Elizabeth's final thoughts

Greetings ...

I'm back at home now, reflecting on my caretaking time at the Heartland Center. As I sit to write something about the ending of my stay, I find myself a little wordless. My time there was rich, serene, healing - such a bountiful opportunity to be closer to Baba in daily life. I could spend time gardening (my gosh, those front beds look happy!) or cooking, reading or writing, visiting with the local folks or pondering Baba's plans for my life. But all of it was infused with the sense of being very intimately connected to a place where Baba was present.

Touching my forehead to the ground at the accident site was profoundly moving. I found myself drawn there almost daily - including one day when it was raining and all I could do was sit in my car and know I was "nearby" that blessed spot!). Gazing at the hospital, knowing our loved ones were right there spoke to my heart. And knowing some of the mandali were often in the very house where I was staying - it all was quite touching. Out there in the gently rolling farmlands of Oklahoma, Baba has given us a place to be close to Him in a very intimate, immediate way.

During my stay, the weather blew through in constant waves of change - sunny and bright, then days of rain, then plummeting temperatures towards the end. When I first arrived, the windows were all thrown open and it was a little too warm in the house - by the end of the stay, the furnace was on and I was scrambling for a borrowed jacket (thanks Miriam!). I enjoyed my daily walks around town - even had a few folks who I saw regularly while out on my walks and we'd exchange easy greetings. It's a lovely little town - don't miss the city park with it's pecan trees, innumerable benches and a creek running right through the middle of it. Lynn Wilhite and I viewed the quilt show during the annual Pumpkin Festival, and giggled at the pumpkins local kids had decorated (with anything and everything available - paints, sparkles, ribbons, curly strings ... anything!).

I want to add a note of thanks to the Board for the opportunity of staying at the Heartland Center. And a huge thanks to Ron and Miriam for making my stay there very smooth and secure - their direction and guidance regarding the tasks and upkeep were impeccably clear and easy to follow. Thanks for all the post-it notes! Hats off to Hettie, who'll be staying there for the next couple of weeks. I hope she also finds the quietude and intimacy I found there.

When you get the chance, make the trip to the Heartland Center and spend some days where our Beloved rested and recovered; reside for a while in the setting where the mandali cared for Him and watched over Him. It's a holy place.

- Elizabeth

Interim Caretaker Elizabeth's notes

I've been here in Prague for several days now, interim caretaking while Ron and Miriam have headed off to India. It's really been a remarkable experience - I find the peacefulness here at the Heartland Center reminiscent of the quietude of Meher Center; and the holiness very reminiscent of India. The house is lovely and serene, surrounded by huge trees and little flower beds and green lawns. The town is gentle and the people here seem so warm, so embracing.

I was warmly welcomed at a church pot luck last weekend that I went to with Ron and Miriam, and this weekend I'll get a chance to attend the local high school football game. I've walked all over town, and enjoyed the vast skies over central Oklahoma. One day, I found myself thinking: "Meher Center is near the ocean, but this place has oceans of sky." I could spend endless hours watching the billowing clouds scudding along up there. I was adopted for a couple of days by a sweet stray dog that was ecstatically happy to trot along next to me while I wandered around Prague - tail wagging, glancing up at me every few feet, full of joy. (The last time I saw her, she was trotting after a young boy who gave her some great pets in the park - maybe she found her human ...)

I have relished some long moments at the accident site, too. Yesterday, I went there and spent time sitting where Beloved Baba's body lay when thrown from the car. I noticed the sun getting hot on the back of my neck, and looked around for shade. Directly across the road, I climbed up an embankment and sat in a small circle of trees - hidden from the view of passing cars, but able to gaze down on His site for as long as my heart wanted.

Oh, I hope folks feel drawn to make a pilgrimage to the Heartland Center. Baba has blessed this place such a great deal of His Grace and Presence.

Jai Baba ...

Elizabeth

Off to India! Heartland Center in Capable Hands.

We (Ron and Miriam, co-caretakers) are off to India this next week for the month of October. We are leaving behind caretaker Elizabeth for the first two weeks and Hettie for the last half of the month. They will have the experience of soaking up the radiant feeling that Meher Baba left behind here in Prague in His hospital room and the stunning feeling at His accident site. There will also be some "fix-up" work going on across the yard at the M house while we are gone and the on-going care of the Heartland Center.

This year we have had so much rain and cooler weather in late August and through September that everything has grown wild! The grass on this now almost a 1/3 acre site seems to need constantly cutting. The yard shrubs are becoming tree and the Oklahoma strangle vines are trying to.... strangle them. It is the perfect time to visit however, now the rains are over, as the days are pleasantly warm and sunny with beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

So this weekend is really busy, just before we go, with pilgrims coming to stay over Saturday night, Elizabeth arriving on Sunday and our packing for the trip (oh, and I must mow the back yard one more time!)

