Snowflake 22

 

Temperatures above freezing, feeling the warmth of the sun’s rays, potholes and mud puddles, and increasing daylight hours… all signs that springtime in Alaska may be around the corner.  Notice that I said “may be around the corner”.  Most of you already have flowers blooming and trees budding out, and all we have is blooming snow (according to Walter)! Our love for the snow starts to fade this time of year, and our anticipation of gorgeous summer days, busy camp life, and fishing season begins to escalate.

 

It seems that everything is ready for winter to step aside so summer can move in.  The lake moans and groans as the sun shines on its icy covering.  The trees look as if they’ve just crawled out of bed and are stretching as hard as they can to reach the sun that now sits high in the beautiful blue Alaskan sky.  Each branch is reaching out to grab every warm ray!  The chickadees are becoming more active, the bears at the Alaskan Zoo have already come out of hibernation, Halibut season has opened, and Bailey (our house dog) is shedding like crazy.   We’ll soon start seeing four-wheelers replacing snow machines, planes with floats replacing those with skis, fishing poles replacing hockey sticks, and ten motor homes to every other vehicle on the road.  All good signs that the seasons are changing!

 

Life around the camp continues to be busy and exciting.  We’ve also become more involved at Big Lake Baptist.  The people there are so special, and Pastor Brad is doing an amazing job! We’re so grateful to be a part of such a loving congregation of people.  Andy has been learning how to run the sound system, and I have been teaching the Nursery Sunday School class.  The little ones are so much fun to spend time with.  Walter and I have been participating in the “Experiencing God” Bible Study on Wednesday nights while Andy has become more involved with the youth program.  God has answered many prayers and brought a group of people together to form a Big Lake Baptist choir.  We were able to sing several songs on Easter Sunday.  It has been such a blessing being a part of a choir again.  We’re small in numbers, but big in heart!

 

This past week, we were so blessed to have a mission team from Hodgenville, Kentucky spend their spring break with us. Ten college students and two leaders cleaned and painted the inside of nine cabins.  Wow!  They could have gone to the beach like most of the people their age, but they chose to come to Alaska on a mission trip.  They worked so hard and seemed to really enjoy their time at the camp (along with their numerous trips to the local Wal-Mart).  Yes, most of our mission teams become Wal-Mart missionaries!

 

We continue to feel God’s blessings as we’ve seen more groups and churches using the camp’s facilities during the winter. Even in the darkness of our short winter days, God’s light shines bright, changes lives, connects brothers and sisters in Christ, and provides each of us with just what we need.

 

The calendar for the summer is filling fast with camps, retreats, and mission teams.  Our God is so good!  We ask that you pray for the mission teams that will be traveling to Alaska this summer.  They will be leading the camps ( Boys Camp, Girls Camp, Alaska Native Youth Camp, and JAM (Jesus, Art and Music) Camp), assisting local churches with VBS, doing door to door ministry, and tackling many of the construction/clean-up tasks that need to be done around the camp.  It has been exciting to hear how God has been connecting each team and blessing their efforts in a mighty way.  With gas prices increasing daily, plane tickets going sky high, and our economy in such a fragile state, these people are really stepping out on faith, being obedient to God’s call, and trusting Him to provide for their trip.  What a testimony!

 

We also ask that you pray for each man, woman, and child that will attend camp.  Our prayer is to see souls saved and lives changed.  We desire to see God’s hand at work in the lives of these young people and their families.  What a blessing to be able to share God’s love with each person who comes to the camp.

 

 Please pray for the volunteers and summer missionaries that will be serving at the camp this summer.  The Lorenz family will be flying in tonight, just in time to help with a retreat on Friday evening!  The other volunteers and summer missionaries will be arriving around the first of June.  The camp could not function without these wonderful people who serve because of their love for the Lord and His people.

 

 It is truly a blessing to be able to share our Alaskan experience with each of you, but it’s an even greater blessing to share how God continues to move in our lives and in the ministry of the camp.  We’ve experienced God in ways that words can not explain.  We’ve seen Him provide for our every need and more.  We’ve seen Him answer so many prayers, and we’re learning to trust more and worry less (a tough one for me!).  God is in control, and this camp is His!  We are His children!  Thank you for remembering our family in your prayers.  We feel them!  Your love and support mean so much and encourages us to keep going.  We wish there was a way to get each of you here for a visit. We’d love to see your faces!  Know that you are always welcome.

 

 Love to you all,

Sherry

Souls Saved... Lives Changed

LaVerne Griffin Youth Recreation Camp

 

 

 

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