Relax, you're on the Island now

It's been interesting talking to people here as they reflect on what life is like living in an isolated community that is focused on mission.  I think the common thread seems to be this adjustment to "lifestyle" and moving away from the dichotomy of home and work; many of the families here also have young children so it can make life full and busy, as they learn to live where they also work, and work where they also have their homes.  I had a couple of really interesting conversations with Steiner who used to be a pastor in Norway, for the "state" church - a very different way of church structure and governance when the government is paying your salary!

Some of the staff hanging out at the fire

I've been reading another book by Hugh Halter,"And" and like his other work, continues to challenge my thinking and give creativity and inspiration on how to reengage culture as an incarnational community and spend more energy and time being like missionaries rather than the consumeristic model many of our churches have become.  I've also been reading "the good and beautiful God" by James B. Smith - a great look at who our God is and how much of our behaviour and life is based on who we think God to be, the premise is to know and love the God Jesus does.

The work I've been doing at Esperanza reminds me of working back on the farm, except instead of maintaining combine or tractor engines, you're working on a boat; and instead of cleaning up old grain in the bottom of a hopper, you're scraping barnacles off a boat!  I've enjoyed the diversity of projects
and hopping back on tractors to do some work around the yard.  Tomorrow I'm going to wire in some outlets in a storage shed, and move some gravel around.

Julia has become teacher for the girls and every morning they do some school work - it seems to be working out very well and not too much complaining.  

The scenery continues to amaze us and remind us of the beauty and creativity of our great God.  I don't think we anticipated the rainforest like atmosphere - there are just so many things growing!  There are so many flowers, ferns, berries, huge towering trees - some are up to four or five feet in diameter.  In terms of animal life, we met mama and baby bear twice earlier this week, but we haven't seen them again for a couple of days.  We've also seen sea otters, fish, starfish, sea gulls, and we were fortunate enough to see some porpoises (type of dolphin) swim by one morning.  After a few days of great weather, it's drizzling outside as I write this, so we just got the fire started in the wood stove.