Sweet Baba wishes to y'all!

Ron

New Life Work Week Planned for October

Jai Baba, one and all,

The whole Baba world is rocked by the shocking news of dear Meherabad residents, Heather and Eric Nadel, and the attack they suffered. Baba is helping every step of the way with their care and recoveries. Baba did not spare Himself or His beloved Mehera, and other close ones in the accident of 1952, and later in Satara. He alone knows what work is done thru suffering. We know He is the preserver and protector of all....and He alone does His work. He alone understands His work. We hold to His damaan.

By now you all should have received the HeartBeat, our annual newsletter. Thanks to all who contributed to the publication. Baba's love pours thru it. You may have read about the May work week and what was accomplished. It was amazing. There's more to be done!

I'm writing to announce that the Heartland Center is planning a work week sometime around New Life week. The dates aren't firmly set yet. Could be from Oct 7- Oct 17 or so. We are interested in knowing if there are 3-5 skilled, or semi-skilled buidling trade type workers with good stamina to work some long days helping with ongoing basic infrastructure repairs and updates at the Morrison and Burleson Houses of the Heartland Center. We'd like it if you could commit for the whole week, but if not, how about at least a full 3-4 day stretch. You would need to make your own arrangement regarding transportation, etc. It's a close drive if you live in Texas or Arkansas or even Illinois! Some airfares are very reasonable this time of year. Flying into OKC, there is a Baba lover who offers a shuttle service to Prague.

Please email for more information or call Peter Nordeen directly with questions about the nature of the work, etc. His number is 828-274-0307.

Thanks so much,
In Beloved Baba's plan for us all....Debbie Nordeen, for the board

The HeartBeat newsletter is in the mail!

Hurray for Angela and her helpers all!! The Avatar Meher Baba Heartland Center HeartBeat newsletter is in the mail! Printed (yes, printed on real paper) once a year, the HeartBeat is a beautiful color collection of stories and news from the past year. See what has been happening with the new Mo House, pictures from the May Accident Day Tea and everything Baba here in Prague (except for Jeanie's recipe for cherry pie!)

If you received a copy that means you are on our snail mailing list and if you didn't get one let us know and we will put one in the mail to you. The AMBHC Prague email address still is: AMBHC@allegiance.tv and our phone number is 405-567-4774; snail mail is 7804 NBU, Prague, OK 74864. If you would like extras copies for your group we can do that also.

We would love to hear from you or your comments to the blog.

In Baba's Love,

Ron

PS Photo of Baba's Photo in His hospital room.

Is this Oklahoma !??

We woke up to 75 degrees and gentle rain, I thought I had been transported back to Oregon! Baba has been giving us pleasant days with thunder storms to cool things off. In the past few weeks things around the Heartland Center have been more relaxed then the busy days of June and July. Buzz and Ginger stopped by for lunch on the way across the country and we are getting ready for our get-away to Baba's home in India coming up in October. Also, caretaker things have been getting done (slowly in a Prague kind of way!) We now have most of the new awnings up on the Burleson House, the softwater heater is working again (thanks, John!) and some of the siding was replaced that blew off in the frequent high winds.

Notice that the grass is green! All the rain has keep things green into the middle of August. The grass is still needing mowing and seems to be growing all night long as well. If you have time and want to stop by and help with gardening, the peripheral bushes, trees and flower beds are growing and growing, AAAAAh! There is always small inside jobs to be tackled also. For example, the old place has wood window sills and years of rain damage have left its toll. Most things are in great shape however.

Miriam and I are happy to be here, by Baba's Grace!

In His Love and Blessings,

Ron Lansing, Co-caretaker

Kirkpatricks did the Trail

Jai Baba Everyone!
Want to see some great photos of the Heartland Center, Hospital and site go to the Kirkpatrick's blog.
http://kirkpatricks.org/

Jim and Bridgitte visited on their way through at the beginning of the month. They were driving the Trail back from MB to Walnut Creek, both of them photographers and taking lots of shots.

Miriam and I really enjoyed their visit as with Peter and Mary Brooks who also came through driving over from Little Rock after a family reunion. Both couples are west coast sufis and shared their love of Baba and art with us. Mary and Peter "performed" singing and speaking along with a video of 1956 footage of Baba in the states; a very sweet devotional time. We had our little Prague Baba group over for the "show".

Hope all are having a wonderful day!

In Baba's Sweet Love,

Ron

Michael adds:
I sent a correction to Jim about one of the details in one of their photo captions – it said that it was 400 miles from Altus, AR to the accident site (Baba’s last day of driving before the accident). It’s actually almost exactly 200 miles between those points.


Jim Kirkpatrick adds:
We had a blast doing the trip and we're going to put it all in a book, eventually. I put an album of all the shots we thought usable up here:

http://www.leftcoasteventphotography.com/

In His Infinite Mirth, Jim