...to be continued

I leave for PA tomorrow (Monday the 20th). Hope to be back at my parents place by Monday the 27th if possible. Be praying for me... its a long drive.

-Daryl

A Close On Another Chapter

Dear Friends, Supporters (in prayer, financial or thought), Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Family, and anyone else that has had interest in my work here,


It has been awhile since I have written here and put out a letter. I have failed in my communication, and it is a weakness I am trying to fix. I plan on putting out an update to all of you about what went on in my ministry work at Victory.

A lot has gone on in my life. God has been working on areas of my life, and I need to take some time off to sort some stuff out. If you haven't heard, I am making it official to all of you. I am headed back to PA to take some time to pray, fast, and to seek God on the next step. Financial support for me to stay at Victory is not there at all. The ministry has shown its interest in me staying and/or coming back. I see the need here, and want to help. I have played with the idea of staying up here in Alaska, but felt I needed to return to PA to be near family and to help loved ones back east. My return to Alaska is all up to God and His provision. If He desires me elsewhere or to refocus my ministry efforts, I plan to follow. I just need some time to seek, and wait. Feels like I have been doing a lot of that lately.

This time here at Victory is not in vain. It was a great time of learning, growing and testing. There is no event that happened that is drawing me away from Victory. It is a combination of finances and God telling me to refocus what I am doing.

I want to close by thanking all of you for your continued prayers and support. It has been a blessing. The work here could not have done without you. Thank you. And until next time...

...Grace and Peace
Daryl J. Howard

P.S.- Be checking back here... more to come

I promise.

Memories Of Summer

This summer was a hard and busy summer. But with it came a lot of memories. As I sit working on after camp work and trying to wrap up projects I am behind on and trying to get things ready for the state fair, I can't help but miss playing worship. I needed a break from it, for the sake of my knees. I'm not that old, but my knees tell a different story. For many of you that might be reading this, you might have heard this style of worship on the radio... and for others, even had this style in church. I'm not much of a singer these days. And so I find my best way worship to God is through playing the drums. It isn't just go up and play the same thing. Subtle changes here and there, adding new fills, trying out a new way to play the beat, and more comes into play. Even the occasional new song gets thrown in. (Seth I love you man for challenging me with the new stuff... even though I hate it at first.) Then when it is all said and done, people share their excitement, passion, praise and more... which I must pass on to God, for it's Him that gives me strength and the ability to play. So here is a little taste of what worship was like this summer... enjoy.

Victory Bible Camp Worship Part 1
Victory Bible Camp Worship Part 2

A Little View Of Camp

Here's a quick look at a typical Friday night chapel.

HMUpdate 007 & 008

The new Howard Ministry Update is out via e-mail or USPS. Be on the look out. Sorry about the wait. I am slotting time for me to start posting more news more frequently. Enjoy.

Update Coming Soon

I'm not dead... just very busy, and having technical issues. New update letter out soon, and blog posting. Thanks for your continued prayers and support. God is at work here.

-Daryl

Well, when looking at a calender, I get stressed. Camp is right around the corner here at Victory. So, I stopped looking at the calender. I take it one day at a time and work down the check list in my head. Curriculum rough draft is done finally. Chapels are coming together. Computers are ready to get cleaned up. Songs are being worked on. A lot is going on.
But right now, I must focus on the Outdoor Ed groups that are in. The work listed above in on hold for the most part, but needs to get done. Pray for me as I try to get my stack of work done, plus move my residence a few times, all before staff get here. My stress hasn't been as high as it has in the past. But there are a lot of sleepless nights with work on my mind.
I plan on having the update letter out as soon as I figure out the printer issues that keep happening. For news sake, I will be sending it out as a special pre-summer letter. Basically letter 007 and 008 together.

-Daryl

Running Around With Arms Flailing In The Air

Well, summer is almost here. The new HM Update will be out shortly. And working on the next one already. The only way I can explain it all is by the way I titled this update. In all honesty, it isn't that bad. It just seems bad at first, then we hash everything out, and things start to get pieced together. Here's a little of what has been happening to me.

Curriculum: Of course you have heard this a lot from me. But in reality, think about school. A lot of planning goes behind a lesson plan. What to teach. How to teach it. The information to back it up. Application. So on and so forth. So for a curriculum of what we are teaching, especially the Bible, things need to be right and within context. Plus this isn't the only thing we are working on.

Chapels: For me, I have to start thinking about not just the planning of chapel, but also the teaching aspect of the Frontier chapel. The format of it all. How do we keep it fresh for 7 weeks. There is a lot to it.

AV Team/ Ministry Team: What kind of videos are we going to make. What kind of skits are we going to do. How are we going to make them. When do we have time to create new things. Ect. Ect. Etc. There is a lot of technical stuff I don't want to swamp you with.

There is a lot. That is just the tip of the iceberg. But that is why I am here. I love do this planning and hashing out of things behind the scenes. Sometimes my mind functions, and sometimes I am overwhelmed with ideas. Anyways. Just be praying for me as the rush of summer is catching up with us. It seems like there is not enough hours in a day to complete what we need. But then there is always the after summer hindsight that we say, "wow, we accomplished a lot, and it was fun... what do we do next year?"

