Holden Village

When Anders and I first learned that he could be interning in the Lake Chelan area, we had never heard of Chelan, but we had heard of Holden Village. Mostly what I knew about Holden Village was that it's in the mountains, if you worked there you don't use your cell phone--just email, and that some really wonderful people that I know, love it there. When Pastor Paul invited both Anders and me up for the Pastors' Cluster Retreat over a long weekend in the end of September, we gladly accepted the invitation to check out the other part of our new home. (Anders internship is for 9 months in Chelan, and then 3 months next summer at Holden Village--which is a 2 hour boat ride up lake, and then a 45 minute bus ride up the switchbacks!) 

When we first got up into the village, it was an overcast day--though still a pretty awesome setting at first glance. Friday morning, however, we woke up to a beautiful sunny day and promptly took off on a  day hike. Several passing deer, a few yurts, and many switchbacks later, we arrived at the beautiful site of Holden Lake where we caught some trout that we ate for breakfast the next day.

Holden is an old mining village that was given to the Lutheran Church in 1960 with the intent that it would become a retreat center. Today Holden is just that, and, from what I understand, even more. Holden has a focus on providing an ecumenical experience, serving diverse communities and practicing sustainable living. The environment feels very open, artistic and peaceful.  If you want to read more about the history of Holden check out this website: http://www.holdenvillage.org/holden-mine-history-mine-closing/

Holden is visited by all different kinds of guests–Lutherans and many non-Lutherans, people from all over the world, and even guests with 4 legs. When the llamas arrived, everyone went out to welcome the exciting guests.

However, there was one guest that was not so welcome...and little did we know until we got home and discovered the trail mix that was spilling through the freshly chewed hold in Anders' backpack, that the Holden chipmunks are pretty quick and sneaky=).