I wanted to share the article here that Patti Welander wrote for the Courier....she did a great job ! One thing I have to say though, when Jeff mentioned that he thought I would never leave our grandkids.....well, obviously we have BUT, it was not an easy decision ! The call of this opportunity has been strong and our hope is to share this awesome dream with them. The ocean at our doorstep, mountains, forest & wildlife should supply endless opportunities for learning and we are excited to share the adventure. We had many "adventures" with the boys in our trusty Ford Explorer, "Eddie", but decided at 190,000 miles that maybe Eddie wasn't up to this trip. We now have a Nissan Pathfinder that the boys have named " Sully" and he is doing great ! We are in Denver today so after the flat prairie we will see how Sully handles the mountains. So far we are really happy with him
| |
| Sully taking off from Champaign |
From the Courier--Patti Welander
GIBSON CITY – Few would describe closing their business as a good thing, but as Jeff and Lisa Volker begin a new career that Jeff Volker describes as a “true blessing,” that’s exactly how the couple view closing their popular restaurant, D.G. Sullivan’s.
In a few weeks, they will be the caretakers and volunteer directors at the Shrine of Saint Therese, 20 miles from Juneau.
“It’s what we both need in our lives right now,” Jeff Volker said as the couple were in the middle of sorting through 35 years of possessions in preparation for their move. “To me, it’s proof there iGod.”
Volker admits there were “a lot of emotions” when they made the decision to close the 5-year old restaurant, which had been the realization of a dream. “Blessing was not on the chart,” he said.
Now, Jeff said he is glad that he had the job—he met a lot of good people and gained valuable hospitality skills that he will use at his new job.
Yet, he’s also happy that it ended when it did, because he and his wife found the job they believe is their calling.
A deacon in the Catholic Church since August 2007, Jeff Volker hoped to find a full-time job in ministry. He took a job as a truck driver, while applying for potential jobs. One night while sitting in his home office, he saw the Alaska job advertised.
“It was perfect, and I thought it would be great,” said Jeff. “But, I thought Lisa would never move to Alaska with three grandkids in Sibley.”
Still, he went to tell Lisa about the job. She was in the living room, searching the same website. When she saw him, she told him she had found the perfect job. It was the same one.
“We both hit on it the moment it became available,” Jeff said.
“I just felt peaceful,” said Lisa. “Then, once we went there, I knew.”
The couple, who have never lived outside of Gibson City, will make their home in a 1938 log cabin that’s 30 yards from the Pacific Ocean. The Shrine is located in the Tongass National Forest.
“This little Central Illinois boy is going to learn about living in the woods,” Jeff joked.
Besides the wildlife, the view of the ocean bay and snow-capped mountains make the scenery much different from Illinois.
“It’s so beautiful, I wonder, ‘How are we going to get any work done?’” said Lisa, who is looking forward to seeing the northern lights.
Their work will include maintaining the grounds, as well as a lodge and four cabins which are rented to individuals and groups“I’ll be plowing a lot of snow,” Jeff Volker said.
The Shrine accepts volunteers who want to get away from the rest of the world to discern what’s next in their lives, and the Volkers will coordinate their work at the Shrine.
Jeff Volker’s job will include greeting visitors from around the world, and as a deacon he will be able to assist with burials and weddings.
According to her biography on the Shrine’s website, Saint Therese of Lisieux believed “opportunities for loving occur most often in the ordinary events of one’s life.”
Jeff Volker believes her philosophy may prove to be the key to his ministry.
“Even a chance meeting or directing people is a little thing but can be done with good grace and beauty,” he said. “There's going to be a chance encounter somewhere; that is why this is happening.”
But, Jeff Volker said he will miss serving his “family” at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, who hosted a farewell party for the couple Sunday.
“I will miss serving in this parish,” Jeff said.
Still, he knows that the ministry in Alaska is his calling.
“Sometimes to gain there is a sacrifice to be made,” he said.
