Dear Members and Friends of St. John,
As I write this devotion a team of St. John members is
preparing to travel to the village of Eek.
We plan to lead Vacation Bible School on behalf of Alaska Mission for
Christ for the children of this village.
Perhaps the most stunning aspect of this trip is how much we do not
know. Rod and Temple Christiansen, Sara
Guhl and her grandson, Gaelen Swigart, Marilee Nufer and myself are traveling
to Eek . . . but none of us have been there before.
So, on the flight to Bethel, and then to Eek, we will be
facing the unknown. On Monday night
before we left my daughter, Mary, was explaining to me about traveling through
the Bethel Airport. Mary explained that
after we arrive inBethel on Alaska Air, and transfer to Raven airlines for the
flight to Eek, we will need to get our luggage and take a shuttle to the “Raven
Airport.” I just expected that the
Bethel airport would be like others through which I’ve traveled. It just shows what I don’t know.
We have talked to our local contact in Eek, George Alexi,
to ask questions about what we might expect.
We asked George about how many children might attend. George’s first estimate is 30-40
children. However, we also talked to
Paul Seidel from Saginaw, MI, who had led teams to Eek before. Paul too says they started with about 30
children in attendance. But, after a few
years 90 children attended. Of course,
then George told me, “I don’t know. For
the last day of Sunday School we prepared 400 hot dogs. They were all eaten!” So how many children will attend? We are prepared
for 60. Do we have too many supplies or
too few? We don’t know!
We will be staying in the Ministry House next to the
church. We have been told there are 2
beds, and a kitchen in this house, but no running water. George says there is a town well where we can
get our water. Paul says we should take
filters, so we have done that. But, we
will find out the situation better when we get there. In truth, we just don’t know.
I asked Paul, and I asked George, about fishing. Paul said the only fishing was done with
nets. But George told me the different
kind of fish they catch. He told me to
bring hiking boots, and that if I bring a fishing pole he’ll “have to go with
me.” Mary said that if I go fishing the
children will follow. I’m bringing a
little equipment. Will I really be able
to fish? Will I be able to build
relationships through this recreational activity? The truth is, I don’t know.
So, the six of us are going to Eek for the purpose of
teaching children about Jesus, but not having been there, we don’t necessarily
know what we will find. We’re not sure
how many will attend. We are going
trusting God will provide.
Have you ever faced life as a child of God not knowing
what the future holds? Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews
11:1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see.” We are UNCERTAIN of what we will experience
and find. But, what we trust is that God
will provide. With the presence and help
of God we will have what we need to do His work. We are not trusting ourselves, but we are
trusting God and His eternal love. We
are UNCERTAIN of how many children will attend.
But we are certain that these children, as all children, need the
savings love of Jesus.
Life
is full of “unknowns.” In the midst of life’s uncertainty there is one thing
certain, the love of God in Jesus Christ.
So, our team is facing the unknown as we travel to Eek, sure that the
Lord who loves us eternally in Jesus will provide what we need to do His work.
A Child of God, Trusting God When Facing the Unknown,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Here are some
pictures of a halibut fishing trip with friend, Pastor Tony Schultz. We fished on Friday, June 29, out of Seward,
AK. https://photos.app.goo.gl/v7AjypRkgcPMuPQm6
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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ - I am
sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and
friends whose e-mails I have. (I am regularly adding new names of friends
and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.) However, if you do not
want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your
name off my list for this message.
******
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