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1st Day of Class and .....Spiders!!!

 Monday morning we began our year at BBTI (Baptist Bible Translators Institute) with World Survey Class. Only half an hour long, this is where the students prepare and share with the class different missionaries that have trained at BBTI and now are on the mission field, different countries of the world and their needs and a different people group each morning. It is just a quick synopsis of each item, but it gives us a deeper look into our task of spreading the Gospel to ALL the world. It is sad how many people groups around the world have yet to have a Gospel witness among their people. 

The major foundation class we commenced on Monday was Phonetics. What is phonetics you ask and how does it apply to World Missions? Well it is the study of every human sound that is used in any language around world. The goal is hear the sound, know how to reproduce it and do so in such a manner without an accent. Some people mistakenly believe that one has to grow up making a certain sound in order to make it and that if you try to learn it as a much older person, you'll never accurately produce that sound. However!, every human is built with the same exact "equipment," that is, everyone has the same type of speech tract (structure of oral, nasal cavities, etc.) So, one can learn how to produce any sound that another human being can make, it just make take a little more training and practice than other sounds. Now, how does this apply to Missions? One needs to know another person's language to effectively share the Gospel with them. Simply using a trade language or teaching them English will not cut it. 

Anyways, Phonetics class has been very interesting, thought-provoking and challenging. But I see the need for it and will continue to strive to master phonetics. Actually I am enjoying it, but it will get harder, I know. :)

Also, we have a Culture class currently during the 2nd part of morning. Basically, a class to teach different cultures, how to adapt to them, use it in a way to share the Truth of the Gospel without being offense to their culture, how to deal with culture shock, etc. Too many missionaries in year's past went to different countries and in the process of evangelizing the people of that country, also tried to Americanize them. In order to effectively communicate the Gospel and convert others, one must first understand their culture and lifestyle. So far, everything taught, I have been convinced of already, but have been given many good examples of why knowing a culture is crucial to the spreading of the Gospel. 

Ok, now for the spiders.... I'm sure some of you are wondering how they tie in. Well, I'm from Alaska.... which means our spiders are the size of a dime or smaller. Good size if you ask me. Well, for our first day of work detail, Mary and I were assigned to clean all the outdoors kids playground equipment. We wanted to be sure it was safe for all the little kids to play on, basically no spiders. First off, we go to the washhouse to get a bucket of water, big spider in the drainhole of the sink. Maybe the size of a quarter, ok no biggie, we killed that one. Moving on.... we clean a few pieces and then! Mary discovers a large black widow spider with a large egg sack. Uh, yeah those are the really poisonous ones. Great! Scary, but we dispose of the mama and all her little babies yet to be born. No that is not cruel and unusual punishment! :) We cleaned the rest of the equipment killing a couple other nonharmless spiders. Whew, yes we are done! 

That night I am on the porch talking to my sister on the phone (not good cell reception inside my house). I set the phone down for a couple minutes, when I come back and go to pick up the phone.... aghhh!! LARGE spider less than 5 inches from my phone!!! Like large in that its body was the size of my thumb, not counting its legs! Maybe that's not large to some of you, but remember I'm from Alaska. Sscccarrry! shudder. 

So, if you think of me.... pray that I'll survive the intense phonetics class and all the huge, crazy, dangerous, scary spiders!!! :D

Native Alaskan meets HOT Texas!

Between the time I purchased my car in Denver, CO and arrived here at school in Bowie, TX, I logged almost 3000 miles on that car! Many long hours of driving, many states covered, but well worth it to see many friends and family that I hadn't seen in a long time. From Denver, I drove north to Ft. Collins area to see a friend from my days at West Coast Baptist College. Then on thru eastern Wyoming to arrive in Rapid City to see some friends I hadn't seen in 7 years! The Holders have always been a blessing and encouragement to me and still are today! I spent much time with 2 of their girls and got to see half of the family there. Also saw some dear friends in Rapid, that once lived in Alaska. 

 From there, I traveled across the state to Huron, SD - my dad's hometown. Stayed the night with my grandma on the old farm and left early the next morning. Stopped in Omaha and had lunch with my brother Luke and his wife, Sarah. Haven't seen them in 4 years. Continued driving all day until I reached Peoria, IL about 9pm that night. That was a long day! but I stayed with missionary friends, the Leutholds and Lithuanian friend. Had a wonderful 2 days with them, except I had this horrible kink in my neck. I've never had something like that before, thankfully I was able to get it taken care of before getting back on the road. 

 From Peoria, I drove another long day to Stratford, OK, where I stayed with another family. I got in later than I expected, but they were all up waiting for me. I enjoyed my time with them as well..... except the next day after leaving, I got an email from them.... seems one of the girls had lice (picked up from Vacation Bible School probably).... no big deal, except I slept in her bed the night I was with them! argh!!! :) but so far, no little bugs for me! Thank you, God! 

  I arrived in Bowie, TX Wednesday evening. I was tired.... and hot.... but I am getting settled in here. The last few days have been over 100 degrees. Its been a trial for me, but hopefully it gets cooler soon!!!

Pics from my Trip in the Lower 48

First of all, for those of you not from Alaska, "The Lower 48" is what we call the continental United States. Or I may even refer to them as "The States." You'd understand if you were from Alaska. :)
Just thought I would share some pictures with you today, since I didn't have them when I posted last.

