Wet and Wild

I want to start off by apologizing for all the time that has past since the last time I posted an update. Things have been pretty busy, here in Juneau, I am not totally sure where to start or what to focus on. The past two or three weeks have been full of new experiences and exciting adventures. Some of the highlights have included catching my first fish, going crabbing (which included killing, cooking and enjoying it hot and fresh!).

Last weekend our group hiked out to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was fantastic! We were able to get right up next to the glacier.


The next day, Debbie Douglass, the super cool and godly Alaskan adventure woman I talked about a couple weeks back, took us out on the Mendenhall Lake and we spent several hours kayaking around by the glacier and a nearby waterfall.
Our weekends have also included service projects around town and free time to hang out with coworkers and locals. The long boarding lessons from my friends Suzy, Keala and Kimberly have continued and so far, wipe outs have been few and injuries minimal; let's hope it stays that way.

Work is going well, although the past two weeks were more difficult than the first few. Seeing my co-workers live their lives in such separation from God has started to wear on me a bit. God has provided several opportunities for His truth to be spoken into their lives but they have continued to settle for a way of life that is empty and broken. Being downtown, walking the streets during my breaks, and seeing the spiritual darkness has also starting weighing on me. Please be praying that I will not get discouraged or weary but that I will continue to love my coworkers and rely on God to do work on their hearts. Also, pray for the local Christians; Juneau is not an easy place to live for Christ and they need a lot of encouragement and support.

In other areas, God has been giving me lots of joy and encouragement. I am growing closer and closer to the women here everyday, especially my apartment mates, Kelly and Emily. They are both awesome girls and I love our time together; hanging out, laughing and talking about all the different things we are learning. Also, my family will be coming down for a visit in about two weeks! I am so excited for them to see what my experience in Juneau has been like and to meet the people that have been such a big part of my life the past few weeks.

This upcoming week is going to be a time of change as we prepare for the staff to leave on Thursday and hand the project over to us students. It will be a chance for us to show ownership of the community God has given us this summer and the opportunity we have to pour into the city of Juneau.

Your prayers are precious to me, as we continue on here, developing relationships, serving in our workplaces, and enjoying God through the oceans, mountains, and tasty berry bushes he has made!