I'm Home.... I mean Nome 😊

Wow..... So God is so good! First an foremost I just want y'all to know that! He is doing some amazing things with the people of Western Alaska! It is currently 1:30 AM and we have a BUSY day tomorrow, but I just can't sleep before updating everyone!

So, while interning for SMAK this summer, I knew I would be going back to Nome at some point.... But I didn't realize just how much I missed it, or how excited I was to come back! I kid you not, when I was on the plane to fly back to Nome, I was giddier than a 4 year old going to Disneyland for the first time!!! I seriously CANNOT explain to you guys in words how my heart feels in western alaska. I mean, it is literally where The Lord needs me right now. My prayer now is simply that I have the courage and exciting desire to walk through ALL doors The Lord prepares to open for me! He will always lay out a pathway for us, it is simply up to us then to take the steps!

So immediately when we got back to Nome, I knew I needed to go to the Children's home, where I spent ALOT of time last summer. I feel In love with those kids immediately last year, and i was excited to see how The Lord has moved there over the year. 

Well, I come to find out that 4 of the children that I worked with last summer had returned to the home because of unhealthy confidential circumstances. My heart is literally breaking for these kids, but at the same time I know that God has me here for a reason.... I mean I wish I could just move here tomorrow.... But I just have to trust Gods plan an be here for them NOW. God has actually opened some really cool doors recently too regarding this Children's home, and I am stoked to see How The Lord uses these mission teams to impact these kids and all involved here for His kingdom!

Aside from the children's home, we have been preparing for our first team to land in Nome. Our team of 17 landed today from Copperas Cove Texas. 10 of them will be leaving bright and early to fly outto the village of Golovin, and the other 7 and myself and Will and Sarah(SMAK communications director) will be heading it up here in Nome. It just so happens that through the connection with the children's home, we have arranged for the Children's home to be painted. We will be working on that on Tuesday. I know that through various projects done this week, The Lord will work through this team and truly impact these people. Praise Him for this amazing place.

Ya know, being back here just makes me remember how I got here.... And how this entire chain of events that has happened between last June and now..... Is LITERALLY Gods Han perfectly arranging The puzzle that is my life, an I am so excite to see what He does next. His sovereignty is beyond incredible. Please keep my team, SMAK, Nome and all of western AK , copperas cove TX , the children of Nome and western ak, and all people back home in times of need or praise... Lift them and these situations up to The Lord. I miss an love you all. Thank you for your continued support. Y'all have assiste me greatly in being able to minister to the people of western ak. This people group is the people of my heart, and I am so excited to serve them in a way glorifying to our savior. I love you all... Please let me know how ican specifically pray for you.... ejfoster94@gmail.com (don't hesitate to ask)

He helped me lead worship at church this morning. He's got a set of pipes on him, let me tell you!

I missed we!!!! Little sister savanna! No.... There is no hesitation when giving each other a hard time! I sure missed this one!

Aaron (pastor in Nome) and I being our "normal" weird selves. Gosh I missed this dude! I love him so much!

2 o'clock AM....... God is good❤️

Can I get a WOOT WOOT

 Wassup everybody!!' Well, I am finally back from Soldotna, and I am exhausted, but I have some highlights I would like to share and a few pictures to follow!!!!

So this week, SMAK had a team up here in AK from Liberty Mississippi! This team was in fact the FIRST youth group to work through SMAK, and Let me be the first to say, these guys were SO MUCH FUN! We became a family in a matter of hours, and it was amazing! I enjoyed each and every person on this team because they each brought something different to the table!

During the week we built a deck about 17 feet in the air. That project was completed, and Ms Debbie ( the elderly woman we were working for) was definitely so grateful to have us there! I continue to pray for her, her health condition, and her salvation! God is SOO good, and He has it all covered! Plant the seeds, and He will reap the harvest!

Also, while we were there, we got to do a project at First Baptist Church Soldotna. We painted a suday school room, and a bathroom! I was a lot of fun to watch the young ladies on this team have a great time blessing this church and the people who would use that room. 

In the middle of the week, we took a day to catch our breathe, and the team really wanted to go fishing, so we went on a halibut charter out of Homer alaska, and yes everybody, I did catch fish. I actually ended up catching the largest of the halibut pulled in that day! We had a great time, but I did get a tad sea sick.... WARNING, THE REST OF THIS PARAGRAPH IS NOT FOR THE LIGHT STOMACHED......So the weather while we were out caused the waters to be EXTREMELY choppy. The boat we were on rocked unnecessarily high, and let's just say that it stirred something up inside of me..... Actually I be more specific, it stirred up the gummy worms and caramel latte I had during the day, an caused it to be projected back out of my mouth and onto the ocean surface where hungry seagulls feasted. But, through that first experience of throwing up in AK, I can honestly say that it was SO much fun, and I enjoyed every minute of it (the fishing trip part, not the throwing up part hahaha).

Really quick, I absolutely LOVE when people ask me what I am doin in ALASKA, because it opens the door for me to be able to share my beliefs with others. There was a woman working in a gift shop in Homer, and she and I got to talking, and she asks me why I am here. I explain to her what I do, and who I work for , and what the ministry I work under focuses on..... And she say to me" I am not going to lie, I am not religious at all, but I do this that it makes people... Better people". I then go on to ask her about what she believes, and I ask her if she would like for me to pray for her. And he told me not there, but she asked me if I would be praying for her simply because she doesn't really know where her life is headed.... And she needs guidance..... 

God Is that guidance....

So be praying for her! And be praying for times like that. Times when the door is open, and The Lord is telling us to walk through, and although it may be scary, if we listen to Him, it's all worth it!