-Daryl

Good Morning, Good Evening, and Good Night

Where ever you are in the world reading this, greetings.
I've heard from many people that they got my latest update letter. If you are interested in getting the update letter, just give send me an e-mail at: hmupdate@gmail.com

or write me at:
Daryl Howard
64741 S. Victory Rd.
Sutton, AK 99674

So what has been going on here? A lot. With summer preparations in full swing, along with guest group responsibilities, life gets busy each day. A surprising two day snow fall added to the fun by giving us a 4 to 6 inches of wet/heavy snow.

This weekend has been a busy one for us interns. I spent Friday night in town with a friends band, helping them out with sales. Then was off to Kids Day in Anchorage. Six hours of balloon animals took a toll on my hands. But it was worth the pain at the end of the day. We served countless numbers of kids as they poured through the center in Anchorage.

This upcoming weekend holds one of the biggest challenges for the intern staff. We are in charge of creating and running a weekend program for 4th-6th graders. Honestly I feel unprepared at this time, but I know that God will give me the strength and confidence to make it through the weekend.

What is beyond next weekend... a downhill slope to summer. A few guest groups, then a quick turnover to 6th grade outdoor ed classes... then SUMMER TRAINING!

Well, there is much to say... but that would spoil my update letter. So, until the next time I post.

Grace and Peace to you,
Daryl J. Howard

SPRING!

When you look outside here, it doesn't look like spring. But it is. If you can get your vehicle out of the slushy soup of melting snow and silt mud, and make your way off the camp property, spring is evident (just don't look at the mountains, they'll fool you). When I went into Anchorage the last two weekends I could observe two things:

1: Snow was missing. It was in heaps from where people had plowed it, but not on the group.
2: There are no winter jackets to be seen. Its hitting 38, and even the 40's, which for me means go with a light jacket or no jacket. No lie... it is warm to me.

Then you come back up the highway to Victory. Seeing that it has just had a little snow fall today, you wouldn't have noticed the spring snow and ice "break-up". But there it is. Patches of dirt road peek through the snow revealing that spring is on its way. And then there are the areas of the river that are showing through. The snow mounds have decreased. And you can open a window to freshen the house up. And most of all... THE ALLERGIES HAVE KICKED IN!!!
Spring is here in Alaska. Which means that soon, and very soon, summer will be here. And so will the beauty in which God will display to thousands that pilgrimage here for a glimpse of what they believe to be the last frontier.

Enjoy this day that God has made.
-Daryl

HMUpdate 006

The new Howard Ministry Update is out in the mail and by e-mail. Enjoy. Next issue: concerts, Kids Day, Spring Forward Blast, and preparation for camp!

A Little Update...

So what's been going on in the world of Daryl... a lot! So let me do a little rundown to update you what has happened, what's going to happen and the now.

+ Li-Wa Sr.High Retreat:
At the end of February we went up to camp Li-Wa in Fairbanks to help set up and run a Sr. High Retreat. The plan was to set-up the weekend like a CSI crime scene. The idea was to have the campers investigate the scene, collect evidence and try to prove who done it. It was a challenging weekend, as it dropped below -20 for most of the weekend. Cold enough that my hands decided to crack and bleed within five minutes of being outside. In the end, it was a blast. A good weekend end of fun and ministering to the kids.

+ RETREATS!:
This never gets old. With one of the families off visiting friends, family and supporters, I was put in charge of the espresso machine. This had to be a highlight. I got to know a lot of people who have been coming here for years, or are encouraged by our staff and facility. For me, it was encouraging to hear many youth leaders encouraging me in the path I have chosen here at Victory.
March is our biggest month as far as numbers go. Last weekend was a group of 200 women. But this wasn't like the earlier group of women from before. This was a fish and game run event that is called "Becoming an Outdoor Woman." For all of you that ever wanted to learn outdoor cooking, snowmaching (snowmobiling), orienteering, GPS, field dressing a animal and more, this is for you. Great group. To hear the comments gave me energy as I pulled long shifts in the kitchen. I think I set a personal record of 13 hours in the kitchen in one day.

+ Meetings:
As I have been writing, I am helping write the curriculum for summer. It continues, and it is going well from what I see. It is finally falling together.
Next weekend we are in town as a whole ministry, both Li-Wa and Victory. We will spend Sunday-Tuesday discussing summer, the ministry and much much more. Then Wednesday a few more will meet over various other things... not sure what, but I've been tapped to stay for it.

+ FUN:
I can have fun, can't I? On the side away from Victory I have been working on a design project for a friends band. It has been a fun brain release for me. Giving me an opportunity to stretch some skills and to have some fun.
On the side I have been finishing some books, and starting others. So what have I been reading? Well, lets see...
"The Furious Longing of God" Brennan Manning
"Principle of The Path" Andy Stanley
"The Bible"
"Understanding Christian Theology" Swindoll and Zuck ... (mostly read for studying on the topic for the summer)

Well, that's a little rundown on whats going on here in my life. I'm trying to get my support letter typed before I send my computer in for repairs. Some slight issues that need some repair. Fingers crossed on a replacement computer. Though this has been a faithful mac that hasn't giving me really any problems. Other than that... have a great week. And may God show His love to you in some miraculous way this week.

