A Visitor from down South

I apologize for being late in sharing with you a delightful visit we had from Matt Davis, a good brother in the Lord who is a regular within Christian agrarian blogging circles and a loyal visitor on this blog. Matt, his wife Stacey, and their five girls and one boy, along with a seventh child due in April, live in the Lake Pontchartrain region of southern Louisiana. Matt has been a regular commentator to this blog and many others wherein he has expressed a genuine interest in Christian agrarianism, hence his visit here to see what we are about in the rural backwoods of northern Missouri.

Matt contacted me in the fall of 2005 to make arrangements for a week’s stay at our community. Though Stacey was enduring some difficult headaches early in her pregnancy, she, nonetheless, strongly encouraged Matt to make the visit, as she has a real heart for the agrarian life, something they both are pursuing together in building a future for their growing family. Matt was naturally reluctant to leave wife and kin, but quite early on a Saturday morning in late November he parted with the delightfully warm breezes of home and drove all day into the evening to arrive here in Rayville just in time to go to work, that’s right work.

It just so happened that he arrived the same day that we had brought Sam & Sadie home and we were making some final preparations late into the evening. While I was installing some hotwire insulators I happened to look down into Rayville and spotted an unfamiliar pickup truck slowly making a circle in the heart of town, which is quite small, while simultaneously receiving a call on my cell phone. Both were Matt. He was asking for the final directions, so I directed him while watching him make the short jaunt up the hill to where we were at.

I greeted him with a strong handshake and took him around to meet Jeff and Art. As it was late and I needed to get home so that I could sneak in a few hours of sleep before arising at 3am to put the finishing touches on the next morning’s sermon, a habit I developed over many years of preaching, Matt was immediately shanghaied into taking my place in getting Sam and Sadie’s corral ready for their first night home, which he enthusiastically joined in, though he actually was given the option on turning in for evening. From then on he joined as much as possible in any work we had and was a tremendous help, especially in getting in some of the fencing for the front paddock. He also heartily volunteered to man the manure fork or the “turd hearse,” as our Amish friend puts it. Too bad he wasn’t here to witness Sam and Sadie make their maiden charge into the paddock, as that was a sight to behold under the bright moonlight of that night.

Matt came to not only see what was going on, to worship and break bread with us, to shovel manure and break a sweat, but most importantly, to ask pointed questions about our Christian community and biblical covenant keeping, which is central to our vision. He also sat in on a Missouri Woods meeting where we got into the Scriptures together and where he was able to see brothers of different views and talents resolve issues and make decisions within the context of a biblical partnership.

Yes, he got to see some of our weaknesses as well; in fact, we were hoping he would, as anybody who is serious about Christian community and living a biblically agrarian life will get to see plenty of the weaknesses of his fellow brothers and sisters. Its how they chose to deal with them that makes all of the difference . . . we speak from much experience.

He also got a good dose of cold and snow, which made for a very long drive in crossing Missouri on his way back home. I was glad he got to undergo stinging, painful fingers and frozen truck doors, as that is part of the agrarian life where we abide. In all fairness, however, I also hope he gets to witness the glorious explosion of green and smell the rich air when spring bursts forth, as that is something to behold after a cold winter. I know I am prejudiced, but Missouri is an incredibly beautiful state. One of the memories I cherish was our visit to the farm of Philip Ropp the day before Matt left, which I believe endeared him to their family. I particularly enjoyed the abundant fellowship we had that day together.

The small flock here in Rayville greatly enjoyed Matt’s visit and miss him, as a heartfelt bonding took place, which I think he would agree. All of that of course is in the Lord’s hands, but we made a good friend who is always welcome here along with his beloved family.

Below are a few pictures of his visit, which I think you will enjoy. Time ran out before we could get a group picture, sorry. Well, I’ve got to go, as we are hooking Sam & Sadie up to the arch today (see below), which could get real interesting. Now where is Ben Hur when we need him!

Pictures

Matt is standing in front of the corral. It had rained almost 2" before the snow, so the mules really made a mess of it. It is now covered in dozens of tons of roadbase, a real help.

Here he is standing next to Sam as the long-eared ballerinas feed at their manger. This picture gives one a real perspective in understanding the size of these beautiful beasts.

Matt is pounding in one of several "T" stakes. The ground was still soft. This is where he began to experience the stinging fingers that can go with fencing in winter.

Matt jumped into the back of our Dodge dually to go along in resquing the mail truck, which was stuck a block away for the second time that day. Before we got there someone else freed it up, though Jeff and Art did the resquing earlier in the day.

Alas . . . Matt warms up along side the woodstove in a cramped little shack near the corral. In honor of Rayville's sophisticated business district, we have dubbed the shack the "Rayville Men's Club." In complying with our culture's demand that women have equal access, our women folk get in free on Thursdays as long as they bring all we can eat.

Art and Matt having a discussion while Sam and Sadie munch.

Art and Joyce Morrill with their children Kailee, Andrew, and Jonathon (the wee one). Their fourth child is expected in April. Of course, Sadie had to pose for the portrait.

To prove that bitter cold and snow doesn't come here to stay, I have provided a picture of Art driving the hay rack with fencing on it just a few weeks after Matt left. It got up to a balmy 70 degrees that day, which is not unusual around here.

Here is the logging arch, which stands about 5' at the seat with about 40" of clearance to accommodate larger logs.

This is the original owner in Illinois driving the arch with his team of draft horses. You can see that one sits up pretty high.

A classic Sam & Sadie stare . . . daring you to come out and drive the logging chariot. See you next time.

The Missouri Rev