Last Day

Today was a mixed kind of day for me. My workshop didn't go as planned. I wouldn't let the kids listen to hip hop with any cuss words in it, and they got mad and walked out. While at first I was like wow, that stinks; it actually gave me an opportunity to work with these three guys that just wanted to dance. They listened to what I said about the music, and they even wanted me to help them with their talent show routine. It was really encouraging to be able to just leave some type of impact on them, however small.

Bible Club was a pretty good turnout as well, we did our skit and our Everything skit, and I really pray that it made a lasting impact on these kids. With Bible Club it's a very different atmosphere from how it was in Glennallen. Glennallen was very flexible with a little bit of structure, where as Bible Club is very structured with little flexibility. Having to switch from such extremes was kind of difficult for me to be able to feel out how people were reacting to the Gospel, and also, how much of an impact we were making. It really made me realize that I just have to keep doing the things that I'm doing, to be the light, and that God would do the rest.

Tomorrow I'm leaving Alaska, and I think one thing I really learned on this trip was to have faith. I think many times I learn lessons of grace and love, but faith has been something that I've really been tested, and something I'm hoping to keep strong. God has a plan for our lives, and while I might not know it, and I might have many plans for myself, nothing is random. I think for me going into my last year of college and really thinking about my future and what I'm going to do with it, is something that I need to not freak out about. Although that's kind of hard, I know that God will place me and use me wherever he sees fit, and he will protect me and guide me through all parts of life. I'm really blessed and grateful to have gone on this trip, and I really thank everyone who was praying for me and the team, as well as following my blog.

Please pray for our safety tomorrow as we fly back to Philadelphia. God Bless!

Anchorage Day 2

Today was the second day at the Boys and Girls Club, after getting a very sore night of sleep, I surprisingly felt very well rested regardless. During the first hour or so, it is very hard for me to get into the groove of things, mostly because I'm like the floater helper. I have no workshop of my own, so I feel like I have no place, however I just walk around and try to help out as best as I can. When it comes time to dance though, I feel right at home. Although it is a relatively basic routine, it is still fun to be able to dance and teach them and see the kids get so excited to learn something new and then show it off. Seriously, if I get an opportunity to train better and then later on teach, I would do it, it's such a great feeling; and then on top of that getting the opportunity to talk about God to them and the type of music that they listen to. It's really great to be able to use something I love and share that alongside the Gospel. :D

Today's program went well. We had a way bigger turnout than yesterday, so it was really encouraging, and the craft we did allowed us to share the Salvation message with the kids one on one...or two on one. The two girls I had were like polar opposites. One girl was really listening, but the other girl was all over the place. She kept interrupting me and telling me different stories, but it was okay, because it gave me opportunity to share how God applies to those different things. They ended up praying the prayer accepting Jesus into their lives, but based off of how things went, I'm not quite sure how the one girl was really thinking about it. So I'll just keep praying for them. At such a young age, many of these kids see a lot of bad stuff happening around them, and have no answers as to why, or what to do about them. Please pray for the kids in Mountain View Boys and Girls Club.

Prayer Requests:
- That God will lead us through the last day, and we will remain focused.
- That He will work in the hearts of those that accepted Christ today, and help them find good mentors that will nurture their spirit and help them grow.
- For Perry's safe flight home tonight.
- For our health and energy.

That's it for now!

Day 1 in Anchorage

What a long day! I figured I'd legit update to help me fall asleep, so here goes.

Our days here are going to be set up as workshops from 2-4 at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club. My workshop was hip hop, and while the piece (which I used from National Dance Day's Nappytabs routine) was very basic, I realized that even so, it was still difficult to teach because many of the kids didn't feel confident in being able to get the choreography. But it was amazing to be able to use dance, something I'm passionate about, as a means of personally getting to know the kids better. And of course now I'm sore -_-. But aside from that we had our first Bible Camp, and while a very small number of kids showed up, it was both a "good" and a "bad" thing. Of course it's disheartening to not have many people sign up the first day, but it worked because we were all so exhausted, if we had more kids, we probably wouldn't have been functioning. The good thing was that the kids seemed to enjoy the skits and our songs and stuff, and pay attention to part of our message.

Since working with kids and teens, I've been noticing a lot of characteristics that these kids have that I used to have when I was their age. It was strange for me to try to remember the things I got mad about, the nothingness I filled my life with. Very eye-opening.

Prayer Requests:
- That God will give us a new passion to do his work in Anchorage, and that we can keep up our strength for the next two days
- Praise that we're mostly over our colds now (Team members)
- Pray for Perry's safety as he flies back to Jersey
- That tomorrow God will open doors for us to be able to reach those he wants us to reach and that he will open their hearts and ears so they can absorb the Gospel

That's it for now! Good Night!

Last Day in Glennallen, Back in Anchorage

Happy Independence Day! It's our last day at the Native Bible Conference, and wow what a day today. We went to service at Glennallen Community Chapel, and the service in itself was a God marker. From the songs, to the sermon, to even the Breakdown of the Gospel in Romans on the back of the bulletin, was like God giving us exactly the message he wanted us to give the teens; and then Mrs. Hui came up with the idea of having a teen service after our typical program.

