NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Moonbeam Captain Storey King and Mission Outreach Director/Chaplain Douglas Cornman cruised to Great Cranberry Island, prior to a November 24 afternoon storm.
Douglas led Sunday worship and helped islanders pack shoe box gifts for Operation Christmas Child.
The theme for the day’s service was “Finding Gratitude within Surprise.”
Jillian in the ‘Sunbeam V’ galley. (Photo by Tristan Spinski)
CHERRYFIELD, ME — As Sunbeam V Steward my job is to feed the crew and guests and keep things tidy. Also, I work with Island Health Services Director Sharon and Island Outreach Director Douglas to extend our hospitality so it works in conjunction with the many additional programs and gatherings offered on and off the Sunbeam. Providing all-island-breakfasts, bingo snacks, care packages, holiday dinners, lots of cookies…
It has been interesting to figure out how to provide these services alternatively. Life without the beloved Sunbeam has been a lot of things, many of which had to unfold outside of planning. How many times in my life will I decommission a boat?
We have been traveling around these last months via the Moonbeam, ferries, charters, planes and carpooling. Our already honed boat people schlepping skills met/meet new challenges. Both Sharon’s portable telemedicine unit and Douglas’ backpack of emergency counselor/chaplain supplies weigh as much as my filled coolers.
We have stayed in parsonages and in islanders homes. We all carry along ready bedrolls. What a rare treat to get to know these parsonages. I have loved using their kitchens with their mix of vintage linens and cookware. In these homes we’ve hosted breakfasts, suppers and always popular taco feast. Islanders were delighted to spend time in their parsonages. Some shared stories of a long history of time spent in them and others had yet to have reason before though had driven by it for years.
We’ve grilled burgers and dogs on the beach, on docks and in front of the library. I’ve packed a bucket of iced sodas for a plane trip to Matinicus. I’ve also successfully gotten frozen ice cream to the island to accompany my hot apple crisp I planned to serve that night. Not a simple feat for a 4-5 hour commute on a warm fall day. Multiple ice packs and a towel wrapped around the half gallon ice cream tucked inside a Yeti bag cooler bag did the trick. Thanks to Sigma Kappa who gifted us the bag for my use during this transition time. It has been super handy.
Islanders have opened their doors to us and we’ve stayed in spare bedrooms and on comfy couches. It has be great to spend time in their homes and we’ve appreciated the overwhelming hospitality from our island friends.
To be continued…
BELFAST, ME — Front Street Shipyard posted this Sunbeam V update October 25 on their Twitter feed.
The photo caption reads, We pulled out Sunbeam’s main engine so we can sandblast the engine room.
The Sunbeam is undergoing a routine major re-fit at Front Street Shipyard. During the interim, the Sunbeam crew continues their work among Maine unbridged islands aboard the Mission’s interim boat, Moonbeam, and through other travel means.
Moonbeam returns from work. Steward Jillian is standing on the boat. Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley is standing on the dock.
NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME — Moonbeam is the Mission’s interim boat while the Sunbeam V undergoes its routine major refit. To carry on their work on Maine unbridged islands, the Sunbeam crew relies on Moonbeam and Captain Storey King to carry them to the islands and back. Sometimes Sunbeam crew members go to work using other means of transportation such as island mail boats and airplanes.
In this photo, taken just days ago at Northeast Harbor, ME, Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, RN (purple coat), and Steward Jillian (standing on Moonbeam), are returning from a island telemedicine trip.
BAR HARBOR, ME — On August 30 Dr Kurt H. Kelley, MD of Mid Coast Eye Associates, Bath, ME and Island Health Services Director Sharon Daley, RN traveled to Swan’s Island aboard the Mission’s interim boat, Moonbeam, to provide free eye exams.
Dr Kelley is able to provide screenings for glaucoma and cataracts and prescribe eye glasses. Eighteen people saw Dr. Kelly that day. Thank you, Dr. Kelley for the donation of your time and skill in providing this great service.
Also, thank you Swan’s Island Library librarian Jeanie Hoyle for letting us use the library, and also coordinating appointments and transportation.
Learn more about the Mission’s Island Health Services: