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Today is July 9th.  As was recently pointed out to me, I haven’t posted since May 26th, two days after this term began.  That is a very good indicator of just how crazy this term has been – good! but crazy!  In fact there are now only 3 weeks left in our summer term.  Wow… where to begin?

Well, like our “northwest neighbors” (we are the “west” or “southwest” of Canada) to the south, summer is finally here, and trying to make up for lost time.  Once again, our life feels “old school” as we have no AC for the 90+ temperatures.  Carrie is trying to buy a fan or two today while in town.  We currently have 14 students, which makes 16 (with us) at a table.  This is about the limit for a good lunch discussion.  The diversity among this group has been a real treat.  We have a couple (with 19 month old) from Switzerland, a couple from Sweden, three from Korea, one from Scotland, and the rest are North American.  It is the smallest contingent of Americans we have ever had.  The term has alternated between avoiding difficult topics and digging into deep stuff.  The Post Modern ethos (it being more important that we make everyone feel comfortable with their own choices) has been very evident at times.

Carrie and I both have very full loads this summer, but through God’s grace, we also have some very good helpers, and we have been able to bear the load.  Carrie (July 25th) and I (June 20th) have both preached this term as well as our normal L’abri work of tutoring, teaching, lecturing, work crews, meals and just being with the students.  Clarke and I are going to a conference in Sacramento August 5th-9th, and the extra preparation involved during term has been difficult.  I’ll be lecturing four times.  I’m very excited to meet up with some of the international L’abri workers, including Andrew Fellows (director of English L’Abri) who really inspired me towards this work in the first place.

On top of that, we have (still are) trying to do a complete remodel of the cabin bathroom (mold and rot) and plumbing so that our newest worker, Jessica Bell, can have a space of her own.  She has been living in the cabin without running water for a couple of weeks, because we had to make room in the main house for more couples.  At least it isn’t the middle of winter!  Although this is my job to oversee, we have had a tremendous amount of help from one of our neighbors, and that has made it possible.  Thank you Lorne.  Also of note, we just got 40 chicks.  That’s right, the long held dream of our own chickens/eggs is finally realized.  Right now they live in our basement because they aren’t very old, but soon they will move into the chicken coup, which we finished up earlier this summer.  We are still in need of a work truck, but trying to buy off island in the middle of term has proven too much, and I’ll have to do it in August.  Also our riding lawn-mower is broken (no idea what is wrong) and so we have been mowing our 5 acres of grass (15 more of woods) with a weed eater.  L’abri is nearly out of money, and after this month, we have no funds, and only less than half of our monthly support is given by regular donors.  This is a large concern, but not unheard of in our work.  Pray that God will provide.  Finally, Carrie and I are in the midst of applying to renew our work visas.  We are applying for a 5 year extension, and trusting that God’s will will be done.

Gabriel took a very hard fall (the second in a month) into the corner of the coffee table (which no longer resides in the living room) and it was a bit of a scare.  He hit on the bridge of his nose, right between his eyes and there was blood everywhere.  It was quite scary, but by God’s grace he is ok.  He also is in the stage where biting seems like a good idea.  It isn’t.  Carrie is also doing well, and had the foresight to book herself two nights at the other retreat center on the island – Rivendale.  I’m so jealous.  We are both absolutely exhausted, but thoroughly enjoying the work.  We are looking forward to some down time in August, to relax, swim in the ocean, pick blackberries and see friends.  I have taken almost no pictures in the last few months… I’m sorry Jenn.  I’ll put that on my list of things to do:-)  Also, I don’t have time to proofread my typing today, so I apologize about the misspellings:-)

Jeff Adams

Cedar House, Bishops Hill

Canadian L’abri

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