Reflections from the Journey

So last night I got you up to speed a bit on what has happened since I 1st told you about the vision/mission  God has given me.  I realized as I was composing that post that I really haven’t given a very clear picture of my vision.  That is what I hope to rectify now.

When I close my eyes and let my mind wander I tend to see 2 different scenarios play out.  Why there are 2 different streams of this same vision in my head I don’t know but I’ll try to outline both of them.  For convenience sake I’ll call the 2 scenarios “Country” and “Town”:

Country

• Multiple acres in a rural mountain area.
• Hopefully find property that already has a house and multiple outbuildings.
• Set up like a hybrid of a co-housing and an intentional community.  A handful of families that have their own small homes but would also have shared common areas such a “Common House” that would have a large children’s playroom, a movie/tv/game room, a large kitchen and dining hall, guest rooms, etc.
• The common threads that weave us together would be our faith in God, a desire to be good stewards of Creation, and artistic/creative expression.
• There would be a building filled with artist studios, workshop and office space.  May even have a coffeehouse.
• Another building would contain a large meeting space to worship together, hold larger workshops, etc.
• Artists would hold workshops teaching their craft.  Would also like to have workshops on sustainable practices.
• Lots of gardens both vegetable and flower.
• Maybe some small livestock such as chickens & goats.

Town

• Multiple families buy homes & move to the same small mountain town.
• Buy building(s) in the downtown and aid in revitalization.
• Art studios, Coffeehouse, Gallery, Indoor Farmers Market
• Artists would hold workshops teaching their craft.
• Start community gardens.

I see either of these scenarios needing 3-4 families to start.   Obviously , either scenario would take a good deal of capital to start and I have no idea where that is going to come from.  That is why I’ve said all along that I cannot do this.  I know that I’m supposed to do this, but it certainly isn’t going to happen just through my efforts.  This is a God thing.  I’m throwing this out there into the vast Internets in the hopes that some of you will help in whatever way you can.  Some of you may feel called to help out financially, some of you may pray for me & my family, and others may feel this idea calling to them.  (Some of you may just think that I’m nuts in which case I can’t say I blame you!)  Please let me know what you think by commenting below.  Thanks for reading!

Created & Creative by God’s Design,

Rich Nicoloff

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