For the first week, we stayed a Calvary Baptist in Anchorage and worked with an organization called Graceworks. We worked in a park called Chester park, where we set up a daycamp/vbs type program for about 40 kids that would meet us there every day. Much of the time in the park was spent playing games, doing crafts and going over the bible lesson. This was all good stuff, but I would have to say that the biggest impact didn't come from any of these things. These kids had been doing these things all summer with a new team every week. they had played lots of games, completed many crafts, and had listened to many bible stories. The biggest impact was through the relationships that were built. It was really special to see the close relationships that were built in only one short week. One of the coolest things that I saw was a 12 year old boy in our group felt moved to take all of his spending money that he had for Alaska to buy his new friend a bike because his had been stolen. The dad, so moved by his son, then went out to get another boy a bike, and yet another boy a pair of shoes. They saw the needs that the children had and went above and beyond to fulfill them. The boys were speechless when they were presented with their gifts. wow, that was a special moment.
Bikes were not only the main form of transportation for these kids, but they were also directly related to the livelihood of the kids. Seeing this, we decided to put on a bike-fixing clinic. We were able to tighten chains, put on new hand grips, new pedals, tires, and even some bells and streamers for the girls. Our team very much embodied Christ's hands and feet at Chester Park.
Friday night came and we put on a block party at the park for the kids and their families. We served 240 hot dogs, had a bouncy castle, music, face painting, balloon animals, and a small gospel presentation. Six children accepted Christ that night (more than the whole rest of the summer)! Praise God.
After saying our goodbyes, we left Anchorage on Saturday and headed to Denali State park. There, our team rested up after our week of service. We went on a glacier tour, we went hiking, took pictures of Mt. McKinley, and relaxed in the hot tubs. It was a great time to reflect on the power of God. God was able to use us and our small acts during the week to reap a bountiful harvest on Friday night. God was able to use the kids in Chester park to fill hearts with compassion and move people to give generously and selflessly. God is alive and active. what better place is there to reflect on God's power than in view of perhaps one of his most majestic creations, Mt. McKinley. There were several views that literally took my breath away and brought some members on our team to the edge of tears. God is truly a master craftsman.
I cannot believe how blessed I was in order to go on this trip. Truly the best internship I could imagine! God used this week to humble me in sight of his majesty, and remind me that he is still in the business of healing hearts and building relationships.
-- Psalm 104:
Praise the Lord, my soul.
Lord my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers,[a]
flames of fire his servants.
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.
4 He makes winds his messengers,[a]
flames of fire his servants.
5 He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
it can never be moved.
6 You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
7 But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
8 they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.
9 You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.
10 He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
it flows between the mountains.
11 They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
13 He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
14 He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.
16 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the junipers.
18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
and the sun knows when to go down.
20 You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
21 The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.
22 The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
23 Then people go out to their work,
to their labor until evening.
24 How many are your works, Lord!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
25 There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
26 There the ships go to and fro,
and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.
27 All creatures look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
to give them their food at the proper time.
28 When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.
29 When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.
30 When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the ground.
31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
may the Lord rejoice in his works —
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
may the Lord rejoice in his works —
32 he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33 I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
35 But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
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