Ever since I spent a week of solitude and silence at the East Haven Mountain Cabin back in February I've been thinking and praying about how we could do something like that closer to home. I began scouting for cabins in July and purchased a cabin on Baxter Mountain in Rosco NY, 2 hours from Paterson in the beginning of October. My vision was a prayer and retreat center for myself, others in ministry and anyone needed a place to get away with the Lord. I also had a vision of small group mens retreats as part of a year long process called "A Deeper Journey". I devoted all of my spare time in the month of October to getting the cabin in shape before winter set in. Many other friends, neighbors and contractors helped with critical parts of parts I didn't want to do. Heres a bit of a picture survey of the month and where it is today.
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| My neighbor Jose Velez painted the cabin |
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| Max Brooks of Brooks Electric helped me install the solar electric system. It works great. |
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| We decided to do the living room and loft in tongue & grove pine. Here Mac is doing the poly before its put up |
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| Our early October group. myself, Jose, Mac, Max, Alvin |
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| A Baxter Mountain sunset |
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| Matt Murphy is a local master carpenter as well as the Fire Chief of the Cooks Falls Fire Department |
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| Bob Lambrigger is the local broker who sold me the cabin |
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| Linzie came up to stack the "cord" of firewood I purchased...not splitting my own yet. |
The cabin has a wonderful "Vermont Castings" woodburning stove and it is very effective. This wood should last us the winter and more.
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| A job well done |
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| Jim Stegink is a master craftsman with man skills and laid the wood laminate floor - with a little help from me. |
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| The view from the cabin |
The cabin has two bedrooms and a loft for sleeping. We can accommodate 7 people there
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| The Living Room is very comfortable and cozy |
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| A view from the loft |
This past weekend we had our first retreat with our Cadet Counselors. They were my "trial run" since they already used to camping is this is a big step up. We consecrated the cabin to the glory of God and named it "Eremos". This is the greek word that translates as "a quiet place, wilderness place, desolate place, remote place." It is the word that translates Jesus invitation to his disciples in Mark 11 to "Come away with me to a quiet place and get some rest." It is my prayer that the cabin will be that for many. In December we will do two "Taste of a Deeper Journey Retreats" for 5-6 men to see if they are interested in joining in the yearlong process.
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