Expect to start return drive 8-22-08

Wonderful gathering tonight. Baha'i Feast in West Palm Beach. If I heard right, there are now at least 30 local spiritual assemblies in this area of south Florida. When I became a Baha'i in Plantation, FL, in 1972, there were about six LSA's in the same area. This is just rough memory, but close to right, I think.
Tonight a small dinner was arranged for Gabs and me and a couple other guests. It was really good food and a wonderful thank you for us. I have one new recipe I'm eager to try at home.
We are hoping to leave at 9am in the morning, stop at Edgewater to visit Joan and Ed Mazur and then on to St Augustine. I keep checking weather online (no tv here) and am hoping to mostly be after all the rain from Fay that is still hitting northern FL. Today finally, there was no rain here....very little yesterday.
The next day will be a longer drive from St Augustine to Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute in Hemingway, SC, and then Sunday I hope to leave in enough time to stop in Hampstead at a devotional on my way back to Sneads Ferry.

Haitian memories of the Blackwells

Erick Louis came again on Sunday to MCBI, and he spoke to me and my casette recorder to tell his rememberances of Mrs. Ruth Blackwell after she returned to Haiti in the last years of her life. This is another wonderful interview of preciouos stories for that book about Ellsworth and Ruth Blackwell that will get written, God willing, sooner rather than later at this point!
It was fun for Gabs to visit in Creole with this old friend.

Dinner at Institute for Haitians

The gathering at Magdelene Carney Baha'i Institute held August 16, 2008, will be remembered as one of the highlights of our trip. The evening included dinner, songs and prayers by the children's classes, presentation in Creole by Gabrielle Griggs, and much visiting between the local Baha'is and the guests. Most of the people in attendance were Haitians, and most of the communication was in French or Creole. Erick Louis from Fort Lauderdale came here to MCBI after work and visited with guests Saturday night. He and Gabrielle Griggs were teenage Baha'is together in Haiti many years ago.

one of Pauly's funnier moments coming here

The drive here to West Palm Beach, two days from Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute in Hemingway, SC, was long enough for the three of us that it included boring times and good times and difficult times for each of us. Pauly can be one of the most charming, cutest little kids imaginable. He regularly says thank you and please and you're welcome at appropriate times in the sweetest voice possible. But at 27 months, he is a challenge to his mom in surprising, creative, stubborn ways! Most of the time in the car, he was interested in seeing new things. "Look at the birds, Pauly." And Pauly would excitedly say, "See. Birds." "Trees, Pauly. See the big trees, Pauly." And then he would comment about the trees.....the planes....the trucks....and so on. This might go on entertaining him for miles. One time, however, he was mad about something else, and we attempted to change the subject trying to get him to look at all the things around us. And his responses were in a loud, near screaming voice, "NO TREES! NO BIRDS! NO CARS!" And in one bad moment today, after Gabs corrected him and asked him to speak to me, Pauly announced loudly, ...."NO SORRY, GRANNY MIKE!"
This might be just the testing current method in his development. I just heard him in the next room, "NO BATH!"

time flies when you're having fun (or not)

Over all, it is still a good trip. Of course, it's good. We are healthy. We are seeing many Baha'i friends, new and old. We are very blessed, as always. But most of the time, we are even more blessed. It is raining. You know how I hate rain! And it has been raining. Every day during this rainy season, in this tropical area, it rains....hard....every day! Add to this, a tropical storm (Fay) which is a slow moving lingering storm, and it is even more rainy. It is hot and humid and rainy! I am so glad I do not live here all the time and do not want to.
Maybe I could have used more time during this housebound time to write more blog entries, but I cannot believe how lazy I have felt. Finally, there is pizza on the way, and I'm going to post some updates to let you see more of what we've been doing.
Dominoes found us.......

New construction here at this Baha'i Training Institute

It is exciting to see the construction that goes along with the recent increased size of local Baha'i communities in this area. The local Auxiliary Board Member provided all the necessary guidelines to Gabrielle, including directions for home visits and deepenings.

MCBI in West Palm Beach, FL

We are at the close of our first full day here, and more than I even imagined, the days will indeed be full! This first day went very well. We are feeling more settled, and Gabs and Pauly are already asleep as I post a couple entries tonight.

LGBI Hemingway, SC

The drive here went fine. Gabrielle had called me to tell me that she and Mark and probably CJ were all going to the Mexican Restaurant that is a favorite for folks here, and invited me to join them. I did. It was good to be with these friends again. Now two and a half, Pauly has grown a lot since I last saw him in January. He's an active adorable friendly little boy who is sure to add his own unique joy to our journey.

Spread the Hollyhocks

On day one of this trip, I gave away the first of the little baggies of hollyhocks seeds I brought with me, to the woman who works at the recycling center in Sneads Ferry. I noticed that there is a variety of pretty flowers growing near the entrance, around the "office." I asked the woman who is always there, always so pleasant, if she planted all those flowers, and she said Yes. I asked her if she likes hollyhocks. "Yes," again. "Do you have seeds?"
"Just so happens, I do," I said. She was very happy when I went to the trunk of my car and got out a small package of seeds for her. "It's my favorite flower," she said. So now, sometime in the future, when we all make our regular treks to the recycling center in Sneads Ferry, we'll see hollyhocks blooming. (in a year or two anyway.)

Baha'i Prayer to start this journey

I have risen this morning by Thy grace, O my God, and left my home trusting wholly in Thee, and committing myself to Thy care. Send down, then, upon me, out of the heaven of Thy mercy, a blessing from Thy side, and enable me to return home in safety even as Thou didst enable me to set out under Thy protection with my thoughts fixed steadfastly upon Thee.

There is none other God but Thee, the One, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

Bahá’u’lláh

ON THE ROAD AGAIN........

Tomorrow, August 12th, I plan to drive to Louis Gregory Baha'i Institute in Hemingway, SC. I'll stay overnight there and then Tuesday, my friend Gabrielle Griggs and her three year old son, Pauly, and I will start our drive to West Palm Beach, FL, to help in the Baha'i community in that area. Gabs was invited to come because of her ability to speak Creole, and she invited me to join her. I expect it will be a very enjoyable and rewarding trip for Gabs and Pauly and me. Tonight I put together some materials that will work for me to help in youth or adult classes.
Tuesday night we'll stay in St. Augustine, across from Tom and Carole. I am very eager for this visit though it will seem too short.