By Mukhya devi dasi
2014 was another great year, moving forward in our attempt to improve and refine our service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Here are a few of the highlights:
14 Major Festivals: There were 14 major festivals throughout this year, each as beautiful and ecstatic as we have ever remembered them. Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundara were offered six new outfits this year, and we saw new designers with new ideas step forward and take on this service.
Festival of Colors: Our second annual Holi Festival of Colors was improved and moved over to the front field. The Festival attracted a lot of new people and a good time was had by all! Look for it again in 2015 on Saturday April 4, 2015 at a new time with some surprise talent on the stage.
Eco Teaching Farm: Our Eco Teaching Farm took off running this year. In July we hosted a Permaculture Workshop and about 50 eager workers showed up, from as far away as Miami, to plant our first food forest. The plan is for 12 forests (each named after a forest of Vrndavana, and each of them can be adopted by a sponsor) that will sustainably and with low maintenance provide food for generations to come.
New Well: A well was drilled, and the solar pump will get set into place in 2015. The water tank was constructed, the Bhaktivedanta Academy helped plant 15 fruit trees for the orchard, and a beautiful spot for an outdoor classroom was created under a sprawling old oak tree.
Goshala Barn: We spent all of 2014 raising funds for the new Goshala Barn that will bring milking cows back to New Raman Reti. By the end of the Govardhan Puja festival, we were practically there. We’ve met with a contractor, have a beautiful building plan, and this will have top priority as we start the new year.
Cow Committee : The Cow Committee was formed and the monthly meetings have produced great and proactive ideas. A new fence went in around one of the major cow grazing fields with the helping hands of two men’s groups. When one of our beautiful old shade trees died, the committee organized the construction of a shade trellis over the cow pen, and this week Kesihanta das’ men’s group came out and stained it so it matches the Temple and looks like it’s always been there.
New Stage: Thanks to the talents of Jambu das the stage under the pavilion was completely rebuilt this year. Now we have state-of-the-art outdoor staging, the “best I’ve ever danced on” says Anapayini Jakupko, ISKCON dancer extraordinaire. We can all look forward to many performances there for years to come.
Guest House: Our guesthouse bookings stayed strong and steady all year. We really need more spaces for overnight guests, it’s painful to turn people away, and increasing our guest facilities will be a focus of 2015.
Govinda’s Gifts: Look for the opening of our new and bigger Govinda’s Gifts right after the first of the year. Your one-stop shopping for the devotional lifestyle. The old gift shop will be turned into a nursery for mothers with young children.
Door-to-door book distribution: Door-to-door book distribution really got a foothold during this year’s December Marathon. Kaliyaphani das has great plans for 2015, continuing the service and forming regular programs with some of the interested people he’s been able to meet with Srila Prabhupada’s books. He’s been leading a regular Monday night Bhakta Class this year too.
Men’s Ashrama: Krishna has met our desire for better housing for our Temple devotees, and 2015 will see the construction of a new seven-room Men’s Ashrama. This will replace the existing KCF building, which will be removed . We hope to find a way to add another house for women in the coming year, as the demand is far outweighing the availability at this point. We have potential to bring new (and younger) serious devotees here, but we need a place to put them!
Memorial Meditation Garden: Maitreya das has carved a serene Memorial Meditation Garden out of a hidden spot that was simply covered by overgrowth and brush. Here devotees can plant a flowering tree in memory of a loved one or place a sitting bench, and generations of the community will enjoy the peaceful setting for years to come.
All of these new projects are built on the solid foundation of a strong morning program, deep and enlivening daily Srimad Bhagavatam classes, weekly Harinama Sankirtan programs, home preaching programs, and outstanding and expert Deity worship. Thank you to all the amazing Vaishnava devotees from all over the world who make up the beautiful New Raman Reti community for your love and devotion. We are so fortunate to have this kind of quality association and talent available here day in and day out. All glories to your service. All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.
2014 Christmas Marathon Report
4406 Books Sponsored or Distributed
Thank you to everyone who took part in this year’s book marathon. Besides all the souls who have been touched, or will be, by receiving Srila Prabhupada’s books; we met many nice people who are “ripe for the picking.” After over 40 years here in Alachua county, chanting, distributing prasadam, and giving out transcendental knowledge; there are a lot of people ready to learn more about Krishna consciousness. We hope to connect with them in 2015.
Sponsored books @ $1/book – 2,127 books (estimate) 1. Yadubar das 2. Nagaraja das 3. Sthita-dhi-muni das 4. Mahendrani devi dasi 5. Dhrtrastra das & Tulasi devi dasi 6. Mukhya devi dasi 7. Madhumati devi dasi 8. Bhakta Charles 9. Saradbihari devi dasi and Advaita Acarya das 10. Malati Priya devi dasi & Madhava Gopal das (Connecticut) 11. Siladitya devi dasi & Adidev das 12. Sukhada devi dasi 13. Madhuryalila devi dasi 14. Vrndavana lila devi dasi 15. Samapriya devi dasi 16. Jayasri devi dasi 17. Gopal das 18. Vasanthi 19. Stritama devi dasi 20. Annapurna devi dasi 21. Radha Damodara das & Nataka Candrika devi dasi 22. Madhuryalilananda devi dasi 23. Mahavishnu priya devi dasi & Gostabihari das 24. Girish Garg 25. Sita Wolf 26. Sri Vrndavana devi dasi
Books Bought – 2,279 books: 1. Laxmimoni devi dasi SB & Cc sets 2. Tamohara das & Mantrini devi dasi 3. Ekadasi devi dasi – Cc set 4. Vinod Vani devi dasi – Cc set 5. Tampa – 2 SB sets 6. Divyanga das 7. Anil Gogineni 8. Bhakta Greg 9. Manvantara devi dasi 10. Manusreshtha das 11. Manorama das- Mexico Bus Tour 12. Trivikram das 13. Ragatmika devi dasi 14. BANA with Sukhada devi dasi 15. Gopapatni devi dasi 16. Lilananda das 17. Akuti devi dasi 18. Yamaraja das 19. Sarvadi das 20. Parama Karuna das 21. Astasakhi devi dasi 22. Vishnu das & Vishnu Sakti devi dasi 23. Gaur Gadhadhar das (Tennessee) 24. Jitari das 25. Bhakta Josh and Kaliyaphani das- door to door
Total books 2,127 + 2,279 =4,406 books