I am kind of sad to be ending these blogs. Although, I must admit I am also a bit relieved that I am finished with my nightly ritual of uploading photos, writing about the day and sitting up late to post a new blog. It has been a nice habit to get in to with reflecting on the day every day. Being intentional about remembering details of each day, taking in all in so I can write about it later is really a calming and positive ritual to get in to. It has made me get in to the habit to stop and think more about what I do every day, what happens around me, what people say, do, express, etc. It would be nice if we as humans spent more time being intentional about our relationships and our interactions with the world in general.
Friday was a day for all to sleep in after being up late the night before with worship, a bit of last night rowdiness with the anticipation of our group splitting up and going their separate ways. Some slept right through breakfast and wondered why there wasn't any left at 11:30 when they finally came to hang out among the living. The morning agenda included getting all bags packed up and in the gym before we could do anything else for the day. Not sure exactly who was the one to sneak in and make such a huge mess out of my stuff in my little corner of the gym! It certainly couldn't have been ME! (.....OK....it was me....). After getting all things together, we packed lunches and headed downtown for some last shopping and exploring opportunities ore to just enjoy the beautiful day in Alaska! The weather was just gorgeous for our last day. Chris got in his last couple of hours for fishing in Alaska, the kids got in their last couple of hours of shopping and Steve and Suzanne were able to catch the downtown Anchorage walking tour. I met a really cool Red Husky named Tobias in the park with his owners and got in a good puppy fix. Tobias was a little leery of me at first but after I bought him a hot dog from the corner stand and fed it to while he sang for his supper he told me he would be by best friend forever! I totally believe him too!
After our afternoon downtown we headed back to load up the U-Haul truck with our bags and to have one last dinner with people from Shiloh and the Prairie Baptist group and to say our good-byes. It is always amazing to me how quickly bonds are made with people from different places when you are working, playing and staying together in a Christian community like a mission trip. At the beginning of our stay in Anchorage when we all met for the first time it seemed a little awkward and our two groups were a little separated still. That is normal, but even after the first day, friendships start forming, we find we have things in common even though we live a thousand miles apart or more. As each day goes by those friendships deepen, we experience deep moments of worship while singing, learn to trust and rely on one another as we briefly get lost in the fog together, while praying in the 130 degree temperatures of a sweat lodge ceremony together, we feel a sense of accomplishment and purpose together as we finish a work project or make progress towards a goal, we find God moments in each other as our journey in missions continue and all along knowing that at some point this particular experience will end and we will have to part ways for home. It can be and is a very emotional moment for some as we hug each other before parting and exchange information promising to text, Facebook or email. (In my days at camp when I was younger is was "write a letter" or call on the phone if our parents would allow a long distance phone call every once in a while!). We make plans to see each other again, to work along side each other some other time and place and we wish each other well. As a leader of some amazing, wonderfully talented, funny, smart, sometimes maddening but always lovable youth it makes me feel good when I witness the bonds and friendships the kids make on these trips. It makes the lack of sleep, the long days, the hard work and planning, the hard moments and frustrations all worth it to see and hear how meaningful those bonds are for them and it makes me smile. (Occasionally there is a tear).
I would like to thank our Calvary Youth for being such amazing young people who make an positive impact no matter where there go, what they are working on or how many travel for youth trips. You never cease to amazing me with your level of hard work, your dedication and support to each other and our willingness to make a difference in the world.
I want to thank Calvary Baptist Church of Denver for always showing so much support in our young people and the leaders who love leading them. Thank you to the parents of our youth. Without your support of our work and your kids, we would not be able to experience these trips!
To Vicki Goff, the National Coordinator of Volunteer and Disaster Response Ministries with the American Baptist Home Mission Societies, I say THANK YOU and GOD BLESS YOU for the totally amazing job you did in creating a trip of a lifetime for our youth and adults on such a meaningful experience! Your talents are endless! Plus now you can say you made it to the top of Flat Top!
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Anchorage, Alaska deserves a servants medal for taking on 60 youth and adults to house in your church and buildings! Thank you for all of your care, love, support and hospitality while we were there.
To Prairie Baptist Church and Pastor Kyle, I say thank you so much for meeting and combining with us to create a special and amazing missions experience! It would not have been the same with out your group matched with ours.
To the Alaska Child and Family-- thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your willingness to take on a missions team larger than any you had previously! I hope we knocked your socks off with all the work that was done while we were there. We were truly blessed in our work and experience there and hope it was a blessing to you as well.
Below are a few last photos and then I will say "So long for now" to this Alaska Missions Blog. Maybe some day I can add a second chapter to this one!
God bless each of you and your families!
Denise
