We arrived in Iqaluit on Wednesday, May 20, 2015 and were greeted at the airport by a welcoming committee of one. That one being in the person of Cam McGregor. He helped Michael heft our five matching pieces of luggage off the airport carousel and into his waiting vehicle. Before you get too carried away imagining five leather-bound lovelies, think again. We packed our clothes and supplies in U-Haul cartons.
More than a little awkward for two men to haul however, they did manage getting them safely stowed for the short tour and description of Iqaluit given by Cam during our ride to Baha’i House.
If you go on Google Earth and ask for the street view of Iqaluit you will find our temporary home is on a corner just left of the spit (if you’re facing the shore) that goes out into Koojesse Inlet on Frobisher Bay. The reddish house surrounded by large boulders is our home away from home until late August or early September.
Reports seemed to indicate the house is small. We, whose home in Erin, Ontario is small, do not find it so. Our bedroom here is quite roomy and our thanks go out to whoever organized this warm and wonderful queen-sized bed. It is indeed comfortable, not to mention high. Being short, Michael had to organize a step to help me get in and out otherwise I’d have to take a flying leap which, I dare not attempt.
We did move the furniture about in the room knowing the window, located just over our head, may cause some head drafts and we do like to sleep with the window open a crack. I’m grateful for the desk/office space in our room. It’s a great place to escape to, hopefully, get some writing done but, first we must figure out where everything is and this we are accomplishing by organizing so it’s convenient for us. I’m posting photos of our time here on my Facebook page. I go by Marlene Turner Russell on Facebook. You may find my shots will help to fill in any gaps missing in my words.
Julie, our housemate, is a delight and is teaching a Grade Eight class at the Aqsarniit Middle School. I’ve known Julie and her brother Daniel (yes, the same Daniel mentioned in my previous blog posting who put forward the proposal that we come to Iqaluit) since before they were born. We lived in the Baha’i community of Scugog in the town of Port Perry for over ten years. Julie and Daniel’s parents, Dave and Sylvie, were also members of the Scugog Baha’i community and we all served on that Assembly together until the Gardner family moved to Slovenia to pioneer for our Faith.
Daniel was about four and Julie and her twin sister, Carolyne, were about two when they made that brave move. I was lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks with them in Ljubljana during their stay overseas.
As a Baha’i when you serve on an Assembly or, engage in any kind of service, you get to know the true character of those you serve with. We have many wonderful memories of that time in Scugog and the many laughs we shared.
Before we left Erin for this great adventure, Dave and Sylvie came to Erin along with another Baha’i resident of Baffin Island. David Parks and his wife, Pat live even further north in Pond Inlet. It had been about ten years or so since we’d seen the Gardners but as these things go, a decade quickly melted away and it was old-home week once again.
It’s a bonus for us to be connecting again with this family through the next generation. In all we’ve covered three generations with this family. It was at the first Baha'i unit election I attended back in ’78 when I met Helen, grandmother to Julie.
The history of Baha’is living and moving through Baha’i House in Iqaluit is palpable. Maybe I’ll get to learn some of it and share it with you. If only the walls could talk they’d have one heck of a story to tell.
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Internet service is 'different' here and not allowing me to post pictures with my blog site. If you would like a pictorial view of our experience befriend Marlene Turner Russell on Facebook. If you have questions about any of this do ask and I'll try to cover the answers as part of my regular blog postings. Thanks for reading.
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