Destination East Machias, ME

On the afternoon of Sunday the 21st, Rachel, our son, Bob K, and I headed north on I-95 to Maine, destination East Machias. (Fun fact about ME - its the only state in the Union that borders 1 other state). The purpose of the trip was to assist in the work of DownEast Maine Missions, headed up by Betty P. The work of the mission is to assist migrant workers (in ME for the blueberry harvest) with clothes, personal items, Bibles, and food. We worked at the Jacksonville United Methodist Campground rehabilitating a cabin as well as scrapping, priming, and painting the Tabernacle. We also visited several camps in which the workers lived during the blueberry raking seasons and were able to pass out blankets, personal items, and Gospels of John in Spanish.

We arrived at the campground after dark (there was some concern regarding the fuel situation in Bob's Subaru, but we were able to gas up in Machias right before the gas station closed at 8:00PM). Betty met us at the Dining Hall and briefly gave us an overview of the history of the campground - now 141 years old. Later that evening Bonnie and Kevin S, plus sons, arrived.

The next morning we began working on painting and also putting in a wall in one of the camp cabins. After a quick dip in the lake, we visited several tribal camps - housing for workers harvesting blueberries from the Passamaquoddy blueberry fields. The tribe owns about 1,800 acres and each August they can harvest up to 4 million pounds of wild blueberries. Unfortunately, this season was lower yield than usually do rain during the pollination time.

The next day we worked on Amy's trailer - patching parts of her roof and painting the skirt around the edge of it. Our son supervised the tools in the back of the Subaru. After completing work on Amy's home, we headed to West Quoddy Lighthouse - eastern most part in the US (not counting some island in the Alaskan archipeligo). In the evening we visited another camp to hand out blankets and Gospels of John.

On the last day, we sorted clothing that had been donated for the workers - setting aside women's and children's things and selecting men's clothing to hand out to the workers - extra shirts, work shoes, and such. After lunch, we headed home.

First the prep work, then the priming.  

Shade allows for the opportunity to prime this side of the Tabernacle.  

From atop a ladder, it's "prime" time. 

The Tabernacle gets painted. 

Tongue and groove installation with a nail gun improves a cabin's interior. 

A worker demonstrates typical raking technique.  

Wild blueberries growing close to the ground require raking to harvest them. 

The housing at Tribal camp. 

The workers pause for a group shot before attending to the next project. 

Kevin and friends brainstorm about returning next summer to East Machias. 

Perfect weather allows for some preventative roof maintenance. 

Check with supervisor for any tools you might need! 

West Quoddy Lighthouse 

Workers in the camp were grateful for the blankets and gave us some wild blueberries.  

Sorting out donations of clothing. More men's clothing is needed.  

Reunion

A few weeks ago was the 10 year reunion for my high school. Its a weird thing to have a reunion for high school in FL when the high school you attended was in Penang- but that's beside the point. (Long story, MK boarding school parents were in another country...)

I was unable to attend as the travel budget for the summer is already quite large - trip to FL earlier in the summer and then a trip to CA next week. I was hoping to combine the trips to FL - visiting my sister and her family (a new nephew just arrived) and then driving to the reunion but the timing and distances didn't quite make it fit (along with the cost of airfare). I did check out some photos of the event at Lake Swan Camp; looks like everyone had a lot of fun.

I remember last year hanging out at the Gingerman with Picker, Jim, Brad, Andy, Karla, Notley, Jon S(plus his wife and her friends), and Heather P. I spoke what I was thinking to the friends there, "Isn't it great that we can be together with each other, and we all know where we've been/come from? We don't need to explain any background stuff." We share a history - some of the people I've known the longest. It reminds me of a quote that I found once:
"The most fatal disease of friendship is gradual decay." Samuel Johnson, Essays from the "Rambler," "Adventurer," and "Idler."

So let's keep in touch.

We visited my sister and her family in FL earlier this summer. The Mister Man enjoyed the ocean immensely.

Almost 2 years old

Here's a recent picture of my son. He's really into checking the mail; but he doesn't yet get that the USPS doesn't deliver on Sundays. And this is not our mail box but one at a place called America's Stonehenge.

First Post

After much encouragement and cajoling by Dave of davesexegesis, I have started a blog. I also figured if Marc of acesoneights had just started his blog too, it was time to take the plunge.