“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

This HAS been a season!  Spring, Summer, Snippets, Stories, Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, and God’s Faithfulness- we have seen it all. Lest this update become a novel, I’ll put in some headings to frame the snippets and stories!  Enjoy a pumpkin latte as you scan through this update.

 

Ministry Assignments

Our new primary assignment is to be the “Project Managers” overseeing and supporting the relocation of our International Office from Oregon to Alaska. Secondary ministries include doing occasional workshops or teaching, mentoring, and counseling in a variety of arenas. I (Jill) am also adjunct faculty at Alaska Bible College and am teaching one course this semester - so much fun!

 

Project Manager Snippets & Stories

Picture this- Steve in his office by the garage/shop of our house, and me on the other side of the house at my stand-up desk in my office, picking up the phone to call him so I don’t exceed 15,000 steps today! We love meeting with Lucas, our new Executive Director. The rest of our time? Technology. Zoom for meeting staff who work from the current office location, iPhones to the ear as we talk with others, SWOT analysis worksheets, Excels, Google -research, and folders, after folders, after folders as we set up the system that works well for all of us. Along with this I have helped our HR director to update some important policies and procedures, and the training to accompany them.Maybe tonight Steve and I will walk in the autumn sunshine instead of calling! 

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Workshops, Training, Teaching Snippets & Stories

Envision is a ministry Alaska has that invites inquiring individuals/families to spend time on the Alaska field, meet leadership, and assess how God may be calling them into missionary service. The meeting room was all set up, the PP was updated, papers set out and in comes the family. A lovely family with three beautiful children. From Wisconsin? Nope. Georgia? Naw. Iowa? No way.  Australia!  We had a great time swapping stories even as we completed the training before they jumped on a small plan to head to tiny village, Alaska, and experience ministry InterAct style. We bade them farewell and g’day.

We enjoyed doing a workshop at partnering agencies, and one was on Missionary Resiliency. The workshop was fun but the inquiring conversations were riveting and engaging! 

 

Mentoring & Counseling Snippets & Stories

Mentoring Alaska style looks a bit different. It might be on a hike to see the inlet and dunes, or in the counseling room, on a small plane, sitting overlooking the Matanuska, or from the comfort of an office space with Zoom screen. Regardless of the context, we love the opportunities God has given us to mentor and coach so many people. Counseling generally looks more…normal. Faith Church (Colorado) helped us paint and prepare our new counseling room on Campus, which is outside of the office area and very convenient and cozy, a perfect place for a warm cup of tea as we search God’s word together - couples, singles, children, each one a good friend!

 

Scattered Snippets & Stories

Our annual conference was amazing- the weather, the visiting- messages- and just being together!

Sarah & Ruth (& grandson Wyatt) surprised me with a 3-day camping trip to Talkeetna.

Faith Church ministry team in July- extraordinaire! Encouraging!

Granddaughter Avelyn graduated from high school. 

Granddaughter Anna got engaged, got married!

I got to experience some health challenges with the digestive system- doing ok but glad to have a GI appointment in September.

We got truck and camper back from OR, sold the over-cab camper, bought a cute used trailer, fixed engine again, got a replacement truck- gasoline - and are about to sell the older diesel! Whew.

 

Steve & Jill