::Official Gariepy Music Website 2006::

Imaginations

Napoleon man sails the world for college credit

By HEATHER BAUGHMAN
Staff Writer
NAPOLEON - A teenage dream to sail the world and earn college credit at the same time came true for a local man.  However, Dan Gariepy of rural Napoleon had no idea what an impact the trip would have on his life, his future.
	Before he was to head to the land "down under' to study international business in Australia, Gariepy followed through with a plan he's had for many years - to sail the world for college credit, a trip of a lifetime, he said.
	The trip was everything he expected and more, from swiniming with piranha and diving with sharks, to petting a sloth and sailing down the Amazon River.
	But for Gariepy, the trip was more meaningful than the animals and souvenirs along the way.
	From the wealth and cleanliness of Singapore to the poverty and filth of India, Gariepy saw first-hand the vast differences in the people of the world.  His experiences across all 12 time zones weighed heavily on his heart and fueled his need to expand his recently formed organization, Servant Heart Ministries, which “uses people and their gifts to help others.”
	He said, “I have these experiences for a reson.The stories I have are a benefit definitely to prepare me for something --  possibly international ministry."
	Locally made famous through his Christmas compact disc of piano music that he released last year, "Reflections of Chrismas,” Gariepy has always been a visionary who makes his dreams a reality.
	He currently has two visions on which he is working as a result of his recent jaunt across the globe: to continue his work with Servant Heart Ministries and record his second CD, a Christian instrumental album featuring tunes such as "Amazing Grace" and "It is Well With My Soul.”
	Gariepy said this educational trip, which earned him 12 college credits during his semester abroad, "wasn't about adding 10 countries to the list of countries I've been to" which now totals 21. "It definitely had a broader purpose and deeper meaning beyond the physical - it definitely goes into the spiritual realm," he said.
	Starting in late January, Gariepy sailed on a cruise liner from Nassau to Cuba where he visited Earnest Hemmingway's house, watched a Cuban baseball game and sat with Fidel Castro during a five-hour question and answer session with the cruise liner students.
	Onto the next stop, Gariepy and the ship of about 640 other students sailed to Brazil, crossing the equator along the way which had Gariepy and hundreds of others going through several rituals before they received their certificates for passing the equator.  In that country, Gariepy floated down the Amazon River in a small riverboat and went jungle trekking and experienced the rain forest first-hand.
	In South Africa, which Gariepy described as "the most amazing country in the world,” he saw seals chasing the ship while it eased into port and dove with sharks (surrounded by a metal cage).  He also came within feet of touching hundreds of penguins and baboons.  Before leaving the country, Gariepy took one more crack at the waters and went scuba diving and snorkeling in one of the world's largest coral reefs.
	While in India, Gariepy visited one of Mother Teresa's orphanages and spent three hours playing with dozens of orphans.
	Outside the orphanage, he said the dirty streets emphasized the poverty, which Gariepy described as unmatched."
	Singapore, the next stop on the trip, was the complete opposite of India, recognized by Gariepy as one of the cleanest countries in the entire world, and much more sophisticated than he had expected, which included stop walk signals that played music notifying the blind when it was safe to cross.  There, he went on theworld's only night safari and was able to view the many nocturnal ammals playing at the zoo.
	Gariepy climbed through the underground guerilla tunnels that were used during the Vietnam conflict in Vietnam.
He also saw the country's Vietnam War memorial from that country’s perspective and learned that "most people there forgot what happened (during the war) and have moved on."
	He toured the Forbidden City in Hong Kong and walked along the Great Wall of China before the trip came to an end.  In Hong Kong, Gariepy said, “The people were so friendly, courteous and compassionate.”
	At the end of his semester abroad, Gariepy concluded that this teenage dream “was a great opportunity” that didn't end when he landed back on American soil.
	Instead, he said now, "I have all these dreams and visions.  I want to help these people that he saw on his trip around the world.
	To start, Ganepy is currently busy recording his second CD of piano music.
	While he wasn't sure if he'd ever record another, Gariepy said too many hints were dropped when he came back from his cruise.
	Not only had a friend dropped off over $4,000 in recording equipment for him to use, he also had members of a local church ask him if they could help him pay for his studio time when he recorded again.
	By then, Gatiepy said, “I just felt like I was supposed to do it.” Nervous about having all of his music perfect, which he composes himself when he sits down at the piano, Gariepy decided his new music will help him spread his message of service to others and service to God.
	To promote his music, Gariepy frequently plays at area churches and Christian bookstores.  There, Gariepy has the opportunity to spread the word about Sacred Heart Ministries.
	Through SHM, Gariepy sees a future including a "huge network of people who have different gifts that they use to help one another."
	He feels 1 Peter 4:10 is the basis for his ministry, "Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others.  So use your gifts well."
	From the powerful, and technological society of Singapore to the dirt and destitution of India, Gariepy knows that everyone in the world has a talent that they can use to help others whether it is through piano playing, the gift of patience to listen to someone with a problem, or the gift of making art and crafts that can be sold to help someone without food.
	Through SHM, he believes the world can come together to help one another.  “I dream," he said, "of an entire church body.  I dream of no more judging on denominations.  I see churches and people reaching out and helping one another across the country - across the world."
	Gariepy, whose next CD should be out in stores in September, said, "I'm going to keep on walking in faith and we'll see what happens."

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