April Worksite Updates

During April we hosted past volunteers, staff, and friends for Holy Week. During the week we constructed raised beds in our Deacon’s garden. The week ended with the traditional Seder Meal, Stations of the Cross hike, and a sunrise hike up to the rock Easter morning.

After a rejuvenating retreat in the middle of the month, the staff replaced drywall in Jean's bathroom ceiling. We also patched a hole in Lee’s roof and put new metal over his bathroom.

Spring Break Fun! (March Worksites)

March started with a trifecta of college Spring Break weeks! Over 100 volunteers came through the hollow. We extended some big projects over a few weeks and flew through some smaller ones. Zack and Jordan (and everyone else for random days in between) completed a massive roof over a double-wide trailer!

Susan repaired a long exterior staircase in Salem. She also replaced decking boards for Katie.

Robby replaced a living room floor in Center Point and then prepared the gardens for planting. Allyson did a project a week: a roof over a porch, a wheelchair ramp in Salem, and drywall for Wayne.

Our ducks also arrived at the end of the month!

"Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey"

This is an excerpt from a poem by William Wordsworth, “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey,” which I have just read for my class in Romantic Literature one month after leaving Nazareth Farm (the italics are mine!):

“…And this prayer I make,
Knowing that Nature never did betray
The heart that loved her; ‘tis her privilege,
Through all the years of this our life, to lead
From joy to joy: for she can so inform
The mind that is within us, so impress
With quietness and beauty, and so feed
With lofty thoughts, that neither evil tongues,
Rash judgments, nor the sneers of selfish men,
Nor greetings where no kindness is, nor all
The dreary intercourse of daily life,
Shall e’er prevail against us, or disturb
Our cheerful faith that all which we behold
Is full of blessings. Therefore let the moon
Shine on thee in thy solitary walk;
And let the misty mountain winds be free
To blow against thee: and in after years,
When these wild ecstasies shall be matured
Into a sober pleasure, when thy mind
Shall be a mansion for all lovely forms,
Thy memory be as a dwelling-place
For all sweet sounds and harmonies; Oh! then,
If solitude, or fear, or pain, or grief,
Should be thy portion, with what healing thoughts
Of tender joy wilt thou remember me,
And these my exhortations!”

All of these lines make me remember Nazareth Farm, where every greeting overflowed with true kindness. When Wordsworth mentions in his poems the sublimity of the mountains, streams, and setting sun, I think of the hills and streams surrounding the Farm and of watching the burning orange sun set while we sat atop a rock on the highest point of the land. I feel lucky to have experienced what Wordsworth conveys. It’s like a quiet determination to see God in all things.

--By Adrienne Petro, English major (in case you couldn’t tell) at Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, February 9, 2012

Rearview Mirror

As I pull out on to the drive, I glance back in my rearview mirror to see the faces.
The faces of those that have come with me to Nazareth Farm.
I look and I can see God in their faces. The faces have a sense of joy in their eyes but yet they also have a sadness and concern.
The joy is from the experience that we have all partaken in and the enjoyment of each others companionship.
The sadness is the realization that we are leaving this wonderful place that has changed our lives.
The concern is for the fear of where do we go from here. How do we continue this experience and take it to our life going forward.

And then I look once more in the rearview mirror and I see my own face.
I see a mark left on my cheek and it reminds me.
It reminds me of what the farm has taught me.
It reminds me of what the people here have meant to me.
I see the mark and I know that I must put my trust in God.
I must continue to give of myself and share my prayers with others.

Now I am home and the mark on my cheek as long since disappeared.
But I realize the mark was not only on my cheek but in my heart as well.
Just as we received the mark on Ash Wednesday to remind us from where we came.
We receive our mark to remind us where we must go.

Look into your rearview mirror, what do you see? Do you see the mark?

Bill Walters
Chaperone (July 10-16)

Wouldn't it be nice? by Brandon Herzog

Wouldn't it be nice if we were together
at the Nazaerth Farm
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong

You know its gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through

Happy times together we've spent
I wish that every moment was never-ending
Wouldn't it be nice

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true
Then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
We could be a family
And then we'd be happy

Wouldn't it be nice

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But lets talk about it
Wouldn't it be nice

Dear Naz Farm,

I want to thank the staff members for all the lives they have touched. You are all truly role models and every one of you holds a special place in my heart. Before I came to Nazareth Farm I had a lot of turmoil going on in my life. When I first arrived to the Farm I did not think it would be possible to grow so much spirituality in one week. I have never felt so in touch with my spirituality and with God. During the drive home I kept thinking about what I really want to do to help change the world (this had been a constant battle for me). I often find myself overwhelmed by all the possibilities and things I could do, and I find myself wondering how can I make a difference when I am only one person? Then I started thinking more about what I learned on the Farm, and I thought of Fair Trade. I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner. Finally I have my answer I will buy/advocate for Fair Trade. I started to explain Fair Trade to my boyfriend’s father, and to my surprise I learned that they have family in Canada who are farmers. His father was very excited to learn about Fair Trade and now also plans on buying from them. Through God, the University of Detroit Mercy has led me to Naz Farm which opened my eyes to Fair Trade. When I got home from the farm I had a sudden burst of energy and I began to sing and dance. All the turmoil that was in my life had faded. I am happier then I have been in months. I hope to return to Naz farm and to bring my friends and family with me so they too can experience miracles.

God bless you Naz Farm.

Crissy Bieling
UDM March 6-12

Jim's Nazareth Farm Poem

They greet you with a hug
And show you a lot of love
They say, "Welcome Home.
You are not alone."

I didn't know what to expect
But this place it has had an effect
It gave me a glimpse of grace
And it helped me find my place.

Because of the work and chores
There are lots of snores
But as the week carries on
The moments are not completely gone
The memories will truly live on.

The friendships made are great
The staff are truly first rate
As well as the wonderful food on your plate
West Virginia is a mountainous state.

Throughout the week
You begin to find God in all you seek
Whether it be on the job
Or hanging out by the creek.

There is daily prayer
And an opportunity to share
You'll begin to see
Here is where you're meant to be.

The trip progresses on
Dark turns to dawn
Every morning begins with a loud song
You know the days can't go wrong.

I know this poem is rather drawn out
But I know that I had to say
That everyone here today
Has impacted me in some way.

Although we are going to part ways
Let's remember those awesome March days
That we walked together in stride
With God as our guide.

They said, "Welcome home.
You're not alone."
I can't believe all the love they've shown
And how much each of us has grown.