More Images From Koinonia

                                             Brahma bull

                                On the way to the meditation hut

                                Pounding nails

                                More nail pounding

Processing Pecans at Koinonia

Here are some photos of the pecan sorting process. Growing, harvesting and selling pecans is Koinonia's most important cash crop.

The only time I have ever worked on an assembly line was when I was employed in a fish processing shop in New Jersey as a teenager. I toiled at the end of a smelly conveyor belt and skinned flat fish like flounder and fluke, frequently cutting my hands and fingers with the incredibly sharp knives.

Spending a few hours today sorting pecans brought me back to that experience, and also connected me with the many millions of people who spend their lives in noisy, dirty, smelly and unhealthy factories in order to produce the food and consumer goods that we take for granted.

Here at Koinonia, everyone helps with the cottage industries and chores that need to be done, and when pecan season is in high gear, I'm told that many hands make lighter work for all.

Koinonia Farm

Following our visit to Fort Benning, our GPS (affectionately named "Hilda") led us on a lovely route through the Georgia countryside to the town of Americus, and we have happily landed at the Koinonia Farm community where we were warmly welcomed and befriended.

Koinonia (from the ancient Greek, meaning fellowship or community) was founded in 1942 by two couples who were committed to demonstrating the teachings of Jesus in their everyday lives. They worked with local sharecroppers, broke racial and socioeconomic barriers by worshiping with people of any race or background, and committed themselves wholeheartedly to a life of pacifism and nonviolence. Koinonia paid black and white workers equal wages, and created a community where people of all races lived a life of equality and mutual respect.

The mission and work of Koinonia did not sit well with many residents of the surrounding area, bringing years of threats, boycotts, sabotage, bombings and shootings that became part and parcel of the early years of this dedicated community. The Ku Klux Klan was heavily involved in the fight to break the spirit of Clarence Jordan and the other residents of Koinonia, and bullets, bombs and burning crosses were all used as tools in the fight. And although the nation's eyes were focused on Selma, Montgomery, and other hotbeds in the fight for racial equality, the struggle at Koinonia was seen by many as equally important in the wider movement.

Now, with the fires of racism and the struggle for racial equality safely in the past, the people of Koinonia have been able to focus on their spiritual activism, small businesses, and various ministries of good will and service.

Some of the stewards/residents here at Koinonia are involved in several cottage industries, including an online bakery store that sells home-grown pecans, handmade chocolate pecan bark, coffee, and other delicious goodies, and an online bookstore offering books which detail the writings and teachings of their founder, Clarence Jordan. There is also a very nice print catalog available by mail for those who prefer to shop the old-fashioned way. (Perhaps you can consider their products for next year's holiday season and other special occasions!)

Aside from these projects, residents busy themselves with animal husbandry, organic gardening and various ministries which build bridges to the surrounding community in myriad ways, including peace and justice work, home repair for those in need, Bible study classes, and other forms of outreach. Known as the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity, Koinonia has been a progressive and forward-thinking Christian community for more than 60 years

We are just beginning to develop a basic understanding of the community's structure and governance, and you can imagine that it has been through many iterations since the early 1940's. Consensus certainly plays a part in how decisions are made, and non-profit status provides another structure upon which the community can hang its collective hat. There appears to be a long and thoughtful process for interns and others who would like to explore membership (full members are known as "stewards"), and we hope to glean more from our conversations as we experience life at Koinonia for a few days.

Tomorrow, we will do some volunteer work sorting pecans or helping in the bakery, and then lead some Laughter Yoga and improv games at the community New Years Eve party. We will post more photos and news from Koinonia over the next few days before we head for the Florida panhandle and the Gulf of Mexico!

---Keith

The Journey Continues....With Alligators

Having left my kind and generous family behind in Atlanta after a week-long stay, we have now resumed our travels south, enveloped in a post-holiday glow (and perhaps an extra pound around the middle).

At any rate, we successfully made it to Fort Benning, Georgia, an army base where Mary and her family lived while her father was in Viet Nam for two tours. Fort Benning is an interesting place which is home to the controversial School of the Americas, currently known as The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), where many notorious Latin American dictators and soldiers have apparently received a rather unsavory education.

