Wandering Around like Mary & Joseph

It was snowing when my teenage son and I left Akron, Ohio for our Christmas break trek to Father Beiting Appalachian Mission Center in Louisa, Kentucky. The drive is about 4.5 hours and this was my seventh trip here. We come here as volunteers nearly every time my son has a break from high school. He frankly doesn't care for this type of "vacation" and I probably would not have liked it either as a teen. But he manages to take it in stride because I keep threatening to move here for good, so a week here and there is a better deal from his perspective.

The drive was pretty with snow on the ground. It gives perspective to the scenery and makes all the farmhouses look like Christmas cards. It had snowed here too, and the snow takes hostages in the hills. If you are at the bottom of the mountain you are not going up, and if you are on top you might have to stay there a day or two.

Our favorite place to stay at the Mission Center is called Padre's Place. This is Father Beiting's eclectic little retreat at the top of a hill with a cemetery and a life size statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus under the trees in the center of the circular driveway. There are several cozy trailers at Padre's Place - one with a woodburning fireplace. However, Mother Nature (or gravity) determined that no one would make it that far up the mountain the night we arrived.

Always creative and flexible, Sister Kateri would come up with something, I knew. There is a lovely new duplex house at Point of Hope. During the current restructuring of the transitional housing program, the POH campus was nearly vacant. The duplex was available, sans stove or fridge. No problem, I didn't come here to cook! (Although some people do.)

My son and I unloaded the sleeping bags, duffles, and cooler into the duplex living room. The thermostat was set at 50 so I turned it up before we headed over to the Chinese buffet in the defunct Foodland Plaza. After dinner with Father Beiting and Sisters Bernadette, Kateri and Pat, we headed over to the rectory to visit with Father for a while. Three volunteers from Boston - two of whom I had met here before - joined us as Father planned work for the next day.

Ready for bed early, my son and I returned to the duplex where that living room couch was calling my name and the mattress on the floor upstairs was calling his. It seemed a little chilly,
I thought, though admittedly we are not used to a toasty, energy efficient environment in our Ohio century farmhouse! We had been gone for two hours and the thermostat read 57 now. The furnace was runnning constantly, but 57 was a bit cool even for our pioneering natures.

Ever solicitous, Sister Kateri created an ersatz flashlight to inspect the furnace by removing the shade from a small lamp and pointing the bare bulb into the closet. We all felt the furnace flue and agreed it was not hot enough! We inspected circuit breakers, hot air registers, and the water heater. This fixed nothing but it kept us busy. It also gave me the idea to test the hot water, which sputtered and coughed and spat out a continuous icy spray without a trace of warmth.

Sister offered us beds at the POH Center, which she and Sister Bernadette had prepared ahead of time. I almost took her up on it, but then I remembered the St. Joseph guest house by the river, near the rectory. Also known as "the blue house" (guess why?), St. Joe's recently was renovated to keep it from falling into the Big Sandy River (good idea...) Maybe we could try that?

We drove our gear over to the house. We had stayed there last Christmas. "Don't take the stuff out of the car yet," I said. "Let's see how it is." The light switch inside the kitchen door turned on two ceiling fans but not the lights. Taking baby steps in the dark with my hands held out straight in front of me in case I crashed into anything, I shuffled across the living room to the opposite side of the room and groped for the switch on a big table lamp. Click.click.click. No light! I felt under the lampshade in the dark. No light bulb! Now I was wildly waving my arms in the air trying to find a pull chain on a ceiling fan. "Ah ha!" I exclaimed as three spiral fluorescent bulbs came to life.

"I don't think it's much warmer in here," I said, noting one large blackened and smoldering log in the open woodstove. Behind the stove, a portable fan was running in an apparent attempt to move the heat into the room. Instead, it was moving the smell of the smoking firelog very efficiently. A new electric space heater was running on "high"in the bathroom. A second, rickety electric heater was also giving it all it had, while making a very unhappy noise. Its cord was stretched to an outlet above the sink, and the plug was half out of the wall. When I tried to correct it, I noticed the plug was extremely hot. I decided to turn off the heater. Wouldn't you know, the switch was missing the cap to turn it, and me without my visegrips!! Well, I can always just unplug it, right? Imagine the look on my face - and forget what I actually said - when just one of the prongs came out of the wall and the other remained resolutely stuck in the outlet! The heater did quit, but neither of us thought we should tempt electrocution. Note to self: Tell someone about this tomorrow. By now they are all in bed!

