ON THE ROAD AGAIN
A friend of ours heard about our "journey of faith, fisher, forests, family, friends and fun" and suggested we set up a Blog. A what? So here we are....on the road again with Bocahontas and Buba. Blessed with the freedom of time, we were inspired by two of our favorite causes. So we organized a road trip to Alaska which should not only be fun but also an opportunity to spread the good word about The Fisher Houses , The Orthodox Christian Mission Center/Programs and some of our National Parks. We are participating in a 2 week Mission in Tyonek, Alaska with the OCMC group in June. Feel free to check out the planned trip on the calendar link. Caribou Cabins? Blue Moose? Tundra Lodge? and our soon to be "favorite" Motel 6. Any and all suggestions, prayers and good karma are welcome and very much appreciated....poor Buba, in a car with Pam for 5 months. Lions, and tigers and bears oh my! Toggle down to the calendar and see where we are over the next months. We ask for your prayers.
Grab yourself a cold one and come along for the ride. Enjoy and laugh along with us viewing the daily blogs which are archived on the left side of this page in chronological order. We started April 22- Happy Trails!
The Fisher House
The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The Fisher House Foundation, through the kindness of donations received, provides "comfort homes" that are built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable America's military families to be together during extended treatment for serious illness or lengthy physical sessions....very much like the Ronald McDonald homes for families of children in a similar situation. We were first introduced to Fisher House while visiting Brooke Army Medical Center (Burn Center) in San Antonio. We were so moved by the dedication and love of the staff and volunteers that we returned for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Currently there are 44 Fisher Houses (more in the works) and our goal is to visit all of them and spread the good word to family and friends. Please feel free to peruse their website for a detailed explanation about the Fisher House Foundation and programs. Perhaps you will be inspired by the work this group does on behalf of our Armed Forces.
Orthodox Christian Mission Center (OCMC)
The Orthodox Christian Mission Center is the official foreign mission agency of all the Orthodox Jurisdictions (i.e. Greek, Russian, Serb etc.) The goal of the OCMC is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ where it presently does not exist and to establish vibrant Orthodox Eucharistic Communities throughout the world. We have had the privilege and pleasure to admire the work of this organization (headquarters located in St. Augustine, Florida) for years and now that we are retired we have the blessing to participate. We are on the road to Alaska to join a Mission Team in Tyonek for a couple weeks to do some construction and teaching in an Athabascan Indian Village. "If I had a hammer"...you'll be happy to know I deep sixed the acrylic nails in anticipation of caulking and painting. :) Please take a peek at the OCMC web site for details on all of the programs they are involved with throughout the world. And do stop in to see Father Martin and his kind and loving staff when you are in St. Augustine! We will also be visiting family, friends and Orthodox Churches while on the road to share the marvelous work of the OCMC.
National Parks
Most people know that the National Park Service cares for national parks, a network of nearly 400 natural, cultural and recreational sites across the nation. The treasures in this system – the first of its kind in the world –have been set aside by the American people to preserve, protect, and share, the legacies of this land.
People from all around the world visit national parks to experience America's story, marvel at the natural wonders, and have fun. Places like the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg are popular destinations, but so too are the hundreds of lesser known yet equally meaningful gems like Rosie the Riveter in California, Boston Harbor Islands in Massachusetts, and Russell Cave in Alabama.
The American system of national parks was the first of its kind in the world, and provides a living model for other nations wishing to establish and manage their own protected areas. The park service actively consults with these Nations, sharing what we've learned, and gaining knowledge from the experience of others.
Beyond national parks, the National Park Service helps communities across America preserve and enhance important local heritage and close-to-home recreational opportunities. Grants and assistance are offered to register, record and save historic places; create community parks and local recreation facilities; conserve rivers and streams, and develop trails and greenways.
We hope to see you soon in a national park and invite you to explore the ways we can help you preserve what’s important in your hometown.
A bald
eagle landed on the middle cross on the center of the church roof. He just perched on the cross and watched the TEAM work. It was truly majestic-such a beautiful bird. We see many of them daily and the village people are still in awe of them too. They say the view from the roof (the Church was built on the highest point in the village) is spectacular. It over looks the unique, solemn and sacred cemetery.
I took a little tour over to the cemetery (thank you Betty my tour guide). There were many powder blue Orthodox Crosses set on the east side of the grave. The bodies are buried with the head facing the cross...not like what we do in the lower 48-head closed to the tombstone/headstone with graves willy nilly (east, west, north south) around the cemetery. At Tyonek the crosses and coffins are all laid out in the same direction-heads looking east.
After the mosquito's munched on Pinky Lee and me due to a) being in Alaska and b) tall weeds and pretty much an unkempt cemetery, I asked Betty and others about the beautiful cemetery on the hill-doesn't anyone ever mow or weed? "We leave it up to the individual families to take care of their departed loved ones". Huh? Well I said, it doesn't look like that's working. Ok so here starts the probing Bocahontas....why not get the young people to maintain the cemetery? why not all pitch in and pay someone to take care of it? I know the Athabaskan Orthodox people have a long and rich tradition of honoring the dead so I didn't get the unkempt cemetery. The answers to my questions were explanations, yeah I get that, and?????
BIBLICAL SCAVENGER HUNT
Pinky Lee and I thought up a Bible Scavenger game....it sounded easy and simple at the time. In fact it took a good bit of time to draft this game up. I told Pinky, hey if this is a success then maybe we should patent it. Pinky said something like "wouldn't it be the "Way" to just share it on the Internet Pam". Good point Pinky!
We had 2 teams, St. Herman's Posse and St. Nicholas Posse (the name of their soon to be botoxed church). And who's bright idea was it to put one clue over at the Mosquito Festival..oops, I mean the cemetery. At each clue stop we had a little bit of Orthodox Sunday School. Actually, I think in spite of those "killer" mosquito's they liked the cemetery. Very few had been to a funeral or burial. What is the appropriate age to take a child to a "wake"? a funeral? a burial? how much do you explain to a child about death? Anyway, we had fun running all over the hood and of course treats at the end of the game are always welcome. SUGAR UP MY LITTLE TYONEK BABES!
eagle landed on the middle cross on the center of the church roof. He just perched on the cross and watched the TEAM work. It was truly majestic-such a beautiful bird. We see many of them daily and the village people are still in awe of them too. They say the view from the roof (the Church was built on the highest point in the village) is spectacular. It over looks the unique, solemn and sacred cemetery.
