The Priest, Father Peter Chris came to welcome us and amongst many things told us village pace tends to be slower than the urban tempo most of us are used to...Keith suggested I take Tylenol P.M.'s to start the day off so not to offend everyone I come in contact with first thing in the morning. Our Team Trainer, Andy talked to us about humility. To approach the people we are visiting as a servant. Me not them silly. To be a learner of their culture. How do I look at things/people when I travel to other cultures? Complaining about the heat? the mosquito's? the food? Focusing on the negative or even worse being unconscious to my transgressions....alrighty then. I am sure Andy will make me stay after school for an extra lesson or two. And Pam, put that darn camera down....we are not tourists, we are a Mission Team.
Andy then asked what our expectations of going on the mission are? Adventure? A new challenge-greater sense of fruitfulness? love of travel? the desire to help others? a commitment to social justice? (Andy, do I look like a Democrat?) the need for change? seeking a new purpose for life? And then Buba piped up "exploring the possibility of long term mission service". He so did not say that, right? What! 2-3 weeks is one thing- 2-3 years is another. Can you see Pam in Albania or Guatemala for a year or two? Whoa Buba. Let's get through this one first. The good news is we will have a break from each other...at least for sleeping arrangements. Girls in one place. Boys in another. Can I get an AMEN!
Presbyteria gave me long skirt and a jumbo Babushka. No more borrowing horse blankets to wrap myself in for church service. Those French women are born knowing how to tie that Babushka on and look oh so chic. I can't tell you how many beautiful scarves I have bought over the years and over the world striving to be oh so magnifique. Has my practicing paid off? What'cha think?
So why am I going on a Mission Team to an Alaskan Village?
To share God's Blessings, Love, Fellowship and in Keith's case some good local fishin with the boys. :) I have come to love these American Indians unconditionally. I have come to learn to relate to people rather than intellectualize. I have come to learn, observe, listen and inquire so I can develop a rapport and understanding of their life and them as a person. We are only here for 2 weeks, what difference can we make?
To share God's Blessings, Love, Fellowship and in Keith's case some good local fishin with the boys. :) I have come to love these American Indians unconditionally. I have come to learn to relate to people rather than intellectualize. I have come to learn, observe, listen and inquire so I can develop a rapport and understanding of their life and them as a person. We are only here for 2 weeks, what difference can we make?
St. Innocent Rus
sian Orthodox CathedralWe also went to St. Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral for Akathist Service, a prayer service written for specific Saints. This Cathedral was named in honor of an 18th century Bishop from Russia who helped build schools and churches for the Aleut and even produced an Aluet Bible. He was cannonized in 1977 as St. Innocent. He is honored as one of the greatest missionaries and for bringing America and Russia together in the Orthodox Faith.
In fact he consecrated the altar (1813-completed in 1883 after his death) of a rebuilt church I visited in 
Moscow in 1998, Christ the Savior Cathedral . Actually, Stalin tore this church down and the commies put a swimming pool in it's place. With the fall of communism and the rise of the Orthodox Church in Russia the church was "rebuilt" on this very same spot in the late 90's. My cousin Nancy, my daughter Alex and I crawled around the construction in 1998-even up to the bell tower. These new and improved "commies" really stepped it up and went above and beyond in making up for 70 years of religious oppression in the Soviet Union. Take a peek at it and see with your
Moscow in 1998, Christ the Savior Cathedral . Actually, Stalin tore this church down and the commies put a swimming pool in it's place. With the fall of communism and the rise of the Orthodox Church in Russia the church was "rebuilt" on this very same spot in the late 90's. My cousin Nancy, my daughter Alex and I crawled around the construction in 1998-even up to the bell tower. These new and improved "commies" really stepped it up and went above and beyond in making up for 70 years of religious oppression in the Soviet Union. Take a peek at it and see with your 
eyes the beauty of this Church that St. Innocent initially consecrated. Point being I never considered I would go to his "cathedral" in Alaska and in a few weeks we will visit St. Innocents Academy on Spruce Island. http://www.xxc.ru/english/
I keep nudging my cousin Nancy that this would be a perfect place for a wedding. :)
