Alaska Missions
My love of travel led me to Alaska, but my love for the community brings me back home.
I looked into serving in Alaska because my goal is to see all 50 states in the US by the time I turn 30. Last year, I connected with an Alaska missionary who helped me get involved at a youth camp for native kids in the Yukon Delta, where I served for a month.
I took a bush plane to the village, then rode on a boat on the Yukon River to get to the camp property. There was no cell service, and I slept in a sleeping bag for all four weeks. This included some freezing showers, struggles with the 24-hour sunlight and the mosquitoes! I believe I can say YES to God no matter what He asked, however I debated ever doing something as difficult as missionary work.
About halfway through the first night of camp we sang a song called Build My Life. The worship pastor instructed us to envision Jesus’ face as we sang, “Show me who You are, fill me with Your heart, and lead me in Your love to those around me.” It was at that moment that my perspective changed. Because Jesus went to the cross and died a brutal death out of love for me, I can certainly spend the vapor that is my life being uncomfortable and share that love to others. Even better, I realized the Lord would never ask me to go somewhere to tell people about Him on my own; in Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised to be with us always. Now, my mindset is, anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go.
The people I met in Alaska broke my heart. They have a cultural history that is very spiritual and being removed from many of the comforts of life that is common in the lower 48 states. They see and experience spiritual warfare firsthand. They are open to the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, but someone must go and tell them. There are over 100 native villages without consistent gospel witnesses, and the Assemblies of God missions in Alaska is looking to send out schoolteachers and pastors to be that consistent witness to them.
I am returning to Alaska to do all that! I’ll be taking bush planes and boat rides to villages with teams from churches to do construction work and set up those teachers and pastors for success! It is an honor for me to be able to serve in this capacity before I graduate college.
I do not know for certain if being a missionary is in my future, but I do know that because I walk with Jesus, I can follow him anywhere.
-Emma Christmas
