Summer Camp updage 2015

This summer we have had students from Mt. Edgecumbe participating in a variety of summer camps: Unalakleet Bible Camp in rural Alaska, the Student Leadership Project in Michigan, Washington Family Ranch in Oregon. All these events had great impact on the kids.

This June 20 people from MEHS arrived at Unalakleet Bible Camp, 10 miles inland from the Bering Sea. Sixteen students, two leaders from Sitka, and two MEHS Alumni camp counselors met to enjoy a week of making new friends and experiencing God’s presence. Our days were filled with playing games, eating good food, canoeing, taking saunas, hiking, running the 3 mile Muskox race, doing chores after each meal, laughing with our cabin mates, and multiple times daily attending chapel. In chapel we sang songs together, and listened as staff and students shared about their lives and what God has done.  God’s presence filled the hearts of the students there and many in our group were changed.  They were excited to grow in their relationship with Christ and talked about how their lives returning home could be different.  Young Life financially helped a group of 9 students St. Lawrence Island attend camp this year and they too were changed by God’s presence and work in their lives at camp.  Two days after returning to Savoonga the group took Bibles and snacks up to a hillside out of town and sang songs from camp and had a Bible study with one of the town elders.  It is great to see how God can use camps to encourage an entire community!

Our group of 20 folks from MEHS on top of a hill outside of camp

At the end of June we were fortunate to have the opportunity to send two students to Michigan to participate in an amazing opportunity entitled Young Life’s Student Leadership Project or SLP. The program’s motto is “developing spiritual leadership in a multicultural world,” and so the Isaiah and Danielle attended sessions on leadership and theology.  Isaiah is from Savoonga and Danielle is from Kipnuk.  Isaiah shared “I learned so much about God and I learned how I am a leader back home.  It was amazing to meet people from all over and get so close in such a short time. This was the best week of my life.” Both students attending were juniors and we look forward to them coming back to MEHS in the fall and getting more involved in the spiritual lives of their classmates.

In mid July a group of 27 Sitka high and MEHS students left Alaska for Washington Family Ranch, a Young Life camp in Oregon.  This was the first time that many of the students had ever left the state and boy did they have fun!  Many of them for the first time were able to experience things like go carts, a high ropes course, and zip lines!  They also meet one on one with their counselor, and in small group to discuss the daily camp message.   Again, the students responded and hearts were changed.  Kids grew in their faith and many in the group opened their hearts to Jesus.

Our group at the Oregon Young Life camp

One of the things I was most excited for this summer was for two of our MEHS Young Life Alumni to return and serve at Unalakleet Bible Camp.  Both Jason and Dolena dedicated their lives to God at Bible camp and this summer returned to counsel kids.  Jason brought some kids from Tuntituliak and stayed for a week, while Dolena came from Alaska Christian College and stayed for the month. “It was totally awesome,” Jason said “I mean most all the guys in my cabin either committed their life or recommitted their life to God and to be a part of that is so awesome- it is hard to put into words.”  Dolena from Kipnuk said “camp was awesome, life changing, and the best month of my life.  It felt like I was running a marathon. I was drained and I had to rely on God to continually renew my strength and energy.  (Psalm 18:1-3) There were kids who grew up in broken homes, who were abused: physically, sexually, and verbally.  It helped me to realize Alaska has a real need for ministry.” Dolena was “constantly reminded that God not only creates the path for our life, but he is also walking it with us.”  Experiencing God at camp effects both campers and staff. Dolena was “overwhelmed by the grace of God” and now plans to go into teaching and help run ministries in villages.  Jason also wants to always be a part of youth ministering to the youth wherever he lives.  This is huge and so stinking exciting!

Thanks for all of your prayer and support in helping make this ministry possible!

Summer Update

Young Life this past semester at Mt. Edgeumbe High School was great.  We gained three new leaders on our team which meant we had more leaders investing in the lives of kids.  As kids received more support, their hope and faith grew.  Also, the number of kids getting involved with Young Life increased. The last week of school we had a record number of 45 kids come to morning Bible study. This semester a lot of great things happened including a guys’ camping trip, a girls’ movie night, and many hours of adults investing in the lives of kids.  Both leaders and students were energized and encouraged.

