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| Saturday, June 23, 2007 |
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Saturday update
By stjohnsadmin @ 5:09 PM :: 329 Views ::
0 Comments ::  :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Due to computer problems we have been unable to blog for several days.
The final numbers are a pure gift from God. We served 99 kids in Homer
by weeks end. We also had 50 leaders and helpers during the week.
Keep in mind most of the children served are unchurched and many knew
nothing about Jesus. The membership at Faith Lutheran is only 100 so
you can see the numbers are amazing.
Seldovia had 10 kids during the week in a church of less than 25. The
church there has had some problems during the past year so this number
is very encouraging.
The Homer team also spent sometime at the Women's Shelter cleaning
toys and doing yard work. Others of the team cleaned up after VBS and
then taped and painted the Pastor's office, the secretary's office, the
very large youth/meeting room and Gretchen's office.
Friday afternoon the Titus Family and Pastor and Sue Neels returned, by
boat, from Seldovia. While there they too did a VBS and painted the
outside of the church. We tried to do this last year, but, it rained
everyday. We have had a beautiful sunny week in both locations.
Friday evening was set aside for some R & R. Gretchen had a youth
night at the church from 6 to 10 p.m.. The rest of the team were
invited to have dinner at the home of dear friends from last year,
Jerry and Rita. We feasted on fresh salmon and ribs and then
strawberry shortcake.
Saturday a.m. several team members went halibut fishing while others
went on a boat tour of the Bay. The afternoon will be spent putting
the painted rooms back together.
We will worship with our Faith Lutheran family at 9:30 on Sunday and
then pack the cars to return to Anchorage, stopping at several glaciers
along the way. We will leave Alaska about midnight and should arrive
back at St. John's early on Monday afternoon.
Thank you all for all of your support. Your prayers have been keeping
us strong in spite of very long days and much hard work.
Gretchen Krause
Director of Student Ministries
Faith Lutheran Church
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| Friday, June 22, 2007 |
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Thu. - Fri. report
By stjohnsadmin @ 3:27 PM :: 323 Views ::
1 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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All is well, having some line problems which prevent blog update and new pictures.
Final enrollment 99 at Homer and 14 at Seldovia.
PRAISE GOD!!
More pictures when line problems are cleared up.
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| Wednesday, June 20, 2007 |
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Wednesday's report
By stjohnsadmin @ 7:14 PM :: 325 Views ::
4 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Today's count is 97 children!
PRAISE GOD!!!
Everyone is working hard and sleeping well in spite of the light . Painting on the schedule for Friday. Health is great for everyone except for Gretchen (DCE). More later.
check for new pictures
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| Tuesday, June 19, 2007 |
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Tuesday in Homer
By stjohnsadmin @ 9:50 PM :: 293 Views ::
0 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Beautiful day in Homer, sunny and 60 degrees.
Painting Pastor's office today and will paint the youth room
and Gretchens's office on Friday.
Women's shelter tomorrow, painting and planting.
More to come tomorrow.
SeeTuesday's pictures on picture page.
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| Monday, June 18, 2007 |
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Homer report, Monday
By stjohnsadmin @ 5:56 PM :: 358 Views ::
1 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Arrived in Alaska several hours late and it took a
fair amount of time to get our cars. Long story short
we arrived in Homer at 2 a.m.. Went to church on
Sunday at 9:30 then we were blessed by a wonderful
Alaska Fish Fry [ Salmon and Halibut ].
VBS started today with 93 kids.
We expeted 70 ! God is good.
Keep both teams in your prayers.
More pictures coming today.
Team Homer
To view pictures, click onto Pictures 07, under Alaska Mission blog on left panel.
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| Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
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Alaska Mission Trip 2007
By stjohnsadmin @ 4:21 PM :: 336 Views ::
0 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Alaska mission team leaves Sat. June 16, 2007.
Their 3 goals are:
***VBS for 60-75 kids
***Year long help for Abused Women’s Shelter
***Encourage and build up leaders in the local church.
Contributions are still being accepted either through the church office or in your offering envelope.
Please pray for our team of Dick & Mary Hron,
Dave & Joe St. Peter, Don, Natalie and Alana Titus, Lori Beck,
Caleb Markworth and Brittany Ulik and their families.
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| Thursday, June 15, 2006 |
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Jesus is our Savior. VIVA!
By stjohnsadmin @ 6:48 PM :: 740 Views ::
3 Comments ::  :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Homer VBS and Seldovia VBS ended within the past 2 hours. We at Homer rushed to the airport to welcome home our brothers and sisters. The little prop couldn't have landed quick enough for us. Lots of tears, laughing, pictures, and God-stories followed!
Now that we're all back together in Homer we'll be able to reflect upon the past 5 days and relax alittle. 4 of the young teens (Katelyn, Molly, Alana, and Cassie) and I are going out on a Faith member's boat. Thankfully Captain Rick will be at the wheel. It should be a nice adventure into the bay.
