Alaska: Day 3

Tuesday the team went to a small soup kitchen in Anchorage to prep meals and serve breakfast at Bean's Cafe with Chef Aaron. We then delivered more soccer camp invites before heading to Girdwood. We helped True North Girdwood host a Burger Burn at the employer housing for those that will be working on the 4th of July. The turn-out was small but we had some great conversations.

 

Alaska: Day 2

Greetings from Anchorage! Today the team went out into some of the neighborhoods around Fairview to pass out invites to a soccer camp that True North and the team next week will be doing with the families. After lunch, the Norfolk team divided into 3 teams and with a few of the summer interns, went to 3 laundry mats. We paid to wash and dry their laundry, had some engaging conversations and outreach, and prayed with some. The team is excited to be heading to Bean's Cafe early Tuesday morning before another busy day. More tomorrow.

 

Alaska-Day 1

Today was the first day of work and worship here in Alaska with our True North Anchorage and Girdwood families. We went to Clark Middle School Sunday morning for service. Jason Lankford delivered a wonderful message on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 on present renewal (v16), future glory (v17) and eternal perspective (v18). The team was then invited to the Aja and Ian Johannes' house for some moose chili and orientation. Following our time of fellowship, the team loaded up and headed to Girdwood a little early so we could see some sights along the way. The Girdwood campus meets at Girdwood Elementary and Pastor Brian delivered a message on Daniel 1. The church then had dinner (beef and/or halibut tacos) and a time of fellowship. We headed back to Anchorage and stopped at Potters Marsh where we were lucky to see 1 bull moose and what we think was a momma and 2 baby moose!  Well, off to bed for day 2. More to come!

Spain Day 7

Today was a very exciting and also sad day. We are so proud of all the kids, but very sad to say goodbye so soon. Throughout the week the kids have learned Bible stories, done crafts, played games, learned songs, and even a play to perform for their parents. Today we got to experience the fruit of their work! During our Bible study time, the kids did an amazing job of telling the story back to us! We got to see them perform their play, and sing This Little Light of Mine for their parents. It is truly a testament to this church when Muslim's bring their children to a summer camp at a Christian church. It was incredible to realize how much of an impact we have had on them even in this short week. We were all being dragged over by kids to meet their parents, and have pictures taken. We pray that we have planted seeds in their hearts that will be watered and grow! But it is so hard to be patient. I know with every hug I gave them came a prayer. This evening we were blessed with the opportunity to have worship and Bible study with the church's youth and young adults. We had an AMAZING time in worship; just the outdoors, a guitar, our voices, and the presence of God. We spent the next hour or so sharing what God has done in our lives! It was truly inspiring! We spent our last dinner here with Natalia and Horiá who were such a blessing as our translators this week. We had the opportunity to pray over them and thank God for the blessing they are! So after all that has happened today, the best way to describe it is the classic saying, bittersweet. Saying goodbye to people we know we may never see again was so hard. As one church member put it,"I will see you later, or later." It is amazing to think we will one day be in Heaven with these people! And very sad to think that we may not see all the kids we spent time with this week in Heaven one day. It is for this reason we serve, and give all our energy and strength to plant seeds in their hearts. Now we must wait, and have faith as God causes them to grow.

Spain Day 6

Today the kids got a break and went to the pool, and we got a break and explored the city! Many people look down on touring places and having adventures while on mission trip, but we must remember even God took the 7th day off. Although it has been a fun day of adventures, exploring bazaars, seeing Gaudi's cathedral, and buying stuff, all of us have taken life lessons out of it. First, that God answers prayers for strength! Second, that when we are all tired and it is hard to keep a good attitude, being around bright and Christ-like people sets the tone for positivity! We all fed off of each other's positive energy and kept good attitudes! Finally we discovered that at the beginning of the week, we all had a friend we stuck with, that we knew the best, but after a week of serving together, laughing together, and encouraging each other, we are ALL now close friends and hang out as one group, united in Christ! It is amazing how God uses the little things, and even fun break-day things to teach us lessons we will never forget!

Spain Day 5

Yet again another wonderful day! We were blessed by God to have perfect timing today, whether it was taking turns handing out scripture at the bazzar, or running to catch a train! The kids are really understanding the Bible stories, and we are having so much fun telling them. Today, the 6-8 year olds drew out the story after we told it to them! We then had them copy a summary of the story onto their drawing! It was amazing to see the kids, some of whom are Muslim, draw beautiful illustrations to these Bible stories! In recreation, the boys let the kids in a game of Simon Says, the kids of therefore learning more English! During this time, we took turns passing out scripture at the bazzar with a lovely lady named Elena! Her passion is so evident, and as soon as she greets people they are more accepting to the scriptures! We were all talking tonight about how we can't wait to see everyone in Heaven who is there because she talked to them, or was even just a listening ear. We continue to pray that our influence will plant seeds in the kids' hearts, so that maybe they will understand God's love for them! It is amazing how God can use us and we not even know it. We were told by one of the helpers today that he has grown up being picked on, and feeling lonely and unaccepted. But how he has been impacted by us being here for him, spending time with him, and being his friend. Had he not told we would have never know! People are influenced by you even when you are not aware of it! So always shine His light!