Our Lady of the Rock, 2011

Our annual trip to Shaw Island to serve the Mothers at Our Lady of the Rock Monastery has become one of my most favorite traditions.  There is something magical about that place.  It feeds my soul...I know that sounds a bit corny, but it really does.  I feel a special peace being on their farm, miles away from "city life," with no cell phone reception, surrounded by nature's beauty, working together with my family and friends, serving these wonderful women.  It didn't hurt that the last official day of winter felt like spring is finally here!  The sun warmed our bodies while our service warmed our hearts. 

We (all of us but Kylie, who sadly had a band competition and wasn't able to join us) took the 6:20 ferry from Kingston to Edmonds, then drove 90 minutes to Anacortes where we caught the 9:25 ferry to Shaw Island.  It's a long trip up there, but for me, it adds to the experience.  Riding the ferry through the San Juans made me desperately want to go kayak camping there some day soon! 

Riding the 6:20 ferry

Waiting for the ferry in Anacortes.  The San Juan ferry is in the background.

Once again, we were met by the Mothers at the ferry terminal on Shaw Island. This was our fourth year making this trip, and we've started to form attachments to these dedicated women.  Mother Mary Grace recognized me right away and remarked that she has really enjoyed seeing my kids growing up over the years.  We rode in the llama van together and chatted about what we've been up to over the past year.  I was sad to hear that Mother Hildegard has been in poor health and was not going to be able to work with us. 

Piling in one of the trucks.  Everyone wanted to ride in the back of a pickup!  I love how Matt Thorn and Darrell Lahtinen are acting as the tailgate...I hope they didn't hit too many pot holes!

When we reached the monastery, everyone gathered around to hear what needed to be done.  I like to have a different job every year, so I didn't work with Mother Mary Grace like I have the past two years.  Brad, Nate, Ben, and I chose to work with Mother Therese, who needed people to fill a hole with rocks, fix the split rail fence in the sheep pasture, and start a burn pile.  Jillian worked in the herb garden at first, then joined us later making a slaughter station for the pigs.

Mother Therese and Mother Mary Grace giving out assignments.  Mother Mary Grace doesn't like having her picture taken.  She would turn away every time she saw the camera.

Brad talking with Father Jean-Pierre, from Congo.  Brad knows one sentence in Lingala that he learned from the Congolese he taught on his mission in Switzerland and France.  It translates to "The Book of Mormon is a true book."  Father Jean-Pierre laughed and nodded enthusiastically when Brad told him.  Father Jean-Pierre is new to the Monastery this year. 

I really enjoyed working with Brad.  It was just the two of us for a while, mucking through the sheep pasture (and I mean mucking!  With all the rain we've had, there were areas where I almost got my shoes sucked off my feet by the sticky, oozing mud.)  Where ever a section of the fence had been damaged or fallen down, we would reposition the rails or add another to make it higher, or use a wind-fall branch to support it.  It was very harmonious work.  Feeling the warm sun and looking at such a beautiful view made it even better.  I wish I would have taken a picture of the view; the beach peeks out at the bottom of a long, grassy hill, over looked by the Mother's modest cemetery. 

The sheep were very curious, but cautious.  They wanted to know who was invading their pasture, but didn't want to get close enough to find out.  If Mother Hildegard had been there, she would have been able to convince them to come see us.  I tried, but they didn't want anything to do with me.

Ben and his friends loved their job of collecting big rocks and throwing them into a hole!  Mother Therese was worried about the sheep or llamas stepping into the hole and being injured, but she doesn't have to worry any more!  It was the perfect job for eight year old boys, and one four year old girl. 

Collecting the rocks...

and throwing them down the hole. 

It was about five feet deep, with water in the bottom, so the rocks made a terrific splash!

No llamas or sheep are going to get hurt in this hole!

When they were done filling the hole, they collected debris for the burn pile.

Nate seemed to be having fun tending the burn pile as well.  He worked with Erin Blackford and was actually nice to her!  Major progress!

After our first jobs were finished, Mother Therese asked if we would be able to help her construct a slaughter station for the pigs. This is a real farm! Jillian loves pigs, but she knows where bacon comes from, so she's OK with eating them, too. Brad figured out a good way to keep the pigs separated from each other when "their time comes" and Ben eagerly helped with the hammering.

Pigs are very curious. Fortunately, they couldn't figure out what Brad was doing!

But they really wanted to see what he tastes like!

We didn't spend as much time with the llamas this year, but Ben did get to feed this one.

 Ferdo the bull was born blind.  Jillian took a liking to him...

and he seemed to like her too.  Her smell, anyway!

Ben found this frog in the grass near the burn pile and saved his little froggie legs from being roasted!

After all the work was done, the kids played in the barn, jumping from the hay loft into the hay.  Jillian said the landing wasn't quite as soft as she expected.

 Then Ben and his friends wanted to take their turns, and smart mom that I am, I suggested they jump together so I could take a picture.  NOT a good idea!  Ben ended up on the bottom of the heap and came up crying with his wrist dangling.  I thought for sure it was broken, but fortunately it was just bruised and he was back to playing after a few tears. 

After all the work and play, we ate a delicious lunch of soups, salads, and desserts that several people brought.  We enjoyed visiting and soaking in more sun, then piled into the pickup trucks and headed back to the ferry.  The Mothers quietly disappear while we are eating, but come out to thank us and wave good-bye when it's time to leave.  They are so appreciative of the help we give them; they say we're one of their hardest working groups.  I feel incredibly grateful I have the opportunity to serve them.  It's just as much, or even more, of a gift to me and my family as anything we do for them.  I'm all ready looking forward to next year!

Relaxing and discussing the day's events on the ferry going home.