The Pilgrimage

Peter Truitt and Abby Dean here (Abby is typing, but Peter is offering many wonderful insights and suggestions--aren't you Peter?....he says "Nope", but I have quickly learned throughout the course of this mission trip to ignore much of what Peter says :P )

Today was the Big Day: the Pilgrimage to Spruce Island. Nick and Danny--two teenagers we had met on Thursday as they had provided our transportation to Spruce for the cleaning of all that nasty kelp--were kind enough to transport us along with dozens of others to the island today. Nick's boat, The St. Seraphim, which he has lovingly built these past three years, is a little (oh, excuse me, Peter says it's not little, it's more medium-sized), metal skiff with a tiny cabin area (three walls about 3 ft high in the middle where Nick, the captain, and Danny, his friend, stand to drive) and enough room for about 6 people to comfortably sit on the front bench and standing room in the back...maybe 15?

Of course, there's more room in the front if you feel like "Skiff Surfing". I got to try my hand at this on the ride back Thursday. I stood at the front and heard Nick and Danny yell from behind me, "Abby! Hold onto the line! Now, when the boat's at the top of the wave, jump and try to catch it!" Well, I did catch my first wave and got about 4 or so feet of air according to Father before I crashed back down onto the deck. (Peter's laughing) It didn't hurt too much, my butt was a little sore the next day, but it was SO worth it!! Anyway, everyone, myself included, had a good laugh at that, and Danny and Nick decided that now was the time to tell me, very helpfully, "Not like that next time".

Anyway, this entry is titled "The Pilgrimage" and Peter is telling me I need to get back on track.

So, we got to Spruce. We had to wake up very early, 6:30 for Abbili, and clambered aboard the St. Seraphim. I leaned a little too close into the wake and regretted it instantly as the water felt like it was freezing to my skin minutes later. Danny pulled me into the cabin and put his hat on me, but the entire service I felt as if I had gotten hypothermia because even after Grace had given up her jacket and Emili her scarf to the "Keep Abby Warm" campaign, I was absolutely miserable.

The Pilgrimage itself was rather short. Peter estimates about a quarter mile uphill through a wooded path (the trees, the branches, the leaves on the trees--everything is covered in a layer of moss. Looks like something out of Alice in Wonderland). The reason we were all so cold was because the service took place outside. The "altar" was the inside of the chapel building, so the congregation all stood in a semi-circle on the wooden platform outside the open doors. It was a fairly long service (longer than usual just because we were all cold) but beatiful. It was really interesting watching Jonah get robed before the service; since it was outside, a lot of things like that, "behind the scenes" sort of things that you otherwise don't get to see were on display.

Afterwards, we do what Orthodox people do best--we waited. This time, to eat (again, something we all have a lot of experience with). The food was great (Peter agrees...I think he's getting sleepy) and we got to sit and chat with Nick, Danny, and my new besty, Father Innocent's daughter, Shelby.

Our favorite part? Peter says the service because it was cool to see the Metropolitan serving right infront of us. He also says it was interesting because it was different from the one at St. Mark's. My favorite part was not, unfortunately the service (I thought I was dying--I mean, I had on like, four layers in 50 degree weather and was so cold I thought I'd never be warm again; how would you feel?) but just the opportunity to be around so many other Orthodox christians was incredible. I've felt like a minority all my life, and meeting kids my age and playing with young children who will grow and carry on the traditions was a really heart warming experience. Shelby is SO sweet and so much fun; she's sleeping over tonight in our room. We plan on staying in touch through facebook and email. Danny and Nick will hopefully be just as interested (Danny, I have learned, likes to converse in French and to Swing dance, so we've become fast friends).

Well, that's all for now. Parting words, Peter? He says "None", but give me two seconds and I'll pry something out of him. We've actually been talking some, mostly only when he's got a soccer ball rolling about somewhere within his reach , but basically if you just keep prodding, you'll get something out of him...so, Peter, like to try again? He says, smiling, that the money you spend is totally worth it to come up here. I think, based on the previous blogs, we would all heartily agree. And I also think that those are parting words enough for both of us.

Goodnight with love from Abby and Peter.