Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
SNOW
Our first snow that actually stayed on the ground fell last night, and kept up all day. But with today's events, I didn't get any pictures. I haven't been excited with snow in awhile, but today, I felt overjoyed. It doesn't feel the same. It has to be that this is my new home, and finally, winter is setting in. Time for the real test.
Friday, October 23, 2009
The Past Two Or So Weeks
Whew... need to catch my breathe. Business is the name of the game right now. Since the last time I posted, there was a little break, then some non-stop work that gave a good look into what a fast turnaround looks like.
#1: Bowling.
I'll start with something easy and fun. As a staff, everyone that wanted to and their families converged on a bowling alley in town. It created a lot of fun as many of us hadn't bowled in a long time. For me, injuries ruined my day, but it was still a blast.
#2: Weekend retreats.
Last week was what we call a fast turnaround. From the time one group leaves and the next group comes in, is a matter of an hour or two. So with a pastor's retreat starting midway through the week, the intern staff set out to assist the pastor's in anyway. Serving food, cleaning up and helping to run chapel became common during the two days.
One area that the interns got to try out, was that of skits, puppets and mimes. One goal of the internship, is to create a ministry team to go out and present the gospel to different Churches and group. Whether it be for kids or young adults, we want to reach them all.
As soon as the conference started, it was over, and we were frantically cleaning the camp for a ladies retreat to come in.
#3 Sickness
It seems our intern team can't escape even the smallest of colds. I personally have gone through an overnight bug, but others in the group are not so lucky. Yes, H1N1 is big in town (from what the hospital said), but we do not have it here. It seems some stomach bug that lasts a day or two hit many of the interns. Other various bugs also hit us up hard as well. Be praying for that.
#4 The Weather
If you were to come to Alaska right now, you would not believe it is fall. Well, it seems like fall in PA right now. With temperatures sometimes going up to the 50's and no snow on the ground, you would wonder is Alaska had become a New England state. But for us, it is an answer to prayers. As a group of staff pour concrete, like today, the prayers of mild weather and no snow have been answered. It seems that days that there is no work, the temps dip, and the frost clings, on work days like today...it seems like jacket weather (fleece weather for PA).
#5 Personal Life
Life has gotten interesting here in Alaska. With darkness becoming more prevalent than light, it does get a little harder to get up in the mornings. But God has continually given me strength. Some issues that have come up that I do need to make note of are some that I ask that you keep in your prayers.
Recently my car (with many other camp staff cars) has developed a noise from the engine. Luckily it is under warranty, but the company closed all of its dealerships here, and regional offices haven't gotten back to me on what to do. It isn't much of a hassle, but if a town trip is needed... different means of transportation are going to need to be found.
Health, as mentioned before, is a biggie. My back has been better, but it has also seen better days. Sitting in a chair more that a half hour becomes painful. Without insurance, it costs an arm and a leg to get it fixed.
Finances. It is big right now as our country keeps digging itself deeper in dept. But as a intern/missionary, finances are what I need to live. As support letters have gone out, and the second set of update letters out yesterday in the mail, I continually have to keep myself in check with God. I know He has placed me here for a reason. He has always provided, it is just up to me not to worry, and to trust in Him. So I ask for your continued prayers that finances be met, and that God gives me patience and peace about money.
Family life. I got word yesterday that my grandmother passed away. Being over 4,000 miles away makes it hard for me to go, unless someone wants to pay a $1,400+ plane ticket for four to five days. But with my circumstance, I was told that I did not need to attend. Be in prayer over my family at this time.
#6 JR. HIGH RETREAT
In about 9 hours, Jr. Highers are going to roll in here with the goal of having fun and remember the past summer. I'm going to be heading up some games and activities, as well as helping out in chapel. It is going to be a major undertaking, but a lot of fun as I get to do what I love. Be praying for the campers that are coming, and the staff as we seek to help and reach out to the teens.
Thanks to everyone that has been encouraging me and sending notes and emails, it is a blessing.
Keep checking in, more news coming your way.
-Daryl J. Howard
#1: Bowling.
