Tucked into the salty, wide waters between Vancouver Island and British Columbia are many evergreen-covered humps, some of which are big enough to be called islands, and others which are only homes for seals. One of these is the home of a dear community much like the one I so enjoyed at Bodenseehof seven years ago. Capernwray Harbour is a spread of grassy fields and white buildings across the middle of a bay on Thetis Island, right next to the ferry dock. I spent four days there visiting Mary and pretending to be a Bible school student. Mary is a dear friend and hostess, and we had cups of tea and cozy chats. One afternoon she had to work on her study project and I needed a nap, but we studied and slept together; one morning I joined her at 6:00AM for running club and she ran ahead, but we shared the fresh, quiet dawn of Tuesday morning.
I was known everywhere as Mary's cousin and greeted warmly by students and staff. I dove into deep conversations with strangers who didn't seem very strange, and was welcomed into jokes like a member of the family. I worked with Mary on work day, raking and lugging branches from a recent windstorm off of the school's two initiative courses. I went to Mary's Tuesday night babysitting job with her to take care of Silas, an 18-month-old, while his parents were at the weekly staff meeting. I greeted Luke when he arrived on his surprise visit, and the three of us climbed High Point and walked home on the beach, even though it was a gray and drizzly day (and sometimes downright rainy and stormy!). The dining room was a clattery and jovial meeting place three times a day, and we ate delicious home-style cooking: carrot-ginger soup, homemade granola, meatloaf from Capernwray Harbour cows, fresh bread. In the lecture hall I gathered with the students to hear honest and humble testimonies of God's faithfulness (one morning from a staff member, and another day from a student), and to take in the Word as prepared by the two lecturers of the week: Charlie Fordham on the Sermon on the Mount and Greg Miller on I & II Peter.
I left in the sunshine on the ferry with a full cup and much gratitude for the chance to live in this community for a few days. I am also encouraged to extend myself for others, to let this kind of fellowship be part of my daily life.
And, if you want to see how idyllic it really is, here are a few photos!
