Flowers All Year

I love flowers. And so does Alaska because they are everywhere. I realize that many of them are considered to be weeds but I figure they're pretty, and they're not going anywhere (especially if they are weeds), so I am going to enjoy them! Last Sunday I went on a bike ride with the sole purpose of finding flowers to dry for the winter so I can enjoy flowers all year. An hour later, after biking quite a bit, walking through lots of tall grass, avoiding several surprisingly huge spiders, and peeling spider webs off my legs (all completely worth it), I had a bag full of beautiful flowers of all different colors. And now I have them to enjoy for the winter!

Pure joy.

Drying for winter!

Hiking, hiking, hiking!

Summer in Alaska is amazing. The days are long, the grass and tress are vibrant green, and the temperatures are (at least usually) fairly warm. Once the summer solstice hits, everyone watches as each day the sun shines for a few less minutes than the day before, knowing all too well what is only a couple of months away – winter. As much as I love winter in Alaska, there is just no beating summer.

Summer in Alaska is a time of substantially less sleep, and lots of outdoor activities. One of my favorite summer pastimes is hiking. Living in the Matanuska Susitna Valley, we are surrounded with endless opportunities for hiking, and the summer is the time to take full advantage of that. It's so satisfying to be able to get in a full day of work, and still hike to the top of a mountain peak all in one day.

Last week, we had little to no rain, and so some friends and I set out on a few different hikes. Each were beautiful in their own way...someday you'll have to see these with your own two eyes!

Starting to head up Lazy Mountain

At the top! We missed the view, but the fog looked pretty cool!

The group at the top!

Next day – more sunshine this time! Part way up Marmot Mt. in Hatcher's Pass.

The Great Wall of ..... Alaska. Or Marmot Mountain. You choose.

Lookin' back down.

At the top!

Our friend.

Reed Lakes Hike a few days later.

The group (CYAK's Arigaa Anchorage group) at the end. Good times!

Mom and Dad Came to Visit!

A couple of weeks ago, I was blessed with the presence of...my parents! They flew up all the way from Colorado to spend a week with me. How luck am I?! We did a whole smattering of things including a day trip to the one and only Talkeetna (where we met the mayor, who if you have not heard, just so happens to be a cat), a hike in beautiful Hatcher's Pass, a train ride up to Denali National Park, a bus ride into the park (where we saw all sorts of animals from bears to arctic ground squirrels to dall sheep), and lots more. It was so fun to have mom and dad here and to simply spend some good quality time with them. I just wish Brian could have been there! I am already looking forward to the next time we're all together. Enjoy a few pics from their visit!

Talkeetna, AK. The mayor (cat) is chilling out on the picnic table.

Mom and Dad in Hatcher's Pass.

A momma bear and her cubs hanging out in Denali National Park.

One of many dall sheep.

Where Mt. McKinley should be (when it's clear, the base of the mountain would fill the entire width of this picture)

There were a couple of drop-offs...

Many much moosen!

Alaska Railroad.

So fun to have mom and dad here!

Unalakleet 4th

I realize it is almost a full month past the 4th, but it was such a good day that it deserves it's own post - even if it is a little delayed.

If you haven't already connected the dots, I had the chance to spend July 4th in Unalakleet this summer.  I had been hearing for a couple of years how fun it is to spend the 4th in UNK, and thanks to some extra encouragement early on [ That would be you, Nikki :) ] I decided to stay for a while after camp... best decision of the summer!

A few highlights/activities from July 4th Unalakleet style:

• Endless amounts of crab (the night before, but it still counts!)
• Waking up to sunshine!
• The Parade - so great.
• Hanging out at the softball field with everyone, watching the games
• All kinds of games and competitions: 5 K run and bike, potato sack race, bubble gum race, horseshoes, fish cutting, sidewalk chalk drawing, you name it!
• Afternoon nap. Yes, I napped on July 4. And it was glorious.
• Coffee Pot Race: Read the caption below. So fun to watch!
• Delicious blueberry desert at Nikki's gram's house
• Anchor toss! (I need to work on throwing out not up. ha!)
• Paddle boat race
• Frisbee on the sandbar at midnight with friends.

Doesn't get much better than that! Definitely a 4th to remember.

One of the many great floats during the parade :)

Blue skies.

5K runners are off!

Hanging out with everyone - poppers galore!

So funny!

