4th of July

  "Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the   field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not    what course others may take; but as for me, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!"       -Patrick Henry, 1755


"It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible."                       - George Washington

Praise the Lord that we can celebrate Independence day! 236 years ago, our forefathers declared to England and King George that they would not stand for his injustice and tyranny. They proclaimed themselves free. Free to make their own choices. Free to be governed by themselves. 

FREEDOM

is a precious word. 

It is not something that is free however. Many men, women and children have given their time, fortune, land, family and some even their lives, so that today we could be free. 

Don't forget their sacrifice. Remember them. 

Thank those who are still alive who give of themselves.

For the 4th, I decided to make some patriotic cookies. I had the day off which meant I actually had the time to do it. :) Start off with some Alaskan blueberries and (not Alaskan) strawberries. 

So vibrant blue... and vibrant in taste! 

Cookies baked, icing made, blueberries ready. Time to slice the strawberries and.... 

 you have.... Red, white & blue Stars!

They look pretty cool, huh? 

but they took a lot of time! so after 14 of them, I decided it was enough. :)  

Rock Crossing

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul. 
For He alone is worthy!

I am SO grateful that I have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe! 

His love for me overflows my heart. His peace encompasses my soul. His strength enables my body. His grace renews me!

The past two weeks I spent out at Rock Crossing Bible Camp, out on the Tanana River. It is one of my favorite places in the world. The first week of camp was for kids in villages. We had campers from Selawik, Pt. Hope, Ft. Yukon and Fairbanks. We had an awesome group - had some sweet times of prayer, made lots of memories, took tons of pictures, heard powerful preaching and the sweetest part of all - saw souls trust in Christ alone for their salvation! God gave me the opportunity to witness to several girls. One prayed to receive Christ and two others prayed the next day to accept Him. 

There is NO greater thrill than to see someone release their trust in themselves and place in Christ's hands. For Only thru Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross can one truly know they are born again and on their way to heaven. 

on the Tanana River

The second week of camp was for kids from Fairbanks, particularly those from my church. Another good week. Actually had less campers the second week than the first which normally doesn't happen.

I want to praise God for His constant working in my life. No matter how much one learns and grows, there is always so much more to learn. The past two weeks God worked on my heart countless times.

Missions Conference

This is a little late, but better late than never! :) 

The week I arrived home in Alaska, our church had their Spring Missions Conference. 

We had several missionaries, most of whom are working in the Asia region of the world. One however was working in Lithuania. I met him two summers ago when I was in Lithuania with Couriers for Christ. Since then, Nathan and his family have been friends of mine and we've stayed in touch. It was good to see him again, though it would have been even better if he could have brought his family. 

3 Greenfields, 1 Fairchild and Nathan 

 The main speaker for the week was Bro. Gil Anger from Australia. It's been a while since he has been to Alaska, so it was good to see him again. He is a good friend of my dads. In some ways, they are a lot alike. Anyone who knows both of them can tell you that. :) Both are straight shooters - no beating around the bush. Haha Seriously, I enjoyed hearing him preach and was greatly challenged in many ways. As I hope many in our church were. My prayer is that my church will be more focused and united in the goal of World Missions. 

Bro. Anger with Dad (and Lacey)

Bro. Anger with 3 Greenfields

 Another missionary at the conference is headed to SouthEast Asia. He is going to a closed country, so he has his work cut out for him. But his passion for Christ is evident and I'm sure God will direct his steps. As Bro. Anger said, there are no closed countries. God made the world and He can make a way for you to enter the area He had directed you to. 

missionary to SE Asia

I was glad I had that first week off work, as I was extremely exhausted by the time I got home to Alaska. I was able to enjoy the Conference without worrying about work. As always, there is no place like Home. 

But truly my real Home is in heaven with my Saviour. I look forward to the day I will be there and will never have to say another goodbye! 

Graduation!

Last Saturday was the BBTI Graduation! 

It was a overcast, drizzly day, so the decision was made to move the ceremony from BBTI to the church in town. The ceremony went well. Bro. Rex's challenge to the students was excellent! and Bro. McElroy preached a good message. 

Afterward, we had an great lunch of deep fried catfish - thanks to Pastor Terry! It was actually my first time having catfish. By then, the skies had cleared up some, so we were able to eat outside.

It was a bittersweet day. 

Exciting to be done with school, hanging out with all my marvelous friends from my time in Texas and looking forward to being home in Alaska.

But also knowing that I would be saying goodbye to those marvelous friends in just a few short hours. 

Days like that make me ache for heaven, where we won't have to say goodbye!

an amazing friend! I love you, LL

haha! the Schnell kids! gonna miss them

oh the stories that could be told about this group ;)

!Fabulous Four!

next time... across the globe? 

always in my heart!

On another note....

Yesterday was my 26th birthday! 

Yikes!

Those who are younger than me think I'm old and those who are older think I'm still a child. lol

But I am thankful to my Lord for the 26 years He has given me. 

And I hope that I will be able to please Him in whatever time He gives me from today forward. 

more Jungle Camp pics

Team #1 with our shelter

Tim giving instructions about collecting water

another method of getting water from the environment

Abigail and I watching the chicken butchering

skinning the chickens

Tim and Steve butchering the pig

fresh chicken on the spit

man, it was tasty when it was finished!!

homemade raft 

had to get everyone across

Arianna and Elicia on the raft

Jungle Camp

Right after I got back from California, we began Jungle Camp! 

Monday morning we started and then finished up Friday around noon. We slept outside, some had tents, but myself and some of the other girls had a shelter built out of natural resources and a couple tarps. The weather was a little chilly the first night, but after that it was not to bad for sleeping. Course we had sleeping bags, so it was all good. Though by the end of the week, I was starting to hurt from the hard, uneven ground. But coffee made in a percolator over an open fire makes it worthwhile. :) 

nothing better than coffee around a campfire

On Tuesday, we butchered a pig and 4 chickens. Earlier we had been split into 4 teams, so each team got a quarter of a pig and a chicken to cook for a dinner that night. We had a community meal that night with everyone contributing. Our quarter of pig got stuck thru with a long stick and roasted over the fire. The chicken we started baking in the clay oven, but it didn't cook all the way, so we threw it in a pan and finished cooking it over the fire. 

roasting a leg of pig

carrying the meat to dinner

lots of yummy food

There was so much food. All cooked out the "jungle." Our team did skewered pork, baked/fried chicken, fried cactus (like fried okra, but better), onions & carrots, and (wild) garlic potatoes. Tim also baked a snapping turtle. And Josh killed and fried a snake. 

snapping turtle, anyone?

how about snake?

I think everyone had a great time living in the woods. I know I did. We learned how to make a fire, build a shelter, collect & purify water and snare/trap animals to eat, all with natural resources. Its amazing what you can do to survive with just a knife. 

We also had a great time of fellowship. Three of the nights, we all gathered together and had some singing and preaching. You can't beat singing praises to the LORD when you are surrounded by His creation! 

special song during camp service

our team's natural shelter

our team - #1

I was exhausted that week, since I had just gotten back from California Monday morning and we had some late nights. But it was amazing to be around fellow believers, who have the same focus in life and learn to work together "to survive." I think if I had to be stranded somewhere remote, I'd pick the people from my team to be stranded with. (ok, maybe Tim C. also!) :) 

I don't have many pictures I know, but might post some more soon!