posted 10:14am CDT June 18, 2009

We are (mostly) used to the light nights, and slept fairly well.  Our routine is getting easier as we now all know what we need to do, and what our breakfast choices are.  Work Crew left for another beautiful drive to Eagle River, and the VBS crew eagerly awaited the arrival of our kids.

Work Crew had a very successful day, having removed all of the old carpet from both the Sanctuary and church office, and finished the landscaping, which looks marvelous!  We didn't find any more LARGE rocks, and the work went very well.  The congregation of Eagle River Presbyterian Church also fed us lunch every day, including genuine Alaskan moose sausage one of the Elders made from scratch, including procuring of the original moose.  Another member brought home-made brownies with fudge ice cream.

Meanwhile, the VBS crew woke up early, ate breakfast, and prepared paper mache for our daily craft which was an African gourd rattle. We played games and then sang songs, the newest favorite being “Boom-Chicka-Boom” and its many versions. The parachute was and has been a big favorite with the kids, and is constantly requested. After our lesson and power prayers, we prepared a “dirt cup” snack which consisted of chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo, and gummy worms. One of the kids actually thought it was mud! But he thoroughly enjoyed it after being reassured that it was edible. After that we  ended with the “Peel Bananas” song and the classic Dove Club Song. We had the same amount of kids, but are really getting to know them and bond with them!

After the kids left and we had some delicious and nutritious sandwiches, we visited the Salvation Army's McKinnel House Homeless shelter. We learned that it was the only shelter in the entire state of Alaska that houses full families. With 16 rooms and approximately 18 adults and 49 kids, the shelter was full to capacity with a large waiting list. We met 7 or 8 kids from the shelter and brought out our Japanese kite craft. The kids loved it and we really loved getting to know them in the brief time we had to spend with them. It was an eye-opening experience and we plan to visit more of the shelters over the duration of the week.

After our work was done for the day, the entire mission team headed up to Wasilla to see the start point of the Iditarod Sled Dog race.  There we cuddled some newborn puppies, rode behind a team of sled dogs on a cart used for summer training, and bought the much needed souvenirs to remind us of this awesome experience.  We then drove to Palmer, where a member of Immanuel Presbyterian hosted a picnic on their farm.  We petted horses, posed for photo op's in front of real reindeer, and some of us took a ride on Onyx, a very friendly and patient horse.  Ron F., Rich L., and Nick B. even took up the outdoorsy activity of wood chopping.  The food was awesome, including moose meat sloppy joes, and beef brisket braised to perfection.  The best part was sharing stories with Alaskans and enjoying the mountainous views all around.

Walking your prayers in Anchorage!

posted 9:57am CDT June 15, 2009

Everybody woke up to a hearty breakfast of yogurt, fruit, and cereal in order to get us energized for the day ahead of us. After cleaning up, the work crew departed for their trip to Eagle River with work boots and lots of water. The VBS group reconvened to gather the materials they would need for the day as well, including craft and snack items.

Once everything was prepared, the kids showed up (around 9 o'clock). We had fewer kids than expected, but we anticipate a larger group as the week continues. We began by playing games on the blacktop outside and led the kids inside to teach them songs and a lesson in the sanctuary. We made fish kites which the kids enjoyed and followed up with much a enjoyed snack. After playing with a few more games, we ended the day with the traditional Dove Club song and a loud “Amen!”. The VBS crew then did work cleaning the bathroom/kitchen/sanctuary area and prepared snacks for the rest of the week, along with a surprise desert of Special K Chewies for the Work crew, whom were hard at work. 

The work crew started off around 9 am. Half of the group started to tear carpet out of the sanctuary and the other half started landscaping in the front of the church. The carpet removal went smoothly until we   got to the far side of the room. The carpet was under a wall and we had to cut it out from under it. For the landscaping, we had to remove all of the grass along the front sidewalk by the road. After the grass was removed, we had to start digging out 4 inches of “dirt”! I mean rocks!! It was a challenge, but we are making great progress and are looking forward to the finished product! 

After we all got back from our work day, we all headed to the Alaska Pacific University, who let us use their shower facilities in thanks for our help with the community. Later, after the showers some of the leaders were talking outside, when they saw a moose wander onto the grounds. Everybody came running with their cameras at hand to take pictures of the moose. All in all, we had a great third day and are looking forward to the rest of our service in the beautiful state of Alaska!

Walking your prayers in Anchorage!