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It took some time for Dragonwood to come into vision. Christopher was on one path and Shelli on another, and even though, through the years, those paths would almost weave together, they never quite did. After a long obedience in the same direction by each of them, the Hand of God became evident beyond anything we could ask or imagine, and it all came together in 2018.
If you want to sit down with Chris and Shelli with a coffee in hand (or a beer, or a cigar), they will fill in the gaps, as they listen to your story. But generally...
Chris purchased the land that came to be called Dragonwood in 2015, when he was thinking of where he would want to spend the rest of his time on earth, if God allowed. With the idea of myth and legend rolling around in his head - Tolkien and Lewis and Rowling, and how one small person could help a greater narrative - he walked the forest that God allowed him to call his own and out came the name, "Dragonwood". Oh, yes!
On Dragonwood, he wanted to foster community, but not be a commune. He didn't want weird, and certainly not hippy or cultish; he was thinking more church-like, or maybe even something akin to a camp-for-adults. He didn't envision anything scheduled or high-energy, but rather laid-back time, peaceful and soul-filling. He had in mind a place where the Spirit of the Lord would hover, and where people could rest in His presence.
He could see a pub in a forest.
With that in mind, Chris knew that there would be no traditional house built on site. He knew all the buildings would have electricity for a reading light, or a way to charge a phone, or to make a pot of coffee - while only a few buildings would have plumbing. There would be one larger building where there would be a kitchen, and a bar, and an espresso machine, and private nooks, and small clusters of cushy chairs - as well as washing machines and showers - a place for gathering; a shelter from the storms outside, both physical and metaphorical.
As he was describing this fuzzy vision to Shelli, she piped in with...
"You should use that for Missionaries!" Why, yes - that's it exactly! The vision had come into focus. And we got to work.
In 2019 we were able to start the process of building. We were able to get electricity and plumbing in 2020. While in early 2021 we were able to start thinking beyond our own living quarters, and into the greater vision that God had granted.
And even though we haven't had so much comfortable facilities to offer, we had the trees. And those who serve the Lord came into that. And it is our prayer that the Lord continues to send whoever He will, no matter what we can offer. That those who serve may be served, may be filled, may be rejuvenated. Because it's all about Him.
© Dragonwood