Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Heading home

As we head home and reflect on what the past two weeks have been like... one word comes to my mind, POWERFUL! God's powerful hand at work in ALL we experienced! It has been an awesome, in some ways indescribable and definitely unforgettable mission trip! First of all, I must give God a "shout-out"... He is one magnificent artist... the view from the plane alone (much less what we saw while camping and sight-seeing)... the ocean, to the mountains, the terrain, the sky, the sun in all its glory, the rain we can see falling from the clouds below us, the separation between clouds & pure sky.... Mmm, mmm, mmm...  BEAUTIFUL to say the least! Thank you Lord for creating these pieces of nature for us to gaze upon & PRAISE YOUR NAME because of all of its splendor! I love you Lord God, continue blessing us on our journey home, I trust fully that You will! 






Before leaving Kenai, we met as a team to have our final devotion. Our main focus was how and what we will report back to CCC and the mission board. We can see so CLEARLY where God's hands have placed certain people in just the right place, at just the right time to make this camp possible! He is so at work in Stebbins! Kellan & Marlene's testimonies themselves are proof of that, whew! Oh how my heart breaks for their family and the healing that so desperately needs to take place for a future life of joy. God, I ask You to send someone (or allows us from afar) to minister to them in our time apart and help them gain that restoration. For the campers and villagers... again my heart BREAKS. So many of them have had to endure things that no child (or person for that matter) should ever have to face. I pray they find comfort, hope & healing in what was testified from so many believers at camp. As well as the TRUTH they can read in their bibles we gave them! Lord, give them courage to speak/stand up for themselves and what they now know is unacceptable, and receive grace and mercy from their parents and relatives! May my thoughts not fade of them, and may I not cease lifting them up to you in prayer daily. You alone God, bring all the things the people of Stebbins need. Pour out Your LOVE, PEACE, GRACE, JOY, MERCY, HEALING AND SALVATION on this village! And may ALL praise, honor and glory be Yours and Yours alone! What is Your plan Lord for this camp and our team? Is it Your will for us to return (I sure hope so) and when, reveal Your will to us oh God! 

To our prayer warriors and many supporters.... THANK YOU!!!!!! This trip would not have been possible without each of you! We are eager to share more in person of what we have experienced on our mission trip!



Monday, July 22, 2013

Alaska Missions • Salmon Frenzy

Alaska Journeying

[Nome • Saturday 20 - Sunday 21] On Saturday, the guys took a trip to Teller... musk ox sighting, reindeer hunt, fishing and many hours of fellowship and discussion in the van with Pastor Bruce Landry of Nome Community Baptist Church. The girls spent the day at the local craft fair, meeting and ministering to the native crafters in Nome.  And best of all, we spent a few hours at the children's home with 12 beautiful kiddos that wanted nothing more than our love which we gladly poured out over them!  Sunday, we took part in the worship service at NCBC by sharing with the congregation all the mighty works God is doing through Kellan & Marlene, as well as our adventures at Camp Unity.  Also got asked by a few of the local gold miners that were present at the church service to come out and see their gold mining operations on the beach.





[Monday 22] We flew into Anchorage and are now driving to Kenai Peninsula.  Staying at First Baptist Church of Kenai to catch the end of Brenda Crimm's 'Salmon Frenzy' operation before heading home late Tuesday evening to Charlotte.  God's glorious creation around us is overwhelming and simply breathtaking!  Even spotted a young bear in the water while driving along the river, thank you Lord! 






    (Look closely to see the bear!)

{Psalm 19:1-6 GNT}  How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!  How plainly it shows what He has done!  Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next.  No speech or words are used, no sound is heard; yet their message goes out to all the world and is heard to the ends of the earth.  God made a home in the sky for the sun; it comes out in the morning like a happy bridegroom, like an athlete eager to run a race.  It starts at one end of the sky and goes across to the other.  Nothing can hide from its heat.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Camp Unity 2013

After a heart warming, exhausting and spiritually lifting time at camp (25 miles from Stebbins/accessed by boat only), we are safely back in Nome. Praise God! Happy to report many lives were touched and changed at camp, including our own! We will never forget the faces, friendships and experiences from this last week. It is apparent God is working here and we pray that we have the privilege to continue to be a part of His ongoing works here! Eager to share more stories with everyone once we return home. May God be glorified & His name made known in the remaining days of our mission! Thank you all for your prayers, they have been felt indeed! 
{Kiddos unite}

{Praise & worship off the Bering Sea, Norton Sound region}

{Katcheak & Post families heading to camp, along with David from Anchorage}

{Stebbins Team • Camp Unity 2013}



Thursday, July 11, 2013

Stebbins Team arrived safely in Nome, AK

We had an expectedly LONG trip from Charlotte to our destination in Nome... approximately 18 hours.  Praise the Lord we arrived safely and with all 12 members of our team! Everyone is now adjusting to time change and resting up before we depart in the morning for Stebbins. 



Tuesday, July 9, 2013

We leave in less than 24 Hours.........Ready to GO.

Denali (Mt. McKinley)from 30,00ft


If you are following our upcoming 4 family Mission trip to Stebbins Alaska, I have enclosed below an Itinerary as well some specific daily prayer requests. We will be updating as frequently as we can, but we do have some limited connectivity during this trip. Please be in prayer for our team as well as those who we will be living along side in Alaska. We are grateful and blessed to have so many interested in this trip. This trip is the first full family oriented trip and there are many uncertainties and concerns. We do however know that the safest place to be is in the center of Gods will... and so we GO!!

