Today we will spend a little more time at the park before we head back to Anchorage. Our flight home is just after midnight and we should be back in Austin tomorrow afternoon!
2400 foot climb to get up there!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Day 10: the summit
Yesterday (Sunday) morning we drove from Fairbanks to Denali National Park. We arrived at noon and spent the rest of the day at the park and at the small town outside the park.
Today we will spend a little more time at the park before we head back to Anchorage. Our flight home is just after midnight and we should be back in Austin tomorrow afternoon!
2400 foot climb to get up there!
Today we will spend a little more time at the park before we head back to Anchorage. Our flight home is just after midnight and we should be back in Austin tomorrow afternoon!
2400 foot climb to get up there!
Liz's log
We finally finished the playground yesterday and I have to say it's an amazing feeling! The people in the area involved with the project were amazing! It's unbelievable how much the people were willing to chip in. Terry, from Mt Drum Lutheran, got a day permit to cut down trees for mulch and he lent us his tools. Another man from the church, Dana, came by every day when he could and lent us his wood chipper and other tools as well. I can not believe how kind they were to us and how welcoming. I was told that they usually prefer high school groups to come up here because college kids are lazy and high schoolers work harder in their past experience. Well, we proved them wrong. They expected us to maybe finish half of what they asked and we managed to finish everything they wanted: the fence, the swing set, the boat area made of tires, signs for decoration, and many random tasks inside the day care where we helped. We were welcomed into their homes and went on the most beautiful hikes. All in all, I could not have asked for a better experience or a better group of people to help.
It wasn't only helping the people but it was the people that I came with that helped make this experience amazing. While we like to give him a hard time (especially me) Pastor Jim has been amazing to all of us here. He was great at leading on the site and helped us prepare some ridiculously amazing dinners. He had us each tell our story, one a night every night, and then pray over that person for their path so far and their path to come. It was an amazing experience. Just learning about each person here and then getting the chance to pray for them and also having people pray for me and my future. It's something that people just don't do very often and it was a different and yet great experience. There have been some amazing conversations and just an overall amazing time with an amazing group of people. I would honestly love to go on another trip with this group again sometime.
Now that we are finally done and we have some down time we drove to Fairbanks and Denali and are staying at the Princess Lodge there. Having a lot of down time the past two days has been fantastic, just hanging out together and hiking up another mountain. Even though this hike might have caused a few knee issues it was completely worth going through the pain to see the awesome view at the top of the mountain. Each time we hiked a mountain it was always so great to see the view. With a view like that its easy to believe that there is a Creater and someone made all that happen. It was breathtaking and I honestly wish that I could just stay here for the summer. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to come on this trip and have this experience here helping people and enjoying the beauty.
Editors note: Just like Jewelle, Liz wrote her blog post many hours ago... and I'm just now getting around to picking out pictures and posting it.
It wasn't only helping the people but it was the people that I came with that helped make this experience amazing. While we like to give him a hard time (especially me) Pastor Jim has been amazing to all of us here. He was great at leading on the site and helped us prepare some ridiculously amazing dinners. He had us each tell our story, one a night every night, and then pray over that person for their path so far and their path to come. It was an amazing experience. Just learning about each person here and then getting the chance to pray for them and also having people pray for me and my future. It's something that people just don't do very often and it was a different and yet great experience. There have been some amazing conversations and just an overall amazing time with an amazing group of people. I would honestly love to go on another trip with this group again sometime.
Now that we are finally done and we have some down time we drove to Fairbanks and Denali and are staying at the Princess Lodge there. Having a lot of down time the past two days has been fantastic, just hanging out together and hiking up another mountain. Even though this hike might have caused a few knee issues it was completely worth going through the pain to see the awesome view at the top of the mountain. Each time we hiked a mountain it was always so great to see the view. With a view like that its easy to believe that there is a Creater and someone made all that happen. It was breathtaking and I honestly wish that I could just stay here for the summer. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to come on this trip and have this experience here helping people and enjoying the beauty.
Editors note: Just like Jewelle, Liz wrote her blog post many hours ago... and I'm just now getting around to picking out pictures and posting it.
Jewelle's Journey
Psalm 18:1-2
"I love you O LORD my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortess and my deliever, my God is my rock in whom I take refuge."
Psalm 18:1 was the theme verse for this past week at the Mt.Drum Child Development center. I was encouraged while cementing poles for a fence to listen to the children outside, chanting this verse, " I love you O LORD my strength." Like these kids, I made this verse my theme verse for the week. During my time in Alaska, I needed to draw strength from God, whether it was for carrying a 50lb bag of cement or just being able to wake up with less sleep than I would like day after day. I rejoice in the LORD for his beautiful creation. Today we were in Denali national park where the mountains seem to sings hymns of praise. I am grateful for the time I have to spend with my friends in service and in fellowship. I especially rely on God because we have left but I know that the problems and hurt of the people in Copper Center and Glennallen do not end. I can trust that God continues to care for all the children of Alaska and will use our service even after we have left the state.
editors note: Jewelle wrote this hours ago and I'm just now getting around to posting it... I'm a night owl. I picked out these pictures for her.