So back outside into the 20-degree wind we wandered, and drove back to POH where the room was warm, the water was hot, and the lamps even have bulbs! I was terribly aware that Mary and Joseph would have found either the duplex or the blue house to be luxurious beyond measure. Thank you, Newborn King, for coming to us in a cold, dark stable one night. Thank you, Sister Kateri, and sweet dreams! See you in the morning!

Greetings from Winter Wonderland Kentucky

This week once again has gone by all too fast at Point of Hope. Sorting of decorations is really now complete and we marveled as we kept digging into the treasure we had been left with by the volunteers from Thanksgiving. We had not realized the full extent of the gifts of Christmas lights, ornaments and various other Christmas décor that they had brought us till this week when we finally got to the bottom of the bins. For this and all we are given, thank you.

Tuesday and Wednesday were surprisingly busy.  Our main challenge during this very cold spell was to keep the trailers from deteriorating more because of the freezing cold.  A kind man had been in one of the days, and reminded us to be careful that the pipes did not freeze.  This had been an oversight on our part.  We immediately sprang into action checking everything out, but much to our dismay, many pipes had already frozen. This kept Dale busy throughout the week, repairing pipes and trying to ensure that more plumbing problems did not develop.

            God’s graces and blessings never cease for us who believe. This week, I was so grateful once again when help arrived. We welcomed a couple from Illinois with a van load of treasures for us. They are regular volunteers and a wonderful support for us here at Point of Hope.  Snow or blizzard will not stop them from following God’s call to service. They worked at the warehouse helping to prepare the Christmas distribution and at the rectory helping Father Beiting get their house ready for Christmas.  They spent Friday at Point of Hope helping me and reorganizing the administration office. It was a big and difficult job, but I think they thrive on the challenge. Often times to say a simple ‘thank you’ seems feeble for the gratitude I feel with the help and support that God sends us.  This couple became good friends to all of us working at Point of Hope and is very supportive in that regard as well. They make each of us feel so uniquely special.  

            During this Advent and as Christmas is drawing nearer, I have been remembering all of the people who are and have been so good to help us, help the people.  There is a special bond that develops, I think from my experience, between those who give and those who receive. There is a very kind Sister from Georgia who I hear from and remembers me every month.  It is a very special feeling to know that you are carried in the heart of that person even if you have never met.  She is gratefully in my heart and in my prayer.

Most of the volunteers and benefactors have become very good friends, friends who share their love and service for God.  The older I get, the more I realize that we are all in this together. I cannot work here if it were not for you.  You support us in so many different ways: those who pray for us and pray with us, those who physically take the time to come volunteer and work (from their own busy schedules), those who help us financially and last but not least, those who befriend us and become our source of emotional, spiritual, moral and psychological support.  I smile as I think of you princess, and you with whom I share Canadian stories with as we sing and dance waving farewell to people as they leave Sunday mass.  I remember good times and having simple fun.

If I do not get a chance to write before Christmas (though I shall try), I wish you all a very merry Christmas and blessings to you and all your loved ones.  May Jesus who has been born in you in baptism, continue to grow in your life so that it is ‘not you who lives but Jesus in you’.

