Tossing spare change into a bright red Salvation Army bucket is a reflex for many folks during the holiday season, not only because the clanging bells and shivering volunteers urge them to do so, but because Christmas is a time for charity. People across the globe use the holidays as an opportunity to show gratitude for what they have and support for those who have less. For one Poplar Bluff family, the 31 days of December were not enough to accomplish the type of charity they had planned. So instead of tossing change into bright red buckets this year, the Summers' sold their vehicles, arranged year-long leaves of absence from work, and are sailing around the Caribbean on a mission to deliver charity and the Christian spirit to third world countries. They also plan to have a little bit of fun while they do it.
Bob Summers, his wife Emily, their sons Law, 11, Tucker, 7, and Jaboo the cat will be spending Christmas aboard Karis, a catamaran and the family's current home.
"I came home one night (around the time my father died) and announced that we needed to seriously consider taking a year-long sabbatical," Bob said. "I was positive that (Emily) would say, 'You're crazy,' or 'What the hell are ya thinkin.' Instead she looked up and said, 'Let's go.' I'm not sure that I was quite ready for her to react that way."
After a year and half of preparation, the family climbed aboard Karis, which is Greek for grace, and are currently somewhere in the Bahamas.
"Many of the countries that we will travel to are considered third world," Bob said. "Many lack basic infrastructure and few have all of the 'stuff' that we take for granted living in America. Our goal will be to find charities, orphanages, lost causes and other worthy organizations along our route to donate time, labor and money to. Hopefully, we can teach the kids the importance of giving back and teach ourselves just how awesome life is along the way."
While Bob and Emily are enjoying time together, they're also excited about the opportunity for their boys to experience life outside of Butler County. Homeschooling, they said, has been interesting, trying at times, but good.
"I feel that the kids are actually excelling beyond public schools in this environment and they're getting to study many things (Manta Rays, fish, coral) that most kids from P.B. don't," Bob said.
Keeping with the traditions of the season, the family is celebrating Christmas by mixing the old with the new. A piece of pine tree taken from Staniel Cay, the filming location for the 1965 James Bond film "Thunderball," is serving as this year's Christmas tree.
"(Law) broke off a pine tree limb on the way back," Bob said. "The next morning we woke up and he had decorated the entire inside of the boat without us knowing he was doing it. The branch became a Christmas tree, complete with shell ornaments and solar powered LED lights. He hung paper snowflakes everywhere and wrapped up something for each of us to be opened on Christmas."
Bob said one of the few downsides to their trip thus far is that it is the first Christmas the family has ever spent away from their loved ones. Luckily, the solar-powered Christmas lights strung along the outside of their boat help create a familiar mood. And there is music.
"We've listened to the only Christmas album we have on board so many times I'm ready to break it," said Bob jokingly. But on Christmas day, friends from home will join them and some non-traditional holiday plans are on the agenda.
"My best guess is that we'll be near Mayaguana island for a lobster and steak dinner, complete with scuba diving," Bob said.
During their journey, which began in the fall, the family said they have seen first-hand the effects of global warming. They've also stopped buying bottled water because of the plastic litter they often find covering the beaches.
One act of charity they've done so far is to donate several books the boys had finished to a school in a small Bahamian colony.
"Black Point Community is the real-deal Bahamian colony," Bob said. "Located a few miles south of Staniel, we spent several nights meeting locals and learning about the Bahamian culture." Bob said the headmaster explained that her kids were saving up to travel to America to see the San Diego zoo and tour about.
"She was wonderful to share a few stories with," he said. "The Bahamian school system seems to be much more personal in nature than our American system."
Bob said the hope for their journey is to show people that life is not about material possessions and to inspire folks to embark on their own type of adventure.
"It's not about who has the fanciest car, biggest house or the clothes we wear," he said. "It's about life experience and loving those folks around us."
The Summers have created a website, Youtube channel and plenty of media for friends and family to follow their journey. To see what they're up to, visit sailingkaris.com.
"The good Lord has blessed us with the realization that we only go around the sun so many times," Bob said. "We hope that all of you will come to this same conclusion and then go out there and find contentment in your own adventures."