Yours In Christ,
Team Stebbins

Team Stebbins AK-  Russell, Meredith, Rachel and Sarah Post;  Lee, Jenny, Judd and Anna Lee Shank; Mike, Ronna and Chloe Green; and Grace Meeks. Note that Sarah, Judd and Annalee are traveling children and are not missionaries by church definition. We call them our junior missionaries.

Trip Agenda/Itinerary -
Weds 10 - leave charlotte at 5:54 pm, Flights and travel , arrive in Nome at 9:00 following morning.

Thurs 11- arrive in Nome, access supplies and gear. Help with mission outreach and building and equipment repairs at Nome Community Baptist Church. Spend night in Nome at church.

Fri 12- fly early with all gear to Stebbins AK on 8 seat planes. Long flight 2.5 hrs over Alaska wilderness. Get with ministry partner( the Katcheak family) to set up parameters, rules and agenda and teaching structure for camp. Develop safe boundaries and structure for 6 days of camp. Sleep in AOG church in Stebbins

Sat 13- Transport supplies, kids, families, and get camp set up 12-15 miles from Stebbins up river from the Norton Sound. Expecting 60-80 campers and aprox 20 adults.

Sun 14-18 camp activities, 1 hour worship in morning and in evening. Daily activities are fishing, gathering from land food, building projects. Cleaning, curing and smoking fish fir winter. Evening devotionals and lessons around camp fire. Planning all teaching and lessons as we get feel for where these kids are, praying for discernment in this area,

Thurs 18- break camp and return all camp and people to Stebbins
Spend evening assessing camp and needs with Katcheak family

Fri 19-Sat 20 and Sunday 21-  Flights back to Nome, debrief with team and assist Pastor Bruce with his missionaries teams and support in Nome for 2 days. Rekindle old relationships in Nome. Work at elderly center and Battered women's shelter

Sunday 21- Help out with Sunday service in Nome Community Baptist Church, praying for revival in Nome.
 Monday 22- Fly to Anchorage- Picked up by IMB Missionary Brenda Crimm and transport to her summer missions work around anchorage serving in youth ministry food program. Spend 2 days at her camp in Kenai Peninsula near Anchorage.
Tuesday 23- Free day of Halibut fishing and sightseeing or further assistance with summer missions work around Anchorage? 
Weds 24- Fly out  at 1:00 am arrive home at 5:00pm to Charlotte-
 
Prayer Requests for each day of trip-
July 10th- Travel safety and on time flights and smooth arrival of baggage- Pray for compassion, wisdom, discernment, Holy Spirit filling within the entire Team
11th- Pray that we encourage Pastor Bruce in Nome. Focus and prepare for the coming week of camp.- Pray for Mike, Ronna and Chloe Green
12th- Safe arrival in Stebbins- travel Safety- Catch up and encourage the Katcheak family as we prepare agenda for camp. Pray for Kellan and Marlene Katcheak
13th- Pray for eyes, ears and hearts to be open as camp starts- Pray for the campers who arrive. Point out the pain and the lostness to our eyes.
14th- First full day of camp, Pray for a Sunday Service that gives full Glory to God in the Highest, Pray for and Grace Meeks-
15th- Pray for safety around the river for everyone as well as safety from the wildlife (Grizzlies, Moose), Pray for Lee and Jenny Shank, Annalee and Judd
16th- Pray that we are able to find the right connection point in scripture and teachings, Pray for Russell Post
17th- Pray that all families honor the Lord as an example of Godly relations and balance within the family, Pray for Meredith, Sarah and Rachel
18th - Pray that there is a revival and filling of the Holy Spirit moving within every heart in the camp- Pray for changed lives as camp breaks
19th- Pray for travel mercies and safety for all involved 80-100, Pray for the enemy to be held back as campers return Home
20th- Pray for us to find and rekindle past relationships, Pray for energy and endurance for the team.
21th- Pray that we are so full of the Spirit that we introduce everyone we run into in Nome to our friend Jesus. Pray for supernatural boldness.
22th- Pray that with our help, clarity is found for the next Pastor of Nome Community Baptist Church. Pray for Pastor Bruce Landry
23th- Pray that we can make a difference with all the children we meet in Anchorage, Pray that we can find one lost sheep and help him find His Creator
24th- Travel mercies and safety- Pray we arrive home healthy and ready to share clearly the Mission, Pray for the hearts of CCC to be broken for the lostness in our communities and beyond.  
As requests, needs, burdens or emergencies come up, I will try to relay them.
Thank You so much for your passion for the Lost,
Your Brother in Christ
Russell Post-Team Leader

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Our Alaska Mission Team

Isaiah 52:7 ... Missionaries ...
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" 

Friday, July 5, 2013

The Katcheaks

We will be camping and ministering with the Katcheak Family. 

Introduction to our Stebbins, Alaska team

In a few days, four families will travel towards the Arctic Circle to Stebbins, Alaska to spread the Gospel to the Yupik Eskimos.  Watch to see how we manage to sleep in churches, schools, and tents, camp near the Bering Sea, fish for salmon, hunt for caribou and bond as one large family for 14 days.  Grace, Mike, Ronna, Chloe, Lee, Jenny, Judd, Annalee, Russell, Meredith, Rachel and Sarah are off to experience "Fishin' with a Mission".  Sign up to follow our travels. 

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