Northern Lights

I saw the Northern Lights for the first time last night.  Ryan happened to check the forecast for it and it was going to be strong. He went out and waited.  It was still slightly twilight when they started.  The kids were still awake, so we got them out of bed and took them out to look.  It was magnificent.  This isn't my picture....I hadn't thought ahead to get the settings on my camera right.  


Doesn't that just remind you of God?  I can't even begin to describe the majesty. It's like He was taking a paintbrush to the sky before my very eyes.  It moves and sways as it shines brightly.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." -Psalm 19:1. Alaska is full of beauty.  I am blown away daily by the untouched beauty surrounding me.  I do my work beside gorgeous mountains and super tall trees and bald eagles soaring and whales spouting.  

But as I was reminded today in chapel, Jesus didn't die for beautiful scenery.  He died for souls. So while this is a beautiful place, it's not why we're here.

This past weekend, several members of the team went to a very small town near here called Hoonah. We didn't go with them, but we heard neat stories of their time there. They flew in a 10-seater plane and did a rally for Echo Ranch with the kids there.  Yes, it promoted Echo Ranch and got them thinking about summer camp, but it also allowed them to meet with the kids on their level and in their environment.  Several kids remembered people on the team from last summer.  Our director talked with a wrestling coach who told him two wrestlers that he had known personally committed suicide recently.  One shot himself in the stomach.

Suicide.  Depression.  Abuse.  Just some of the things the kids from southeast Alaska deal with on a regular basis.  Echo Ranch exists to share Jesus with these kids and families.  We are in process of making more connections with these villages, through both people living there and some social programs like suicide prevention and anti-bullying in the schools.  It's an avenue to build relationships through which the Gospel can be shared and lives can be transformed in Christ.

Will you pray?  Pray for us here this summer.  Much spiritual battle is done on our knees and nothing here can function without your prayers!  Pray for the villages, for hope and connections to be made. Kids come to Echo Ranch not just from Juneau, but also from Hoonah, Gustavus, Petersburg, Angoon, Haines, and Skagway. Pray for the kids, for God to work mightily in their hearts.  Pray for boldness in sharing the Gospel and opportunities.  One of the girls here who isn't on staff this year (but has been in the past) is helping on weekends with the horses.  She rode on the luggage trailer for the last retreat and was able to explain the Gospel to a mom who was also on the trailer.  Opportunities are everywhere.