Neakita said goodbye to one of her bestest friends yesterday as she moves to Arizona. Please pray the Lord will comfort their broken hearts as the reality of it will begin hit in the weeks and months to come.
Jeremiah has done much of the fishing for the family this summer. He was right by Mark's side all through set net fishing in June, during which time we camped on the beach for two nights. It is always a fun get away for our family. Jeremiah has also gone dip netting twice, once with Mark and once without Mark. Praise God! It is good to have most of our winter supply of fish in the freezer.
Our three oldest children have all enjoyed their times at Bible camp this summer. Neakita and Jeremiah both attended Christian Youth In Action, Child Evangelism Fellowship's training camp. Jeremiah also went to Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth. Alaina attended Horse Camp at our local Bible camp for the first time (which she earned a scholarship to attend), and Neakita is at Teen Girl's Equestrian Camp this week, which she earned by working at the camp's horse barn for four weeks during the summer. She enjoyed the training and work immensely and looks forward to being a part of that work and ministry next year.
A view of Kokrine Hills Bible Camp and their new runway. It is located between Tanana and Galena on the Yukon River.
I had the opportunity to go on a day flight with Mark in June. It was a beautiful day and a sweet time visiting precious friends in the midst of doing the job. After dropping Jeremiah off at Tanalian Bible camp and getting some time to chat with friends there (I hadn't seen my friend, Andrea, in years), we headed for Togiak. The purpose of the flight was to pick up a CEF team that had spent several days ministering through Kid's Clubs, but the best part of our ministry is these flights give us the opportunity to develop and build relationships with those we serve. We had a fabulous time visiting with Pastor Paul and Laura. I am fortunate if I get to be face to face with Laura once a year. This is the second time this year we have had opportunity to fellowship, otherwise, our times together are via phone, and only having 100 minutes of long distance calling per month with our phone plan does not give me much opportunity to keep up with everyone I would like to each month (not even our moms and dads).
Our three oldest children have all enjoyed their times at Bible camp this summer. Neakita and Jeremiah both attended Christian Youth In Action, Child Evangelism Fellowship's training camp. Jeremiah also went to Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth. Alaina attended Horse Camp at our local Bible camp for the first time (which she earned a scholarship to attend), and Neakita is at Teen Girl's Equestrian Camp this week, which she earned by working at the camp's horse barn for four weeks during the summer. She enjoyed the training and work immensely and looks forward to being a part of that work and ministry next year.
Mark has spent many days and weeks of his summer flying kids to camp from all over the state, mostly in the north west/central area, taking them into Kokrine Hills Bible camp. These flights and the ministry in this area became reality because of volunteer pilots and their Kodiak plane from Flying Under the Son Ministries out of California. Mark has worked very closely with Bill, Matt, and Mark getting them up to par for the flying conditions in Alaska. Most of the flights made and kids that they transported would not have happened without FUTSM.
There are so many testimonies about the impact that summer camp has on the kids from the various villages. The most common is the tears that flow at the end of the week. The kids begin crying a couple day before camp ends because the entire week they have been in a safe and loving enviornment and they become distraught at the reality that they will return home to their insecure and often frightening home life due to alcoholic family members and all the fears and horrors that come with that. Pray that the children and teens will cling to the love of Jesus that they discovered at camp and that they will hold steadfast in their faith. Pray that the Lord will provide solid Christian mentors for them to help them grow in their faith.
A group of teens excited to go to camp.
A view of Kokrine Hills Bible Camp and their new runway. It is located between Tanana and Galena on the Yukon River.
I had the opportunity to go on a day flight with Mark in June. It was a beautiful day and a sweet time visiting precious friends in the midst of doing the job. After dropping Jeremiah off at Tanalian Bible camp and getting some time to chat with friends there (I hadn't seen my friend, Andrea, in years), we headed for Togiak. The purpose of the flight was to pick up a CEF team that had spent several days ministering through Kid's Clubs, but the best part of our ministry is these flights give us the opportunity to develop and build relationships with those we serve. We had a fabulous time visiting with Pastor Paul and Laura. I am fortunate if I get to be face to face with Laura once a year. This is the second time this year we have had opportunity to fellowship, otherwise, our times together are via phone, and only having 100 minutes of long distance calling per month with our phone plan does not give me much opportunity to keep up with everyone I would like to each month (not even our moms and dads).
Paul and Laura treated us like royalty. They provided a delectable lunch for us of carabou rib soup (it reminded me of my grandma's beef bone rice soup, a childhood favorite) and hard boiled Murre eggs on the side. below is a picture of them (that is my hand in the picture, not a child's) and below that a picture of some murres. These eggs were especially a treat to be had because in order to gather them, one must climb cliffs. Keep Paul and Laura in your prayers, Satan greatly strives to keep the native people of Alaska spiritually blinded and it is not easy for native pastor families to make ends meet financially as their lives are devoted to ministry.
We are beginning to gather a harvest from our garden and it continues to grow well, except for the carrots. We are hoping they are just coming in late. We are pleased with the tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, peppers and zuchinni in our greenhouse, and our chickens are ready for butchering. We raised dark cornish chickens this year instead of the cornish cross and we have enjoyed them tremendously more in comparison. We will never do the cornish cross again if we have a choice.
We are beginning to gather a harvest from our garden and it continues to grow well, except for the carrots. We are hoping they are just coming in late. We are pleased with the tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, peppers and zuchinni in our greenhouse, and our chickens are ready for butchering. We raised dark cornish chickens this year instead of the cornish cross and we have enjoyed them tremendously more in comparison. We will never do the cornish cross again if we have a choice.
50 chicks in a brooder.
Happy to be in the run.
In June, I hosted a 3-day CEF kid's club in our yard. It is always a highlight of the summer.
This summer has brought more dinner and overnight guests than ever before. We have had a fabulous time with the various ministry families that have come through our home this summer. My ministry dream has always been to have a guest house where I can provide a place to stay for and take care of ministry families that "come to/through town". Well, we are only able to offer them Jeremiah's room and/or the playroom/utility room to sleep in, but I absolutely LOVE every opportunity I have to provide a place they can relax, recoup, and be "loved on" in.
Neakita, Jeremiah, and Alaina all played soccer again this summer. It was a great season with great teammates and great coaches.
Jeremiah is in red. He played goalie for the first time this year and learned the postition well under the tutorage of an excellent coach.
In April, Neakita and Alaina participate in their year end music recital. It is always a treat for us parents and loved ones to watch and see what our children have accomplished over the year.
As always, thank you for your love, prayers, and support of our life in full-time ministry.
Happy to be in the run.
In June, I hosted a 3-day CEF kid's club in our yard. It is always a highlight of the summer.
This summer has brought more dinner and overnight guests than ever before. We have had a fabulous time with the various ministry families that have come through our home this summer. My ministry dream has always been to have a guest house where I can provide a place to stay for and take care of ministry families that "come to/through town". Well, we are only able to offer them Jeremiah's room and/or the playroom/utility room to sleep in, but I absolutely LOVE every opportunity I have to provide a place they can relax, recoup, and be "loved on" in.
Neakita, Jeremiah, and Alaina all played soccer again this summer. It was a great season with great teammates and great coaches.
Jeremiah is in red. He played goalie for the first time this year and learned the postition well under the tutorage of an excellent coach.
In April, Neakita and Alaina participate in their year end music recital. It is always a treat for us parents and loved ones to watch and see what our children have accomplished over the year.
As always, thank you for your love, prayers, and support of our life in full-time ministry.
