And what a day it has been! This was our final day of working at the Alaska Children's Services and after our four days there this past week we have done so much it is amazing! What a transformation! Not only in the physical look of the location but I feel like there were many transformations in those of us who were here. We had crews working very hard to finish up the last projects before the Alaska Flag Day celebration. While some did last minute weed eating, unloaded tables, chairs and food from trucks, set up grills, blew up balloons and put the finishing touches on the grounds for the celebration, one crew continued to work hard on finishing the flower boxes while yet another crew was at the Maplewood facility finishing the gazebo worship space. ALL PROJECTS WERE COMPLETED! WOW! It is truly amazing what can be done with the power of cooperation, teamwork, love, determination and God's strength! We have the added help of our very own music worship team who we are putting to work with us! David Rogers who has lead worship and played at Quest as well as last year's Immerse, plus his friend Jordan has agreed to join us and help us by leading worship with their music.
Today was a very special day for the ACS as the Alaska Flag design has a direct connection to their history.
In 1927 there was a contest held in the Alaska Territory for help in designing the flag. It was open to elementary aged children. There were many entries but the one that won the contest was he winner of the contest was a seventh grade Aleut student, thirteen year old John Bell (Benny) Benson from Chignik. He was living in an orphanage in Seward, the Jesse Lee Mission Home, at the time of the contest. (Now the ACS).
He designed the present Alaska State Flag with a blue background to represent the sky and the Forget-me-not flower. On that background were placed eight gold stars to represent the Big Dipper and the North Star. The Big Dipper forms part of the constellation Ursa Major or Great Bear; symbolizing strength. The North Star represents the future state of Alaska, the most northerly in the Union. Benny's simple, elegant design was adopted by the Alaska Territorial Legislature in May, 1927.
Every year the ACS has a big celebration in honor of Benny and his flag. This year it was extra special because there was a very special announcement! They now have a new name and a new logo which they announced today at the picnic! Their new name is Alaska Child and Family! Our mission team was responsible for helping to set up and volunteer during the celebration and then clean up after. The kids had such a fun time working, and getting things ready. There was definitely a buzz in the air as we rushed around getting things ready. All the kids were excited for the celebration and I don't think I had to bug any youth to really get in and help! AMAZING! Amongst all the hustle and bustle of the party prep Kelli had set aside some time for us to do a prayer walk around the grounds to bless the work we had done, see how things had changed since we had first arrived and be conscious and prayerful about what impact our presence there had made. We said a blessing and set out on our prayer walk. It was moving and a little emotional to think about all the people who have walked those same steps over the many years, to feel their presence and approval for our changes and hard work, to imagine who had walked in my exact steps before me. What were they feeling then? What were they doing then? Where are they now and what would they think if they could see it now? As all of our large group walked silently and prayerfully on the newly cleared trail through the woods these were thoughts I was meditating on. I had no idea that later today I would get an answer to some of these questions in an unexpected encounter with a former resident to the home. As I was taking photos during the picnic, Chris came and told me there was a man that I needed to take a photo of. An older gentleman had lived here when he was young and helped with carving the totem pole in the front yard! Richard looks like he is about 65 years old but I don't think he is as old and his experience and obviously rough life shows he is. He was more than happy to let me take his photo with the totem pole..... As we walked up the hill, he told me a little of his story. At 6 his parents dropped him here at the home because he says "I guess they didn't want me any more," he was a resident until he was 12. He reminisced about the buildings, where he stayed at different ages, about where the girls lived before they were moved and talked about what a troubled young boy he was. Angry, hurt, lonely and left feeling unloved and unworthy. All of these led to bad behavior, pushing away foster parents who wanted him, running away numerous times and ultimately him being told he could leave. He has not been back since he left when he was 12 years old. He has had a rough life of alcohol and drug abuse, homelessness and troubles. He is now living in a group home for people with these issues. As he talked he described how he helped to carve the totem pole, touching the exact area he carved.
He told me about walking through the woods to a sledding hill where they went in wintertime, about remembering the ice skating rink (the one we just took down), and just about simple details of everyday life. God is truly good. It is amazing to me where he puts us to receive blessings and see him in the people that we meet and in the experiences we have. Truly amazing.
The youth had a fun time helping cook food, serve drinks, play with little children, walk and love on Kelli's dog and to just be and enjoy an old fashioned summer picnic!
At the end of the party we were to help clean up and tear down the equipment and out things away. It was so impressive how everyone worked together and literally "Swept" through and cleaned everything up in no time!
After leaving the main AKChild facility we headed to the Maplewood site to see the finished gazebo! Kelli was there to give a blessing, pray and say good-bye to us all.
It was a hard but heartwarming moment that even included a large group hug! It is truly amazing how quickly you can get close to a person when sharing work, worship and a good hot sweat lodge! I know I am not the only one who feels like it is way more than five days since we met Kelli the first time we stepped through the heavy double doors at the Alaska Children Services.
I will never forget my experience here and I hope it will never forget me as well. My footsteps I have left in the forest, the soil I have moved with my hands, the flowers I have watered with my tears and in this place, I have left part of my heart and soul.
We ended our day with a time of devotions, reflection and worship.
No comments:
Post a Comment