Fish Heads.

So true to Alaskan standard, our plans didn't go...well... as planned. It turns out that when David George said that we were going to Kenai on Monday he actually meant Thursday. Seems logical to me...
Anyway, so instead of Gary Bearce saying, "Take these next couple of days off. You guys deserve it after I took away your only other days off this summer without asking you," he spent all morning looking for some work for us to do. We were put on a construction crew working on Bodenburg Butte Baptist Church. They are totally remodeling. We scrapped popcorn off ceilings, caulked between siding (I was an expert and this), and painted. Overall it was a good experience and the building looks great.
So Thursday finally arrived and we took off for Kenai. Allow me to fill you in on the sitch.
The last three weeks in July Alaskans (residents only) are allowed to dip net for salmon in the ocean. This involves a huge net, standing out in the ocean, and waiting for a fish to swim into your net. Once this occurs, you then drag it on shore and beat it with a stick to kill it, cook and enjoy. Each head of household is allowed to catch 25 fish, and and additional 10 for each family member there with them. Most people reley on fishing to last them through the winter, so naturally everyone brings mama, kids, baby, grandma, you name it. There are literally 10-15 thousand people on a small beach over the course of the weekend. So many that people are standing shoulder to shoulder in the water. They call it combat fishing because you have to fend off other people just to get your fish. I am helping to run a massive outreach that simply shares the love of Christ by serving the fishermen. No bible pushing, just service. We give out free hotdogs/drinks. Provide a kids club for children who would otherwise be running around the beach. First Aid station, and my favorite...we give people hand sanitizer at the port-a-potties. Awesome. This service obviously leade people to ask questions and then we may have the opportunity to share. I told one guy that we were sanitizing for Jesus. It has really been an great experiece. I saw one guy catch a 56 lb. king salmon. It was huge.
We are working with two groups of college students (one from TX, and one from LA) who are here as staff working this project for both weeks. (other mission teams from all over the U.S. are coming one of the two weeks to work with us as workers. We are here both weeks as supervisors and behind the scenes peeps) They are all just incredible people and I have loved working with them.
Yesterday we had a free day and we decided to go to Seward. It was an amazing little town. So pictuaresque with mountains and the bay. Awesome. We went to some shops and the Sea Life center, which was awesome. We had some good seafood and headed out. We then drove up to Exit Glacier and hiked in the rain to see it. It was cool, but everyone got soaked. Overall a fun day.
Today we spent preparing for the next set of teams to work the second half of our outreach. We cleaned the church we are staying at and go all of the beds situated for the teams. It was a busy day.
I will be here through the weekend, the Gentry and I go back to Talkeenta for VBS, then Jam Camp, Mountainview Camp, and then I come home!!! I honestly have mixed feelings. I LOVE Alaska and don't think that I could ever spend enough time here, but part of me misses home and is ready to go back to school. Oh well.
Thanks for all of your continued prayers and support.
Kev