I never knew hippie until now.

Will

Anita

Meet the reincarnation of Jerry Garcia and Janis Joplin, my host couple in Anglesey, Wales.

Will, who also looks a lot like Merlin the wizard, studies and paints insects and his partner and fellow hippie Anita, spends her days gardening and smiling. They share a ten year old hybrid, recycle rain water for their baths, recycle bathwater for their loo, and grow, roll, and smoke their own dope (I promise I'm not involved in any of that). Will is South African and was kicked out of the country in the 60's for protests and demonstrations so he landed in London. Anita just spent six months on a boat off the coast of Peru and holy crap what have I done with my life.

Thing is, I don't think I've ever seen more relaxed people. I mean, they spend their days gardening and painting by the sea so I guess it makes sense. Once, we were getting ready to go somewhere for dinner and I was a bit rushed and said something about just downing this cup of coffee quick. They looked at me, shook their heads, and before I knew it we were chatting and my coffee was gone. Whenever she thinks I'm working too hard, Anita pulls me away for a cup of coffee, or asks me to just sit and stare at the sea.

Is this real life?

When I first got here Anita took me for a walk and showed me her gardens I would be working in. Actually, that is entirely misleading, let's try that again. When I first got here Anita took me stomping through waist high wildflower fields and occasionally stopped to point out the random strawberry plant or willow tree that I almost stepped on. She plants berries, herbs, vegetables, fruit, and trees all over her land, in what I now know are strategic places. She's trying to create her own eco-system, mimicking the natural order of the plants in the area. For example, trees are planted in a tight row on the east side to buff the wind for more vulnerable plants, or to provide shade for other partial sun plants. Herbs are planted nearby a little summer house, so when we break for tea, we don't have to get up to add more herbs (alright more convenient than natural, whatevs). Forget garden pots, markers, rows of plants or anything that might be remotely organized or associated with type one (or A, if you're Type A like that) people.

We garden here.

Then we drink tea here.

Hand-picked herbs for my tea.

Fetch has gotten out of control.

First the farmer sows the seed...

Avocado tree!

So that's it, I spend my days here gardening (basically weeding and path clearing), planting, playing fetch with Maggie, drinking copious amounts of coffee, listening to Will and Anita's stories, avoiding second hand smoke, and secretly figuring out a way to meet Prince William and Kate (they live on the island).


And, I get an enormous amount of time in prayer. Which is good, because after this trip I have no idea what is going to happen. But I'm learning to trust God as my Provider (for like two years, I've been learning this, not too quick on the uptake). And I'm learning to embrace the unknowns. Not my will, but His.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving kindness.