Climbing to New Heights in Alaska

A summer on Royal Servants always seems to keep everyone involved on their toes; and with this being the first team to travel to Alaska, that statement feels truer than ever. Each day, the students wake up ready to know what the day looks like, the staff prepare for what God has in store, and families and friends at home eagerly await pictures and postcards. The ministry often ranges from new to spontaneous to challenging. The travel creates a sense of excitement as many students take their first flights without a parent. The culture and sights of new locations are frequently accompanied with learning and experiencing new things. Although Alaska is not an international trip, there is no lack of adventure, ministry, travel, and community. 

Our Alaska team students have stepped up to the challenges of ministry. They have jumped in wholeheartedly, pouring out love and sweat to help local pastors and natives with copious amounts of projects. They have spent the last couple weeks doing hands-on work, surrounded by endless mosquitoes and the rain and sun. They have served faithfully and joyfully through cutting and stacking wood, clearing brush, trimming bushes, and cutting grass. The long drives across the state of Alaska have filled us with an awe-struck wonder of God’s creation. From the continuous views of towering snow capped mountains, or endless forests, ice cold rushing rivers, and enchanting wildlife, we are blessed to be surrounded by it all. 

Today we climbed to a new height. As part of the experience that can only be found in one of the 50 states, we hiked up the Worthington Glacier. We arrived on the warmest day of our trip thus far, a toasty 72 degrees. With our backpacks stuffed, ready with the usual supplies of raingear, bug spray, bottles of water and anything else we might need, we headed out on our trek. As we went out, the students buzzed with the excitement of walking along a glacier for the first time. At the top of the 2.1-mile hike, the team dwelled in the sense of accomplishment of the steep incline each of us conquered. We didn’t want the time to end as we looked down at the valley but Vacation Bible School was calling us that night. We made the hike down and headed back to town for another wonderful night of ministry. 

While our time in Glennallen may be nearing the end, our adventures in Alaska still have more to come.


Scott Anderson                                                                                                                           

Alaska ’21 Trip Leader

Image Captions:

-Eating tuna sandwiches in the truck bed before our hike.

-Team picture at the top of our hike.

-Elizabeth showing off her ability to throw a whole tree.

-Karalynn, Elizabeth, and Grace making tuna sandwiches before our hike up Worthington Glacier!

-Karalynn and Lizzy hand-washing all of their laundry together