AmeriCorps Volunteers Work at the Monastery

A group of nine AmeriCorps volunteers spent two days working on the grounds of the monastery. Cleaning debris and clearing underbrush, they greatly reduced the chance of wildfire during the season of drought. One of the young women with carpentry skills joined the island volunteers on the construction project of the three monastic cells. They were treated to a wonderful meal and enjoyed fellowship with other island volunteers. We greatly appreciate their kindness and their youthful enthusiasm.

See the new construction photo gallery.

Grand Theft Turns Into Grand Miracle

We greet all of you, our beloved friends and benefactors, with the joyous words, Christ is Born!
As well, we wish to share with all of you the progress that has been made during this past year here at the Monastery. As September was approaching, we monks were faced with a balloon payment of $150,000.00, the remainder of a loan we needed to take out in order to save the neighboring land from development (we now have 16 beautiful and pristine acres of property, ensuring the future growth and solitude of the Monastic compound).

In order to pay off the balloon payment, as well as allowing us to complete the remaining buildings, we chose to take out a $300,000.00 loan. Once the balloon payment was paid off, we were able to call for bids from local contractors, having $150,000.00 to work with. We desired to complete the library interior, as well as construct the remaining three cabins to house monks, and construct the book store/gift shop and the dining hall and kitchen building, all on foundations that have been in place for many years.
As bids came in we soon realized that we did not have the needed funds to complete the project. In order to stretch the money we did have, we decided to serve as our own contractors, subcontracting for each building. Friends in Seattle introduced us to a contractor who was highly recommended. Our intention was to hire this man to complete the library building. Asking about the remaining foundations, the contractor offered a bid to complete all our remaining buildings, at a cost we could afford. After signing a contract, he was ready to begin. In order to save us money he told us he would be purchasing most of the building supplies from larger contractors (it is common for large contractors to over-order to prevent stop-work situations, while waiting for supplies).  Since it is difficult to get companies to deliver to Vashon Island, and in order to save further cost, our new contractor agreed to stockpile supplies in his business yard, waiting for the day he would come back to the island with his trucks and crew of seven. We began making payments, first for 3,000 feet of solid oak floors for only $5,000.00. A further payment of $7,000.00 was later paid for over-stocked windows, doors and kitchen equipment. You get the picture. After we had given this man $55,000.00, he turned out to be a no-show. Later we found out that he had a bogus contractor’s license AND was a wanted felon. (This man is now in jail without bond, on numerous charges. It seems he had been doing this to many people for many years).

The Miracle

As word spread of what had happened to the Monastery, we began to see that what the devil had meant for evil, God would mean for good. The island community rallied to our aid! The island’s Fire Chief and his wife opened up a special account at the Washington Mutual Bank on Vashon Island, donating $700.00 of their own money to try to replace that which had been stolen. Money and supplies began coming in.

People called to offer their skills as carpenters, painters and roofers! One day a truck arrived with insulation for the library, followed by fourteen people (including the Fire Chief, his wife, and the President of the Chamber of Commerce). These people spent the next four hours insulating the library. Soon, a fire lieutenant, together with five island contractors and some twenty-two people altogether, started spending their Saturdays constructing the remaining three cabins. Another contractor (from Seattle) arrived with a crew of five men, spending three days building the front porch of the library, installing french doors and wall boarding, taping, mudding and texturing the interior of the library. This was followed by yet another company, this a computer firm recently relocating to Seattle from San Francisco, bringing eleven members of their company, including their CEO to the monastery, spending a day painting the interior of the library and joining island volunteers working on the three cabins. As though this wasn’t enough, a San Francisco couple, upon hearing of our plight, donated a beautiful gas fireplace for the library! We even had an island restaurant, as well as two island women, providing lunch for all these workers!
Work continues on the buildings. There are plans to complete the dining hall/kitchen building, as well as the remaining bookstore building, providing funds are available. What a glorious miracle has taken place. What a wondrous miracle has happened! May God be praised and glorified forever!
Should you desire to help with your own efforts, joining others on the island to share your own skills in carpentry, or should you desire to contribute funds or building supplies, please know how very grateful we would be. We monks are not building this monastery. It is God Himself building this monastery.
Glory to God for turning grand theft into a grand miracle. We even had fourteen island youth from the local Methodist church come to the monastery for a work party!

Holy Cross Fathers Visit

Hieromonk Seraphim, Superior of Holy Cross Hermitage in Wayne, West Virginia, accompanied by Rassophore-monk Pimen, made a pilgrimage to All-Merciful Saviour Monastery from June 6th through June 17th. It was truly a joy for the monks of Vashon Island to share a week of fellowship and Divine Services with the fathers from West Virginia. On June 17th, Monk Paul accompanied the two West Virginians for a two week stay at Holy Cross. It is planned that the two brotherhoods will regularly have exchanges between the two communities, for mutual support. We are the only English language monasteries of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in the United States.

Monastery Blend Coffee

Fine coffees available from the Monastery online.

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Phone: 206-463-5918 | Business Phone/Fax: 206-463-3461
Email:
Mail: All-Merciful Saviour Monastery
Box 2420
Vashon Island, WA 98070-2420