MSIA Travel Staff member, Angel Gibson, continues her charming report of life on the road in the Northeast with John-Roger, John Morton and the MSIA Travel Staff.
DAY 9
Today we do MSIA Services in New Jersey, New York City and in Connecticut — a tri-state Services day. I start off on the 8:07am train to Bridgeport, Cleora and Vincent ran to just catch the 9:00am special into New Jersey. Paul and Mario have the get-up-leisurely and start services at 11am schedule in New York (lucky guys!). The good news about catching an early train is I get to do spiritual exercises; the bad news is I have to be watchful so I don’t fall asleep and miss my stop. Shelly Rothbard is waiting for me at the Bridgeport station and lovingly greets and transports me to her home for a day of Services and fellowshipping. Vincent and Cleora did Services at Elsa Hill’s home in Florham Park, New Jersey; Elsa takes great care with them too. The three of us enjoyed spending our days outside of the “City”, and it was fun getting back in town too. This evening we fan out again to do our own things, some of us have meetings, some have dinner engagements, and a few of us go to the theatre. Tomorrow we’re all in the city for Services!
DAY 10
Services seem to fly by today and then we race off to be at the Armenian church and the Discourse Subscriber seminar. The program is full. Howard White does a stirring rendition of “There but for you go I” — who knew that Howard could really belt it out!! Lena Perotta sweetly shares herself in song, and Eric Lumiere (who is just ending his first year in college in New York) steps up to the mic and sweeps us away with his musical sharing. John Morton is the highlight of the evening. He wastes no time in getting to the meat of the evening and leads us all in a meditation so that we can know and have Spirit in the silence. We focus first on our breathing, then letting go of our fears. We allow healing to take place and feel the presence of the Spirit like a “kiss on the forehead.” John then opens the evening up to questions and answers, holding patiently, lovingly and thoroughly with each person addressing areas such as, “How do I love and accept myself more?” and “How do I not lose my Faith?” The evening seems to fly by. We are doubly blessed as J-R is sitting in the room too. We have a merry band of assistants who ably help us pack up and load all the equipment. Good thing too because we have another day ahead of us of Services and then a fundraiser tomorrow. Our beds are calling us and we’re happy to oblige.
DAY 11
We do Services again in New York, but Mario Morresi is the lucky one to go back out for a round of Services in Connecticut. And then it’s time for the Insight fundraiser. Vincent and Roger did a truly miraculous set up in less than 2 hours (miraculous because they usually like to have a minimum of 5 hours to set up and they couldn’t get into the hotel room until 2 hours before the event). 43 people have signed up, donating their monies to support Insight. Caryn kanzer and Joan Witkowski have done a more than superb job of promoting and coordinating this event and are so excited to have both J-R and John be with us. A dinner of salmon, chicken and beef with salads, and desserts is laid out in buffet style. The doors open, Joan Witkowski calls in the Light and Mark Harradine gives some Insight updates and introduces some fun videos. Then it’s to the buffet. My goodness, but those cookies looked good! Then J-R and John take their special seats in chairs at the front of the room; Caryn Kanzer introduces them and then the Q&A is underway. J-R and John do all they can to answer to the last jot and tittle each question that’s brought before them. We look at the clock and think — we could be doing an all-nighter at the rate things are going. So much ground is being covered as one by one people stand in front of the Travelers. I’m riveted. By 3:30am we are told we need to leave the room. Not everyone got to ask a question, but everyone did get huge value. What a night! We pack up again and are back at the hotel by 5am. Pancakes anyone – nah! But, how about a little sleep?! Tomorrow (or rather in a few hours today) we are set to drive to Philadelphia. All in a day of MSIA staff on the road.
DAY 12
Well, it was a short sleep but a good sleep and now it’s time to pack up the vans and head for Philadelphia. We’re a little foggy, but still smiling. We’re taking more time to watch carefully what we’re doing because we’re all a little on the sleep deprived side. Still I’m remembering J-R and John just hanging in there last night until 3:30am taking questions. They probably would have gone until 6am if the hotel had allowed it. What a blessing! Meanwhile we’re now three vans full of sound equipment and luggage. The drive to Philadelphia goes quickly and we see how much greener the trees are now that we’re traveling more south. Oh, how lovely are the magnolias, the dogwoods, and the azaleas are in full bloom. Spring is just gorgeously showcased.
Once at our hotel, we all settle in, plugging in computers, unpacking. Tonight some of us go for dinner at friends out in the suburbs, and others stay in the city. Though we have a magical time with our friends, we’re pretty tired after dinner. So we head back, wish Nathaniel a noisy and fun Happy Birthday and head for bed.
DAY 13
Services today are at Faith Rudisill’s home — a lovely 4 story house out in the suburbs. Again we’re so happy to see the foliage absolutely bursting with a misty green, and brilliant roses, purples, golds and light pinks. Roger heads over to the Franklin Institute to start set up for tonight’s Closed Seminar in Philadelphia. The Franklin Institute is a huge building in the center of Philadelphia. It has a large statue of Benjamin Franklin that is reminiscent of the statue of Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Ben’s eyes seemed to follow us as we walked by him to the elevators that would take us up to the fifth floor for the Seminar. We Services staff arrived to help with the last preparations, and just before J-R and John arrived. MC’s, Carolyn Truesdale and Curtis Waechtler welcomed the group, called us into the Light, and warmly lead us through the program. Leah Brecher-Cohn and Andrew Cohn did a beautiful rendition of the song, “The Prayer,” and the Masters Choir, dressed in light blue choir robes, sang the “Non Nobis Domine.” Then John took the stage with J-R beaming from the back and took us on a Soul ride. He turned the tables on the group by giving us a theme, such as “What is Soul Transcendence?” and asking if there were any questions. We all must have been traveling with him as it was all many of us could do to stay upright in our seats. And John continued on giving the group over 1 1/2 hours of time with questions and answers. More blessings to come tomorrow with the USM fundraiser, so we pack up quickly. Though we’re hungry we opt for sleep.
DAY 14
We do a few Services today as Vincent and Roger set up for the USM fundraiser to be done today at home of Laura and Andrew Munts. John, meanwhile, visits the Philadelphia Ministers meeting and generously and lovingly takes sharing there. We all rendezvous at the Munts home that has quite a vista of a river and beautiful trees. The temperature is warm and humid — almost tropical. The food has been prepared by Elizabeth Zeitlyn and her angels. There is salmon, yummy roast beef, salad, and a super squash soup. Then there are these cookies — trays of them — that delighted the sugar palate (at least my sugar palate). After a cozy schmooze time, we gather in the Munts living room (all 50+ of us) and one by one J-R and John lovingly answer the questions. There were 41 participants and we finished the Q&A at 12:30am (hey – this is an early night!). We have some wonderful assistance in packing up from the Munts, Mario Morresi, and others. We are so grateful for this help. We are on our way back to our hotel by 2am and it’s time to pack up for most of the gang as they’ll be leaving Philadelphia. Cleora and I have 1 more day of Services, and then we will head for the Washington, DC area MSIA community.
