“A retreat place to heal injury and trauma”

Golden Rule Moments published in AzCentral

A retreat place to heal injury and trauma

Albert Celoza

Special to The Republic

More than three in four veterans and active service members who served after September 11, 2001, have experienced an injury or illness reported having PTSD – post-traumatic stress disorder. While the United States has not experienced war within its territory since the attack at Pearl Harbor, its people have experienced physical and mental injuries brought about by war.

It was a Golden Rule Moment when I received an email offering a place for retreat for local veterans here in Arizona. The Sonoran Desert Sanctuary retreat center is located on 300 acres adjacent to Alamo Lake. It is about a three-hour drive from Phoenix. They opened the first campground, which features eight large safari tents (double occupancy) and a restroom with hot showers and flush toilets. In addition, they began to plant a botanical prayer and meditation garden. This generous offer came from Jen Anderson of the non-profit she founded, the Anderson-Arroyo Foundation.

The foundation was named after Jen’s uncle, Richard Anderson, who served in Vietnam, and Miguel Arroyo, a veteran she met on the street in Los Angeles. Her uncle and Miguel Arroyo had parallel experiences in the military, and both shared a history of PTSD, substance abuse, and homelessness. To honor their memories, the retreats for veterans will be free of charge to signify its commitment to healing trauma suffered by individuals.

In addition to human injuries, the place is dedicated to healing the land and other-than-human species through land regeneration projects and collaborative wilderness retreat programs. Their goal of sustainability is to restore the biodiversity of the area, which was damaged by the removal of flora and fauna by its 20th-century inhabitants. The sanctuary’s isolation provides abundant wildlife, stars, silence and an environment of wonder and introspection; it is a place to unplug from society and a fast-paced life.

This secluded, wilderness sanctuary is located on 330 acres of beautiful Sonoran Desert adjacent to Alamo Lake. The sanctuary is surrounded by thousands of acres of Wilderness and Public Lands (Bureau of Land Management). It is located 2.5 hours from Lake Havasu, 3.5 hours from Phoenix, and a four-hour drive from Las Vegas.

For thousands of years the area was the home to indigenous cultures. From 1910-1940, there was a ‘pick and shovel’ manganese mining operation. From the 1970’s until 2000 it was home to a survivalist family compound.

Jen Anderson, whom I eventually met and interviewed in person, grew up in the Sonoran Desert in the Tucson area. She had a God experience as a six-year-old playing in the desert. She spoke of feeling warmth and being surrounded by sparkling light. This has led her to study about religions and theology. Jen lived life beyond Arizona to the East and West, and worked in various ventures and careers. But the longing remained in her, and thus, she had to get back to Arizona and realize the God experience of her childhood. For more information about the Sonoran Desert Sanctuary, visit sonorandesertsanctuary.com/.

Albert Celoza, PhD, is the Executive Director, Arizona Interfaith Movement

Jen Anderson founded the Anderson-Arroyo Foundation. Provided by Albert Celoza