Caretakers - Mission Care & More

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, SPRING 2026

It's that time again... On March 23rd we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge!

If you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/caretakers2026springchallenge).

The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others.

Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

In the past, some have asked if friends of participants and church members can join the challenge. Yes, they can. But only church workers are eligible to win the prizes. Thank you for understanding.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail.

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

A free bonus included when visiting Garden Refuge is the chance to see our beautiful city. This video (we can't take credit for it) shows some of the highlights...

Olomouc This is "Olomouc" by Dalet on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, FALL 2025

Hello everyone, on October 13th we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge!

If you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1140248888039475).

The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others. Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

In the past, some have asked if friends of participants and church members can join the challenge. Yes, they can. But only church workers are eligible to win the prizes. Thank you for understanding.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail. There are some new aspects this time around, especially related to exercise and ways to get bonus points.

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, SPRING 2025

Hello everyone, on May 19th we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge.

The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others. Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

In the past, some have asked if friends of participants and church members can join the challenge. Yes, they can. But only church workers are eligible to win the prizes. Thank you for understanding.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail (there are some new aspects this time around, especially related to exercise) and, if you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1216160099886778).

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

One thing we care very much about is God’s creation. See: https://www.caretakers.cz/creationcare

That's why I was so excited to see that the theme for this year’s Stone-Campbell Journal Conference was Tending God’s Garden: The Environmental Mandate. You can view their plenary presentations here: https://uvgnfp.viewcastle.tv/ First click the link and then scroll down to the presentations.

I also want to recommend Katherine Hayhoe’s Talking Climate newsletter. She is a climate scientist whose work is inspired by her Christian faith. Here is a link https://mailchi.mp/834af2ae995f/talking-climate-now-in-your-inbox-10348852?e=0bf1ab06a0 to one of her recent newsletters. Not all of them focus on faith, but this one discusses what church leaders and congregations (of various stripes) are doing and can do to make positive change.

And here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-kCGmx0b7U is a speech she gave at a Christian conference not long ago. She focuses on how our faith calls us to care for “the least of these.”

Faith and the Future of Creation – Katharine Hayhoe | Fourth Lausanne Congress Katharine Hayhoe explores the intersection of faith and environmental stewardship, highlighting the biblical call for Christians to care for God’s creation. ...

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, WINTER 2025

Hello everyone, on February 10th we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge. This will be a lighter challenge that should be good for beginners or a relief for those who took part in our stringent fall challenge. :-) The spring challenge in May will be slightly harder, and the fall challenge the most challenging and complete.

The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others. Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail (there are some new aspects this time around) and, if you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/807552328211752).

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, FALL 2024

Hello everyone, on October 14th we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge. The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others. Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). This challenge puts a bigger focus on exercise than our past challenges. Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

In the past, some have asked if friends of participants and church members can join the challenge. This time they can. But only church workers are eligible to win the prizes. Thank you for understanding.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail (there are some new aspects this time around) and, if you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1091850025667356).

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

We're currently hosting 3 global workers serving in Southwestern Asia and at the same time we're conducting a 4-day online debrief for a family that's in the midst of a big move. Monika's spring fitness & nutrition challenge is in its last weeks. And here's a look at the garden part of our Garden Refuge.

How can we be of service to you?

FITNESS & NUTRITION CHALLENGE, SPRING 2024

Hello everyone, on May 13th we're starting another 7-week fitness and nutrition challenge. The goal is to encourage global church workers to take care of themselves so that they can take care of others. Part of the challenge includes attaining points for doing healthy things (e.g. eating fruits and vegetables, exercising). Whoever has the most points at the end of the seven weeks will receive a prize from Caretakers.

Below are images that explain the point system in detail (there are some new aspects this time around) and, if you are interested, you can join our private Facebook group here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2037705309958635).

I hope we can be an encouragement to one another through this group challenge. I'll write more soon. In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or other things related to your personal health, exercise, or nutrition.

Blessings,
Monika

Due to some scheduling changes, our care apartment is available from May 8 to June 5. If you or someone you know could use a place for rest and renewal, please let me know. We offer debriefing, spiritual formation, and more. You can find out more here: https://www.caretakers.cz/

Here is what some of our recent guests have had to say.

A ministry couple from southern Europe came for rest and renewal as they recovered from burnout:

"We had a beautiful experience with Mitch and Monika. We were able to share our burdens and struggles in a safe and loving environment. We received needed quiet time and guided times of reflection."

A missionary from eastern Europe spent the first week of his three-month sabbatical with us for rest, debriefing, and sabbatical coaching. Here are his thoughts:

"The apartment is perfect: clean, comfortable, beautiful, welcoming. Your service is also perfect: Mitch and Monika are gifted by God for this very work. Your care and guidance are the sweet smell of God’s grace in the plum blossoms near your house."

He continues:

"At the Caretakers’ Garden Refuge, I felt the Lord saying with grace, over and over: 'I see you.' Mitch and Monika provided authentic and meaningful guidance pointing me to Christ again. The debriefing and spiritual formation exercises were transformative. Mitch made me feel at ease and challenged me to analyze that past in a creative and incremental way so that it never felt like overload. The spiritual formation exercises taught me that my own inner exercise, which has become parched and dry, can be greatly enriched with external resources and assistance. The resources provided in his guidance made an amazing impact from day one."

A family from the United States, came to process the end of their current ministry and to move forward in healthy ways as they seek new ministry opportunities. They wrote:

"My husband and I came to Caretakers after our ministry effort broke apart. Working through the debriefing program with Mitch and Monika provided time to reflect on the past several years of our life and ministry and the tools to do it well. Caretakers helped us understand our feelings about our past ministry. Our time there helped lay a foundation for healing and growth as we look forward to what is next."

Global workers in central Europe came with their children for rest and a breath of fresh air:

"We came longing for rest and are leaving filled and renewed. Our week was low-key and gave us space to reconnect: with God, each other, and as a family. It was helpful to have a space to talk through the past few years and to be given tools to help us in looking forward."

Caretakers Caring for global workers, faith communities, and creation. We're here to help you help others.

Recently we've hosted global workers from northern Europe, southern Europe, southern Africa, and America. Here is what one family wrote about their experience:

"There are times when words just don’t seem enough, this is one of those times! Thank you so much for all that you have done for our family. We’ve been overwhelmed by your hospitality and generosity, your thoughtfulness, and the way you’ve filled in the gaps. You’ve both played a huge role in creating this space for us to breathe, rest, and be cared for. It’s possibly the first time in our lives that we’ve had a space like this where the focus has been on our well-being. Thank you for being willing and open to making this happen for us, we appreciate it more than you can imagine!"

And another worker wrote this:

"Being with Caretakers has been a true gift; wholesome in every way! It was a life-giving, grace and love-filled experience that brought healing, rest, and comfort — not just for my body, but most of all for my heart, which was hurting more than I realized. I praise God for this place and for the Andersons who make it into a real home."

We'd love to be of service to you, too. You can learn more and be in touch via our website:

Caretakers Caring for global workers, faith communities, and creation. We're here to help you help others.