It's been a whirlwind the past few weeks since the Stebbins trip that I posted about a month or so ago. I've spent a week in White Mountain, a small village a short flight north of Unalakleet, helping out during a youth basketball camp that was run by some of the CYAK summer interns. Then I was able to make a short two night trip to Nome to attend a planning meeting for a new youth center connected with the Covenant Church there. Exciting stuff to be sure!
Then I made my way back down to Unalakleet for a week and a half up at Bible Camp. It was great to spend some time up there with the rest of the CYAK staff and some of the team members. We spent three days doing some future vision work then spent the remainder of the time hanging out and working on projects around camp. It was a great time to bask in God's glory, be together, pick berries and catch some silver salmon!
Sunday, Lauren and I flew back to Anchorage to get down to work preparing for fall ministry! I'm so excited to say that we will have four guys living in the Arigaa Discipleship House with me this year. They are all students at UAA and come from a variety of backgrounds. God is good, I'm excited to have the house full and am looking forward to the opportunities that will come with living with this group of guys.
This past week I have been frantically cleaning, purchasing needed supplies (THANK YOU to those of you who donated specifically to help get the house set up!), cleaning, organizing, cleaning, communicating with the guys, cleaning, and running errands. It feels great to have my stuff settled in my room (Monday's job) and to really start to call this house home. I'm looking forward to the year! The guys move in on Monday and Tuesday!
All said- time for some pictures!
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| The village of White Mountain (pop- 190) |
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| Bonfire and S'mores- a CYAK summer staple |
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| Playing ball! God granted dry weather the whole week! |
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| We had a great time connecting with students- some of whom we'd seen at camp before |
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| Community gathering at the end of our all ages three on three tournament |
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| Intern Donald taking on our director Byron! |
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| Having fun with students on top of White Mountain with the town in the background |
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| One of Bering Air's many workhorses |
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| New Covenant Church under construction by Samaritan's Purse in Nome |
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| A little rock climbing fun, Byron showing off the moves |
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| Looking out over Nome (pop. 3,700) |
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| Great to get a tour of Ernie Hanson's old stomping grounds |
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| New regional hospital in Nome, quite the complex |
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| Different Bering Air chariot for the ride back to Unalakleet |
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| Forgot to mention the two quick days of ball camp for Unalakleet kids |
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| They sure had fun! |
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| Donald going at it again with the little kids, actually just explaining rules for the next game |
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| Executive Director Byron giving a CYAK history lesson |
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| Frank, our visioning mastermind, and Josh, a team member from Mountain Village |
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| Bible Camp Director Nick showing that sometimes it does have to just be all fun and games |
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| Here it is! Home sweet home! |
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| All cleaned- Ready for a gracious furniture donation to arrive |
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| There's order to the madness I promise! We're getting close to ready! |
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| Bedroom's are looking good, almost ready for students to move in! |
It's all just so exciting isn't it! I look forward to updating you on the next few weeks once we're all settled in and rolling into the fall full of classes for the guys, work for me and who knows what crazy adventures to be had!
