Storyside Retreat
October 1–4, 2026
Journey to the Well Retreat Center - Southwest Michigan
At Storyside Retreats, we slow down and come alongside the stories that have shaped us—and the people we've become because of them.
Through story, embodied reflection, shared experience, and gentle spiritual practices, we honor what has been carried, tend to what is present, and make room for what is still unfolding.
We believe healing often begins not by fixing our stories, but by being fully present to them—in the company of compassionate others and the quiet presence of God.
Come alongside your story.
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We chose the name Storyside because it reflects the posture we hope to embody.
The word side suggests proximity rather than mastery. Rather than standing over a story to analyze, fix, or direct it, we choose to come alongside it—with curiosity, compassion, and care.
It's also how we choose to be with one another.
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We believe transformation often begins when someone discovers they no longer have to carry their story alone.
Every story deserves to be heard with compassion.
Every person deserves to be met with dignity.
No one should have to carry their story alone.
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INVITATION. Come alongside your story.
POSTURE. Honor what has been carried. Tend to what is present. Make room for what is still unfolding.
EXPERIENCE . Gather. Engage. Receive.
Gather. Engage. Receive.
Over four days together, Storyside unfolds through a gentle rhythm of learning, reflection, story engagement, embodied practices, and unhurried rest. Throughout the retreat, you'll return again and again to the same small Story Group, where compassionate relationships can grow over time and where each participant will have two opportunities to engage her own story with the support of her guides and fellow participants.
01 / Interactive Teaching
That blends conversation, reflection, and an exploration of story, faith, and the ways our stories shape how we live, love, and relate.
02 / Guided Somatic Sessions
Integrating movement, reflection, and prayer, inviting you to attend to both your story and your body.
03 / Spacious Rhythms
Of rest, prayer, shared meals, and time in nature—creating room to slow down, breathe, and simply be.
And then, some of the most meaningful moments can't be scheduled—lingering conversations after dinner, laughter around the campfire, quiet moments of prayer, unexpected insight, and the gift of discovering that what stays with us often happens in the spaces in between.
Where We’ll Gather
Storyside Retreats takes place at Journey to the Well Retreat Center, a beautiful 600-acre retreat property in Southwest Michigan.
It was chosen because it embodies the quiet rhythm of Storyside. Surrounded by wooded trails, quiet lakes, open skies, and places intentionally designed for rest and connection, it offers an environment where it becomes easier to slow down, listen deeply, and notice God's presence.
Whether gathered around the table, walking wooded trails, or sitting quietly by the water, every corner of Journey to the Well encourages guests to breathe a little deeper, move a little slower, and make room for what God may be doing among them.
Your Stay at Journey to the Well
600 acres of wooded trails, lakes, gathering spaces, and peaceful places to rest for you to discover
Three beautiful retreat homes: Jacob's House, Secu's House, and Beersheba's House
Private and shared accommodations
Queen-sized beds in every room
A dedicated golf cart with each retreat home
Fresh, home-cooked meals
Quiet mornings, evenings around the campfire, and unhurried moments throughout the day
Here, the setting becomes more than a backdrop. It becomes part of the invitation.
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The Lodge
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The Lodge
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The Lodge
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![Jacob's House]()
Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Jacob's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Secu's House
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Beersheba's House
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Beersheeba's House
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Beersheeba's House
You Won't Walk This Journey Alone
Storyside is led by three Story Guides who share a common philosophy of care while each bringing complementary gifts, professional training, and lived experience.
Blending story work, somatic awareness, spiritual direction, coaching, trauma-informed care, education, and ministry, they create a retreat experience that honors the whole person—mind, body, heart, and spirit—one that is safe enough for honesty, compassionate enough for curiosity, and spacious enough for God to meet each participant in her story.
Esperansita Bejnarowicz
Life & Story Coach • Speaker • Founder, The People Well & Far From Home • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Facilitator & Instructor, The Allender Center
Esperansita creates spaces where people can honor their stories, discover hope, and experience lasting transformation. Blending story work, life coaching, and trauma-informed care, she helps people reconnect with the goodness of their story and the God who has been present within it all along.
Tina Farist
Tina helps people reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies while attending to the movement of God's Spirit. Through story work, somatic coaching, and spiritual direction, she offers a calm, compassionate presence that invites people to slow down, listen deeply, and receive with openness.
Story Coach • Certified Somatic Coach • Spiritual Director • RAHAB Ministries • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Facilitator, The Allender Center
Lea Schrumpf
Story Coach • Founder, Flourish Soul Care • Trauma-Informed Couples Practitioner • Narrative Focused Trauma Care Facilitator & Instructor, The Allender Center
Lea offers a steady, compassionate presence as she helps individuals gently explore untold stories with curiosity and care. Drawing from decades of ministry, education, and trauma-informed practice, she creates space for healing, deeper connection, and renewed flourishing.
Is Storyside for You?
Storyside may be a good fit if...
You're curious about how your story has shaped who you are.
You're carrying experiences that feel unfinished, confusing, or difficult to put into words.
You long for a compassionate place to explore your story without needing to have it all figured out.
You long to slow down and step away from the demands of everyday life.
You value genuine connection while honoring your own pace.
You appreciate thoughtful conversation, embodied reflection, and unhurried rest.
You desire to honor what has been carried, tend to what is present, and make room for what is still unfolding.
Storyside is an intimate, relational, and experiential retreat.
Rather than a conference with speakers or a retreat where you simply observe from the sidelines, Storyside invites gentle participation, honest reflection, and meaningful engagement with your own story. Together, we'll create space to listen—to yourself, to one another, and to the quiet ways God often meets us along the way.
Whether this is your first experience with story work or you've been engaging your story for years, Storyside is designed to meet you where you are. Before the retreat, participants are invited to write their story using simple guidelines provided by the Storyside team. You don't need to be a writer or know where to begin—we'll walk with you through the process.
Participation is always invitational—never forced. You don't need to have the right words, the whole story, or all the answers. Simply come as you are.
Investment
Cost includes lodging, all meals, and access to property trails and lake.
Private Accommodation: $1,750 per person
Shared Accommodation: $1,450 per person
Preferred accommodations will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Space is intentionally limited to 15 women to create an environment that feels personal, safe, and deeply relational.
Early Bird Discount: $250
Limited scholarships are available.
Because Storyside is intentionally intimate and limited to 15 women, every participant begins with a conversation with one of our Story Guides.
This isn't an interview or an application. It's an opportunity to get to know one another, hear a little of your story, answer your questions, and discern together whether Storyside is the right retreat for you in this season.
Whether you have questions, are wondering if Storyside is the right fit, or simply want to learn more, we'd love to connect with you.
No pressure—just an honest conversation about you, your story, and whether Storyside is the right fit for this season.