-of-the moment and you're in love and can't wait another minute to be in each other's arms, so you decide to elope. You know that "Can't eat, can't sleep, reach for the stars, over the fence, world-series-kinda stuff" (It Takes Two, 1995). However, you've prepared, you're finally ready to say, "I do."

The vows are an intricate and delicate part of any wedding ceremony, whether they are hand-written and recited, traditionally repeated or paraphrased. They can make anyone's heart tremble a bit. Within this small part of the ceremony, a couple makes a personal commitment to one another to be present in Sickness and in health, in good and bad times, till death parts them. During this cherished moment, the bride and groom is blessed with the opportunity to communicate their desires for their marriage and the desire for it to thrive and last (Parke, 2020). But what happens when your vows feel more like a chore than a commitment? Do they still mean something? Have you pledged your love to your partner not fully understanding the promises you've made?

Learn How To Maneuver Through Isolation-Stress

"We have had difficult times and are going through difficult times right now in this isolation thing. I'm not even in my family home right now because me and her were at each other's throats. It wasn't a good time or a good space.

- Shane Lynch

According to Hello Magazine, Shane Lynch, singer/songwriter of Boyzone, and his wife Sheena White called it quits back in April of 2020, after 13 years of marriage. During an interview on Paul Danan's Morning After podcast, Lynch said "You find out things about relationships and it can be very difficult. It can be a struggle."

Truly, we are living in unprecedented times. Fear has gripped the hearts of many, depression and anxiety are at alarming heights, and resources have become limited for all and unattainable for many. In the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Love Fest International (LFI) noted several immediate needs going unmet. Many urgent needs going unmet include, but are not limited to: equal access to qualified, telehealth/virtual counseling and advice for vulnerable populations and those in lower income communities, access to emergency supplies, and opportunities for disadvantaged small businesses.

LFI has expanded its services to include covering the cost for virtual mental health counseling with certified counselors and clinicians for disadvantaged small business owners. Telehealth has proven to be a life-saving resource for those who can pay for and have access to it. To continue to serve our populations, we will make this an available option, which enables participants and clinicians to join from their own environments, using smartphones and communication devices they already have at their fingertips. Furthermore, LFI and its staff continue to adhere to COVID-19 protocols of safety and prevention without sacrificing service. Appointments will be conducted with licensed, certified clinicians through HIPAA-compliant mobile apps and websites.

Love Fests International will continue to uphold the standards of safety as recommended by the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease control. We are implementing physical distancing (at least six feet away), and digitally will stay connected. The LFI staff is committed to serving and assisting in the safety and well-being of our community, volunteers, and staff.

Love Fest International Inc. has been financed to date through the help of generous donors, corporate partners, small business sponsors as well as individual supporters. With help from generous partners like you, together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of underserved communities.

 Some of the most important work done to support vulnerable populations is performed by volunteers. We simply can't do it alone in order to support the tens of thousands of individuals and their families without the generosity of time and talent offered by Volunteers. 

Volunteers are needed throughout the year in morning, afternoon and evening shifts. Just some of the important jobs include ensuring program support, event assistance, social promotion, cause ambassadorship, and donation coordination. Whether you serve solo, or as part of a group, or as a family, there are many ways for you to make an impact. Please connect with us for ongoing and seasonal opportunities below. 

We look forward to your serving with us soon and often!

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

–Mahatma Gandhi