Tutntituliak is down river from Bethel about 40 miles and it has about 400 people living there. Jason Bavilla (MEHS class of 2009) is the first ever Alaska Native on Young Life staff and he is working there in his home village! He learned about God at Unalakleet Bible Camp and then grew in his faith through involvement with Young Life at Mt. Edgecumbe. Jason was one of Brent's guys and they have been connected in since then. The past years Jason has worked in the village and coached Jr. high basketball, however, this summer God opened doors for Jason to come on to Young Life staff. He is now in the beginning phases of youth work and is working on building a team of adult volunteers. He has already met with the leaders of both churches, and the principal of the school. He has met with some teachers, and he has met with other young adults who may become volunteer leaders. Jason substitute teaches and hangs out with kids a couple times a day. He and the other leaders plan on doing things with kids that serve the community; such as getting drinking water elders and help people clean their houses. It is rare to find a young man who lives a clean life and who invests in the community in positive ways. Please remember Jason and the Tuntituliak team in your prayers.
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| Ferdie, Jason, and Andrea from Tuntituliak |
Chevak is a village of 900 and it is located far west on the Yukon- Kuskokwim Delta. The people from Chevak who came to the all-state Young Life conference were all awesome. Elders John and Teresa Pingayak are regional cultural leaders and they came with their daughter Nicole. They love Jesus, and they are hilarious. They shared their wisdom, singing, skits and perspective with the Alaska Young Life family. After the weekend John and Teresa volunteered to lead the Young Life committee (support team) in Chevak. They will support the youth work through praying (they have already talked to 40 people about the need to pray for the youth in Chevak). They will support the youth through recruiting help from other adults for youth functions. They will also help support the youth by finding ways to raise money for the youth ministry. During the all-state conference, the Pingayaks shared that the conference had inspired them to go be with the kids of Chevak. Teresa shared with me a great story of their first ride four-wheeler ride around town greeting all the kids. The kids were all surprised to see elders coming out to visit them! One of the Pingayaks daughters snapped a picture of them on their community ride and said "aren't my parents so cool." That is a great picture of what one couple is doing to demonstrate that kids are worth it.
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| Morris, Nicole, John, Teresa, Grant, Nate, and Heidi |
Morris is a worship leader in Chevak and is passionate about kids. After the weekend Morris was re-energized and he felt led to take action right away. When he returned to Chevak, he organized a weekend gathering of singing and preaching in order to help raise support for kids. The gathering will happen this weekend and will include times of prayer, worship, and preaching. People will be coming from 3 other villages to share music a words of inspiration. Morris and others are now working on the final plans, but as John said " our plans need to be vague enough to give room for the Holy Spirit to work."
The Kellars were also able to come to the all-state conference and and help share the vision of what Young Life is to people from rural Alaska. The Kellars have experience both in Young Life and in the village, and they are therefore able to help relate and translate concepts and ideas. The Kellars are instrumental in what develops for youth ministry develops in Chevak. Please pray for wisdom and for God's leading during this exciting time in Chevak
Sand Point
Sand Point is a village of 1,000 people and is on an island near the start of the Aleutian chain. Austin and his wife Cheryl have been working with the Baptist church youth group in Sand Point for the past 4 years and in July Austin contacted me with interest in Young Life. Cheryl grew up in Sand Point and they both she and Austin have a huge hearts for the kids in Sand Point. Both have felt a desire to be connected to other believers who share their same passion for God and kids. Austin, Cheryl and their family were able to join Young Life staff in August for a training weekend in Palmer. They left very encouraged and better equipped. Since then Austin has been working on recruiting people from the community who will support the kids. Austin is also interested in Young Life to help provide some training and structure for the youth ministry in Sand Point: he wants to be more effective in dealing with different types of kids. Please pray for wisdom, unity, and God's timing as they move forward.
Galena
Galena is an interior village on the Yukon River (about 1/2 way between Fairbanks and the ocean) that is home to one of Alaska's 3 statewide boarding schools. Galena Interior Learning Academy has 225 students from around the state and they have a great Young Life program. They have 14 volunteer leaders- who work in the dorms in the evening, and five volunteers who live in the community. Galena was home to a USAF base during WWII and the cold war. Galena has since then become a hub for regional aviation including missionary aviation efforts. SEND North has just chosen to place a 6-seater plane permanently in Galena. This is great news for Galena Young Life because for the past few years, they have been dreaming of doing club in the surrounding 5 villages that are only accessible by air or water. A partnership between Galena Young Life and the mission organization could make it possible for teams to put on monthly clubs in 5 rural villages. Please pray for connections and that God raise up the right people to be a part of the team. Also pray for Galena as they are looking to hire a full-time area director, another factor that must be in place in order to put on club in these other villages.
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| Galena's Pitka Airport on the banks of the Yukon in the winter. |
Kodiak:
There are eight communities on Kodiak Island: 9,000 people live in Kodiak and another 1,000 are spread out between, Ouzinki, Port Lions, Old Harbor, Ahkiok, Karluk, Chiniak, and Larsen Bay. Steve grew up and taught school in small villages and he has always had a heart for people in rural Alaska. 25 years ago Steve and his family moved to Kodiak and 10 years ago he became involved with leading the middle school Young Life group in Kodiak. Steve has organized leaders and youth functions for middle school kids in Kodiak since then.. He also has helped put on camps for kids from the surrounding villages and has made numerous trips to each community. In the past few years, many of the smaller communities have requested help from Steve to get their youth programs going. He has felt stretched to maintain what is happening in Kodiak while helping these other communities. Great news: this year people in Kodiak are volunteering to help Young Life like never before and Young Life will finally start in Kodiak High School this year. All these new volunteers have allowed Steve time to better help the rural villages initiate their own youth programs. Please pray for wisdom for Steve and for the start of Young Life in Kodiak High School.
Savoonga
Savoonga is a town of 500 people located on St. Lawrence Island, which is in the middle of the Bering Sea. The community is very isolated and very traditional- whaling is still a major part of village life. We had 4 people come from Savoonga. Three of these people are currently working with the youth, and one is completing her doctorate in counseling. The all-state conference was a great chance to see these sweet people and to hear what they are doing for the kids of their community. God is all about relationships and it was great to build a relationship with these folks and encourage them in the great work they are doing. It is easy to feel isolated and alone and these times together are extremely life giving and encouraging. At the conference they were able to brainstorm new ideas on ways to help kids and they were able to connect with others doing similar work. Right now in Savoonga they are looking for a facility where they can hold regular youth gatherings. Remember these guys in your prayers too.
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| Nick, Amy, Jen, and Tiffany... so fun. |
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