Greetings from L'Arche Daybreak

 It is Friday night and I bring to a close another wondrous day.

 A bit of turmoil with having to have drivers from different houses take our core members to their respective places today and for the next few days.  But then again this is what community is about.  We help one another. I hope to hear at the first of the week that I have the go ahead to drive.  It will certainly be easier for everyone around.

 Today one of our core members Mike Ricci from our house who you might remember is visually impaired and I went for lunch. This might not sound significant to you, but rather than just to Papa Tom's where we might go, it was to Dairy Queen which is about four blocks further.  For Mike this was major and George our support staff was really impressed I was able to convince Mike he could do it.  We walk at a snail's pace with Mike holding my arm and the other holding a cane. We take our time having to watch every crack, upgrade, twig, etc....you get the picture.  We were both dog tired when we got back as it was also 29C here today.  In the afternoon we went with other core members Peggy and Francis to Toscani's for a coffee and pastry.  I got a chance to meet this wonderful lady named Peggy who has an infectious laugh that exudes joy from the bottom of her heart.

 After the Club we arrived home and the gang landed and with lots of excitement it being Friday afternoon and the weekend to relax and play a bit.  I helped Mike with his shower and then John.  Well we laughed because as soon as John was finished wetting himself down with the shower nozzle that detaches from over the head (on the cord), he passed it to me.  The only problem was that the nozzle was pointing straight at me.  Well he soaked me from just above the waist down and immediately said "Sorry Sorry!"  Well I was laughing so much and he knew right away I was not mad and we had a good chuckle.

 Tonight was Dayspring and community prayer. Well I ran into a problem because Tom and Mary Anne (both core members from our house) were bound determined that they did not want to go to pray at Dayspring and actually gave the thumbs down.  Mike Ricci was trying to coax them also.  No way!  I also knew that they loved dayspring so I had an idea.  I told Tom that if he didn't come to Dayspring that Mike Ricci and I were not going to his party and would go for coffee.  Mike caugt on right awy and kept it going.  Tom said "okay you win"...dirty I know but the birthday got him.  I used to do the same thing with Phil Mulligan..ha!

 Well Dayspring tonight was just awesome again.  Once again we had Wendy the Anglican priest preside Eucharist and it was great.  Robin (core member) from New House sounded the bell to begin liturgy and upon arriving back to his chair with the music people, Arliss another core member high fived him and then put him in a head lock and gave him a noogie (rubbing of the head with her knuckles). Jackie from the L'Arche board preached and did a wonderful job. Again to see the core members help with communion was so touching.  I ended up going to Peggy for the cup.  After having coffee with her and hearing some of her story this afternoon, I was just filled with peace. At the end of Eucharist, we did a blessing over Patrick a German assistant who is leaving after a year.  We also blessed Lorenzo, an Italian who has been with L'Arche as an assistant for 20 years (and is staying, they just wanted to acknowledge that).  The closing song had core members and others up dancing to close off liturgy.  As we left John Smeltzer (another core member) with his clip board, was making a check mark as we left and asked me if I was going to be there next week.  When I said yes, he made another check mark on his paper.

 Upon arriving home we went into bedtime mode with medications, teeth brushing, footcare etc.  Then the phone rang and it was my Mom and Dad.  Mom said "Is this a bad time?"  At the same time Tom arrived for me to help him brush his teeth, John was asking me to soak his feet and apply the ointment, another asked for medication and then Tom wanted to call his mom.  It was actually a wonderful moment.  I am growing attached to these folks. I am reminded of the challenge the first day I arrived here was to discover each one's gifts.  I am beginning to do that.

 Tonight there is a bit of a thunder storm and Mary Anne and Kara are scared.  They have been up twice and I am sitting with them talking and singing to change their minds.  No one has to get up for anything in the morning, so we can sleep in if we are up too late.

 Well with this I say goodnight and get off the computer in the midst of this thunder and lightning.  Until the next time....

Jeff