After Tim and Robin returned we had a little free time on our hands so we finally had the opportunity to start sight seeing. We took a few trips to different coast areas and they were just breath taking! Ben packed up on a men's trip to hunt caribou! They drove 5 hours from Eagle River, traveled in on a razor about 6 hours around the mountains and got 2 VERY large caribou. They arrived home at 5am and Tim and Ben had to be back at church leading worship and preaching by 8am! Crazy weekend but they did amazing!
While Ben went hunting my girlfriend and fellow missionary, Sarah, took me on an amazing hike. That's more my style! Mountains as far as we could see. It started to rain, but it was still an amazing experience! Sarah has served as a missionary in Alaska for over four years during the summer and has also served on a short term trip to Africa. She knows she's been called to full time ministry and loves serving in the remote villages of Alaska. It has been such a blessing to get to know her and serve along side her!
Catalyst Church ANC is the church plant we serve with. They are a supported church through North American Mission Board (NAMB). They've been doing bible study as of a year this month, They used to meet in a coffee shop for 6 months before they outgrew it and moved to a nearby community theater where they've now had regular services since January! It's crazy how quickly they've grown and the impact they are already having in the community around them. This December they will have their first church international mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Pastor Tim has developed a relationship with a pastor there for many years and took many teams there in the past from his previous church. It will be a great opportunity for 1st time mission trip attendees and growing together as a church. Ben and I have been asked to consider going as translators and we are excited to pray through the opportunity!
This a group of the youth that are bused in every Sunday morning! They all have chosen to wake up around 7am to get up and get ready for church. They head out together to the bus pick up spot to be brought to church. No one is obligated and they all come even though their parents don't...yet! ;D
Our amazing youth staff disciple them, serve them, and a few of the youth have started serving in other parks to different youth! They are excited about learning and reaching their own community as they learn more and more about God's love for them. Praises to a ministry that just this last week DONATED a much needed 15 passenger van to pick them up weekly! There is still some work to be done on it, but we are BLESSED!
Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers. The fall is officially here and we've even seen some snow on the mountains around us. As beautiful as it all is, there's the harsh reality that some youth will be facing a hard winter! We've had some of the older kids tell us about many friends who prefer living outside of their homes to avoid abuse of different kinds. We have come to know many of this kids and they simply seek safety. During the summer it's easy to find safer places to sleep, but during the winter it becomes dangerously cold and many feel the weight of hopelessness. They don't feel they have a fighting chance and they don't feel supported by their community. It's truly heartbreaking to hear and not know of different options. There are visions of a possible youth center or even home in the far future, but there still lacks money and staffing. PLEASE be in prayer with us and Catalyst church as we all keep learning of more of the needs in the community. Abandoned children aren't just in other countries, but here in our backyards. They all absolutely need prayer, but if you feel moved to donate to the youth here through Catalyst please let me know and we will connect you to the right people,
BLESSINGS,
Ben and Nat Heath <3
