As prior and workmaster here (the one who hands out the assignments for daily work), I was struck by the respect the participants showed me, even at times treating me like an elder; though I don't feel like one at 53 (though admittedly I'm older than any of the men.) They did their work willingly as far as I could see and learned new skills. Even Alex was willing (if I recall correctly, he volunteered) to learn soap-making, and when assigned bread-baking and cooking, he tackled them willingly. The other men did likewise, doing works that they probably don't normally have to do in their lives "in the city."

After the experience of the filming, we have made new friends among the other communities that participated in the same sort of project: Worth Abbey and Arundel Poor Clares in England, and the Trappistines in Iowa. This has been an enrichment for us in many ways. I have now seen the Worth and Arundel series, and I have had to laugh at the similar challenges of the various participants, both men and women, when placed in an environment such as ours or Worth's or Arundel's. I was especially struck by this in seeing the series from the Poor Clare nuns in England. Participants not showing up to prayers or choir, or coming very late, sleeping in, sneaking off, smoking; all seemed to be part of the "mischief" from some of the participants here too. Just an interesting thing to note.

We have maintained contact with the five men who were here, and while none of them has gotten back here again since the filming ended, we hope they do. We will welcome them and no doubt laugh at the various challenges for all during those 40 days. It was a project that took a lot of time and energy, but I think it was worthwhile. The film crew were welcome guests also, and we hope they can return again as well, along with Sara Woodford (Series Producer), our fearless leader.