Today’s virtue was Love and Sacrifice. The campers learned two bible verses, 1 Thesselonians 3:12 and Matthew 19:21. During craft time, Grace read a story to the campers about the Disciple Thomas. She also shared with each of them a photograph of Jesus that she received at bible camp when she was their age. The staff had not seen the kids so engaged in listening as when Grace was reading to them. Thank you, Grace! At archery, the campers are showing definite signs of improvement with their strength and accuracy. The lakefront activities of volleyball and boating was followed by their daily showers and a new event, FOB (Flat On Bunk!). The staff and campers have worked so hard the past 2 1/2 days that a rest was needed by all. The week’s service project included writing a get well card to a nearby Alaskan resident and former Camp Challenge Staff member being treated for cancer.

The virtue for day 4 was Faith. Hebrews 11:1 was the memory verse. Now FAITH is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Small group lesson included the parable of the mustard seed, Matthew 17:20-21. Rotations of archery and crafts rounded out the morning. Our kitchen staff continues to out do themselves working continuously with three wonderful meals daily plus the campfire snack. Lakefront activities include swimming and boating. Our Maryland campers said the water is too cold to swim, but Alaskan kids jump right in! The weather has been wonderful, nights in the 50’s and daytime in the mid-high 70’s. The afternoon was filled with the campers learning to navigate directionally through an orienteering exercise throughout the campus with an added Faith-based challenge to reach their final destination. Following dinner, evening worship of music and a wrap-up the days virtue lesson concluded with campfire time, another round of capture the flag and devotionals. The counselors are doing such an amazing job with the children. Their hearts are for the campers and have sacrificed even their break time to witness how God is working in the childrens lives. How Great is Our God!

Obstacle course! Killer hill, over/under, rope wall, balance beam and rope swing. The campers learned to work together as a team and to trust one another that they would be safe and successful. After dinner and snack at the campfire, everyone enjoyed an intense game of Capture the Flag!

We would tell you that we woke with the rise of the sun, but the sun doesn’t set in summer solstice in Alaska LOL! Today starts the first full day of camp. Some of the campers mingled by the campfire before heading off to breakfast followed by KP duty for the blue team then worship & music. The lesson for the day is Trust. They learned a new memory verse, Psalm 56:3-4, When I am afraid, I TRUST in you. I TRUST in God. I praise His word. I will not be afraid. What can people do to me? Small group lessons broke down what Trust looks like in our everyday life. Crafts, archery and a Trust walk ended out our morning.
Lunch of homemade chicken rice soup, sandwiches and brownies was received graciously by all then off to the lakefront for the campers swim test and boating. After rescuing a paddle boat going aground and a small issue with leaches, the campers showered and took up some time in the “Hub” - the infamous snack shop in camp.

We awoke to an overcast and drizzly morning but with our spirits high in anticipation. Opened with group prayer time then a big, hearty breakfast. Our kitchen staff is awesome! Bill, Gene, Bea and Joan are very talented and organized. Final preparations for scheduling were attended to before heading off to staff orientation @ 10:00 am. Our campers, 32 in all, starting arriving before 3:00 pm along with the bright sun, warm air and a bald eagle soaring above our heads. What a sight! Our counselors, Brandie, Dana, Alison, Christine, Darren, Keith and Chris helped the kids get set up in their cabins and play games with them until dinner time. Afterwards we all gathered for singing, dancing, group assignments and most importantly our bible verse for the week, Hebrews 10:24, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Oh yea! Adventure camp has begun. The evening ended by the campfire with snacks before everyone headed off to sleep. Thanks for sharing this time with us. You come back now!

We all arrived safely to Alaska. After a quick van repair at the airport, everyone was asleep by 2:00 am (Alaska time)! The morning was filled with sunshine and an amazing view of the mountains. Following an outdoor breakfast of bagels and fruit, we quickly headed off to church services @ 9:30 am and afterwards took up lunch at The Valley Hotel in Palmer. When we arrived back at camp, the kitchen staff began stocking the dining hall with the week’s food supply, the counselors pulled their curriculm resources together and the men created the obstacle and orienteering courses that the campers will be enjoying throughout the week. We are so excited to have the campers join us on Monday @ 3:00 pm. So, here we go….”Reach for the Sky”!

The team spent the last two days moving the materials needed to mix & pour cement on the upper level and building relationships with people in the church and in the community. By the end of the work day, today, they had completed all the columns and moved other materials that will be used to lay the remaining block. During our time together, this team has had the honor of meeting all five of the pastors who are supported by FCF. Before returning to the hotel, we visited one of the poorest communities in Santo Domingo. Some years ago as our host pastor was working near the community, he told one of the young men in his church that they needed to pray for the community and find a way to help there. Four years later, the same young man became the one to go into the community and begin a church. The first team from FCF to go to the Dominican Republic in 2004 drove by that community each day and many times, they expressed their desire to help there as well. It was amazing to stand in that new church and to see what is being done to reach this community for Jesus. We prayed for the pastor and the church in La Rivera and hope that, some day, God might allow us to serve them in the work they are doing in that community.

The June Alaska Mission Team will be departing FCF Church this Saturday, June 25th for 9 days returning on Monday, July 4th.

We will be running a week long summer camp for 3rd - 5th graders. Our theme is “Reach for the Sky ~ Exploring new frontiers in Christ”

Come follow us on our journey starting on Sunday, June 26th!

In preparation for the mission, each team is taught that the focus of all FCF missions is to build up and strengthen the church through serving them - and serving them means we do whatever is asked by our host church. Today, our team embodied this concept. While part of the team continued preparations to pour columns on the third floor (balcony level) of the building, the rest of the team was asked to clean up a vacant lot that has been a thorn in the community for some time. With gloves, masks, machetes, rakes & hoes in hand, the team set out with determination to clear the trash littered lot. In the beginning, people from the neighborhood watched. In the end, they worked side by side with our team, thanked them for their work and even offered us sodas as gifts to thank the team for their work. Pastor Leonardo told the group that many of them were asking why we would do what no one else would do? He used the opportunity as an object lesson. Once the lot was finished the team worked hand to hand pouring the columns which will support the balcony roof. Our day ended with services at the church of Pastor Juan. Three team members shared stories of what God has done in their lives and a few more, along with the wife of our project manager, shared a song. Pastor Juan said the stories tied in with some concepts he has been teaching their church in recent weeks. It was a day of being reminded how God connects us together so we can reach others & learn from each other.

Our first day on the work-site included clearing the second floor & moving block, sand and stone to the upper level on the third floor. The Dominican Republic is experiencing a heat wave, so the work is challenging & it’s very hot but frequent water breaks are keeping everyone going. In the afternoon, we reunited with Pastor Igancio and his family whose church we worked in from 2008-2010. The day ended with dinner at the hotel restaurant.