It's so hard to believe how fast my summer is flying by. I have experienced so many new things and have learned so much! I've been on an 8-hr. raft ride, a 5-hr. glacier cruise and I've covered so much of Alaska! I have eaten moose and seen so much wildlife! I've also learned to drive stick shift, which was a big accomplishment for me. At the end of the summer I know I will be astounded when I calculate how many miles I've traveled because Alaska is such a huge state! I've already traveled to Tok, Valdez, and Nikiski. It is also such a different place here. Every day I'm amazed at how late people stay out. The kids in the neighborhood are always outside playing...even at 10 and 11 p.m. This is mainly because it is still light outside, so they are enjoying their time in the sun. Their are two seasons in Alaska...winter and construction. It's very true too. Everyone is busy building during the summer, the Baldwins included. The deck outside is coming along well...not too much to go. I've painted quite a bit this week because Mrs. Nancy has all of it painted before it's put up on the house.
The churches are also unique and not at all like those in the 'Bible Belt'. The majority of the churches run about 100 people or less. The largest Baptist church in the state runs 300. That pales in comparison to the size of Bell Shoals, but I've realized that small churches are also influential. I've been amazed to see how God works in the small churches and their communities. Lighthouse Community Church really reaches out to their community in the neatest ways. Bubba, their cook, prepared breakfast for the local public school kids every day for the past 9 years. He cooks for a lot of community events as well as for three of the World Changer events.
We attended Grandview Baptist Church on Sunday and saw the same couple from Auburndale, FL, for the 3rd time. First they were at First Baptist Tok, First Baptist Valdez and then Grandview. It was kind of neat...who knows, we may see them again! Then on Sunday night we attended First Native Baptist Church. Mrs. Nancy and I were the only ones other than the pastor in the worship center and it was already 6 p.m.(the time it started). The pastor asked me if I could sing or play the piano. I told him I could play the piano a little, and he replied, "Well, you may be leading worship tonight." Their weren't many in attendance, probably 10 or so, and it was simply an informal share/worship time. So, I shared my testimony and a few verses, along with some others who shared. Then we sang hymns for the rest of the time. Individuals simply called out the number of their favorite hymns and the lady leading would turn there and we would sing! It is interesting to see how the Native people worship and live. I'm learning so much about their culture and will experience even more of it this weekend.
I leave for Kotzebue, a Native village of about 3,000, on Thursday night. I'm flying solo this trip, but am really looking forward to it. The next two days I'll be packing and preparing, as I'll have to bring everything I need for three nights with me on the plane (sleeping bag, pillow, food, etc.) I will be on a Alaska Airlines Boeing 737, so no worries about me being on a tiny little plane. I will be helping with their 4th of July 'Bible in a Bucket' giveaway along with interviewing the pastors there.
We had a lot of their family over for a cookout last night, which was fun! I've been playing with their 3 yr. old grandson, David, most of the day. David and his mom(their daughter-in-law) are here for the next few nights, so I'm camping out in their library in the basement for awhile. It's quite exciting, actually. I'm surrounded by thousands of books(covering all four walls around me!)...and mainly all Christian literature. One entire bookshelf of just different versions of Bibles! And I also see both of the "Then Sings My Soul" books that I got Granny and Mom for Mother's Day this year. I wish I could read all of the books in their library, but that would take years. Right now I'm reading Leota's Garden, by Francine Rivers, and it is really a page turner. I got it on Sunday and I'm already 300 pgs. into it...it's a great read!
Isaiah 40 is a great chapter that has been particulary encouraging to me lately.
Verses 3-5
"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it."
Verses 29-31
"Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The illustration of the mountains being made low is hard for me to fathom, but still amazes me. And the eagles here are so gorgeous as they fly and it is great to know that God will renew our strength and allow us to soar!
The churches are also unique and not at all like those in the 'Bible Belt'. The majority of the churches run about 100 people or less. The largest Baptist church in the state runs 300. That pales in comparison to the size of Bell Shoals, but I've realized that small churches are also influential. I've been amazed to see how God works in the small churches and their communities. Lighthouse Community Church really reaches out to their community in the neatest ways. Bubba, their cook, prepared breakfast for the local public school kids every day for the past 9 years. He cooks for a lot of community events as well as for three of the World Changer events.
We attended Grandview Baptist Church on Sunday and saw the same couple from Auburndale, FL, for the 3rd time. First they were at First Baptist Tok, First Baptist Valdez and then Grandview. It was kind of neat...who knows, we may see them again! Then on Sunday night we attended First Native Baptist Church. Mrs. Nancy and I were the only ones other than the pastor in the worship center and it was already 6 p.m.(the time it started). The pastor asked me if I could sing or play the piano. I told him I could play the piano a little, and he replied, "Well, you may be leading worship tonight." Their weren't many in attendance, probably 10 or so, and it was simply an informal share/worship time. So, I shared my testimony and a few verses, along with some others who shared. Then we sang hymns for the rest of the time. Individuals simply called out the number of their favorite hymns and the lady leading would turn there and we would sing! It is interesting to see how the Native people worship and live. I'm learning so much about their culture and will experience even more of it this weekend.
I leave for Kotzebue, a Native village of about 3,000, on Thursday night. I'm flying solo this trip, but am really looking forward to it. The next two days I'll be packing and preparing, as I'll have to bring everything I need for three nights with me on the plane (sleeping bag, pillow, food, etc.) I will be on a Alaska Airlines Boeing 737, so no worries about me being on a tiny little plane. I will be helping with their 4th of July 'Bible in a Bucket' giveaway along with interviewing the pastors there.
We had a lot of their family over for a cookout last night, which was fun! I've been playing with their 3 yr. old grandson, David, most of the day. David and his mom(their daughter-in-law) are here for the next few nights, so I'm camping out in their library in the basement for awhile. It's quite exciting, actually. I'm surrounded by thousands of books(covering all four walls around me!)...and mainly all Christian literature. One entire bookshelf of just different versions of Bibles! And I also see both of the "Then Sings My Soul" books that I got Granny and Mom for Mother's Day this year. I wish I could read all of the books in their library, but that would take years. Right now I'm reading Leota's Garden, by Francine Rivers, and it is really a page turner. I got it on Sunday and I'm already 300 pgs. into it...it's a great read!Isaiah 40 is a great chapter that has been particulary encouraging to me lately.
Verses 3-5
"A voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it."
Verses 29-31
"Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
The illustration of the mountains being made low is hard for me to fathom, but still amazes me. And the eagles here are so gorgeous as they fly and it is great to know that God will renew our strength and allow us to soar!
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