LoOkiNg a Bit bAcK...

I have more things I wanted to share about the prayer week and some very amazing people who were at the land...

I'll just post some pictures and write some comments... 

this was in the prayer woods and now it became a dedicated prayer space for those who desire some retreat place in the land... I love this part of the land... it´s quiet, secluded, mystical, with a water spring and some big mama Rocks...

This was the day Bart left us...Emma and her "wee" presents...she always makes something for people...often they are like prayers, and very symbolic..that's Emma !

On the same day Anne left as well after so many months here... it was a great time to have her here and get to know her beautiful heart...

Here are Clemens and Kata when we went to the local party in Castelo Novo....it was fun !

Nanette, Bernard, Ernsti and Isa ... they are such great people...all of them...I really enjoyed all the time with them...they are those kind of people that are so easy to love...really ! And being great humans out there in the real world... They are all very political and activists... They are part of the "Speak" network in Germany too... This is the network that Emma participated in its foundation in  London... That´s why I met Emma, and also Louise in the UK, because I wanted to meet this network... The real deal, not just talk...

They made lots of things in the land as well...one of them was cleaning our drinking water spring...here are Isa and Ernsti filling some bottles to take up to the kitchen...

They also extended the cover to collect wood for winter...and they thinned a bit of the woods that needed thinning...

They are such hard workers... Here´s Isa, learning how to use the chainsaw...
I almost have to "force" them to enjoy siesta after lunch and stop working under the hot sun... by the end, the sun wan and they were starting to learn some more about resting!

Their motto could be " If you want a better world, you better start building it..."

"Shantii, Shantii"... it's a word and an attitude everyone could learn here ... including me... That´s an expression that many people use in India to calm people down (mostly westerners) as if saying " It's ok, things will eventually be done in their due time" ...

 And I will add the words of wisdom that say :

 there is time to work, and there is time to rest..."a time to break down, and a time to build up...  it is God´s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil... I saw that there is nothing better than that all should enjoy their work, for that is their lot; who can bring them to see what will be after them? (Ecclesiastes 3:13-22)

Time to work,and time for leisure... they discovered this little river "pool" near Castelo Novo and we had some nice times there too...

And Bernard got to make some of his inventions work ... Look at his face here...like a kid !

speaking of children... did anyone lose a teddy bear? this is the sign in our turn into the dirt road on the N18 road to Alpedrinha...I just found this teddy bear with Emma as we were walking to meet the others at the river beach... 

Nanette and Lucy with the kittens... I really have to be careful to check the bags of those who leave...everyone wants to take them  (I´m joking )...

 it was really nice to get to know Lucy as well...also involved in the "Speak" Network...she has a beautiful heart !

and Marcia also came back for one more week... That makes me so happy! She is a sister already from Lisbon...I guess we know each other over 5 years bhy now...but we're getting to know each other better... she's an amazing woman and a very good friend !

The first sunflowers are blooming... with the beautiful yellow fields in the mountains of Gardunha around us !