The days tend to run together. It may have something to do with the sun never setting and the work days being long. We rise at 7:00 sharp. Devo and quiet time at 7:30' breakfast at 8:00. Work starts at 8:30. Dinner by 5:30. In room by 10:30, lights out by 11:00 ... though last few nights we weren't back to campus until after 10:30 from hiking or beach! So sleep has been more like a nap than sleep, and with the nonstop daylight, it's all surreal anyway.
On the campus of the Alaskan Christian College there is a man named Glen Mehrkens. He is the foreman working with the teams that come in. He is from Minnesota. Turned 76 on June 1st. A gentle giant; he is a retired high school Math Teacher. When he retired in 1999, he decided if he had 10 years left to give, he wanted to give back. Recently he decided it was time to be done. They convinced him to come back one more time. Then he heard it was 24 High School kids from California no less. He had his reservations. He had heard High Schoolers had lost all respect so he wasn't necessarily looking forward to our week together. This morning as we left he thanked us on behalf of the college. He said we exceeded all expectations. And on a personal note, the kids reversed everything he had been told - they were respectful, worked hard, did huge jobs, went beyond their comfort zones, never stopped or complained and finished early and did more that he or the college ever anticipated and they had hosted a lot of groups! He personally was amazed and blessed to work with such a team as he once more "retired." For you .parents - these are your kids!!
Catherine is one of the gals who came from the whaling villages, works for the college and hosted us - she said in all the teams they've hosted, they have never had a more enthusiastic, willing to work or fun-loving team.
Wednesday as the jobs continued, we ...worked
Painted/Stained Decks
Built a Fence
Shampooed carpets throughout the college
Rotatilled ground
Mopped & cleaned
We went back to Amundsen Educational Center, painted top to bottom, two floors! New curtains, blankets, towels, pillows, showers curtain, fixtures, mirrors, etc. Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning.....we'd, whack, we'd, wack, weed, wack, weed, wack. Then we're done. We looked around and it was goo....hmmmm....no it needed a coffee table. So what does our team do. Find a wood pile, saw some wood slats, stain them.....so into the forest cut down a tree, yes cut down a tree for legs of course and make a table! Unbelievable!! It was amazing. Yes folks! We went in the forest, cut down a tree and made a coffee table! Now it was good, and great. The director was floored.
Tuesday night we hiked to the Russian River waterfall, and got the rare experience of seeing a momma bear and her cub in the wild!!
Wednesday night the team went to the beach for polar bear swimming, Bon fire and s'mores.
Thursday morning bright and early our manual labor ended and it's back to Anchorage to begin to more relational side of our trip.
Pray for health: sore muscles, mosquito bites, cold/flu traveling throughout the group .
Pray for emotional strength as tensions run high and spirits run low, everyone is tired.
Pray for spiritual warfare as relational work begins.
Pray for the kids we interact with in the days ahead.
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