First Alaska Team Blog

Being the last team to leave training camp is always a hectic and a bit surreal experience. What took more than a week to put up, must be taken day in just 2 days – the big top, tents, cook cabanas must be cleared out, and the buildings must be cleaned and equipment stored. It is busy, but also really fun work.

Training camp this year was particularly hot, with temps in the 90s for much of training camp. Monday, our departure day was no exception. We loaded the bus just after 10 am for what we expected to be a 2.5-hour drive to the airport.  Little did we know that an accident had shut down the freeway in both directions. By the time we realized it, we were already stuck in the backup, awaiting to exit onto the detour. It took us 2.5-hours to go three miles. Thankfully, as Royal Servants, we believe in slack time. While our drive time double, we still made it to the airport in time to make our flight. Though our dreams of having time to relax at the airport and grab a coffee or some fast food, we did have just enough time to go to the bathroom and fill our water bottles before boarding our flight.

The cozy little airport in Fairbanks with its late night sun greeted us warmly upon arrival. After a short delay picking up our rental vans we were on our way to a church for our first night of sleep in Alaska.  After a goodnights sleep, we loaded up our vehicles for our 6-hour drive to Glenallen and the campsite that would be our home for the next two weeks. The drive was absolutely stunning with the snow topped mountain lining our path to our new home.

We arrived about dinner time. After getting our tents setup, we enjoyed some grilled hotdogs and baked beans. We knew that Alaska was going to be cooler than training camp, but overnight temperatures in the 40s left most of us adding layers overnight as we adjusted to our new climate. We have also quickly had to adapt to the swarms of mosquitos that seem to cover every square inch of the Alaskan wilderness.  But we are well equipped with lots of bug spray or bug dope as the locals call it.

We have begun studying together as a team Exodus, Psalms, and Mark. We are reading two chapters of Exodus, one Psalm, and one chapter of Mark each day. We are exploring the character of God in the two great stories of his rescuing of his people. Our discussions have been rich and the team has been soaking in the word and seeking to apply the lessons from each passage to how we live out God’s story both here and when we return home.

Today, we had our first full day of ministry. We served at Wrangell Mountain Conference Center, which is the home of an annual bible conference. They just finished their annual conference which welcomed 150+ people to study the word of God together. The couple that manages the camp was in need of help with the grounds so we spent the day clearing underbrush. It is fire season here in Alaska and the underbrush poses a significant risk for fire. The team did incredible work. Our little group hauled an extraordinary about and did it with the joy of the LORD. The team was also thrilled to be treated to a special lunch by the staff at the conference center. We are excited to return tomorrow to serve around the conference center and enjoy time with their incredible staff of faithful servant of God.


-Matt Swanson