Purpose

Reiki, Readings, and Refreshments!

For those readers who were part of the building process of the Penny Palace, you already know how special this place is.  It is much more than a “house”.  The Penny Palace has Purpose: to teach, to shelter, to link people …

Yesterday the Penny Palace was the venue for a teaching workshop.  It was a wonderful experience which connected both old and new friends.

Mandy and Doggies Seeking Shelter

Tonight the Penny Palace is providing shelter for unexpected guests.  This afternoon friend Mandy (who lives at Mt. Baldy) called to say flash floods had just devastated their mountain neighborhood.  She, fiancée Kyle, and doggies had hiked away from their home with some backpacks and were calling from a local restaurant.  Their cars were hip-high in mud and blocked by their landlord’s car which was totally drowned in mud.  Their street was impassable and it could be a few days until crews could dig them out.

Approximately 9 p.m. Doc and I headed out to see if we could retrieve Mandy and Family. They could not stay at the restaurant overnight.  The road was closed at the base of the mountain.  Police were only allowing residents through.  We explained, showed Mandy’s text message telling us her location and asking if we could come get her, then prayed.  Eventually the police guard let us through saying, “I am making a Huge Exception here”.  Thank You Angels!

We seemed to be the only car going up the mountain.

As we headed up the road, the obstacles and debris kept increasing in magnitude.  Our mini-van would not be able to hurdle the logs and rocks.  We needed a miracle to get through.  Our ‘Angel’ came in the form of a Front Loader.  It appeared just in front of us and cleared the road until we got to our destination. The downhill side of the road was still covered in debris and we assumed we would need to use the cleared lane (in the wrong lane) to traverse back down the mountain.  Not the case.  By the time we left, the downhill side of the road had been cleared as well!  Thank You Angels!

Doc and I retrieved Mandy and Doggies while Kyle stayed to assist neighbors.  We took doggies to the Penny Palace and left Doc to “canine sit”.  Mandy’s parents came from their home in the High Dessert to fetch the Granddogs.  They are available to dog-sit for the next week (not on travel).  Thank You Angels!

Getting Car Keys and Borrowed Wheels

Mandy and I headed down the freeway to Anaheim (about an hour’s drive).  Kyle’s parents had agreed to meet us halfway from their house in order to loan Mandy and Kyle a vehicle.  Turns out Kyle’s parents are leaving tomorrow for several weeks and won’t need that car.  Thank You Angels.

Now with her borrowed set of wheels (and a Luxury car at that!), Mandy headed back up the mountain to fetch Kyle.  I headed to the Penny Palace to prepare their room.  I had just finished the preparations around 1 a.m. when they walked through the front door.  Safe, sound, and a little muddy.  After a nice shower, they were ready for a good night’s sleep.  Tomorrow is sure to bring new adventures.

Grateful to the Penny Palace for its ability to teach, inspire, welcome, and comfort guests.

Act on FAITH

You all know about the building of the miraculous Penny Palace over the past 2-3 years.  Well in the past 6 months I have had a new “Project of Passion” to work on.  I call it the  "The Sasha Project”.

In a nutshell:  Nine years ago I went to Russia with my brother and his wife to adopt two boys.  Kept in touch with Sasha - our interpreter, driver and so much more.  (There are a whole bunch of miracle stories there).  It was always my dream to bring Sasha to the U.S. to visit our family.  So I began working on that dream a few months ago.  More details of the Sasha Story have just been posted for you.  The simple 2-week visit has now blossomed into 5+ weeks with 12 adoptive CA families who will be hosting Sasha!

Last week Sasha had to fly to Moscow to have his VISA interview at the U.S. Embassy.  Each applicant gets about 5 minutes to present his case.  The agent refused Sasha’s entry!  Sasha does not currently have a job, nothing in savings, and he lives in the family home (his mother is owner), so he owns no land.

Within 24 hours I had set an appointment with an immigration attorney.  He was wonderful with his insight, but said our chances were not real high.  He recommended that Sasha think long and hard about the time and cost to try a second time.  That night Sasha and I made the decision to “Go Forth!”  and “Believe”

For the past four days we have been scrambling. Pretty much working it round the clock (Sasha’s time zone is 11 hours ahead of mine).  There have been numerous glitches, hiccups, and delays.

This morning we FINALLY obtained our new interview date: June 6, 2013.  When Sasha gets his OK (notice that I did not say IF he gets approved), it will take a few days for processing, then a few days for courier mail, etc.  That ought to give me about 3 days to book the flights! 

That brings us to today’s story …

This morning I was in my stretching/exercise class.  At the end of each session, the instructor has us sit in a circle, tell about our experience in class, and then she shares a word for the day.

My report this morning: “I have zero idea what my body did because my mind was racing about 150 mph on the Sasha Project!”   The rest of the ladies gave more normal reports.

Right at the end, the “Nudging” said, “Go home and book Sasha’s flight!”  Huh?  Again, I sensed, “Go Book Sasha’s flight!”  My Engineering / German background argued: “The Embassy websites advises NOT to make travel arrangements because VISAs are not guaranteed”.  “No. This is NOT logical”.  The Nudging persisted again.

Within two minutes of that argument, the instructor said, “Today’s Message is FAITH. ACT on Faith!”  I burst out laughing and the other ladies wondered why?  I told them about how I had just been wrestling.  That gave me the opportunity to share about the Sasha Project!  The ladies all said they would all be adding their prayers to this project.  The Goodwill is Blossoming!

I went home to book Sasha’s flight. I had only a few moments because someone was expected at my house.  I was frantically working when my guest called to say she would be delayed by an hour!  Thank You Angels.

I did a search for flights.  My “ideal flight” would have Sasha flying in Sunday afternoon (thus avoiding downtown LA traffic) to join our family for a Father’s Day dinner.  The return flight would be after work hours on the planned Thursday in July,

I searched for flights from Moscow to LAX using my Frequent Flyer Miles.  Search #1 had ZERO results.  Search #2 had ZERO results.  I was getting discouraged.  I told the Angels that THEY were the ones who told me to do this.  What were they thinking?

Attempt #3:  Arrival flight 1:40 Sunday afternoon, Departure 9:10 pm.  I could not believe it!  And get this --  the arrival flight had one seat using only half the Frequent Flyer miles I was expecting!!!  Talk about AWESOME!!!!

I have booked the tickets, paid the various airport taxes, and have the Confirmation number!!!!  “ACT on FAITH!”

I can’t wait for Sasha to wake up and read this posting.  He will probably think he is dreaming…