What a joy it is to be back with you all! After some eleven weeks of a sabbatical, which included hiking in Yosemite and the Northern Cascades, cruising the Greek Islands, touring the northern California coast connecting with family and dear friends, and yes, some quiet days of rest and reflection in between, I am back home in this beloved community of St. Matthew’s. How sweet it is.
When I last wrote, I told you that the final stop on my sabbatical “tour” would be two weeks at Holden Village, a year-round retreat center just west of Lake Chelan, WA. Originally built for workers of the Holden mine, the largest source of copper in the US in the first half of the twentieth century, the Village’s first chapter lasted twenty years (1937-1957). In the early 1960’s Holden was sold to the Lutheran Bible Institute (now Trinity Lutheran College) in Everett, WA for $1. A short while later brigades of volunteers began to work tirelessly to restore and refurbish its buildings - lodges, chalets, a community center and a hotel/dining hall. It wasn’t long before word got out, and guests began to arrive.
Today, with a minimal paid executive staff, Holden continues to rely heavily on volunteers for day-to-day services. Some come for a year and receive nominal stipends; others, like me, come for just a couple of weeks to help out in the kitchen or housekeeping (read more)
Holden Village (File Photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment