Community

Every Thursday we have game night. Some of us get together to forget about work (or try to), seminary shenanigans (or try to), the plummeting temperatures and the overall stress of life. For two to three glorious hours we bask in the glow of community, a little beer and some wonderfully awkward and sometimes confusing board games. Last night we played what some just call 'the awkward game', I don't even know the real title of this cardboard square that makes so many of us giggle. Frankly, I don't mind that so much. It's about spending time with people. I may not remember the games or who won, but I know that I left energized and full.

This has been a fabulous blessing. When I'm having a tough time with work, life and being away from family and friends, a since of belonging is sometimes all I need to get through the remainder of the week.

I'm also incredibly fulfilled with my community of strong women around me. They range from coworkers, mentors, fellow church members, encouraging seminary wives and friends that I can just bum around with on Saturday night. It's been a long year and three months in Minnesota, but things have really perked up the last five months, and for that I'm left blessed and thankful.

 'People won't remember what you did for them, but they will remember how you made them feel.'

Nome is Home

I really feel that I have now settled into Nome, Alaska. I am starting to see familiar faces on the street and on the way to the post office.
We are getting ready to say goodbye to a key part of the Nome community, Jesse Zink. He will be venturing to South Africa in missions and our prayers follow him to the clinic that he will be serving.
Nome has some wonderful opportunities for involvement. If church is not your forte then there are things like the Arts Council, helping out at the schools, Choir in the holiday months, hiking in the midnight sun, community activities coming out of every corner. I already can see how it would be difficult not to become involved in some way, shape, or form at some point. I think that people would have to avoid situations completely in order to avoid getting involved or even asked.