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'Bling-bling from God'

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By KLINT LOWRY | The Suncoast News

Published: September 12, 2008

Updated:

They say the Lord works in mysterious ways. So for a man as devout in his beliefs as the Rev. William "Rusty" Boles Jr., it's easy to accept the idea that God had a gift in mind for him as far back as 20 million years or so ago.

Through his Crosswaver Christian Ministry Inc., Boles helps the elderly and disabled with home repairs, restores discarded furniture and gives it to families in need and lends a hand as it's needed to women's and family shelters.

But the primary mission of Crosswaver Christian Ministry is to provide safety, support and guidance to sexually abused children.

A few years ago, Boles bought four wooded acres in north central Pasco County near Hudson, with the dream of building a safe house for abused children. The former junkyard was filled with the rusted remains of old cars, boats and other items. With volunteers and his pickup truck, he and his wife Linda removed about 200 tons of debris.

One day, when the cleanup in one spot had reached bare earth, something caught Boles' eye - a nearly foot-long cluster of yellow-white crystals fused together. After that, they started finding more and more geodes and crystalline objects.

"I just thought they were pretty rocks for a while," Boles said.

Some of the geodes looked like coral on the outside, he thought. When he cut them open he found peculiar formations of minerals inside. They varied in color, and when he put them under a black light just for the heck of it, he found many of them glowed.

Knowing nothing of geology, Boles asked some people who did, and he started doing some online research of his own. It turned out his otherworldly rocks were agatized coral, the state rock of Florida.

Florida has no state fossil, though agatized coral could qualify for that honor, as well. It is made from extinct forms of coral during the Oligocene Epoch, between 23 million and 33 million years ago, when Florida was a shallow part of the ocean floor.

Like other fossils, agatized coral was formed over a long period as the molecules in once living things are slowly replaced by minerals, retaining the shapes of the original objects. As the name suggests, agatized coral is made of agate. It is prized by fossil collectors and gem and mineral collectors alike.

Agatized coral is found all over the world, but some of the best specimens come from Florida, and the Tampa Bay area has been one of the best areas for finding it, although some parts of the area are considered pretty much played out. It makes it all the more exciting that such a large deposit has turned up on Boles' property.

"I call them my bling-bling from God," Boles said.

During his online research, Boles found a company called Paleo Direct, based in Altamonte Springs that deals in fossils and prehistoric artifacts. As he looked at pictures of examples being offered for sale Boles realized this gift from God has the potential for some considerable secular worth.

"They're listing them for $600 - $700," Boles said. Even baseball-size geodes are priced at $50 and more. Boles has never even tried to calculate what the all the agatized coral he's found so far might be worth. In a way, the safe house, or at least the land it's planned for, could unexpectedly be able to at least partially pay for itself.

The owners of a restaurant near his house, The Broken Yolk, 3350 Grand Blvd., Holiday, have set up a display case and allowed Boles to put some of his fossils up for sale.

A value of a gift like this can't be measured strictly in dollars and cents, at least it can't to Boles. The Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa has expressed an interest in some of his collection, especially one rare piece in which the agates have wrapped themselves around a piece of petrified wood. The Florida Aquarium in Tampa is interested in the fluorescent specimens. They have an area devoted to luminescent fish, Boles said, and there's an idea floating around of creating a display with the fish and his fluorescent fossils.

As he considers formal donations, Boles delights in sharing his buried treasure with children. He frequently brings groups of abused children, home schoolers and scout troops up to his property. He lets them dig away, and they can keep whatever they find.

Whatever the fossils' monetary worth, it's nothing compared to the experience it is for the children. He recalled a pair of 6 year olds who were recent guests. He was amazed and amused watching as the two little girls, working as a team, dug out a 6-foot by 2-foot pit in no time flat.

"They were excited just about digging," Boles said. Most children are. And they are excited and fascinated when they find a fossil. It's an educational experience, a chance to expand their knowledge of the world and ponder the wonder of God's creation.

Eventually, there will be a safe house on the property as planned. In the meantime, Boles is counting the unexpected blessing of the surprise gift he's found there.

For more information on Crosswaver Christian Ministry, visit www.crosswaver.com>.

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