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SAVOONGA UPDATE
Most of you are aware by now that we are not taking a VBS team to Savoonga this summer because there weren’t enough of us able to commit to the trip. Last summer we had 60-80 kids every day, and sometimes more, so four of us would not have been able to handle the crowds, even with Jacob and Kami’s help. But God has provided an incredible way for our partnership to move forward. Jacob has been working hard with the youth group, and is taking 12 campers to Bingle Camp (our PCUSA camp outside of Fairbanks) in July, and he is going along to serve as the chaplain for the week. The kids needed some financial help raising their portion of the camp fees, so (thanks to the generous gifts of some of you!) we are able to subsidize the campers for $75.00 each. In return, they are signing contracts with Jacob and their parents, agreeing to attend youth group meetings and then help lead VBS with the younger kids later in the summer before school starts again. They will use our VBS curriculum and supplies and some additional ones we will send them, adapting it all to their context in the village. Jacob and I are very excited about the opportunity for spiritual growth and leadership for the teenagers from the congregation, and here at ERPC we are all glad that we are able to come alongside them in this effort even though we are unable to physically be present this year.
We will begin planning for the summer of 2010 much sooner and hope to assemble a bigger team for next year. We are also working (as a presbytery) on our partnership with the Presbytery of Mackinac, on the upper peninsula of Michigan. We are welcoming a pastor from there to our July Council meeting, to be in conversation about ways to be in ministry together. Pastor Andrew Pomerville is hoping to return next summer with a team of people who can go out to Savoonga with us and share ministry with Jacob and Kami and the congregation.
God provides for us in ways we do not expect but that continue to show his glory. Please be in prayer for Jacob and Kami and the young people from the village as they prepare to go to camp and then lead the children of Savoonga for a week of VBS. And be in prayer for our VBS next week, that seeds of faith will be planted and take root in the hearts of our kids too!
