MSIA travel staff were recently in Florida, providing MSIA Services (Innerphasings, Polarity Balances & Aura Balances) as well as MSIA events. Staff member, Angel Harper, provides this article about the trip:
JACKSONVILLE and ST. AUGUSTINE:
First stop on our MSIA travel staff Florida tour for Cleora Daily and me is Jacksonville….and it’s nippy. We’re grateful though as we hear that it was 20 degrees colder just last week before we arrived! Judy Jackson, the Jacksonville MSIA Rep, has done a super job of organizing MSIA Services. Barbara Moulding opened her home to us and those visiting from all over, including the South Carolina contingent from around Charleston way, to enjoy Services AND the open Rest and Rejuvenate Workshop (which is one of PTS’s most well-kept not-so-secret delights of a workshop). Bruce Rosenfeld and Elizabeth Frumin are on hand to continue their training in learning to do Services. We are treated to the most delicious meals and snacks too. OK, we’re downright spoiled….and we’re so appreciative and thankful too!
After a whirlwind two days we load up our car and head south. Our destination is eventually Weston, Florida close to Fort Lauderdale. On the way we spontaneously decide to take a quickie tour of St. Augustine, about 45 minutes south of Jacksonville. Now, if I recall accurately, St. Augustine is the oldest seaport in the U.S. and the historic area of old St. Augustine is charming. Both Cleora and I were taken by the oldest wooden schoolhouse that we saw first off on St. George’s street. Doesn’t take much for me to see the spanish conquistador types sitting at the alehouse or walking on the cobblestones. Across from this little town near the water is an old “castile” or fort that is still guarding the harbor. While there, we meet up with long-time MSIAer , Teri Tompkins who is happy as can be teaching art classes, painting and running an art gallery in this historic St. Augustine section. I go tourist and am snapping pictures right and left. We get one of the locals to capture our getting together in front of Flagler College which was first an old grand hotel back in the good ol’ days…brings back turn of the century images from the Age of Innocence movie. Teri acquiesces to our requesting and takes us to her gallery. How wonderful to see her works of art displayed among other local artists. Well, it was hard to break away, but we’re called to keep going. We pass on many of your hugs to Teri and bring hers back to you all too.
After an easy almost six hour drive we arrive at our Weston hotel. I’m always up for being in new places and cities. Weston and Fort Lauderdale are new to me this year. Our hotel in Weston is quite nice situated on a golf course with lots of fountains and waterways filled with ducks, geese and other wildlife. The conference center attached to the hotel is one of the nicest I’ve experienced in all of my traveling too. As we unpack, Cleora and I prepare for the next few days of Services and the Tao of the Traveler Workshop. We are also conscious of being closer to Haiti and our prayers and Light we keep sending there each day. At the Ministers/initiates Q&A with John Morton, I’ll just say that the wisdom, humor and beauty of John’s words and presence touched us all. Whether he was in front of the room or reaching out informally to the participants we were so grateful for the Traveler and our friend being with us.
One of the highlights of this portion of the trip is doing Services a few miles away at the home of Wendy Garthwaite in Fort Lauderdale. As we drive through to her place we see the canals street after street with slips filled with big to huge yachts and palm trees swaying in the wind along the banks. The temperature here has warmed up quite a bit we hear and we experience more of the tropical air that we’ve long associated with this part of Florida, close to Miami. Wendy has opened her beautiful apartment and her warmth, loving and caring envelop us and all who come to participate with us in the most nurturing way. Our second day of services, as a little surprise, Wendy takes us over a bridge to the Pelican Grand hotel for a magical breakfast oceanside. Just setting foot into this hotel and I really did feel like we were back in time and any minute Zelda and the Great Gatsby would wisk in to sit down right next to me on the terrace. Palm trees, gentle breeze, the ocean waves and soft sun were an incredible backdrop for a very yummie breakfast. Our waiter is Frank from Haiti. We ask him how his family is doing. He shares with us his concern as he has yet to hear from his whole family there. We tell him we will keep them in the Light and in our prayers. Well, one hour at this lovely place and we feel just like we had had a whole day off! What a treat! And in combination with the blessed and awesome experience of witnessing Spirit and the Traveler’s work in Services, we are filled to overflowing. Our deep thanks also to Teri Wunderman for coordinating so thoroughly and caringly the Services and initiation schedules, and to John Kadela who recently assumed the role of south Florida MSIA Rep and was the all-purpose ombudsman for all of our needs. Thank you to all who sent Light and assisted us along our way!
