Holden Village

I probably should be preparing to move to the UK, but instead I am throughly enjoying my summer job at one of my very favorite places on earth, Holden Village.  (If you want to know more about Holden Village, click here)  Holden is a remote Christian retreat center in the Cascade Mountains.  The only way to get here is to take a 2 hour boat ride on the "Lady of the Lake" from Chelan, Washington, traveling 43 miles up beautiful 55-mile-long Lake Chelan.  You disembark at Lucerne,  a small dock in the middle of nowhere, and hop on an old school bus for the 45 minute adventure up treacherous switchbacks with incredible views of the lake and the mountains. 

 Once here, the Villagers give you a warm welcome and you settle into Village life.  My job is in the "Craft Cave".   I get to teach weaving most of the day, but also do special classes, such as felting, tie dye, batik, candle-making, and bookbinding.  In addition to my regular work day, I can take advantage of the many different opportunities offered each day at Holden.
 You never know what might be available!  Perhaps it will be  "Woody Ball"  (a combination of bowling, freeze tag, "Capture the Flag" and dress-up), or maybe a poetry reading, or a live version of the game of Clue (involving running around the Village in search of Miss Scarlet or Professor Plum and performing a task so they will reveal a new clue)  or a maybe a game of pool in the Pool Hall.  I've done some pottery,  hiking, yoga, walked the labyrinth, and participated in many workshops with topics as varied  as "Christology" and "The Early Days of the Holden Copper Mine".   Last night I was invited to a small gathering with some of the long-time staff members and enjoyed meaningful conversation with fascinating people while sipping some nice wine.  We begin every day with Matins and end each day with the entire community gathered for Vespers.  It really is a lovely rhythm of life and the people who make the trek here are all so interesting.  Almost everyone I work with in the Craft Cave is going off to teach abroad this coming year;  one to Germany, one to Columbia, one to South Africa, and me to the UK.  The only one not traveling to a new country is traveling to a new part of our country to do her pastoral internship.  Everyone has a story and there is so much to learn if you take the opportunity to listen. I feel so blessed  to be a part of the Holden Community!

The top room on the left, by the blue flag, is mine.

As you can see, it has awesome views!