Some of you are receiving an email from me for the first time. My name is Caleb Schauer and I am the group leader for the Alaska Mission Trip.

You will receive daily updates of our time in Alaska. Each email will have an update as well as prayer requests. Unfortunately, we will not be able to send pictures, because I am using a borrowed computer.

Because we were not able to connect yesterday, here is an update from yesterday and the day before.

Morning 7/23/05

The whole team arrived on Thursday safe and sound. After not getting much sleep (2-3 hours) we awoke to greet a beautiful Alaskan day. After eating breakfast and having morning devotions, some of the team members went into Anchorage to buy supplies while others relaxed and made lunches for our afternoon adventures. After making the final preparations for VBS, the team traveled south of Anchorage in order to see some of the awesome Alaskan landscape. On our way to Girdwood, we had the opportunity to see 3 Dall Sheep (a type of mountain sheep) and do a little walking around on some rocks at Beluga Point.

Girdwood is one of the premier ski resorts in Alaska. When got to Girdwood, some of the team took the ski tram (Gondola) to the top of the ski mountain
for some amazing views, while the rest of the team went for a hike. This hike was a few miles away and had a hand tram that you could cross a river with. The hand tram was basically a steel basket with a rope and pulley system. All the team made it across sucessfully, although a little nervous.

We then met up with the rest of the team and went for dinner at an Alaskan Resturant. We then traveled home for some much needed sleep.

Morning 7/24/05

Yesterday, we started out the day by going into Anchorage to go to the Saturday market. Essentially, this is where a whole bunch of vendors put
up tents and sell stuff. The whole team had a good time there. On the way into Anchorage we got to see a black bear on the highway. It was awesome.

In the afternoon we drove to Nenana (7 hour drive including stops). We saw two moose and some beautiful scenery. The drive went smoothly and safely and got to Nenana about 8:45 p.m. We unloaded our stuff and went out for a late dinner. Then came back to our place of rest, had evening devotions and settled into bed around midnight.

Today we will be going to Church at St. Mark's Episcopal Church and worshipping with the community of Nenana. We will also be setting up for
the VBS and making other community connections.

I will try to write more tonight.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray that the team would be filled with God's Energy
• Pray that God's will would be done despite our fear and nervousness
• Pray that the group would bond together well and that love may be shown
  between group members even when fatigue sets in.
• Pray that the children who will come to the VBS have open hearts
• Pray that the gospel takes root in their lives

God's blessings to you

Caleb Schauer

Greetings all-

I am praising God for our VBS team. Everyone is stepping up to the plate and performing their tasks awesomely. It is amazing how much you can do when you use HIS energy. Yesterday we had over 40 kids at VBS and today we had around 50. Overall we think we have reached close to 60 kids. It is really neat to see the team interacting with the kids. The kids simply want to be hugged and loved and the team is doing that. I am very blessed to have a committed and loving (although tired) team.

Last night we had a teen night for the youth of the village. We had pizza and soda and played basketball with them. We also had about 20 youth show up for this event. It was neat to interact with them.

Tonight we are going to a Potlatch (not a potluck). This is essentially a native potluck, where you eat mostly native foods (salmon, bear, moose). We are bring brownies, which are not native but are chocolate so I think it will work. It is an honor to be invited to the Potlatches because usually
only native people get invited. This one they hope to serve around 300.

We are really connecting with the community. THis morning we had breakfast at one of the resturants in town and spoke with the owner (an Alaskan of 45 years) who told us her story. She told us that she came to Alaska for M&M's. (Men and Money), and it seemed that she found both. She also played the accordian for us and sang a few numbers.

Tomorrow night we are hoping to do a parade through town with the children singing the VBS songs. It should be fun.

Prayer Requests

> Pray for energy for the team (we are starting to drag a little bit)

>Pray for God's blessings on the rest of the week.

>Pray that the team will be able to make significant progress with some of the more troubled youth in Nenana.

God's Blessings to you as you serve him in your locale. We are experiencing his abundant blessing as we serve him here.

Have a God Day.

Caleb Schauer