I'll start with something easy and fun. As a staff, everyone that wanted to and their families converged on a bowling alley in town. It created a lot of fun as many of us hadn't bowled in a long time. For me, injuries ruined my day, but it was still a blast.
#2: Weekend retreats.
Last week was what we call a fast turnaround. From the time one group leaves and the next group comes in, is a matter of an hour or two. So with a pastor's retreat starting midway through the week, the intern staff set out to assist the pastor's in anyway. Serving food, cleaning up and helping to run chapel became common during the two days.
One area that the interns got to try out, was that of skits, puppets and mimes. One goal of the internship, is to create a ministry team to go out and present the gospel to different Churches and group. Whether it be for kids or young adults, we want to reach them all.
As soon as the conference started, it was over, and we were frantically cleaning the camp for a ladies retreat to come in.
#3 Sickness
It seems our intern team can't escape even the smallest of colds. I personally have gone through an overnight bug, but others in the group are not so lucky. Yes, H1N1 is big in town (from what the hospital said), but we do not have it here. It seems some stomach bug that lasts a day or two hit many of the interns. Other various bugs also hit us up hard as well. Be praying for that.
#4 The Weather
If you were to come to Alaska right now, you would not believe it is fall. Well, it seems like fall in PA right now. With temperatures sometimes going up to the 50's and no snow on the ground, you would wonder is Alaska had become a New England state. But for us, it is an answer to prayers. As a group of staff pour concrete, like today, the prayers of mild weather and no snow have been answered. It seems that days that there is no work, the temps dip, and the frost clings, on work days like today...it seems like jacket weather (fleece weather for PA).
#5 Personal Life
Life has gotten interesting here in Alaska. With darkness becoming more prevalent than light, it does get a little harder to get up in the mornings. But God has continually given me strength. Some issues that have come up that I do need to make note of are some that I ask that you keep in your prayers.
Recently my car (with many other camp staff cars) has developed a noise from the engine. Luckily it is under warranty, but the company closed all of its dealerships here, and regional offices haven't gotten back to me on what to do. It isn't much of a hassle, but if a town trip is needed... different means of transportation are going to need to be found.
Health, as mentioned before, is a biggie. My back has been better, but it has also seen better days. Sitting in a chair more that a half hour becomes painful. Without insurance, it costs an arm and a leg to get it fixed.
Finances. It is big right now as our country keeps digging itself deeper in dept. But as a intern/missionary, finances are what I need to live. As support letters have gone out, and the second set of update letters out yesterday in the mail, I continually have to keep myself in check with God. I know He has placed me here for a reason. He has always provided, it is just up to me not to worry, and to trust in Him. So I ask for your continued prayers that finances be met, and that God gives me patience and peace about money.
Family life. I got word yesterday that my grandmother passed away. Being over 4,000 miles away makes it hard for me to go, unless someone wants to pay a $1,400+ plane ticket for four to five days. But with my circumstance, I was told that I did not need to attend. Be in prayer over my family at this time.
#6 JR. HIGH RETREAT
In about 9 hours, Jr. Highers are going to roll in here with the goal of having fun and remember the past summer. I'm going to be heading up some games and activities, as well as helping out in chapel. It is going to be a major undertaking, but a lot of fun as I get to do what I love. Be praying for the campers that are coming, and the staff as we seek to help and reach out to the teens.
Thanks to everyone that has been encouraging me and sending notes and emails, it is a blessing.
Keep checking in, more news coming your way.
-Daryl J. Howard
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Li-Wa / Fairbanks
Hey everyone,
What a weekend. For those that didn't know, the interns went up to Fairbanks to work at camp Li-Wa for their weekend Jr. High retreat. So let me throw up a map for you so you can see the route we took.
To give you an idea on the distance it is from "Home"(1) to Fairbanks(2), it is about a seven hour drive. It parallels the Alaskan Pipeline on and off the trip from Glenallen on up the Richardson Highway. With many lakes and snow topped mountains, the trip doesn't feel as long. But for a 5'11'' guy stuck in the back of a 16 passenger van, it becomes a long trip.