Tonight the St. John's young people are joining many young folks from Faith Lutheran for pizza and fun. A number of the kids are considering full time church work from both groups. The evening will be a great opportunity for the Spirit to teach and bind together Christian kids who live in very different worlds but have a common home and Leader to guide them.
The adults are looking forward to our first out to eat meal. AHH...
I hope you will check out the pictures and see how the kids went crazy with joy on the new playground equipment. You might also see Geri leading her children out of the cave. She and Dan taught the children how some believers worship in hideaways.
Though they might be afraid of people who harm Christians Jesus is our Savior (VIVA) and nothing can take us away from Jesus' strong love.
Ohh the goodbys to the children were hard. We heard that over 1/2 the Seldovian children were from foster homes. Supposedly only 2 families had a church home. The Gospel reached 25 kids (a new record for Seldovia's VBS). Praise God. By the way, our team fell in love with Rose, the Seldovian church point person. Each of our guys in Seldovia said Rose went all around town gathering children, inviting, and promising to return them. God blessed our folks through Rose. As a dad of one of those team members, Molly, my heart, throat, and arms couldn't hold her tight enough when she ran
into my arms with joyful tears.
Ministry is great.
The head of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod World Missions, Dr. Bob Roegner, came today with the Rev. Ken and Sandi (heads of Alaska Mission For Christ), David (Bob's vicar), and two LWML ladies from Kansas. What a joy it was to hear their support.
Well... I'm off to the boat with the gals...
The peace of the Lord be with you all....
Alaska Missionaries
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| Thursday, June 15, 2006 |
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Wednesday Report for Alaskan Missonaries
By stjohnsadmin @ 8:18 AM :: 674 Views ::
1 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Jesus is our Leader. VIVA!
It's good to say those words. "Jesus is our Leader" during the good times and frustrating. Two wonderfularticles written today, one by our young folks werelost in cyber space. Yet, Jesus is our Leader. VIVA!
You will have to settle for my rambling once again.
What a tremendous day the Lord gave both teams inHomer and Seldovia. For starters, even more childrencame to VBS. Between the two places about 100 haveheard of Jesus our Leader. VIVA. That doesn't include the many moms who are hanging around because of thegreat music and encouraging gospel.
Word came from Seldovia that children are getting veryattached to the missionaries and don't want the Fiestato end. Yet, tomorrow, Thursday, the Fiesta does cometo a close until we are gathered at the more superiorFiesta around our Leader's throne.
Our Leader has taken us into marvelous ministryopportunities. Much has already happened. Today thefellas finished the playset in the rain, while the gals finished painting at the Women's shelter. Dougand I bought a weed wacker for the shelter which was
received with moist eyes and thankful hearts.
You might remember we shared the shelter has notallowed church groups to help them until recently.
Tonight the Shelter Director met with Mary Hron and asked if we would continue partnering with them fromWI. Who knows where the Lord shall lead this?
Speaking of Mary Hron, she created a delicous Moose stew for dinner tonight. We were also treated to crab... what an Alaskan adventure.
The rain fell frequently today. However, the evening provided partly sunny skies and views that took your breath away. Many of us took a ride up to the ridge.We couldn't help but stop often and take pictures which you'll enjoy later.
Speaking of pictures, did you check out the shot of Geri kissing a fish. She's quite a gal and the kids learned much about Jesus' leadership as Geri played the part of the Zebedee brothers' mother. Children had an opportunity to interview for the two fishingpositions vacated by her boys who became fishers of people as they followed Jesus' lead.
Ahh yes, Jesus is our Leader. It not only sounds good. It's true. The One who led us to Alaska is the One who led the children and adults to us. He who leads us through the valleys and up to the peaks of life is the One who wants to lead us to His Father's House. So badly Jesus desires this, He went through death and hell ahead of us.
Lead on Dear Jesus...
I close this day reminded of how it began. Tom shared his daughter, Kate's prayer and Bible verse (Philippians 4:4-9). Kate prayed for us, asking the Lord to give us energy, enthusiasm, and empathy. Tom was proud of his girl and we were grateful.
May your day tomorrow be filled with energy, enthusiasm, and empathy as your Leader is near.
Rejoice.
The Missionary Team
PS The Seldovia Team is reunited with us tomorrow.
Stop along the way of your day and celebrate with us.
Check out the Pictures and send us your greetings.
Thanks to those who have already posted words of
encouragement.
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| Tuesday, June 13, 2006 |
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Jesus is our Life. VIVA!
By stjohnsadmin @ 3:37 PM :: 727 Views ::
10 Comments ::  :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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Jesus is our Life. VIVA!
That's our theme today in both Homer and Seldovia. The Lord has blessed us with 18 more children in Homer. We
haven't heard word from Seldovia. However, they called for more supplies yesterday because they already had
16 and heard up to 10 more would be joining them today. WOW! That means over 80 children are hearing of
the good news in Jesus.
