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NOME, ALASKA...
Mission Trip...
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| June 18
O Lord, how manifold are your works! From your lofty
abode you water the mountains. Psalm 104.24,13a
I have never been to Alaska before. Everything is grand:
nothing small. It takes my breath away. We went on a glacier
tour today with Brad Philips. He is not only the founder of
this company, he also was one who brought Alaska into
statehood 50 years ago this year. Brad is also terminally
ill. Even though he has seen these sights thousands of
times, seeing it today as if it were the last time brought
the sights if God's creation into an entirely different
perspective of awe. What if we looked at God's creation each
day as if it were the first or last times in our lives? Just
think about living with that kind of gratitude and
appreciation? Everyone is well. More to come. |
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| June 20
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. To him alone
does great wonders..who spread out the earth upon the
waters.. who made the sun to govern the day, His love
endures forever. Ps 136.1,6,8
Last week I spent a day with our church children at Camp
Lucerne. Every morning before breakfast they have a chance
to swim. They call it the Polar Bear swim. They even have a
song they sing. Knowing I was headed to Nome and having a
chance to participate in the Polar Bear swim in the Bering
Sea, I asked them if I should do it. They, of course, said
YES! So today I went with the former mayor of Nome and 5
others from our team, locking arms and went into the sea.
The water temperature was 33 degrees. Needless to say I did
not spend much time in the water. I did what I needed to do
to get a certificate and be able to buy this patch. To be
eligible for these items I had to be wet head to toe. The
Polar Bear swim is an annual event that takes place during
the Midnight Sun Festival. There is no darkness in Nome
during these days, only sunlight. |
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| June 21
Let the children come to me, do not hinder them for such
belongs the kingdom of God. Mark 10.13-16
It was the very first time these children had ever been
to a church. They had been recently taken from their
families. There is significant poverty in Nome which leads
to many things including physical and sexual abuse of
children. While these children did not know how to sit in
church quietly, they were precious. there was bit a
children's moment planned, but we added one. I was surprised
at the children's willingness to join me. They were quiet
and attentive. With their eyes wide open they participated
and helped hand out Father's Day pins to the congregation.
What a blessing. The United Methodist Church has several
mission ministries in Nome. One of the mission interns who
we met works with these children and others. One of the
goals is to reunite the children and families. The United
Methodist Women also sponsor a ministry in Nome: the Youth
Center. We will be doing some work there. Pray for these
beautiful children and others who are not able to be cared
for properly, their parents and those through the church who
minister to them. |
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| June 23
Jesus said, Someone gave a dinner party and invited many.
Luke 14
The church organized a potluck dinner for us. Young and
old came. As United Methodists the food was spectacular. We
ate salmon, moose and black seal along with fresh breads and
berry desserts. The church thanked us for all that we are
doing for them and the community. The elders ate first. The
children helped those older and younger than themselves. We
heard the story of native 80 year old Esther who finished
picking enough greens and covering them in seal oil for the
winter and will do anything to get out and fish. Or the
story of Caroline whose mother was the first white woman
born in Nome. Or Nancy who runs the Thrift Shop. It is open
on Tuesday evening and several hundred people came tonight.
We United Methodists may be great in distance, but are
certainly bound by the Spirit. Our biggest project today was
priming and painting the Youth Center. It was raining
outside. We primed it and then organized the children and
youth in the afternoon to paint it with us. We met several
on the street this evening and they want to come and help
paint outdoors tomorrow. If they come at 9 am, they will get
to have lunch with us in the church. By the way, their
evening curfew is midnight. They play on the church
playground and ride their bikes until it is time to go home.
No street lamps - it doesn't get dark. Speaking of dark, I'd
like to stay up and see the sun dip below the horizon around
1:30am and then dip back up at 4 am. I'll let you know if I
can stay up that long to experience this 24 hour daylight |
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| June 24
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest.
Matthew 11.28
One of the projects worked on today was Tuesday School
tables. The pastors wanted bright colors because of the long
dark winters. Red was the color of choice. After Al Durtka
repaired the table, Jane Baldridge painted the tables in the
playground. Many children came to help. They waited in line
to have a turn to use the paintbrush.
The Nome church holds Sunday school on Tuesdays. They
feed the children dinner and then have classes until 8 pm
during the school year.
The children have been with us all week. On Friday we
will hand out treats on the playground. Pastors Julie and
David began handing out treats to children weekly. We will
do that for them.
The children also were excited by the picnic table we
built today.
One of the children brought us and cooked crab for us for
lunch. He was 11 years old. The children are beautiful and
have such hopeful spirits despite the very difficult lives
they have. It is wonderful to try to be like Jesus and
embrace them and the many gifts they offer.
There were, of course, many other projects accomplished
today.
We purchased fresh crab for dinner. One of the church
members came to teach us how to cook them. Later in the
evening we went to the Tundra with another member of the
church who showed us many beautiful artic flowers.
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