Some of our guys on a winter hike

This summer we are keeping the ball rolling by sending 16 kids from MEHS to summer camps.  Ten kids will go with me and a leader named Chad next week to Unalakleet Bible Camp.  Unalakleet Bible Camp is one of many regional Bible camps who exist to encourage kids and develop leadership among the native people. Later in July we will be sending six kids from rural Alaska to Young Life camp in Oregon.  Many kids have never left the state and Young Life camp should blow their socks off.  (If you are not familiar with Young Life camp check out this quick video https://vimeo.com/1445284     We will also be having a couple of MEHS students taking part in Young Life’s Student Leadership project in Michigan http://www.younglife.org/GetInvolved/Pages/TheStudentLeadershipProject.aspx.  We have high expectations for the summer and look forward to seeing how God uses these experiences to  reveal himself to each kid.

Young Life in Rural Alaska:

Sand Point:

Austin with some of his kids on a short run outside of Sand Point

Last month I had the chance to visit Sand Point (at the start of the Aleutians) and meet with adults and kids interested in starting Young Life.  We had 5 great meetings with adults and leaders in which people shared their dreams and desires for their community.  Young Life is not a program but a group of people working together to share the good news, and Sand Point has a good team of concerned people who are committed to encouraging the youth.

Tuntituliak:

Jason has been doing some wonderful things in Tunt and their Bible study dinners have grown to 10 kids. Kids are engaging and asking good questions.  While on a hunting trip, Jason had a chance to help one of his kids start a relationship with Christ.  Jason will be bringing four students to Bible camp this summer

Savoonga:

This semester I have been in contact with four different adults in Savoonga who have a big heart for the youth in their village.  All four are reaching out to the youth.  This summer 7 students will be joining me and Chad at Bible camp and I will be continuing to talk with their youth leaders in town.

Prayer requests:

1. For our kids and leaders going to camp- that God would move in their lives and hearts in a mighty way
2. Young Life in new communities across Alaska:- several people in different communities have expressed interest in starting Young Life in their communities (Dillingham, Emmonak, Chevak, Bethel, Savoonga, and several villages on Kodiak Island)
3. Sand Point- That God would encourage leaders and kids to carve time and energy out to start something new in Sand Point.  Pray for unity, compassion, and good communication for the adult volunteers.
4. Wisdom for me as I condense Young Life leadership curriculum to fit the needs of volunteer areas in rural Alaska.

Thank you for your prayers, support, and partnering with the Young Life Alaska team as we seek to raise up, encourage, and empower God’s people in rural Alaska.

The pictures are from our guys and girls breakfast Bible study groups and of  Austin with some of the kids he works with in Sand Point.

3 Attachments

the close of 2014

This has been an exciting year and during this Thanksgiving season I want to say thank you all for your support and prayers.  It has been awesome to see many great things happening in and around the state and I am confident that many of these happened because people like you, praying.

Exciting news in Tuntituliak- Jason Bavilla has been coordinating community members in helping to get Young Life off the ground.  Two weeks ago Jason coordinated the first ever Young Life campaigners bible study groups.  There is both a guys group and a girls group who meet in a teacher's house and share a meal and then read a story from the Bible.  Jason has also been in conversations with the priest of the Russian Orthodox Church and the pastor from the Moravian Church to coordinate efforts for youth involvement.  He has meet with the school board and city council to propose using city facilities for youth events.  So far he has had great support from the people he has talked with and on December 5th & 6th, Tuntituliak Young Life will host its first basketball tournament fundraiser!  It is incredible to see God moving and see that kids from "Tunt" will be hearing that God has hope and purpose for their lives.

The first ever campaigners gathering in Tunt!

News from Sitka: We took our first ever local MEHS weekend camping trip!  Two weekends ago 12 students and 2 adults went 5 miles from Sitka to stay at a large forest service cabin called Samsing.  The weekend was.... magical.  First off- the weather was phenomenal with wall to wall blue skies and no wind.  We arrived in the dark to a warm cabin and bioluminesence in the water (an small organism that responds to motion by emitting light so it looks like there are green sparks in the water when you disturb the water). We watched northern lights both nights, and heard humpback whales singing.  We had great camp fires, a homemade sauna, delicious meals, card games, stories, sung songs, and played guitars.  We had 4 opportunities to open the Bible and read and at the end of the weekend, 8 guys made commitments to walk closer to God.  I was able to hear from several students about the things they face at home and how they see God bringing them hope and giving them strength to stay away from negative influences.  Today we had  most of those guys come for morning campaigners breakfast and our numbers continue to grow.