At the service, about 20 people showed up, maybe plus or minus the team, but it was still a good crowd, we did worship and our rendition of the Everything - Lifehouse skit and Bob Wendt from ABC spoke a little bit. For me, it was so powerful to see how God was working, especially in this guy Mikey's life. For those of us that met him, he's the friendly, funny, all smiles kinda guy. He was so focused during the whole service, it was like you could see the gears turning in his head. And what a "coincidence" that he just so happened to come home for the weekend because it was the holiday and he got to come to the service. He was telling us after, that he felt like it was a wake up call in his life because even though he accepted Christ there were still somethings that weren't in line in his life. I'll be praying for him, please do too.

Tomorrow we leave for Anchorage! Please pray for our Bible Club there from Tues-Thurs!

I will fear no evil, for my God is with me
and if my God is with me, whom then shall I fear?
Oh, no you never let go
through the calm and through the storm
Oh, no you never let go
in every high and every low
Oh, no you never let go
Lord, you never let go of me

God knows what's in our hearts.

So last night I shared about how I was experiencing some spiritual warfare within my heart, and after I updated my blog, I felt relieved to be able to talk to the teen members (Vivian, John, Ernest, and Laura) just about stuff, the trip, relationships, etc. As I was sharing about how I was feeling earlier, Vivian said "You know, maybe the reason why you're here isn't to work with the teens in Glennallen, but to mentor us, the teens in the group." When I went back to my room, I realized that she was right. I had forgotten that the members on the team were teens as well, and I realized that God was using me after all. Today during the program, Perry approached me and asked me if I wanted to go up to work with the teens. Surprised and excited I went upstairs, and got to see firsthand, what Mrs. Hui (Helen) and Ernest and John were doing, and I realized that this was God answering my prayers.

What I realized is, God knows what's in our hearts. How could he not, he created us? But I am too impatient to wait for him to answer. And just when I was feeling frustrated, the next day he showed me that if I can just be still and wait, God will answer my prayers and use me in the best way he knew fit. It was really a God marker for me, after having such a night from before.

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

It's not about Me. Not at all.

I need some serious prayer.

Maybe this is God's way of constantly reminding me that it's not about me. That instead of teens I'm working with kids. Out of our team and the CEF team, I am the only one my age, which makes it very difficult to talk about day to day things without feeling either too old or too young for the conversation.

I was excited for this trip because God has given me a "great story" which could very much relate to the teens in Alaska, and just how God has been faithful and gracious throughout my trials, yet God has shown me through ^^ above, that it is really not about me. It is His will that I am working with the kids, and it will be on His time for me to have a chance to really share with someone the Gospel. I think today is the first day I really felt some spiritual warfare in my heart, as my attitude was becoming very bitter towards the end of the night, and I was really just torn apart by the various frustrations I felt building up over what I wanted rather than what God has in store.

Before I ask for prayer request, I have a praise. Praise God that we have other ministry teams that we can fellowship with and share how God is working throughout this week. It has been nice to hear from people that have ministered at this conference for some time now, and it has been a blessing.

Please pray:
- For my attitude, that God will continue to show me how to trust in Him, and to wait for Him to work. Also that I can continue to show love to these kids in a very genuine way and not in a way that seems obligatory because I am ministering to them through our program.
- Please pray for the continual recovery and just overall health issues our team has been encountering
- For safety as we travel to Liberty Falls in the morning and will do hiking and a picnic; and also strength and energy for the evening conference.

Thank you, and In Him,
xtinee

How Great the Father's Love for Us

Hey sorry I've been slacking on updating! Our team usually gets back by 12, and after the long day, I have been passing out when I get back -_-. That being said, this is what I'm going to do. For those of you who have been praying for me and the team, I will post this blog for you to have an updated prayer, and then hopefully later today/Friday, I will update day by day reflections/updates for you to read. Okay?

Today (Thursday) was pretty eventful, we got to see the Send North Office as well as a fish wheel, where we saw salmon get caught and filleted. For the program I think we've finally grasped the idea of being flexible yet still structured. We had planned out seperate and joint activities for both the younger kids and the teens, and in my opinion, we were able to run a little bit smoother than normal. After our program, we hung out with Rodney, and he showed us different spots where there was amazing scenery. The first spot we went to, was overlooking a river and there was a clear shot of a mountain. The sad part of it though, was that there were beer cans littered ALL over the place, and Rodney said many people come to this spot just to drink. I was so surprised that such a breathtaking view could be overlooked by a local drinking hangout spot. After that we went to another scenic look out on the way back to our cabin. On the way there Ernest took out his guitar and we started singing worship songs, even while walking from the car to the second area.

When we got there, there was basically this large cliff like area that overlooked the river, a never ending forest of trees and a huge mountain in the distance. If I could pick a word to describe it, it was majestic. And as we sang worship songs and meditated, I just felt so moved by the beautiful surroundings, I was heart broken. For me, it was just sad to think that in such a beautiful place, where God is clearly evident through his amazing creation, was so hard to see/reach because the Native people had such broken lives. Working with these kids that have so many layers of emotions built up at such a young age, and not knowing the hope that we have in God, just made me so sad. I thanked God for being so amazing, and at the same time I wept for the brokenness of the local Ahtna people.

Prayer Requests:
- That God will continue to work through our ministry and the relationships we are creating.
- That God will continue to reveal his plan and the people he wants us to minister to.
- That many of the Ahtna Natives that are still living broken lives, may find peace and hope in God.
- Most of the team members are still sick, please pray for our health, that we can muster up our strength for the last few days of our Glennallen ministry.

God Bless!