Two weeks ago the Pacific Hermitage was in about as good of shape as it has ever been, ready for Ajahn Sudanto's return from Thailand.  The meditation huts had electric heaters recently installed.  The walking paths were both finished - ready for a meditation retreat. It all seemed so perfect, but then came a severe ice storm.

Pacific Hermitage sustained some damages.  Two trees fell and hit the house, causing 13 holes in the roof.  Two of the holes penetrated completely through the roof, right into the house.  Overall, more than 20 trees on the property fell and many more were severely damaged. Several blocked access to the remote meditation huts.

A week of steady hard work by the three monks allowed us to fix the roof, safely remove the trees from the house, clear paths to the meditation huts, and prepare new temporary wood storage since the woodshed was unsafe and heavily damaged.

During the week several people came to the Hermitage to offer support.  Rachel and Jeff braved the weather conditions to bring us food and supplies.  Debie and Don offered us a meal at their house and a hot shower, as we had been without electricity for three days. Peter and Lindsey plowed the driveway (twice).  Bruce brought over his new chainsaw to work along side Tahn Caganando one day.  Mike Novak, Scott and Joan came to help us prepare the sites for moving the firewood out from the collapsed woodshed.

On Saturday, January 28th ten friends came and helped us to move all the firewood.  It was a huge task, and a bit risky, as the shed was ready to collapse. Fortunately we were able to brace it well enough that nobody was injured and all the wood was removed.  Another job was clearing the trails though the forest, and cleaning-up the branches a forest debris strewn around the property.

We offer thanks to Scott, Joan, Dave, Ruby, Mike, Patty, Rachel, Liz, Janel and last but not least – Max!  We sincerely thank you for your efforts and delight in your gift of help to the Sangha, so we can go back into formal retreat mode.  May the goodness of your efforts return to you many times over, and may the rest of our winter be peacefully quiet.