Homeleave #3: A visit to Poughkeepsie

Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church, NY, --seen in the rain as we headed out of town.


I think it would be good to put a few things down 'on the record' after the past week and a half have elapsed.  We have been in Baltimore since our arrival in the US with Rebecca's parents, but we planned and took a trip to our old stomping ground, Poughkeepsie, NY, this past week between Wednesday June 15th to the 22nd.  In many ways, since I know there are many faithful readers who live in Poughkeepsie, I feel like this blog post should serve as a heartfelt thanks for all those who hosted us, cared for us, took us out, and prayed with us, during the time we there, and a sincere apology to all whom we were not able to see because of time constraints.

The road trip north began with a stop on Wednesday in Akron, PA, which is the home of MCC headquarters.  We went there to debrief a bit on the last month of our time in Burundi (and all of the emergencies).  One would not think that throwing a work day into homeleave would be particularly ideal, but we were actually happy to go.  One reason is that MCC Headquarters in Akron is a beautiful place with some very nice guesthouses where our kids love to stay.  Childcare was even provided during our meetings.  There is also a fabulous playground nearby.

We met with several people in International Programs as well as Human Resources, and even saw our West Africa area director Mark Sprunger who was on home leave himself and lives very close by.  We stayed the night and headed on to Poughkeepsie on Thursday.

We arrived in the evening and had dinner with our friends Don and Rosaura Andujar-McNeil.  Oren has been a friend since birth to Gabriela their daughter, but now they have a new son as well (Raphael).  We had a plan to see them several more times during the week, but actually went on that evening to Bob and Frances Thompson-Gee's house where we stayed for the week.  Bob is the pastor of the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church where Rebecca served as Pastor of Youth Ministries for 5 years.

Every day was full and quite different.  Friday morning we went to Vassar College and visited some of my ex-colleagues from the Dance Department (Steve Rooks, Joanne Jensen, and Michelle Whalen.)  It was nice to let them see how the boys have grown, and for me to see the current condition of the dance department.  It looked great and it sounded like the Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre continues to do fabulous work each year.  (It was also nice to see that they were still using some of my templates for programs, publicity, etc.)  I feel like I did leave some things of value there.

Friday afternoon was a real treat.  We had a good pastoral visit with Bob and Frances and were able to shear some of the challenges that weighed heavy on us in our work.  They prayed with us then took us over to the church where we received an hour of 'soaking prayer'.  (a kind of prayer meditation which lasts about an hour.)  We did this with the healing prayer team in the sanctuary.

We felt completely 'cleansed' when we finished and had dinner with them.  It was an extra blessing that childcare was provided during the entire experience.

On Saturday we began the morning by joining Don and Rosaura at their farm pick up.  This is a cooperative farm that Rebecca and I used to be members of.  It is really pleasurable to pick up fresh produce as well as gather some things right from the fields.  Strawberries were still in season and all of us picked several quarts.  David was probably the most diligent of all.  After that, we took a hike across the Eads Railroad bridge which spans the Hudson river.  It is now a kind of state park and very scenic.  We did struggle a bit keeping Oren going and I think he was perplexed about why we would walk all the way across a bridge then turn around an walk right back, but on the whole it was very enjoyable.

In the late afternoon we stopped by a block party near our old neighborhood where we met our friend Heidi, then headed to the annual Greek Festival to enjoy carnival rides and gyros for dinner with Don and Rosaura again.  It was a long but not particularly exhausting day.

Sunday Rebecca and I were given the honor of preaching in both of the morning services at the Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church.  We shared the sermon time presenting our meditation on Psalm 126 in the last blog as well as the video that appears in last weeks blog.  It was really awesome to be able to share our work with these many friends who are part of our home church.  It was good to see so many familiar faces even after 3 years, and to hear how well the youth are doing as well.

After church we had lunch at the Riverstation Restaurant on the Hudson River with the Caramico's (Courtenay, Antony, Asa, and Alexander ).  Asa was born shortly after Oren and was one of his best early childhood friends.  They had a playdate after lunch and had a great time at Asa's house.  It was a very nice afternoon.

On the way home we stopped by to see some other friends from church, the Hicks'.  John was one of the other youth leaders and Kate helped out with youth as well.  Their daughters Kate and Laurel watched Oren as well from time to time.  Oren and David were very happy to go to their house especially when they were laden with gifts!  Oren got a new school Buzz Lightyear backpack that he loved!!  He will definitely be the only kid with one of those at his school in Burundi.

Sunday evening we were actually back and Bob and Frances' on time for dinner and enjoyed a nice evening together on their back porch sharing food that had been prepared by them as well as other friends from church.

Monday morning I was blessed with the opportunity to go to swim at the Poughkeepsie Middle School pool where I used to go all the time when I lived there.  Coach Ron Terwilliger who was at church on Sunday said it was OK for me to come.  It was the first time back in swimming since I broke my rib, but the water felt great and it was so good to swim in a real lap pool with lane dividers, etc.  I felt like I was flying.

After that, we took the kids to a playground, then off to Lake Minewaska in the Schawangunk Mountains.  This is an area we used to love to hike and we took a walk around the lake and even went swimming (despite the fact that we actually encountered 3 water snakes on the journey.)  It was a refreshing afternoon.  In the evening we went over to Chris and Theresa Garretts house to have dinner with our small group.  It was a very nice evening to spend time with these friends.  I do lament the fact that despite the fact that we have made very good friends in Burundi, we have not been able to create a prayer and share group like the one we had in Poughkeepsie when we were here.

Tuesday was our last very full day.  I did go swimming again in the morning, early, then afterwards we headed up north about 45 minutes to Tivoli, NY to see Bruce Hempel and his wife Muriel at their farm.  Bruce is a spirtual mentor and a brother in the Kairos Prison Ministry.  It was really good to catch up with him and hear some news about the ministry at the Coxsackie Correctional Facility where we served together for several years.

They also have a farm with a calf, goats, chickens, horses, dogs, etc.  This, I think felt like home to David as it was like the seminary upcountry in Burundi.  He was happy to walk around and pet goats and chase the chickens around.  We had lunch with the Hempels as well.  It was a very good day.

When we got home there was time to go to the Children's museum (an old haunt of Oren's) and while I took the kids there, Rebecca visited a bit more with Rosaura.  That evening we had dinner with Heidi for the last time where we had a fabulous strawberry shortcake among other offerings.

We went back to Bob and Frances' for our last night then woke up early Wednesday to participate in morning prayer that meets weekly at the church (something Rebecca and I used to do) before heading back to Baltimore.

The roadtrips here feel so much easier as far as comfortable vehicles and roads.  We also did make a rest stop at a favorite McDonalds with a playland in it.  (To actually be able to use a restroom is quite a novel experience on a roadtrip compared to Burundi.)

I think the kids loved most every minute of the attention lavished on them by friends they barely remember during their time in Poughkeepsie.

Rebecca and I were reminded of what a beautiful place we used to live in, and what a supportive work and church community we dwelt in while there.  I hope we could remind those who have been there for a long time, what makes that place so special.

Thank you again to all of you there who have cared for us over the years, even after we left.