Controversy aside, we took photos and videos of several of Mary's former homes on the base, and Mary was able to reminisce about a special and poignant period of her childhood, and perhaps she will grace this blog with some of those photos and reminiscences in the days to come.

For tonight, we are cozily ensconced in an army campground in Fort Mitchell, Alabama, not five miles from Fort Benning.

The above photograph depicts a sign posted on a dock by the river where we took Tina for a sunset stroll as an almost Blue Moon rose in a crystal-clear sky over the silent river. (New Years Eve will indeed be a blue moon---the 2nd full moon of the month.) We did not see any alligators, but pictured them lurking lazily in the muddy waters below our feet. Creepy but exciting!

Stay tuned for more updates, and perhaps an eloquent word from Mary about her return to this landmark of her itinerant and remarkable childhood.

----Keith

Canine Cousins

Here's a photo of Tina and her canine cousin, Scottie, who lives a relaxing life here in the Atlanta area. Although Scottie teases Tina about her New England accent (she was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, after all), they tolerate each other well enough, especially considering that Tina is almost as deaf as a doornail and Scottie is nearly legaly blind.

For Tina's part, she likes to sleep in Scottie's little beds, steal his food, and otherwise take advantage of the little guy's southern hospitality. For Scottie's part, he's polite but inconvenienced---like a true southern gentledog---and an aloofly generous and indifferent host. (Please note their cleverly distinguished disguises).

This post was co-written by, co-produced, co-directed and brought to you by the Christmas crew at Norcross, Georgia. My name is Mary Rives and with Scottie and Tina's prior agreement,

I approve this message.

Best Laid Plans.....

Well, friends and readers, after a wonderful five nights of holiday cheer with family here in the Atlanta area, we were packed up and ready to depart on the next leg of our journey just after today's lunch. But as we warmed up the rig and began our preparations for launch, a tell-tale leak of antifreeze from under the hood (and the growing puddle of shimmering green fluid on the driveway macadam) made it clear that our imminent departure would indeed be thwarted.

Just yesterday, a mobile RV mechanic came to the house, (supposedly) fixed the antifreeze leak, sealed a few troublesome areas in need of silicone sealant, and repaired several other irksome issues in need of attention. In addition, my brilliant brother-in-law also led the charge in repairing some areas on the wheel wells that were simply screaming for attention.

 

Today, when all was indeed in readiness, we were summarily reminded that the best laid plans of even the most conscientious road warriors can be turned on their head, and we simply need to roll with the punches and deal with what's on our plate.

On Monday morning, we'll see if our itinerant RV mechanic can remedy our situation in short order. If so, we'll head out on Interstate 75 South and visit Fort Benning, a Georgian army base where Mary spent a portion of her formative years. If a more complicated fix is needed, we'll cross that bridge with grace. Then, we'll visit Fort Benning before we head to Florida, where we'll see a few good friends, celebrate the New Year, and visit some intriguing intentional communities. 

Tune in tomorrow for the next chapter of Mary and Keith's Excellent Adventure.

Christmas Photos

Keith and his sister Janice

Our wonderful hosts: Our niece Caroline, Keith's brother-in-law Bob, and Keith's sister

All of us at the Christmas Eve church service with Keith's mother Barbara

Christmas in Atlanta

We've now been in the Atlanta area for three days, visiting with Keith's family, celebrating Christmas and enjoying relaxing times with loved ones. We attended a beautiful Christmas Eve church service with full band and lots of joyous singing, and today---Christmas Day---was simply a feast of good food, cheer and excellent company. 

With the rig parked in the driveway, we have the entire house to relax in, do laundry, stretch out, and relish the expansiveness of a cozy home. It's a novel experience for which we're very grateful. Tina is especially enjoying the luxury of being in a house, not to mention the turkey and treats that come her way! 

We are blessed to have family with whom to spend the holidays, and we don't take that blessing for granted. We acknowledge that there are so many people who are sick, lonely, bereft, or otherwise suffering, and Christmas is a very good time to recognize one's gifts and give thanks for the abundance in one's life. We are lucky and blessed indeed, and time with family is irreplaceable. 


And before we forget, today marks 8 weeks on the road! 

Happy Holidays to all, and to all a good night!