Coffee Pot Race. Consists of: boating across the way, collecting wood, driving the boat around an obstacle, coming back to the beach, collecting water in a coffee can, and building a fire with the collected wood and limited matches. Whoever's water boils first wins!

Onlookers.

Attempting the anchor toss :) 

Paddle boat racers!

Off they go!

Unreal sunset - this is around midnight.

Frisbee on the sandbar! Doesn't get much better than that.

Cooling off. What a day. What a day.

Bible Camp 2012

It's hard to believe that another season of camp has already come to a close. A lot happens during five weeks of camp, and there never seems to be a good way of fully expressing it in words. Camp in Unalakleet simply needs to be experienced! But considering the fact that coming to camp in rural Alaska for five weeks might not be the most feasible plan for all of you who are reading, I'll do my best to give you a small and succinct glimpse of what made this June's camping season at Bible Camp so awesome.  So, with that, I give you...

Bible Camp 2012 Highlights [as seen from the eyes of Lauren :) ] 

-       1. Campers: As we like to say, 'Camp is for the campers!', so it's no surprise that campers make the top of the list. Continuing relationships with youth who I had met in my first two years serving with CYAK was hands down one of the best parts of camp this year. It was awesome to see some girls from my cabin both from last year and this year start to open up and share some of their struggles, and to be able to pray with them and encourage them in that. 

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-       2. Staying for the long haul: Serving at camp for five weeks means five weeks of really getting to know those you are working with, five weeks of living the good life (amidst the struggles, slight lack of hygiene, and general tired state, life at camp is good), and four weeks of seeing youth who were campers during Leadership week step into roles of service such as: junior counselors, handymen, and kitchen helpers. (How's that for a sentence?) Needless to say, I am so thankful I was able to serve at camp for the long haul this year, and hope to again in the future.  

-      3. Leadership brainstorm: During Leadership week, we (Leadership campers and staff) brainstormed the struggles that face Alaska Native youth everyday, and began talking about some of the ways that we can work against those struggles. It was so encouraging to see high schoolers and young adults from across Alaska speak up and have a voice on these issues. It’s discussions and conversations like these – where the youth are empowered and excited about talking about how to work against these tough issues – that I am reminded of CYAK's vision to see young emerging leaders developed in the Alaska church, and am so excited to be used as a part of this ministry!

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-       4. Snow on June 2 and June 3: Yep. You read right. Snow. On June 2. And June 3.

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-       5. Morning meetings and coffee around the wood stove: Every morning, the staff met at 8:30 to debrief the night before, talk about the plans for that day, and pray together. During the first couple of weeks it was still quite cold, making coffee all the more delicious, and a good fire in the wood stove plain wonderful. It was so refreshing to come to our meeting and be able to spend time in fellowship with one another before beginning our day. 

-       6. Worship: I love worship at camp. There are no projectors, big sound systems, or speakers. Just someone leading with a guitar, someone playing a drum, and a camper or two holding up posters. :)

-       7. Living the simple life: No phones, computers, internet, or showers (ha! I joke. But really). Rotating between 5 shirts and 2 pairs of jeans. Going going going hard all day = zzzing zzzing zzzing hard all night. Brushing our teeth in the river instead of at a sink. And more. Living at camp is living the simple life and its grand.

-       8. Hiking in the rain/ bridge jumping: The morning of the hike during Junior High week, the sun was shining bright, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky. But, weather can change quickly up here and we found ourselves on the top of the hill, eating pb&j  and salmon spread sandwiches in the pouring rain. Needless to say, we were all pretty drenched when all was said and done, so (logically) we decided to do a little bridge jumping into the river on the way back to camp (so fun!). Once everyone had made it back to their cabins, created a mountain of sopping wet clothes, and found some dry and warm ones to put on, the sun decided to come back out. Of course. But it was a blast, and I wouldn't have had it any other way!

    9. Mosquitoes: NOT. But thankfully they weren't too bad until the last couple of weeks! (see #4)

-       10. Laughter: So much laughter. Whether it was laughing with staff, laughing with campers, or laughing at or with ourselves, there was and always is a lot of laughter that happens at camp. One of my favorite camper laughing moments would have to be when one of my 11 year old campers broke out into a rap in our cabin. She named the song, 'I'm Native and I Know It'. I'll give you a little taste with verse one: 'When I walk onto the trail, this is what I see; I see a couple of cranes staring right at me. I got my gun in my hand and I'm not afraid to shoot it, shoot it, shoot it. I'm Native and I know it.'  Oh the hilarity!