Overall it was a gret week. I gained a bunh of new family from Mississippi, I got to spend time with Brian and Aaron, which is time I cherish.... And most importantly, The Lord has moved mountains!!! And He continues to do that all the time!!! Not just here in AK, but everywhere!!! Don't ever forget that!

Before I sign off, I want you all to pray with me! Pray right now! Pray that The Lord will use you for His glory! Surrender your desires for His! And pray that your willingness to listen to Him would take flight! 

I love you all! Continue to pray for SMAK, and all working within it. Pray for the areas we have been to, and those still unreached, and pray that the rest of the summer for this ministry can be overflowing with God's love, and that that love can be seen and felt by all! Pray for our travels to Nome on Tuesday (I headed Nome!!!!! I can't wait), and pray that hearts may be softened to absorb the Love of our savior!!!

1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"

I love you all! Please let me know how I can pray for You!

This is me...... Being me..... By a Glacier on our way back to Anchorage! Praise out God!!!! Am I right???? Can I get an AMEN???

I am gonna miss these guys like crazy! But I'll see y'all again someday 😉

It's been a while! So sorry

Hey everyone, so I know it has been a while since I have posted. We have been SUPER busy over the last two weeks in preparation for the rest of the summer. I am currently in Soldotna AK, and after leaving here we go straight to Nome, and after Nome we go straight to Gambell..... And then my summer is over.... So needless to say, things have been pretty crazy, but pretty awesome!

So, first I just want to touch on some highlights from the past two weeks. Let's start with last weekend. So Aaron and I were volunteered to help cater for a festival call "Love Alaska". This festival was put on by the Luis Palau foundation, and it was a two day Christian music and faith festival. Toby Mac, Kutless, Lincoln Brewster, Thousand Foot Crutch, Trinity..... And more were there to perform and share some love with this great state. So, last weekend I was backstage not only getting to cook the food they were going to be eating, but getting to sit down and have lunch and great conversations with them! It was SO much fun! Toby Mac is a really cool dude, but to be honest, it was hard for me not to ask him a bunch of questions about Mandisa ( for those of you who don't know, I LOVE MANDISA!!! don't know here? Look her up (season 5 American idol)). So needless to say, that was pretty awesome! And all the while I got to become really close with a bunch of people from first baptist Anchorage, and that in itself was a blessing! Church family means EVERYTHING to me, and it is priceless! So, praise God for that most of all! 

But, something very special happened that weekend that I would really like to share with y'all... So first of all, let me just say that growing up in Winslow, AZ , people who are drunk and walking the streets are nothing out of the ordinary. Typically, they will ask you for money because unfortunately, they want more alcohol. Growing up, my dad has always had a heart for these people, and his love for them through Christ has been implants I my heart too. So anyways, my fried Sara and I really wanted to get some coffee during this all day festival, so we starte walking to the grocery store about 3 blocks away. We get to the grocery store and BEHOLD, they're closed. So we decide to walk to the store down the street that has a coffee shop inside. So we start walking and about half way there, this really tall guy walking in front of  us turns around and says "are you guys Christians?" And we replied "yes". He then proceeded to tell us that he was a scottsman named Paul John that came to AK after he left the military. He also told us that he has been binge drinking for 7 days. And then, to my surprise, he changed his demeanor, and broke down and asked us for help. He said that if he keeps doin this he is going to die. I had him clarify to me what kind of help he wanted, and he said he really wanted to go to the hospital. And, before I go any further, this guy could barely walk and he was about 6 foot 5. So Sara and I helped him walk to the grocery store and all the while he kept saying "why are you doing this for me. You are nice people." And I just kept telling him, that we loved him because Jesus loves him. 

We got him inside, and he told me he was really hungry and thirsty and wanted to a coke. So I grabbed him a coke and sandwich, all the while, Sara was talking to a group of people, who after some conversation about the festival, happened to have emergency transits number. So, we called the emergency transit to come get this guy and take him to the hospital. They came quickly and there was an officer with them, and Paul John got really upset with us because he thought they were comin to arrest him. I assured him that he was going to be okay, and that we were getting him help. So the officer came in, and he had Paul take a breathalyzer test.... Paul blew a 3.3. I have never heard of a reading that high. He was right. He was going to die if he didn't stop. Before the transit company drove him away, Sara and I asked him if we could pray for him. I prayed that God would change him, and remind him of how much He loves him. When we finished praying, Paul asked us again.."Why are you doing this?" And I responded by saying "Paul, we love you because Jesus love you. You are SO important to us, and Him." And Paul started to cry. Now, you can argue that he was too intoxicated to be conscious and coherent enough to really process what I had said or the prayer, but I saw Jesus touch his heart. I ha asked him earlier if he was a Christian, and he said he was. But obviously, he had taken a backstep or two. So, After that, Paul was transported to a a hospital..... And I haven't seen him since...... But I know God is watching over him. Loving him always.

I have been prayin for this man since that happened, and I ask that you all would do the same. He is loved, and through prayer to our Lord, let him know that! You know, this instance was different than any I have ever had before: he didn't ask for money or food.... He asked for help. Please continue praying for Paul John.

I mis you all! God is too good! Please pray for this mission trip in Soldotna, and for the woman who own the house we are working on. Pray for her salvation and her health. Please pray for this team, and for The Lord to bless their hands and feet through the work they are accomplishing. And please pray for SMAK as this summer of mission teams continues to roll on. Pray that this ministry can accomplish more than construction projects, but that discipleship can be our focus with construction as our track!

I love you all. Say Yes to The Lord always!!

PS.... I went fly fishing for the first time.... And I caught a fish!!!!!!! (HEY, it still counts ;).  )

Catering crew with thousand foot krutch!!!!

Mamma bear!!!!!

look at the little fishy 😊

TFK

Me with a "love and light sister"