The Talk of Ekwok

This week we were in Ekwok. While in Ekwok we stayed at the rustic Ekwok Bible Chapel complete with a wood stove and a double seat outhouse! It's like camping at some times. We had to get our water each day. I was reminded as we took our five gallons each day of how many women will walk 6k one way to get water. I bet their water isn't as clear as the water we got either. I was thankful getting the water that it wasn't even 1k away and always someone to help carry it!

On Monday we flew into the village ready to go! We had 9 kids the first day! Considering that there's only 14 in their K-8 school in Ekwok it was quite the success. After VBS we walked down to the river. As we were traveling down we saw two new kids. We tried talking to them from a distance but they were shy. We kept on walking only to realize that we were being followed by two little people. After letting them follow us the older one opened up and started talking to us!

On Tuesday the two kids we saw down by the river came to VBS! Our total was 11! Tuesday night a real match of Scrabble was played as we watch the evening go by! We also discovered that the air mattress that Twila was sleeping on didn't hold air that well as she rolled off in the middle of the night into the pew. She's okay with just more stories to tell now!

Wednesday we had one new kid! The older boys weren't able to come though due to some work that the village had for them to do. That night we were invited to go steam at the neighbors. Steam in basically a sauna. After we were clean and warm we watched American Ninja Warrior!!! It was an especially good episode as we saw someone from a remote Alaskan village run! Nick Hanson is his name. He's a pretty big deal up here! He's a great role model for the kids and is able to climb an 18 foot warped wall!

Thursday at 10:30 in the morning two little hands came knocking on our door. They had decided to show up early for VBS that starts at 1! At VBS we had yet another new student! That's 13 if anyone is counting. It was sweet to see when the older boys got off work early they came to VBS! I realized I didn't tell you earlier but by older I mean they just finished 6th or 7th grade. That night we had an hour of praise lead by Twila on guitar and Katrina on the keyboard. We had 8 people come worship our Savior with us. I remember my first summer up here that we wanted to do that but didn't quite know if we could. Two years later though it ended up being a reality!

Friday we had a program for the village even though some kids thought it was too embarrassing! We had a good handful of people come see it! All the kids were able to say the verse that we learned this week too! We then loaded up the plane to depart Ekwok destination Naknek. In Naknek we enjoyed seeing the people that are here to help with the NET. The NET is a ministry where they minister through hospitality to people that most likely never get invited over to someone's house. They are people that are or have been homeless. People who know very little English. People who curse like a sailor. They invite them in have fresh coffee and cookies waiting for them as they walk through the door and a face that says I care. I know I'm excited for another summer of the NET! The Swanson's invited us all up here to come to their house for supper/dinner/evening meal. It was a good time of fellowship filled with laughs!

You can pray for us as we head to Koliganek this week and will be staying in the Church. Which means another week of an outhouse! Except this one is not a double seat and the door is not attached. You have to lean the door up against it.

Prayers for a great transition as John and Carol take over for Randy and Twila.

Prayers as I travel down to Arizona and back up for a wedding.

Pray for the beautiful souls that we meet that they will be impacted to the point that it will effect multiple generations. That revival would happen as we seek the Lord and are faithful to his call.

Let is know how we can be praying for you too! Love you all!!