Remember the Basketball Court

In addition to the cabin project, we also have to apply another coat of sealant to the basketball court. Rememberlast year our teams restored the basketball court. Well, after a very harsh, long and cold winter the basketball court needed some TLC. Whenwe first arrived on Saturday, one of the first things I did was make a bee line to the court to see how it held up. Well, (2009) team, we did a good job -- it held up very well. David, Kit and Marty C. spent the afternoon (and after dinner) applying a top coat of sealant to the court. It looks beautiful. The kids will have another summer playing hoops and coming to know Jesus as their Savior on this court. Just looking at through the window as I type this post just warms my heart and fills me with such an unexplainable joy. Thank you Pastor Dean for entrusting that project to me last year.

Daily Devotions

One the most important parts about mission trips are the opportunity to fellowship through the sharing of daily devotions. In addition to the team journals each team member has, several of the team members step out in faith to lead the camp in devotion time. Kit, David, Tarek & Howard(The Crossing at Birchwood) and Mark are all using this mission trip experience to grow and lead.

Cabin Winterization Update

WOW .... Whew, we have been busy busy busy the last couple of days. The cabin winterization project has been progressing very well. David S. and Tarek (The Crossing at Birchwood) have been doing an excellent job leading our two teams. We have fully completed two cabins. And trust me, it wasn't an easy task. But God has been with us all the way. In fact he provided us with an incredible and unexpected blessing. When we began to removing the siding, we discovers that the walls were already insulated. PRAISE God for His provision. Had we had to also insulate the walls, I am not confident we would have been able to finish the project. But God knew in advance and reduced the job scope just enough for us to complete the project in the time we have available at camp. We (David D., Kit, Howard - The Crossings at Birchwood, and me Mark) had the pleasure of insulating the floors. While David S., Kit, and me sweating with the mosquitoes insulating the attic spaces. Archie, Tarek and Ray (The Crossings at Birchwood) hung and trimmed all the doors. David S., Marty H., and Tarek installed the stove pipe. And David S. did the electrical. So after 3 and half days, we have 3 cabins fully complete. David is saying we'll be finished tomorrow.

Some Travel Adventure Photos

Last night as I posting some more updates on our travel to KHBC adventures, the generator was shut down. I guess that was God's way of telling me to get some rest.
So take 2...............
As Ashley posted yesterday, just getting to camp is a mission trip in itself. From Charlotte it took us 5 legs -- 3 commercial flights, 1 chart and the famous 3-hr cruise. Well for some of us the 3 hr cruise was only 2.5 hrs -- Greg had the hammer DOWN driving our boat. But for David D. and Marty C. having a longer adventure on the final leg of the trip allowed them the unique opportunity to see first hand an Alaskan village. I know what they saw touched their hearts and reaffirmed the need for missionaries in the Interior.
Please pray for the kids who will be coming to camp next week from villages throughout the Yukon region. Pray for the kids who will be sleeping in the cabins we are sleeping in now. Pray for them to realize there is ONLY one way to the Father. That way is through His Son Jesus Christ.

Cabin Winterization Project

Today we began working on our main project -- The cabin winterization project. But before we got started, Viki and her niece Kayla made us a wonderful pancake breakfast. That was some good eating -- I think Archie had about 8 pancakes or so. After breakfast, Roger lead us in Sunday service. We had a sermon from Phil 2:1-16. After getting both our bellies and souls filled, we jumped right in on the project. We are making really good progess (there's a rumor that if we finish early, Roger will take us fishing) -- No wonder the team is moving along so quickly. We've already installed the floor insulation under 4 of the 6 cabins. It was very itchy work but David D., Kit, Pastor John (Birchwood), Marty C., and I knocked it out this afternoon. David S. and Archie have installed one of the doors and have begun prep work to tomorrow to get a couple more complete. Howard & Ray J., from Birchwood have been preping the cabins to provide electricity to them. Marty H. and Ashley got the computer system set up and cleared out the old dinning hall. All together I think we are on a good pace - especially for such a shortened work day.
Also, Marty C. has picked up the additional role of team recorder -- he is doing an excellent job of capturing video and still photos.
I will try to update these post with photo so keep checking back regularly.

We have made It to Camp

Hi All its Ashley!!

After 32 hrs of travel we made it to camp safely. Once making to Alaska we stayed with Ray & Keiko at their AMAZING home! They had beds made for all of us, including three others that joined us that night. Thank Ray & Keiko, you're the best for opening up your home to us Our Saturday started with a wonderful breakfast the The Crossings at Birchwood, then to a very scenic flight on the small plane, WE landed and then began for what some, became the never ending journey. Three boats awaited us and amongst tons of food and luggage we along with about 15 others piled into the boats to head to camp...Again we are all safe and sound!!! So no worries...Only problem was, one boat made it, two broke down and didn't make it to camp along with a lot of our food supplies until later that last night. David D. and Marty C. were the only two that were not on our boat so we were very happy to see them once they arrived. Poor guys were frozen, wet, hungry and exhausted. The boat ride, definitely my least favorite part, was rough, no luxury there at all. So although 6 of us made it in 32 hrs...two didn't until almost the 38th hr. Thanks to all of our families and friends who praying for us. Today has been very busy and BEAUTIFUL....more to come very soon. So we are sending all of our love from KHBC in Alaska. Ashley

1 more day to GO

Just a quick update and thoughts before I hit the sack. We have a very long travel day tomorrow. It will take us about 16 or 17 hours to get to Anchorage. We'll rest at one of the team member from last year's trip house over night -- Thank you Ray! Then we'll catch our charter flight to Tanana and the wrap up the final leg with a lovely 3 hour boat ride down the Yukon River to Kokrine Hills Bible Camp.

Well, today I was able to wrap up the final logistics and grab some snack food (gotta have my Twizzlers) -- because there ain't no Walgreens or CVS on every corner where we're going. Was able to lunch with my daughter and we had pizza for dinner. I just finished up my final packing and getting the camera ready to capture some of the most beautiful country God has created. All in all, its been a crazy day -- in fact Jordan even lost (yet another) tooth. Where's the Rock when you need him ;-)

We had another last minute scramble and a couple of guys from the team jumped right in to help -- Thanks Archie and David. Make the Lowe's run, I'll hold the van up for you.

I just know the Lord has many blessing in store for each of us. Its late I need to get some rest. Good Night!