Jonah Cofer

Rachel, who just got married in Russia

my little buddy, Amy

new friend, Lamour

at the bowling alley

Our bowling group, took us many tries to get a good pic
 and still George has a funny expression :)

with Sarah and her son Justice

southern Wyoming

I really like this picture

Big Day is Over!

@ rehearsal dinner

  The BIG day is over! The wedding went well this past Saturday. I was exhausted by the time it was over. Friday and Saturday I was busy helping do last minute things for the wedding. Saturday morning, I worked with a lady from the church for 3 hours doing the flowers. I was doing things right up until the ceremony started. But the wedding turned out beautifully! I don't think I've ever seen such a Christ centered wedding before. Judah and Heather did not take the day and make it all about them, but instead reflected that back to the Lord and gave Him all the glory for their new life together. I did not take  any pictures myself of the wedding, but I stole some from friends to show you.

beautiful couple!

  It was a fun week. There were about 45+ people that came from around the world to be there for the special day. Most that came had some kind of connection from Mongolia, where J and H lived and met. It was neat for me to meet a lot of people that I've heard about for a long time. Not only meet but also become friends with. It never ceases to amaze me that people who have no connection except that they are all brothers and sisters in Christ can come together and be friends! Though I was tired by the end of the week, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with everyone. The night after the wedding, noone wanted to just go home and go to bed, since we were all headed our separate ways the next day.... so we went bowling.... it was late and we were tired, but had a great time. :) I thought I had my camera, but I don't.... will share the pics from the bowling later.

Sigh of Relief

   I was so exhausted tired by the time I was settled into my seat for the flight from Fairbanks to Minneapolis, so I pretty much fell asleep right after taking off. Slept off and on for the next 4 hours. My brain was working much better after sleeping those hours. After waking up, I had a nice conversation with the lady sitting next to me. She had been in Alaska for a family vacation with her children and grandchildren. She was a really sweet old lady. At one point we were talking about airplanes and she told me that her father, who was born in 1892, had to go to a boarding school after his father died. Her dad as a young boy used to lean over a particular fence not far from his school and watch Wilbur and Orville Wright test fly their planes!

dark, stormy cloud near Minneapolis

   Well, about an hour outside of Minneapolis/St. Paul we hit some rough turbulence. They were having thunderstorms just outside of the city, which was causing our rough flight. It probably was the worst turbulence I've ever experienced on a large jet. Because we were in a holding pattern to land in Minneapolis and didn't have enough fuel to hang out in the sky waiting, they diverted us to Duluth, MN. The landing there was a little scary, first sigh of relief after landing there. It was gorgeous weather there, but of course we didn't get to actually enjoy it. We all sat on the plane for about an hour. Finally they cleared us for take off and to head to Minneapolis. Still rough skies near St. Paul, so more turbulence to endure. I took a picture of the sky outside the city. You can see the dark blanket cloud stretching to the west. Another sigh of relief after landing in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

flying over Minnesota

  I arrived in Denver Monday evening. Was picked up from the airport along with 2 others coming in for the wedding this weekend. They had come in from Mongolia, so they were pretty much exhausted from traveling.
  Tuesday Trina and I went car shopping for most of the afternoon. We found some possibilities, but everything nicer was a bit more than I had wanted to pay. Wednesday morning, Mickey, Jonah and I went to go look at another car. That was the one! It's nothing fancy, but good car. Its even one of my favorite colors. :) Shiny, dark forest green. So, we purchased it yesterday! A huge sigh of relief! Glad that's over.
  Several hours after buying the car, I headed down to Colorado Springs to see a friend at the Airforce Academy. It was a nice little drive (only one wrong turn). Major thunder and lightening storm down that way. I loved it! Thunder and lightening is one of my favorite things. Lance gave me a little tour of campus, it was evening by the time I got there, so most places we couldn't go into. But still got a feel for the place - it is a HUGE. After which we went to Olive Garden - yummy!!!
  Tomorrow starts the wedding preparations, so I'll be busy for the next couple days. Looking forward to it though. It will be fun with all the people we have here. Until then....

Another day, another adventure

    Another day... once again sitting in an airport waiting to board another flight.... once again assessing if I am ready for another adventure.... it's a new day, new flight, new destination, new adventure. I think I'm ready for this one, except for the fact that I am running on less than 2 hours of sleep, so my brain isn't working at full speed. The past few weeks have been so busy with regular life that I never found the time to finish packing for this trip. I had projects to finish up before leaving, so spent my time doing those. I got home from church last night just after 9 and was up until 145am. But I think I actually remembered everything this time!! even my toothbrush, which is something I frequently forget.
     It's been a long time since I've leave Alaska for such a lengthy excursion. In the past 3 years, I've just traveled for 1-3 months at a time. So, I had to think of everything I want to have for the next 10-11 months. Course this is a little different, I will just be in the Lower 48 this year, not somewhere international, so I can pick up anything I need or forgot. I had some mixed feelings yesterday about leaving, but now that I'm sitting in the airport, I'm getting excited! Once I catch up on my sleep, I'll be doing really good. :)
 Here's some pictures from yesterday of saying goodbye to friends.

my buddy, Chelsie

Bus #109 workers

with Bernarding family (who lent me a car the past 3 weeks) :)