Today we heard from Lazarus who told us about the joy of being raised from death by Jesus. We all chuckled
when a little one blurted, "I brought my hamster back to life." The Lord is definitely opening their ears to
the message.
Parents continue to approach me and ask if I'm the pastor of Faith. This means they are guests. We
continue to pray for the Spirit's work of conversion.
Please join us. Jesus is life... their life too!
(VIVA)
The sun began poking through today for which we are grateful. Our afternoon will include continuing to put
together the playground set for the Faith Preschool. A team will also be heading to the Homer Women's Shelter
to work on a garden. Please hold Peg, its Director, and the women of the shelter up before the Lord. Peg
has been receptive to our work. However, it seems we may be the first church group to work at the shelter
in years.
Craft Day was extra special today as the kids created blankets for children in Central or South America.
Each blanket has the words: "Jesus loves me" in English and Spanish. What fun. By the way, Tom is
becoming quite crafty due to the good training of Mary Hron, his lead.
Well, I'll close for now. We bless you in Jesus your life: "VIVA".
The Alaska Mission Team
PS More pictures will be up on the web page later today.
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| Monday, June 12, 2006 |
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Monday afternoon 6/12
By stjohnsadmin @ 9:51 PM :: 605 Views ::
0 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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I am in Homer watching our fellas put up the playground equipment. The gals are preparing for
tomorrow's second day of VBS.
Today went super. We had a much larger turnout in Seldovia than we expected. Praise God. Between the two
places we had over 60 kids. We believe there may be up to 75 tomorrow.
Pastor Jeff
Sunday Night
Hi Everybody!
The Lord is with you. He's with us too!
VBS is beginning in both Homer and Seldovia as I compose. The theme for today: "Jesus is our Friend".
The Bible story is from Mark chapter 3, the healing of the man lowered through the roof. Yesterday both teams helped to prepare "sets" here for VBS in Homer. The Seldovia crew is going to be using lots of imagination.
Speaking of the Seldovia team, they flew over the bay on two prop planes, landing in a village of about 300 folks. What an experience they will be having. The setting may be remote but their "host home" is beautiful, sitting on a cliff overlooking the bay... again eagles everywhere.
The Seldovia church is an "A Frame", about the size of a small cottage. The team includes: Dick Hron, Mel Raddemann, Alana Titus, Wally Schmidt, and Molly Dorth. They will do a great job.
I hear the music in the background back here in Homer.
Thankfully the kids are showing up ... I hear the sounds of laughing, talking, and all of it reminds me that we have much to be happy about: Jesus is our friend. VIVA
The VIVA response will be yelled, along with a V sign made by extending arms in the air. Try it! Jesus is our Friend. VIVA.
Well, on the creation front... wow! The plane ride afforded views to thrill the soul. The prop plane inspired a few screams from Molly. Alana, our rookie flier, has decided she likes prop planes better than jets. I believe she wants to fly from Alaska to Milwaukee on a prop.
I saw a bear yesterday... we had moose, including little ones, near our cabins. This is an amazing place. The rain came hard last night. It has subsided for now.
Well... I'll send more later. The team is reinvigorated after a long work day yesterday. By the way, worship was terrific. The theme: "Our God is an Awesome God" built upon the devotion our team had earlier based upon Psalm 8.
The afternoon includes getting the playground set off the trailer. We'll be building tomorrow afternoon...
Keep praying.
Love to all in the name of our Friennd, Jesus! VIVA
The Team
--- Jeff Dorth
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| Sunday, June 11, 2006 |
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Sunday 6-11
By stjohnsadmin @ 8:34 AM :: 499 Views ::
0 Comments :: :: Alaskan Mission Trip
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We made it safely last night, stayed at Motel 6, and have had quite an eventful day today.
The drive from Anchorage to Anchor Point was terrific. We saw the Lord's creation in many ways including: mountains, glaciers, mountain goats, moose, bald eagles, and the ocean... wow is it ever beautiful here.
We miss you! We love you! You were in our prayers tonight. Alana especially held you up with beautiful words.
Thank you for the apples. Everyone has been talking about your presence with us in spirit. You
would be amazed at how you both have touched the young adults. Like Dan just said, you are very much a part of this trip. Obviously, we hope Bill is improving and prayed for his complete recovery.
Geri said you should know about the lack of night here. It's nine p.m. and still very much day... last night darkness came about 2:30 for 5 minutes.
The host family, Rita and Jerry, are super. They have shown us much love... served us a delicious meal, and to top it off their home is right on the water-- eagles galore. Wow! You should have seen Wally and the others running around... we thought they might fall off the cliff.
Tomorrow we worship in Homer and train with their team. The Seldovia team flies out tomorrow night. Doug and Mel have been so grateful for the chance to be here... while we miss you greatly, they are going to be a big help.
Thanks again for your prayers.
By the way, Tom may end up doing crafts. His first words, "I don't do crafts well."
We thought of you Bill.
We love you much and will write more later.
Love in Jesus,
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