"I love you O LORD my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortess and my deliever, my God is my rock in whom I take refuge."
Psalm 18:1 was the theme verse for this past week at the Mt.Drum Child Development center. I was encouraged while cementing poles for a fence to listen to the children outside, chanting this verse, " I love you O LORD my strength." Like these kids, I made this verse my theme verse for the week. During my time in Alaska, I needed to draw strength from God, whether it was for carrying a 50lb bag of cement or just being able to wake up with less sleep than I would like day after day. I rejoice in the LORD for his beautiful creation. Today we were in Denali national park where the mountains seem to sings hymns of praise. I am grateful for the time I have to spend with my friends in service and in fellowship. I especially rely on God because we have left but I know that the problems and hurt of the people in Copper Center and Glennallen do not end. I can trust that God continues to care for all the children of Alaska and will use our service even after we have left the state.
editors note: Jewelle wrote this hours ago and I'm just now getting around to posting it... I'm a night owl. I picked out these pictures for her.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Day 9: On the road again
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Rebecca's Ramblings
I know I promised a bunch of ya'll I'd post for a few days now, so here goes!
As a kid I spent every summer traveling around the States with my family. My favorite parts of those trips were meeting different people and imagining how I would grow up if I was from the same community they were. Since I switched my major from Biology to Human Development and Family Sciences (with only three semesters of college left), I've become especially interested in social policy and in the environmental effects of personality development.
Coming to Alaska has been an extreme learning experience. Growing up, I never really thought about Alaska (or Hawaii) as part of the US, but now that I'm here, it seems more to me like the core of rural America like anywhere else. So far we've met nothing but amazing people. The pastor here is absolutely great, and his wife is not only super involved in the church and its ministries, she also runs their music program, runs the Child Development Center as a volunteer and homeschools their four adopted children. Superwoman? I think so. When we got here were were told that a guy named Dana would be helping us out by overseeing our project, and he came every day after he got off of work. The church president also came to check up on us one day and ended up doing a lot of materials runs, got us a permit to cut down trees on the side of the highway to make mulch, left two trailers at the site so we could store materials, and hosted us twice at his house.
We also have had two of the high school youth come help us with construction. Alaska only gained its statehood in 1959, so very few people were actually born here, making it an extremely interesting mix. You're basically either a native, a retiree, or were relocated for a government or energy-based job. We've been told by a lot of the people here that the local economy depends tremendously on the government jobs, and that they are also the only ones that pay enough to get by. In addition, many of the service-based workers are spread thin. Little Man, who is the maintenence/cleaning guy here at Mt. Drum, is also the head of the volunteer fire department (which covers an immense area up here in a region where fires are common in the summer) as well as a former head of the local Boys and Girls Club. Laura, one of the church members, is the only social worker in the Copper Basin area.
She also cooked twice this week, once for youth group and again for the recovery group that meets here on Friday nights, which she also leads. Addiction is a huge problem here. You may have heard about the problems with alcoholism and drug abuse in Native American populations. They're especially prevalent here, and its interesting to ponder the causes of the problems. I'm not an expert so I'm not going to point any fingers, but I think it's important to point out some of the current problems held by the native population. Our government not only took away then destroyed their land, but we also decided that we could somehow give them something back to right their wrongs. Their solution? Reservations where each family gets a room the size of an efficiency. Some of us got the chance to see one of them, and it was basically a single room with a kitchenette and an attached bathroom. For a family of five. I've been to few different reservations in a few different states so I know that this isn't the case everywhere, but it upsets me more here in Alaska, especially when you consider that 15.6% of Alaska's population is either American Indian or Alaskan Native. Compare this with the fact that only 11.5% of Texans are African American, and it becomes apparent that the problems of the natives are the problems of the rest of Alaska.
As a kid I spent every summer traveling around the States with my family. My favorite parts of those trips were meeting different people and imagining how I would grow up if I was from the same community they were. Since I switched my major from Biology to Human Development and Family Sciences (with only three semesters of college left), I've become especially interested in social policy and in the environmental effects of personality development.
Coming to Alaska has been an extreme learning experience. Growing up, I never really thought about Alaska (or Hawaii) as part of the US, but now that I'm here, it seems more to me like the core of rural America like anywhere else. So far we've met nothing but amazing people. The pastor here is absolutely great, and his wife is not only super involved in the church and its ministries, she also runs their music program, runs the Child Development Center as a volunteer and homeschools their four adopted children. Superwoman? I think so. When we got here were were told that a guy named Dana would be helping us out by overseeing our project, and he came every day after he got off of work. The church president also came to check up on us one day and ended up doing a lot of materials runs, got us a permit to cut down trees on the side of the highway to make mulch, left two trailers at the site so we could store materials, and hosted us twice at his house.