Li-Wa held a lot of unknowns. I have been there for a few days to capture some video and some photos for AV use. But that was all. Weekend retreats are new to me.
To start the event, we had a little intro for us interns. With three of us holding our hands behind our backs, and a partner with their hands acting as ours, we had to eat a pie as fast as we could. Being the only guy team, Micah and I decided to eat our pie delicately. So with knife and fork we started in slow. It tasted a little funny, so I spit it out and decided just to act like I fell asleep... into the pie. Pudding pie was flung all over, and as soon as it started, it was over. Soon I found out there was gravy in my pie.
My job was to help in the kitchen when help was needed, and anywhere else help was needed. I started the first morning helping with a scavenger hunt, but a foot injury redeveloped after tripping over a log. But I did get my face time in with campers. I got to connect with a few, and get to work with some AV stuff.
On Sunday, a few of us took off for Chena Hot Springs. A little hour drive northeast of camp. There a natural hot springs bubbled for the weary traveler that makes it there. My bad back and swollen foot thanked me for the two hour soaking in water that made me look like I had a sun burn.
While at Chena, Brian (intern leader), Micah and I had a run in with a gentleman that had issues with Christians. I don't want to go into much length over what occurred. I would like for you to remember the gentleman in prayer. Jesus still loves him, no mater what.
On the way back to Victory, we stopped to view Mount McKinley from the south. A beautiful site. I had seen it from Fairbanks (280 Miles). It dominated the landscape, and from the south side, it didn't look too big, and the pictures don't give it justice.
-Daryl J. Howard
Prayer Requests:
Funding
Camp Li-Wa (facilities are in a great need of improvement and some new buildings)
Gentleman at the hot springs
My back and foot
Next Edition:
Weekend retreats and BOWLING!
What a weekend. For those that didn't know, the interns went up to Fairbanks to work at camp Li-Wa for their weekend Jr. High retreat. So let me throw up a map for you so you can see the route we took.
To give you an idea on the distance it is from "Home"(1) to Fairbanks(2), it is about a seven hour drive. It parallels the Alaskan Pipeline on and off the trip from Glenallen on up the Richardson Highway. With many lakes and snow topped mountains, the trip doesn't feel as long. But for a 5'11'' guy stuck in the back of a 16 passenger van, it becomes a long trip.
Li-Wa held a lot of unknowns. I have been there for a few days to capture some video and some photos for AV use. But that was all. Weekend retreats are new to me.
To start the event, we had a little intro for us interns. With three of us holding our hands behind our backs, and a partner with their hands acting as ours, we had to eat a pie as fast as we could. Being the only guy team, Micah and I decided to eat our pie delicately. So with knife and fork we started in slow. It tasted a little funny, so I spit it out and decided just to act like I fell asleep... into the pie. Pudding pie was flung all over, and as soon as it started, it was over. Soon I found out there was gravy in my pie.
My job was to help in the kitchen when help was needed, and anywhere else help was needed. I started the first morning helping with a scavenger hunt, but a foot injury redeveloped after tripping over a log. But I did get my face time in with campers. I got to connect with a few, and get to work with some AV stuff.
On Sunday, a few of us took off for Chena Hot Springs. A little hour drive northeast of camp. There a natural hot springs bubbled for the weary traveler that makes it there. My bad back and swollen foot thanked me for the two hour soaking in water that made me look like I had a sun burn.
While at Chena, Brian (intern leader), Micah and I had a run in with a gentleman that had issues with Christians. I don't want to go into much length over what occurred. I would like for you to remember the gentleman in prayer. Jesus still loves him, no mater what.
On the way back to Victory, we stopped to view Mount McKinley from the south. A beautiful site. I had seen it from Fairbanks (280 Miles). It dominated the landscape, and from the south side, it didn't look too big, and the pictures don't give it justice.
-Daryl J. Howard
Prayer Requests:
Funding
Camp Li-Wa (facilities are in a great need of improvement and some new buildings)
Gentleman at the hot springs
My back and foot
Next Edition:
Weekend retreats and BOWLING!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)