Alaska- A Distant Village

BRR. That is all. BRR.

Health: Whooping cough and flu.

Jeep: Broken down.

Weather: -14F

Washing Machine: Dead.

Pioneer Hours: Behind. 

Current number of people in my household: 11.

Numerous other issues not fit for the blog: And counting.

Regrets: 0.

     Wow. I'll tell you what. I've had one hectic few weeks. You know the ol' saying: "When it rains, it pours?"
Well you didn't have to prove it! One thing after another, everything went downhill and decided to break on us, all at once! That seems to be the pattern that has ever been set. Still, I have 0 regrets. Why's that?

     Just like the most recent Watchtower study said, there is no use in focusing on the negative. While you can't ignore it, don't dwell. Fix what you can, endure what you cannot, and look ahead!

Christian Courage is not self reliance! So with that said, let's focus on something more positive!

-Drum roll please-

Witnessing to a Rural Russian Village outside of Homer, Alaska! 

*confetti*  *cheer*  *flash*

          Yes,  Jehovah has once again helped me to readjust my thinking. Many times, to serve where the need is greater can simply mean being available for Jehovah to use you , no matter where you are. Take, for instance, the brothers we recently talked about at the meeting in the 2012 yearbook. In Norway, the brothers were looking for ways to open up even more of their territory, and thus bought a boat to reach more people that they hadn't reached yet. A couple with children responded to the call they heard at the DC, and were thus blessed for it. Young brothers banded together and made what sacrifices they needed to in order to serve in a higher way. They all echo what one of the Society's videos about young people said: "Jehovah doesn't use the best, he uses who is available."

   Making myself available and being a little creative, I can serve where the need is greater right here in my home Horizon while I prepare for my Next Skyline. A few sisters in Homer helped solidify my realization when they invited me to go in field with them.Little did I know, but I was in for a real treat. You see, I was in Homer for work for a few weeks, so on the weekend I agreed to go with them in the ministry. Then, one of the sisters called and said that she wanted me to drive because we needed my 4x4 Jeep. 

Uh...what for? 

"For the Russian Village, of course!"

Oh, right! The Russian Village, what else? 

...Wait, the Russian Village?

     At the end of the road out of Homer, there is a gravel road. At the end of the gravel road, there is a dirt road. At the end of the dirt road, there is a trail down the edge of the cliff. At the end of the trail, there is a beach. A little ways down the beach is another trail, that turns into a small road. That road leads into the very rural, and very small Russian Village, where 30 to 40 houses rest. This was our territory for the DC invitation work. Well paint me surprised (and relived we survived the insane trail down the cliff), and call me Sally. (don't really, that would be silly. Sally? Come on) What else to do but get started?

     First person we talked to responded very kindly, but gave us a fair warning that many would not give us ear, as they are very, very devout Russian Orthodox. Fair enough, we thought, but we must try if they would allow us. And allow they did. Though we met one or two who were very guarded and told us: "You're in the wrong village!", we admired their devotion and pressed forward. Walking the village, we got to see everything from quaint cabins, small village life, to towering mountains, the beautiful inlet, and many other wonders of Jehovah's doing.

We covered the whole village that day, sharing Russian literature and the invitation to the DC held in Anchorage. Some of the villagers spoke wonderful English, which made it easy to speak with them, but some of them really didn't speak much English at all. Pretty much all they said was 'Hello!' and nodded with a warm smile, but being upright and breathing made them a target for us! (Completely appropriate laughing fit) After a while we began to get tired, so we plopped off the small village road and rested in the tall grass and warmth of a Summer Sun in Alaska. As we did, the others in our little group returned from a house to join us. They were just given a gift of vegetables from one of the villagers, so we all shared the freshly grown nom noms as I nearly fell asleep in the grass. What a dreamy feeling I got laying there, thinking about everything we had found that day, though a tad tired from preaching and walking. I was more appreciative for the further blessings Jehovah had given me, and the opening of my mind to the possibilities so near to my own home. I never thought I'd see such a wonderful experience so close!

     After we finished the last house, we headed back to my Jeep, waving goodbye once again to the man that we first talked to, (who's business brought him across our path a number of times that day). We drove away so very content, and made a few calls on the way back to Homer. After a wonderful experience, finally I dropped everyone off at the Kingdom Hall, and made my way back to the small cabin I was staying at for work, only about 1 1/2 hours from Kenai, home. 

     With that experience, I've decided that while I prepare for my Next Skyline of serving where the Need is Great, I'll make the most of the Horizon of home. I'm planning to start setting aside whole days to take on the different Villages throughout our large territory here in Alaska. Who knows what I might find, serving where Jehovah sends me?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Thank you, Jehovah. 

Ps. And a special thanks to the sisters who invited me to join them that day! They helped me see the Need and contentment to be found in my Home Horizons.

Pss. Thanks again, readers, for encouraging me to keep up writing.

Psss. I could write a whole new post just on pssssss's. 

Pssss. Questions, comments, suggestions, recipes, etc, etc, drop me an email or comment. You should know that by now, though. Yeah?

skylinepath@yahoo.com

~T