I hardly know where to begin. I've been in Alaska for six full days now and have several observations. I knew coming on this mission trip to the woods outside Wasilla AK would be interesting and perhaps enlightening, but I didn't quite figure on this. I'd been to Alaska a few years ago on one of those vacation cruise trips and saw the beautiful “commercial” side of things for almost two weeks via the tour-guided coach rides, the scenic doubledecker train rides and the smooth-sailing Inland Passageway cruise ship ride down to Vancouver. Very scenic, entertaining, and educational was the entire deal. What I didn't experience then was the “real” Alaska. What I'm seeing now is a truly different world. This place is beautiful overall (especially now because we literally have seen the place turn green this week right before our eyes as it's just now turning spring up here), but also very unattractive in places. Lots of shacks, lots of junk, the local folks can appear poor and scraggly, and many of the vehicles are rolling pieces of junk. Yet, attending Big Lake Baptist Sunday service was awesome...the people, the pastor, the message, the music were all wonderful. But more than that is where we are and who we're with...the LaVerne Griffin Youth Recreation Camp and Sherry and Walter Chastain (camp directors) and the Pam and George Lorenz family. I can't describe what these folks do and how they make you feel and the job they're doing here for HIM. This place is so full of love and concern and peace and caring! It sure makes you feel good being around here with these people and with our mission team. We've worked HARD (anyone who sees or uses the deck dock we built has to be impressed) (and each cabin and building has been thoroughly cleaned top to bottom, inside and out) all week to help prepare this camp for all the summer activity which is close at hand. Yet this Camp Family works hard ALL the time especially sharing their faith and the Word...quality examples indeed. I'm proud to be with this team, it's been a joy working together, getting to know each other, lending a helping hand, praying together, and sharing together...it's been fun and enjoyable. Beyond that, we've been so impressed with the work the camp staff performs, we've decided to support them more and if possible come back to help again. It's a special place with extra special people...and I'm really glad I was able to be a part of this mission trip.
MIKE McGINNIS