WinDs oF cHaNgE...

It's only been 2 weeks since I came back but it seems like so much has happened already...

I'm still in the winter season, so I´m still a bit more introspective...
Let me try to share some of the latest news around here at the Mount of Oaks...

Today I almost finished the main structure of our prayer shelter...This is how I found it (picture below) when I came back... 

It was a bit sad to realise that the wind blew the roof cover away, and nobody did anything about it... For me this is such a central and vital place of the community I want to live with... And if we don´t care about our place of prayer, what does it say?

This is a place for anyone to have a retreat with God, a place to hide sometimes, a place to seek comfort, wisdom, peace, joy, a place to seek God together with others... yes, for me this is the place from which all the other things will emerge... 

I felt as I came back that something in the air was different...I couldn't tell exactly what it was, but something has changed... and maybe this image is a reflection of it...

We met together the day after I arrived and I was surprised to hear some things I heard... I still don't know where those things came from, or if they were always there, but hidden... In the end I was glad things got cleared... 

we had a discussion about the vision of this land, and some were not totally agreeing with what was posted on the new blog ... 

I didn't want to sound arrogant, but I had to remember everyone when some months ago  I shared about the vision and everyone agreed... when I posted it on the new blog , nobody said anything, and while I was away the ones who stayed decided to change things without consulting me... That was strange, because I always open things in our circle and now I don´t seem to be included in their decisions... This didn't feel good to me, because there was no transparency... 

Now they were saying they are not so comfortable with the initial vision and they wanted to change it to fit theirs...

Anyway, I don't want to go into details here, but in the end it was obvious that there were some important pillars, like the spiritual aspect and hospitality, that they wanted to change in a way I could not agree with.

Of course our decisions are made in a circle and hopefully we get consensus, but in this case there was a pillar that is already part and foundation of the history of this place.

Of course the vision or call for this place will get clearer and some things may change according to the ones who compose it, but some things are foundational, and if we take those, we are then trying to build something different... And that´s ok, but it´s not here...

This is not only a place to develop a permaculture design for our own benefit... This is a place primarily of prayer too. regenerate land, yes, but also people whom we will be here to serve... Something very strongly in me was telling me not to take that away from the vision for this place... as it would become something very different from what I believe God wants... This was all very tricky and very hard to say, but I felt at this moment I had to stand for what I believe it was put in my heart and hands to do here. I really hate to impose my ideas on others, but this I have it clear in me, and I was praying before this conversation I felt God telling me I was to stand firm...

 In the end Josh and Rosie said they would like to go to some other friend's land in the Algarve, as their vision is more to live in a permaculture farm with a few friends, and not having the constant flow of people as we have here... I totally understand and support them in their choice, and I would not like that anyone who lives here would not really fit in the vision for this community... Hospitality being one of the most important things we'd like to offer... welcoming the strangers and weary wanderers whenever they show up... Of course we need boundaries to protect ourselves, and I´m sure we will receive the wisdom to do so along the way...

This is a permaculture farm, yes, but it´s not only that... It´s to be a monastic community, or a spiritual community if you prefer, but not bound to any religious order and also not exclusive to any particular path, but with unity, respect and common ground between us all... From the start we say this land is God's (as the whole Earth is), and it was dedicated to  the Spirit of Christ, and this same Spirit is ALL inclusive (even though people might try to confuse "Christ" with "Christianity" or "Christians" )... we might be exclusive when we say we want to develop permaculture and not other kind of intensive agriculture, but we'll also include all other sorts of ideas and ways to care for the earth as long as it's respectful and not harming...

BEING INCLUSIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME DISTINCTIVE OR PARTICULAR, has been a question in my mind since then... I believe we can be both... we don't exclude anyone, but because of some particular values, or pillars in the vision for this place, some people might feel excluded, but not for being themselves... 

We are all free to live as we want and where we want, but if I go and join a place where there is already a foundation, I will only build on top of it and not try to change the foundation... Anyway, this could develop in a nice philosophical discussion, but it will not be here...

Ton also shared a desire in his heart to live in a smaller place with 4 or 5 people who would vow to live in total silence, except for some reflection seasons where they would have some teaching or something along these lines... Interesting!!! I encouraged Ton to go for it...

I think something that´s very important in a community is that people know what they want, and follow it... and not try to drag others along...

It became clear to me, and hopefully to all the others, that each one had a different vision afterall, and we were not to impose or try to change what was already part of the DNA of this place. 
I surely don't want to drag anyone to live here if they don't share the same call... those who desire the same will come and the land will call...

I believe this vision, as any that stands the test of time, is God's, and we can only see a glimpse of it... If this is God´s, it will stand the test of time and God will call those who will share the same dream... Of this I'm sure... I´m not building anything, I´m discovering along the way what God has in mind... And I´m looking forward to finding out...

Since that day I have these words in my mind..."winds of change"... and the WIND keeps blowing... and it's a season to let The Wind bring the change... 

As I re-build the prayer shelter I keep thinking this : "BUILD WITH STRONG FOUNDATIONS"... 

I'm planning a more stable prayer shelter, stronger, and hopefully it will last a bit more than a year... I like when things don't last long anyway, but a bit less waste and maintenance would be good... I can´t afford much anyway... 

My house needs some attention as well... This is my next project...

It really needs fixing... renewed... and strong foundations...

Maybe a green roof... and a bath place inside would be amazing !

I'm just waiting for Peter to move from the guest room (he's building a shelter for himself) so I can stay there while I rebuild the roof of the house... I want to finish the prayer shelter first, of course, but I hope I can have my roof ready before the permaculture course...

Speaking about Peter...he's a very nice and friendly man who arrived 2 weeks or so ago... he came from Germany on a bike until the south of France and then he hitchhiked after a truck smashed his bike...He's staying until April and then he will keep going on the road to Italy... one of those pilgrims we are so blessed to welcome here and offer shelter...

Line is back as well... here cleaning Zebrita's feet... she was just waiting to sell Zebrita and go to France to join a "Christian Community" where she met a good old friend... but this week she found out that her friend is coming here with his horse... so, it might take 5 months until he arrives... Line asked me if she could stay and she will not sell Zebrita yet...

Of course that would be no problem...
Nonolito will be very happy about that too...It 's so nice that Line is back here, and we're having such cool times praying together and having lots of questions about the Bible and Jesus...

Actually , we (me, Line, Carly, Ton, Jared, Peter and Darek) have been having really cool meditative prayer times each morning... at the moment we use the big bus until the prayer shelter is ready... 

Once again I see how this is so important and creates such a special bond between us all... Of course we can have fellowship with people in so many other ways, or our own time with God...but there's something special when we pray together...One in mind, heart and Spirit... this is where we see each other's hearts, and where God's heart is shown through each one, in each one...

Anyway... most of the days so far have been cold or rainy, with some nice sunny days, but not many...
this gives us more time for indoor activities, like Carly making this amazing basket... or many other stuff we can entertain ourselves with in the big bus...we can even make fire inside and stay warm, so that is inviting !!!

Oh, and look how much snow we've been having...

Twice now, each time for 1 or 2 days, we had the mountains around us covered with snow... it actually snowed in the land, but not enough to stay for long... sooooo beautiful !!! This is quite rare here in this age , that's why it's so amazing for us !!! People around say it used to be more frequent...

Nature inspires us...Nature calls us to retreat... Nature calls us to gather and get cosy around the fire... Nature calls us to reflect and contemplate... Nature calls us to admire... Nature calls us to change... Nature calls us to move on... Nature is never static...
neither are we.. we are like the Wind...