On January 11, sandwiched between two major snow storms and sub-zero temperatures, Joshua loaded his dog Elskar and 10 ducks into my Ford Escape, tied willow branches on top of the car and we drove to Camphill Village Minnesota, a six hour drive from Viroqua.

Joshua's brother, David, had put Joshua in touch with the Camphill to see if they'd be interested in having Eurythmy classes over the winter. Joshua and a friend made a visit there in the fall and Joshua was invited to come as a volunteer for two months. Camphill provides volunteers lodging, meals and a small stipend for expenses. Joshua was given a two-hour time slot for classes, which was too long for Eurythmy. So he added basket weaving for the first hour, which is why we transported the willow. 

"Camphill Village Minnesota is a life-sharing, residential community of fifty people, including adults who have disabilities.

 

"Camphill village Minnesota is located on a 500-acre biodynamic farm ten miles north of Sauk Centre in central Minnesota. People live together family-style in seven large homes. Everyone shares in the responsibilities of life in the community. The village has a strong agricultural component made up of farming and gardening. Craft work includes weaving, woodworking, and the arts as well as a licensed processing kitchen and bakery that provide for the needs of the village and goods that are sold in the surrounding area." https://www.camphillmn.org/

There were obstacles. While preparing to leave, we learned that Joshua's father was hospitalized in Sacramento, CA and not doing well. The oncoming storms made it likely that the return trip would take 2 days, and Joshua's initial ride was not able to take him in those circumstances. So Joshua and I figured out that we could fit the duck cage in my vehicle, I cancelled my week and we made the drive. I'm so glad that I was able to take him and see the place for myself.

Joshua is staying at the Farmstead, the first building purchased by the community around 1979, which currently no one else was living in. The house and all the buildings I've seen at the Camphill are beautiful and well-maintained. I'm including some photos I took the day Joshua arrived. Joshua got his ducks settled into their new home, shared with two geese. Joshua showed me around before it got dark and we ate dinner at one of the households.

I left the next day and got as far as Minneapolis, where I stayed with a friend to wait out the storm. When I arrived and checked my messages, I learned that Joshua's father had been transferred to hospice care. After I arrived home on Saturday, he passed away. In the coming days the siblings figured out how to make arrangements for their Dad's cremation long distance, and held a number of Zoom calls to process the life and death of their father. 

Joshua's first assignment was to complete a 30-hour state-mandated training (for working with adults with disabilities) on the computer. With the death of his father, that took more time than anticipated. Additionally, Joshua is sensitive to WiFi, so could only complete a few hours at a time. The community provided an ethernet port so he wouldn't have to use the WiFi.

But there was one more trip we needed to make together. Joshua did not have his car with him, and we knew he'd need to come back for his monthly shot (to reduce Growth Hormone levels) and to get his new glasses, which have the prism lenses ground in with the perscription. Once we knew the glasses were in LaCrosse and Joshua had his class schedule, we made a plan for him to return for one day, Monday 1/28. 

Driving up on Sunday the roads were clear. There was heavy fog from Rochester to St. Cloud. At a rest stop near St. Cloud the trees were still covered with thick hoar frost at 12:40pm! But a few miles down the road the skies suddenly cleared, the sun was bright and the temperature in the mid-forties! I arrived at 2:30pm, with plenty of daylight and warmth to take a walk with Joshua around the community and see the inside of some of the community buildings. (I forgot to take pictures! But visit the Camphill website to see lots of photos and videos if you are interested.) Elskar has adapted well and made friends with the other dogs. Joshua had taught his first week of classes and had been eating meals at different households to get more integrated into the community. On Sunday night, I accompanied his Eurythmy class on my lap harp. 

Monday morning we loaded up and made the drive back. (Elskar is a very good traveler!) With good weather and an early start we arrived in Viroqua at 2:30. Joshua had a lot to accomplish that day. First thing was to start his car--and it started up with no problem. But he had to dig it out from the snow the snowplows had left in front of his car. That didn't take long. He cut some more willow, got his shot, ran some other errands and even fit in a trip to the dog park with Elskar. 

He drove back on Tuesday, picking a route that avoided the Twin Cities. It took longer, but allowed him to travel with less stress and more breaks. He hadn't driven further than to La Crosse and back since his surgery, but we were both feeling confident that there was enough daylight now for him to make it, factoring in plenty of breaks. He called me after 5pm to tell me he had arrived and I could stop worrying :-) If you want to get in touch with him,  leave a message on his voicemail at the Viroqua number, he checks it every day. 

It's been one year since Joshua's diagnosis. Joshua is teaching Eurythmy again. 

This past year has had many challenges for Joshua, with additional stresses in our extended family. I think about how scary and hard it has been, and at the same time feel so thankful for the prayers and support from our family and the wide-ranging community. 

With deep appreciation,
Charlene Elderkin