I had many sad moments this past week in Alaska. Sad because Rob and I never made it to Alaska together. I know he was there in spirit and it felt good to see the Alaska he loved. It really brought it home when we arrived at the airport to leave and there were lots of fisherman with their boxes of fish and their poles.
Alaska is a beautiful place and Grace Works has a beautiful mission. (I wrote the above the last week of July and never finished this post. Will do my best to finish it well now.)
There were several reasons I wanted to do this Mission Trip:
1) Rob and I had talked about doing a mission trip, but didn’t get to.
2) 2018 was my year to draw nearer to God and to heal my broken heart. Doing His work is always a good way to do both.
3) The team was lead by my dear friend Stacy, who had gone the year before. She had an amazing week and a God Wink moment.
4) Finally, it was the same week of the year that Rob always went fishing. That week was chosen because it was the ideal time for 4 kinds of salmon to be running. It was God’s timing that this was the particular week that our church was going to Anchorage out of 10 weeks that Grace Works runs the mission.
We were one of eleven teams at Grace Works that week. Each morning we would have breakfast and then chapel. Each team was assigned a park and we would go to the park after our lunch. We would interact and play with the children in the park, serve them lunch, have a Vacation Bible School lesson and craft. Before we left we would have a prayer circle. Each afternoon our prayer circle grew with more of the children staying to pray with us.
The Bible tells us what we do or do not do for others is a reflection of what we do for our Heavenly Father.
Mathew 25:40 & 45 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
On Monday afternoon I didn’t know if I could do it all week. My emotions were high. I wasn’t used to standing in a park. I wasn’t used to the noise of children. It was a lot to take in. Some of these children’s only meal of the day would be what we brought that day.
After a good nights sleep and a refreshed heart through our own chapel, the rest of the week was easier. Fulfilling and healing. What we do for others is very important for them, but it’s always very good for us as well. I did find some healing for my broken heart through this Alaskan adventure via a mission trip.
Father, may we all be more charitably minded. May we see others through Your eyes. Please help us to understand that while we are giving and/or doing with a glad heart that we can not out give You. It might be healing, it might be our own salvation, it might be financial, it might be peace. You as our Father give us good gifts. Help us to be more giving. Amen
Grace Under Pressure 
Thank you Tammie! That was very inspiring! I have had to take in all your posts on Grief and examine my own life, I am learning about God’s love right now, and how to let God be in control of all situations. Dying to self is a minute by minute decision and very painful at this time. Trust is the answer; just as your scripture above reads.
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