The guys before we played ultimate Frisbee on the beach

Other great news:

• Chevak is having weekly prayer meeting praying for the youth of the community.  People are volunteering for leadership roles and we hope to have a training time at Chevak in the early part of the year.

• Leaders in Sitka: during our fundraising banquet, several people expressed interest in becoming leaders and are now in the leader training process.  This, combined with the crew that is helping with campaigner breakfasts, means that we have a greater capacity to grow.

• Campaigner groups have both set records for attendance during this last week.  I saw several of the kids who have recently started coming and they were so excited about it and said they don't want to miss future breakfasts. p.s.- the guys group went camping, and the girls group is planning a Friday cookie decorating hang out time next week.

• 

  The girls campaigner group last Friday

Prayer requests:

• Keep Jason in your prayers as he focuses and coordinates efforts to encourage students and young people in their faith.

• Please pray for the young men who went camping. Many of these guys have renewed or started a relationship with God. 

• Pray for wisdom and guidance as leaders enter into the lives of kids.

• Pray also for Sitka Young Life's financial situation as my primary funding grant has diminished and will be going away in the next year.

Thank you for all of your support and prayers.  I am thankful to partner with you.

Village Updates

Tuntituliak:
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.

Ferdie, Jason, and Andrea from Tuntituliak

Chevak
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.

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. 

Galena's Pitka Airport on the banks of the Yukon in the winter.

Tragic deaths happen all too frequently in rural Alaska, but in the past week students at GILA have experienced a lot. Tuesday a local Galena student's dad passed away due to subsistence abuse.  In Shagaluk, a former GILA student's parents were murdered by a family member who was under the influence.  Also, this Wednesday in Marshall, a four-wheeler accident involving alcohol resulted in death. Please remember these villages and the Students in GILA in your prayer.

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.

Nick, Amy, Jen, and Tiffany... so fun.

There have been so many great things to report.  Thanks for your time and support.

He restores my soul

"The Lord is my shepard, I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me besied the still waters.  He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."  Psalm 23:1-3

These words have be especially meaningful during the busy times of fall.  So many things crowd in and make time go fast (school begins, programs start, summer projects need finishing, subsistence hunting and fishing for winter).  Even among the busy times, God wants rest refresh us and restore our souls- what follows are a few snap shots of what God has been doing around the state.


The All- State Young Life conference was held at the end of September in Wasilla outside of Anchorage.  It was historic as well as AWESOME!  We had 17 rural native people attend and another 12 who work directly in villages.  We had native elders attend, as well as young people.  We had a team 7 people come from Chevak, 4 people come from Savoonga, 3 people come from Tuntituliak.  All three of these communities have indigenous leadership teams. We also had 11 come from from Galena Interior Learning Academy (a state boarding school much like Mt. Edgecumbe), 2 from Bethel, and another from Kipnuk and Buckland.  Our goal during the conference was to describe Young Life and have the communities figure out how these principles could be applied to fit their community. We had great resource people at the conference and each community was able to go home with some strategies that some folks have already applied.  The conference speakers were great and the messages fit perfectly with what is at the core of Young Life: Jesus and the value he places on people.  Elders from Chevak (on the right in the 2nd picture) opened the conference  prayer and many native folks shared their perspective with the large group.  For the first time- it felt like Young Life Alaska represented the people in all of Alaska.

We had most people for the photo here... but our elders are in the next picture... can you find them?

Having the native people from rural Alaska attend the state retreat has been an answer to prayer.  For the past two years our regional director has been really moved that Young Life Alaska is to encourage the whole state of Alaska, an not just the urban centers.  People all over the country have been praying for things happening in western Alaska and even small places like Tutntituliak.  I was able to share with the people from rural Alaska that they had been prayed for for years and that there are people who really care about what is happening in their village.  One woman said "wow, we never knew there were so many people who love God and who care about what is happening in our little village."  One man said that this weekend encouraged him and his faith in a way that he didn't think was ever possible again.  Another said, that he never thought that he would fun like that ever again.  This past weekend was exhausting, fun, encouraging, and restorative.  The people who came desire that people in their home villages find the hope and joy that only come from God.  Please remember the youth workers of Chevak, Tuntituliak, Savoonga, and Sand Point in your prayers.