-        As I write these out, I am reminded of so many other highlights from this past June at camp. Buuuut I've already broken my promise of being succinct, so I will stop there! You'll just have to ask me if you want to know more! Enjoy the pictures! ~ Lauren

Our cabin On June 3. Woohoo snow!

Dolena at Leadership Camp.

Eco-challenge! Matthew directing Linda toward the canoes.

Skit night Sr. High week. One of many good laughs!

Lola and Cori from Noatak.

Jr. High hike - just before the rain began.

Some of the staff sharing in excitement over a box of candy bars sent to camp for staff. :)

Beautiful drive into town on June 18.  Praise the Lord for the land of the midnight sun. 

Helen and Kurt feelin' no shame wearing their mosquito nets.

Both Gavin and Jeff's faces are perfect. Those are mosquitos. Yep.

Myron (Byron's long lost cousin) made an appearance during Pathfinders week!

Saying bye to the North Park team as they prepared to head back to Anchorage.

Off to camp I go...

Tomorrow morning, I'll be getting on a plane headed for (a still quite chilly) Unalakleet, AK for Bible Camp! I am really looking forward to spending the next 5+ weeks in a place that has come to feel like my 'second home' in Alaska. This will only be my fifth time to Unalakleet, but each visit I feel a bit more excited to go, and everything feels a bit more familiar.

This visit will be for Bible Camp, where I will be counseling the first three weeks (Leadership Camp, High School Camp, and Junior High Camp). I'll then be doing either travel planning, or any other role that needs to be filled. The last week of my time in Unalakleet will be spent in town (camp is 9 miles upriver from the village of Unalakleet) working on various CYAK tasks, and enjoying spending time with friends over the 4th of July.

It is so exciting to be heading to camp knowing what Bible Camp in rural Alaska looks like. Its truly such a unique and special place, and I count it a blessing to have the opportunity to be involved in such a needed and awesome ministry again this summer!

During my time at camp, I will have zero phone service, and little to no internet access, so if you would like to send me snail mail, you can address your envelope like this:

Lauren Ernst
Covenant Bible Camp
PO Box 202
Unalakleet, AK 99684

If you write me, I'll write you back! Let's be pen pals!

A few of my Jr. High Campers last year. Looking forward to seeing them again this year!

Every week, we take a hike on the tundra. This pic is from High School week last year.

Looking North from Unalakleet right out of town. Unalakleet truly is gorgeous. 

There went April...and most of May too!

The last couple of months have absolutely flown by. That means: it's update time!

A few of the happenings from the last month and a half:

• Arrival of Jenni Jobe, a friend from college and new CYAK worker
• Moved back to my lovely apartment after two+ months
• Running lots to prepare for a 1/2 marathon coming up on Saturday
• Bonfires with friends
• BBQs for birthdays and surprises
• Tea Parties (ok, maybe just one - happy birthday, Robyn!)
• Final Arigaa Scavenger Hunt
• Final soccer game - another undefeated season!
• Hiking with the NPU Bible Camp team on their way through Anchorage
• Arrival of Kara Bladel (and her good friend Eric for a few days) to Wasilla!
• Lots of green buds and warmer temps (We hit 67 yesterday = HOT)
• Late-night light that keeps staying longer and longer
• Busy busy busy at work - lots of prep for Bible Camp
• Heading out for Unalakleet on Tuesday until July 7!

So, there you have it. It's been busy to say the least, but I am continually thankful for all of the fun and exciting experiences I've been blessed to have. More later on camp - but for now, consider yourself (at least somewhat) updated!

Late-night sunshine.

Amy's Birthday BBQ: Me, Julie, Amy, Jenni and Robyn

Most incredible tea party EVER.

There were 126 and I guessed 124, which means I'll be drinking tea for a looooong time. :)

Mmmm loose leaf.

Robyn, the birthday girl!

Such a fun afternoon!

NPUers and Arigaaers on a hike up Bird Creek in Anchorage.

I've been able to spend some time with sweet baby Levi (Jamie and Erica Rose's babe) the past couple of weeks!

At the Anchorage Market. Hooray Alaska.

GREEN! Oh, how I love the color green.

Flowers popping up slowly but surely!

Julie Dierck's thank you party.

Hello stickies and to-do lists!