We also have had two of the high school youth come help us with construction. Alaska only gained its statehood in 1959, so very few people were actually born here, making it an extremely interesting mix. You're basically either a native, a retiree, or were relocated for a government or energy-based job. We've been told by a lot of the people here that the local economy depends tremendously on the government jobs, and that they are also the only ones that pay enough to get by. In addition, many of the service-based workers are spread thin. Little Man, who is the maintenence/cleaning guy here at Mt. Drum, is also the head of the volunteer fire department (which covers an immense area up here in a region where fires are common in the summer) as well as a former head of the local Boys and Girls Club. Laura, one of the church members, is the only social worker in the Copper Basin area.
She also cooked twice this week, once for youth group and again for the recovery group that meets here on Friday nights, which she also leads. Addiction is a huge problem here. You may have heard about the problems with alcoholism and drug abuse in Native American populations. They're especially prevalent here, and its interesting to ponder the causes of the problems. I'm not an expert so I'm not going to point any fingers, but I think it's important to point out some of the current problems held by the native population. Our government not only took away then destroyed their land, but we also decided that we could somehow give them something back to right their wrongs. Their solution? Reservations where each family gets a room the size of an efficiency. Some of us got the chance to see one of them, and it was basically a single room with a kitchenette and an attached bathroom. For a family of five. I've been to few different reservations in a few different states so I know that this isn't the case everywhere, but it upsets me more here in Alaska, especially when you consider that 15.6% of Alaska's population is either American Indian or Alaskan Native. Compare this with the fact that only 11.5% of Texans are African American, and it becomes apparent that the problems of the natives are the problems of the rest of Alaska.
Day 8: finishing touches
C-Money Van Gogh.
One day of chipping later:
Liz paints the sail:
Pastor Jim finishing the gate:
Jewelle and our Alaskan friend Eddie paint the flower boxes.
Signage.
Terry and Sally (from Mt Drum Lutheran) invited us over for some dinner and lake time.
Rowing to the mountains.
Sally sacrifices herself for our frisbee.
before (Saturday):
after:
One day of chipping later:
Liz paints the sail:
Pastor Jim finishing the gate:
Jewelle and our Alaskan friend Eddie paint the flower boxes.
Signage.
Terry and Sally (from Mt Drum Lutheran) invited us over for some dinner and lake time.
Rowing to the mountains.
Sally sacrifices herself for our frisbee.
before (Saturday):
after:
Friday, May 28, 2010
Day 7: Almost there
We worked a very long day today and we're almost done. The fence is finished except for one hinge on the front gate. Tomorrow we need to paint and create a bunch of wood chips to go under the swing set.
John 10:7
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
James 3:4
"Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go."
Another safety inspection.
Liz guards the raw materials...
... for the wood chips we're making. There is nowhere to buy mulch in the Glennallen area.
Artist in residence C-Money painting our exit sign.
Work site update:
First officer Sally steering the ship.
John 10:7
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep."
James 3:4
"Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go."
Another safety inspection.
Liz guards the raw materials...
... for the wood chips we're making. There is nowhere to buy mulch in the Glennallen area.
Artist in residence C-Money painting our exit sign.
Work site update:
First officer Sally steering the ship.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Day 6: Blame it on the Rain
Our work day was cut short today by a rain shower. We did get the swing set up as well as some fence pickets. This evening we helped lead the weekly Mt. Drum Lutheran youth group gathering.
Emily teaching us all the fine art of pancake making.
Sara watches Brian as she waits to get her drill back.
Jewelle performing a safety inspection.
Matthew 7:3
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Clouds loom ominously overhead as the A team tries to get in a few last pickets.
Work site update:
Playing kickball reminds us all of one of our favorite camp songs:
"Drop Kick Me Jesus" by Bobby Bare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5Y1OuQIxo
Emily teaching us all the fine art of pancake making.
Sara watches Brian as she waits to get her drill back.
Jewelle performing a safety inspection.
Matthew 7:3
"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"
Clouds loom ominously overhead as the A team tries to get in a few last pickets.
Work site update:
Playing kickball reminds us all of one of our favorite camp songs:
"Drop Kick Me Jesus" by Bobby Bare:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5Y1OuQIxo
Day 5: We're going on a bear hunt
Today (yesterday, Tuesday) was a long day and my photo captioning team has gone to bed. Today we set the rest of the fence posts, got about 75% of the horizontal beams done, got one of the swing set posts set, and buried some giant tires for the kids to play on. After work we had some reindeer sausage and went out on a hike and bear hunt (We did not find any bears).
The work site:
Pastor Jim, AKA "Bear Mace"
C-Money managed to find some snow even though the temperature was in the 60s!
The work site:
Pastor Jim, AKA "Bear Mace"
C-Money managed to find some snow even though the temperature was in the 60s!
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