2nd Week of Advent Events

Advent greetings to all!
I just want to share some of our activities and events of this past week. On Monday, a meeting had been scheduled for the Point of Hope Advisory committee, comprised of people in the Louisa community who support our work.  Unfortunately most of the committe had forgotten the meeting or other more urgent matters evolved for them.  Fortunately one member came.  So we spent the morning talking about possibilities. I shared my vision, hope and plan for the new program when we reopen Point of Hope in February. As we talked the plan became clearer. Thus we got some work done.  I am also very grateful for another volunteer who works like a consultant for us and has agreed to help in administration, organizing and structuring our new transition housing program. I think she was specially sent by our awesome God to balance my impulsivity and spontaneous nature.  The rest of the week was comprised of some appointments and individual  meetings, and a continuation of getting our Christmas decorations in some kind of order, trying to clear some space in the programs office. Friday was a day dedicated to driving for Father Beiting, and travelling with the group to fetch vehicles that were donated to the mission from northern Kentucky.  We also picked up donations for the Christmas distribution to be held at the warehouse on Thursday this week. We were loaded down and still did not have enough space in the vehicles.  Doesn't this remind you of the miracle Jesus worked when he mutiplied the loaves of bread and fish for the people to eat?  The disciples had so many baskets of leftovers filled. I think so. The miracle of kindness and generosity filled the vehicles to the brim until we could not load more on. Jesus continues to multiply all the offerings and turns it into supplies so people may have what they need. Thank you.
     On Friday evening, more of the Lord's worker, a group from Ohio arrived that have been coming for so many years called the "Mountain Vision".  They are a group of dedicated women and men that work throughout the year to bring Christmas joy to the children of Appalachia.  On Saturday morning, the community center was filled with families while the Mountian Vision welcomed the people and sang Christmas carols.  As part of their program, they shared the Good News of Jesus Christ which is what Christmas is all about. They not only brought material gifts but more importantly brought the gift of Jesus.  Father Beiting also spoke, welcomed the group and shared on how Mountain Vision began helping and supporting the work of the Appalachian mission. The children's excitement for gifts was a joy to see.
      Throughout this week we at Point of Hope began preparing for the Christmas parade that was to happen on the Saturday.  A few days before, Miranda spray painted old white sheets which became our signs wishing everyone Merry Christmas from us at Point of Hope and also from Father Beiting.  The truck we drove was a truck normally driven by our maintenance man, very special Ed.  Julie our creative volunteer, went to work on Saturday afternoon putting all the decorations on the truck and made it come alive, with help from Miranda & family.  The truck was decorated with christmas lights and garland all around.  The sides of the truck was decorated with Julie's talent for making signs. The front of the truck wished everyone Merry Christmas and the side wished Merry Christmas from Father Beiting.  Julie and Shawanee sat on the top of the truck throwing candy to children watching the parade. The head of the parade was led by the parade marshall followed by the fire trucks, ambulances and police cars with all the sirens and horns.  Though it was a short parade the children enjoyed it.  It ended at the small park where Santa greeted the children and gave out candy canes.  Unite coalition provided hot chocolate and cookies. Our truck provide christmas music which filled the park.  It was a good parade.
     This week, please pray for us that the Christmas distribution at the warehouse will go smoothly and well. We pray that the children may all experience the joy and happiness of finding gifts under a Christmas tree, but more importantly, they may learn to know the real gift of who Jesus is at Christmas.
    May God bless you during this season of Advent as we wait in joyful expectation of the most wonderful gift of all.  Peace be with you.

A New Beginning

There is so much to share with you and will do the best I can.  I may not always have time to check the grammar but if there is a question feel free to ask, comment or email.

Last month we were blest to have a group of volunteers from Akron and Cleveland Ohio.  Kaija and her group composed of Kody her son, Pat, Elaine & Ken.  They were here to offer a Thanksgiving dinner to the seniors who normally would not be able to get out and not have anyone to share Thanksgiving with. The volunteers worked hard to prepare the food and set up the tables which looked very festive and appetizing.  The seniors who came enjoyed the occasion immensely.
 
During this event we found out that many seniors do not like to venture out of their homes unless it is absolutely necessary. Dinner was served followed by a wonderful time of sharing with Father Beiting making sure everyone was heard.  Seniors were then driven home after packing extra food for them to take.  They proudly arrived back at their residence loaded down with their gift bags and christmas trees that the generous donors from Ohio provided.  After this, we then began another mission which was reaching out to those who were afraid to venture out of their homes and delivered their Thanksgiving dinner.  We made many new friends among the seniors and in particular a very special lady named Ruth, a 94 year old.  She was very charming and entertaining, happy to receive the dinner.

The following day, another mission ensued.  This time we visited the nursing home and delivered gifts for the seniors there, especially for those who do not have family.  They were the happy recipients of the warm blankets and lap covers.  These blankets are coming in very handy in this unusually cold spell.

The group then proceeded to help us at Point of Hope giving us an early Christmas, with all their gifts, christmas lights and decorations. Thank you to all of you who sent to us.  The volunteers then began to put our Christmas lights and decorations up.  We were very grateful for this help which gave us an incentive to continue putting up more decorations.  With all these early Christmas gifts, we are now able to work more efficiently. Thank you to all our volunteers and donors.

Today, our family that is still here is leaving.  The process to restructure our program and to repair all our residences will soon begin.  Moving the residents on to permanent housing has been a difficult task and thank you to those who assisted these families in their move. We had hoped that this would have been finished by the end of October and so would have been ready to reopen again in November, last month.  As we all know, mission life has its own rhythm and so flexibility is a necessity as Father Beiting so readily demonstrates to us each day.  The founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, Abbot Francis Pfanner, taught our early and first sisters to be flexible because he said “flexible hearts will not break”.  

So we shall end this first bit of info and wish you all a very blessed Advent.