First Hand Friday: Katrina

Summer of 2018 I had the privilege of serving on a team of 4people whose purpose was to build relationships and share the Gospel with children throughout remote Alaska. When I first accepted the call to be a part of the team, I questioned my decision. It required some sacrifices, one of which was servingat Royal Family Kids’ camp (a summer camp for foster children). I truly believed that the passion I had for serving abused and neglected children was from God, and I didn’t know why He would want me to give that up to spend the summer traveling throughout Alaska. Now do not get me wrong, I was excited for the adventure, but I tend to make my decisions by thinking through them as logically and objectively as possible, and I just couldn’t quite put the pieces together on this one. I knew it was where I was supposed to be though.

When I arrived in Alaska, I realized just how little I knew about life there. I was shocked to learn that Alaska has some of the highest numbers for child abuse and neglect, which is closely connected with substance abuse and seasonal depression. Various people I met while I was there informed me that around100% of native Alaskan children have experienced some kind of abuse.

Throughout our seven weeks in Alaska, we taught Vacation Bible School in 8 villages. Over the course of our first week we had 70 different children come to Vacation Bible School. Though the sheer number of children was surprising to me, what surprised me most was the deep need these kids desperately had for love and attention. Their need for positive attention was so intense that most days I couldn’t even walk. And by this, I mean that there were few moments that there was not a child attached to each of my limbs. When we dropped the kids off at their homes after VBS, one young girl made the same comment to me each day, “I wish you were my mom”. This wrecked me inside every time I heard these words because I knew this was a sign that her deep need for love was not being met at home. Though it was amazing to be able to have so many positive moments with the children in that short time, it made leaving very difficult. I knew that there was such a void that could only be filled with the hope of Jesus. And though it was impossible to meet all of their emotional and physical needs in one week, I pray that those children will hold on to the truth of Jesus. I pray that they will find fulfillment for their emotional and spiritual needs through Him, because He is the only one who brings true satisfaction. He is the one who has designed each of us with a plan and a purpose.

Looking back on the summer of 2018, I have a much better idea of why it was spent in Alaska. But, not all of the things Jesuswill ask me to do will make sense through my eyes in the moment. And that is

where trust comes in. It is a reminder to me that even when things don’t make sense in the moment, obedience to God is more important than understanding. He will work things out in His perfect timing. He has proved His trustworthiness time and time again to me, and to generations of believers before me.