Young Life Alaska

The Kellars trip to Chevak was awesome and they made a lot of great connections, however, upon their return to Washington, a tragedy hit to the village. First off, let's hear about their visit - The Kellars brought their three boys to Chevak and were warmly greeted by many friends and previous students. They walked the roads and played basketball at the school and were invited to many homes. They met and prayed with many folks and were able to share with a few about their experiences with Young Life.  They attended the house church meeting and experienced great love from the community.  The Kellars gave many hugs and took many photos and returned home. For the full story please visit http://loveforchevak.wordpress.com/2014/08/21/were-here/   (Password:Chevak)

"Heidi and the boys getting a ride on a Chevak minivan"

One day after the Kellars' returned home a 19 year old Chevak woman was murdered and her naked body was found behind Chevak health clinic.  There have been two suspects identified and the case is still open.  Heidi said, in the village you can expect accidental deaths or suicides, but things like this don't happen in Chevak, and it really has people shaken up. (The young lady was one of Heidi's former students and the Kellars had been able to see her just days before).  For the whole story please read Heidi's blog entry at http://loveforchevak.wordpress.com/2014/08/28/terrible-news/         password Chevak.)  Pray that God can bring some good from this situation - even if it is just a greater awareness of the need for action.


The Giving Grandmas:  During the past six years there have been two faithful women volunteer leaders at Mt. Edgecumbe: Elise and my wife Emily.  During their time as YL leaders they have hung out with girls, invited girls over, had sleepovers, cooked for prom dinner, been to school functions, brought kids to camp, cooked breakfast and hosted the Bible study weekly.  They have invested in the girls of MEHS faithfully.  Last school year the need for more leaders was apparent as we had over 50 girls regularly attending Young Life Club.  Both Emily and Elise have full-time jobs and families and so they needed help.  Through prayer we decided to ask a population of people who have time and energy.... local grandmas!

We are missing a few and not everyone is a grandma

Twelve women attended our first interest meeting, and there I found out that several of these women moved to Sitka to work specifically with Mt. Edgecumbe kids. So far we have had 2 breakfast Bible studies and these ladies have been awesome!!!  Now our large group of girls can now grow to include even more. These ladies have come at the right time to restore energy to other volunteers and to encourage girls from around the state.

My next email will include the great things happening around the rural part of the state in places like Tuntituliak, Galena, Sand Point, Chevak, and Savoonga. 

Living Biographies

The Kellar family

I like to read biographies because I like to see how ordinary people become extraordinary when they follow their convictions. Through my job I have been able to encounter just this, ordinary people who have extraordinary faith, who experience God’s fullness.  Today I want to share one of those stories and ask for your prayers as their journey has only just begun.

Last year I introduced to you a Nate and Heidi Kellar, who had previously lived and taught school in Chevak for 5 years.  (You can read their post “Wet pillow Theology” here).  As I have talked with the Kellars this past year, it was easy to see that they still had a heart for the community.  It was like their memories of Chevak had been renewed: memories of all the kids, all the laughter and pain.  Nate and Heidi began sharing conversations with family, on their blog, and even presented at their church of the large need for youth outreach.  I mentioned in a previous email that several people in Chevak have also been wanting to start a youth program. God has been moving in the hearts of the people in Chevak as well as in the Kellars heart for something for the youth.

During one of these conversations, their pastor Geoff Taylor told them that they should consider making a trip north again.  Through lots of prayer and support Nate, Heidi and their three kids decided to go.  Pastor Geoff even came along too.  In fact the 6 of them are there right now, meeting with old friends, encouraging young people, connecting with elders and talking with folks who are interested in supporting the youth.  Please pray for the Kellars and Geoff on their trip. Pray for their conversations and for their travels, pray for Chevak, and for people committed to reach out to the youth in the community.

I have spent only a few paragraphs describing a great story that is more fully detailed in the Kellar’s two blogs.  They have a personal family blog that starts the story, and then a blog specifically for this trip (password: Chevak). I hope they encourage your faith as they have mine.