“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be the glory forever and ever.” –Galatians 1:3-5
I’ve got Paul’s words constantly ringing in my ears, as we’re in the middle of studying his letters to the church in Bible class here at the Tanalian Leadership Center. I feel like I “get” Paul right about now. From his fervor for encouragement of the global church, to his passion for the gospel to be spread, to the longing he expresses to be with the ones he loves, all of his writing strikes a deep chord in my heart these days.
Our team (and really our whole village) was given an extravagant gift this month: a visit from four of my most dear friends—Kitty, Melanie, Amy, and Ty. Being with “my people” was such a breath of fresh air for my Coloradoan soul, but even more so, it was beautiful to see the people of Port Alsworth experience our Denver community as it traveled 2,500+ miles to encourage brothers- and sisters-in-Christ that would otherwise never cross paths.
Thank you to everyone who made their visit to Port Alsworth possible. To those of you who filled in and stepped up at Park Church and the Denver Street School as you let me borrow our beloved children’s pastor, ParkTeens leader, gospel community leaders, teacher and advocate (the week before Easter and during finals week, none the less)– please know that I see and appreciate your sacrifices from the depths of my heart. Y’all are a testament to how well our church and community loves and supports one another. I am so humbled and honored every time I think about the multitude of ways y’all have sacrificed so the light of Jesus can be shown in bush Alaska.
I wish I could bring each and every one of you out here in a tiny plane so you could see the ways the Lord is moving. I wish you could see the way my students’ eyes light up when they make a connection in Bible and as they begin to formulate solid plans for life post-TLC. I wish you could join us at Gospel Community on Friday nights and hear the ways the Lord is transforming the hearts of the men and women of this village. And of course, I wish you could stand at the bottom of the runway with me and see the way the Lord breaks through the physical darkness every once and a while with His stunning Northern Lights…
I could tell stories of the ways the Lord has moved this month for days. (Especially after having spent time in Galena and McGrath with fellow believers, hearing what He is doing all over the state.) Alas, I have to get off my tush and go teach because spring break is over and we’re back to the grind. But stay tuned to my blog; I’ll be writing about our inter-
village trips and my friends’ miraculous adoption of this little Yup’ik cutie sometime soon. (Baby Calvin’s story is one that simply needs to be told; Jesus is too good within it to not share. But then again, when isn’t Jesus amazing?!)
Happy early Easter, sweet friends!
xo,
Kace
Louise in the Light 