Struggles and Triumph - Alaska Team Update

For the past three days, the team has worked and served at the Wrangell Mountain Conference Center, moving brush to help avoid a fire hazard, loading trailers with unneeded logs and telephone poles, stacking firewood, leveling ground, and helping out wherever needed.  As a senior staff member, it has warmed and inspired my heart as I’ve worked alongside the students and summer staff, and watched them work so hard, and so diligently, and so well.  We are a small team, but a mighty one!

The few days since we arrived at our camping spot in Glennallen have been quite a Lord of the Rings adventure.  The journey has been hard as our group of “hobbits,” “elves,” and “dwarves,” explore the state of Alaska and all its beauty, as well as all the tough times.  The mosquitos are quite persistent here, and the nights are much colder than we imagined.  And of course, losing our trip leader because of a family emergency at home, dampened our spirits heavily.  But God was not daunted.  He provided us with hot food from our precious contacts at the community center, extra warm sleeping bags to beat the cold nights, and triumphant joy as we love each other, belt out Disney songs, and serve Jesus by serving others.  We are keeping our wonderful Swanson trip leaders in prayer as they arrive back in the lower States to be with their family during this trying time, and we welcome our new trip leader, Scott, who heroically accepted the Lord’s call and leapt into action.  As Louie, the founder of Reign Ministries has said, When stuff gets bad, look out!  Something amazing is about to happen!  We are eagerly looking forward to the Lord’s continued grace and power!  This is going to be epic!  For the Kingdom!!!