-Daryl

OOPS... Posted On Wrong Page

Oops, posted this on the wrong blog... here a delayed post from Feb 18th.

Good Morning

Today is just one of those days that you wake up early for no apparent reason. It just happens. Its a day off, but it just happens. I got up, got ready, had half my breakfast, grabbed an apple for the road, picked up the trash bag, and went outside into a fresh inch-3inch powder of snow. It was overcast, but light. As I walked up to Miracle (the lodge), the sun lit up the clouds behind Victory Peak. Amazing shot. Just made you want to shout out in praise to God for just the beauty all around. The time I got my camera, the shot was gone, and it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. Oh well. Now, on to some free-time work (making a video for a band called Thera... check them out) .

I'm Back

I took a break from the internet and some technology as I went up to Camp Li-Wa in Fairbanks. I'll post a whole rundown on what went on up there for their Sr. High retreat. Good times. I'm just glad it isn't -20 or colder here at Victory.

-Daryl Howard

Did you get the latest HMUPDATE? If not, e-mail me at hmupdate@gmail.com for my monthly update letter.

The Rundown

A lot has happened since the time I wrote my letter, sent it out and now. Here's a little peek into what has been going on.

+ Wasilla Winter Rockfest. Not a Victory event, but I knew some of the bands playing. Got a chance to help them out and really enjoy hearing some good music live again. Not as crazy as the Philly scene, but still very energetic.

+ Retreat Groups. Usually it isn't too busy around here. But with the absence of a few staff members, each of us has had to pick up some extra slack. For me, its running the espresso machine.
(TRY THIS: 3 shot, 10 oz, light irish cream syrup, with whip, latte...) still trying to name it.
Cleaning has been a norm, same with snow removal.

+ FORGET SPRING CLEANING. When spring comes, there is no time for cleaning. So we did it now. Not done, but three days gave us enough time to sort through a lot of stuff that has been packed away for years... (anyone want to buy 2 400w speakers and an old 1990 12 channel mixer?)

+ Moving. I can now sleep in a room that I don't to depend on heat from my living room. Moving to a new building gives all of us more comfort, better living quarters, and more time for us to keep quiet. Since we live above guest housing, out movies on the surround sound and intense Mario Kart racing has to be toned down. But it has an amazing view... WITH SUN LIGHT!

+ Website. New Victory site will be up tonight!!! www.victorymin.org (also, join us on facebook ... Victory Bible Camp)

+ Summer Stuffs. T-shirt design almost finalized, and curriculum in the works. Lots of creative fun.

+ Finances. This is a little more serious. With the internship I am trying to raise $7,500. As of the last support statement from the camp, I am only at $1,000 in total. $5,500 from what I need to pay off the internship. There is still 6 months left before in the internship. I'm praying about staying on, but that requires more funds for full-time support, and paying for my time in the internship. Pray that funds will be met, and that God will direct me in what to do after the internship. I'm excited to see where He will lead... either here, or elsewhere.

-Daryl J. Howard

Good Times Ahead

Well, this may not be as exciting as the iPad news Apple had today, but this is my announcement from my MacBook Pro for January 27th 2010.

+Finished up a weekend of two youth groups and getting ready for another youth group for this weekend. Not too much planning on our part. Mostly just being there for them and keep the facilities going for them.

+As the internship goes into phase two, we are going to be released off our leash and into a more free state of work. Being placed into different areas and creating our own work schedule is only the start of what we know about what is going to happen. My position until the summer goes into full swing will be interacting and taking on tasks from the program department. This means planning events, the summer, and all the small details that go into the events side of camping.

+SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE! For many, it is still about 4 or so months out. For us, it is a reality that hits as soon as summer ends. Our thinking never stops. Theme is set. T-shirt/banner design in the works. Curriculum is in the brainstorming and sharing phase. Lots to do, and lots of fun.


Not much else to say. So, may I bid you all goodbye... and have a great day... or is it good evening?

-Daryl J. Howard

Short Update

Another weekend down, and another weekend begins. A usual weekend for many of you starts Friday night and goes till Sunday night. For me, the weekend is one of my busiest times. Friday is prepare for the group. And depending on the group, Saturday or Sunday is the wrap-up. Sunday afternoon-Monday night is my weekend. The Tuesday is back to the grind. So as for today... making Pizza and getting the salad ready is my job for the day. Then serve a group of teens ranging from 105-150. That would mean a lot of pizza! Recap on Tuesday...

-Daryl

p.s.- new update letter out soon!

I'm Back

Sorry it has been so long. Took a break back home, and now I back to the swing of things here at Victory. I landed around 4pm AK time, and hung around town to pick up another intern, so my return to camp didn't happen till 3am. And with a little sleep, I was back to work. We have a men's group in, and my primary job for the weekend is cleaning dishes and cabins. As events go on, I will be updating you more often. And I will do my best to post more photos and some videos as they come along. Well, off to breakfast.

-Daryl