Iron Dog

Since the beginning of February I have had the privilege of working and serving alongside the staff and volunteers of Iron Dog. This organization puts on the longest, toughest snowmachine race. Over 2,000 miles of extreme terrain is crossed by teams of two on snowmachines. They skipped across water, ran miles of terrain typically covered in snow that this year was only covered in dirt, all while trying to be the fastest team that doesn't lose valuable time by breaking down.

The staff of Iron Dog works all year to make this ten day event a success. I was given the privilege of seeing and experience the inner workings, and yes even frustrations, of this outstanding organization.

Skilled Missions and Alaska Missions have been volunteering with Iron Dog for four years. It has been a slow process, but the family of Iron Dog has come to appreciate the service we give.

This year many conversations where had about where our joy and servant attitude came from. The only answer is Jesus. Some do not understand this, and that is ok. The goal of continuing to serve is to be a light and a reflection of Jesus.

I cannot sit here and say that I was a perfect example of Christ all week. On the contrary, I struggled with being tired, having a bad attitude, or speaking in hurtful ways to those around me. Each of these are things I am trying to work through. But they are not easy. It is hard to wake up after a long day of working hard and a short night to work hard again. It isn't fun to smile, say yes and being ready to serve in whatever way possible.

It is amazing how an intentional week of serving does shines light on my shortcomings and reveals ways I need to grow in Christ. That is my new, and old, challenge. Let go of my old self and put on the new self I am in Christ. Be praying for me as this has been clear over the last few days, yet my flesh still tries to get me to revert back to my old ways.

There are so many great memories from the last two weeks. Many I am hoping to share with you over the next few days. This was a fantastic time of service and fun! The staff and volunteers are great to work with, it is always fun and everyone has a great attitude.

Just a few snapshots of our time. As I write more I will add more specific pictures. I hope you enjoy them! 

Paradigm Shift

Paradigm Shift. Two simple words that are somewhat hard to define. Five years ago I don't know that I could have told you what they meant. But over the last few years Dad has started using them to define how he is has changed the way he farms and ranches. Since the start of this paradigm shift my parents have been called crazy, and told it would never work. They are managing ground, animals, equipment and labor in a totally new way. While I do not believe they would tell you it has been easy, it has worked.

Recently I have been encountering my own paradigm shifts. A realization that the status quo is not necessarily correct. I remember the line from National Treasure where Nicholas Cage talks about how you do things one way until the status quo changes. Then you must adjust to survive.

When I moved to Oregon a semester before graduating from Texas A&M I was going against the status quo. I was working for free, I didn't get a "good" job right after graduation. Then nine months later I moved to Alaska. I was called crazy for moving without a job lined up. I had a place to live, clothes and my car. That was it. No plan. I just knew I loved the people here and that God was calling me to minister here. He would provide for me.

Needless to say I have never really struggled with bucking the worlds status quo. What I have struggled with is the status quo I have been told I have to fit in order to minister to people.

I have struggled with the thought that those in ministry have to be poor. That I need to make just enough to get by and that is all. The desire to be free to minister but not wanting to ask people to support me.

Do I know that I am called to this and one way God may provide for me is through people supporting me? Yes I do. But that doesn't make it any easier. I still want to take care of myself. Dad has told me multiple times that they didn't raise us to stay in Perryton Texas, they raised us to change the world. They gave us roots and wings.

But you know what you have to do to start flying? You have to step out of the nest. You have to fall before you can soar. It may seem like I have stepped out of the nest, after all I am nearly 4,000 miles from my parents. Honestly though I haven't. I haven't faced my fears of rejection. I have not asked someone to support me because I believe in what I am doing.

Why haven't I faced my fears. Because I am scared. Because it hurts when someone does not see the value in loving on kids. Or fixing a window in an elders house. They do not understand how broken my heart is when I meet kids who at very young ages have been abused by the very people who are supposed to protect them. It kills me every time. I do not want to open myself up enough to share all of myself, because that means I could be hurt.

If you have lasted this long you may wonder how me being scared to fly relates to a paradigm shift. Here is the connection. I have to stop doing things the way people tell me to do them and start doing them the way God says to do them. I have to surround myself with people who push me to do the hard things. People who are in my corner. Those who won't only push me out of the nest, but will jump with me.

I need a paradigm shift. Away from "the safest place is in the center of God's will" to "be in the center of God's will, but know that may mean big risks." Recently I was told to start leading with my passion. When people see your passion they will want to be on your team.

So here's my question. Will you keep me accountable? Will you call me out when you see me living just dangerous enough to be thought crazy, but not crazy for Jesus. Will you ask me about how Jesus has changed my life? Push me to get out of the nest. Push me to do what my parents raised me to do.

Let's go change the world for Christ!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Today is Dad and Mom's 29th anniversary. It's amazing the example they are, in marriage, parenting, and living for Christ. I am beyond blessed to call them Mom and Dad. 

One of the biggest ways they have been an example is in the way they raised us. While they have spent their life raising eight kids on a Texas panhandle farm, they impacted the whole world. 

They gave us the foundation to see the world through Christ's eyes. I cannot remember the first time I learned about missions and taking Jesus name to those who have not heard. I do remember the first mission trip we went on. I was about nine and our whole family went to serve in Knoxcity, Texas. 

That trip provided the foundation for my journey that God has only begun to reveal. As time passed I became more and more involved with missions. I am not the only one. All seven of my siblings have been on multiple mission trips. Even Nate, my seven year old little brother. 

It's crazy to think that my parents have been together longer than they have been apart. I am so grateful for the example I had in my home. It wasn't always easy. I know they had and have their struggles. 

To the outsider looking in they are just a couple Bible believers on a small farm in the Texas Panhandle. To many they are close friends and helpful neighbors. To me, they are an amazing support, even 5,000 miles away, they are the reason I can live in Alaska as a debt free productive member of society. 

Love you guys!!

Interrupting Senator Cruz...

Sunday afternoon Aaron asked if I wanted to go to Palmer to see Ted Cruz and Dan Sullivan at a get out the vote rally. Since I had no other plans and it sounded fun I went to my first political rally.

It was an interesting experience to hear politicians speak. You want to believe all they are saying, yet at the same time you know they are politicians. Only time will tell us if they will follow through on their word. But I will say, out of all the people I have heard speak, I believe these two will work to honor what they promised.

As Senator Cruz was speaking he had many points, sanctity of life, second amendment freedoms, restoration of state's rights, and religious freedom. While speaking on how the government has encroached on religious freedoms he mentioned the subpoenas issued to pastors in Houston, Texas.

He said he felt like as a believer he needed to call his pastor and just set aside a time to pray. So he called his Pastor Gregg Matte from Houston's First Baptist Church. Pastor Matte is an Aggie who started Breakaway on campus at Texas A&M University. As he mentioned Pastor Matte and First Houston, Aaron and I both Whooped. It was a perfectly timed and placed Whoop. That was not planned.

Since it was  a relatively quite moment during his story, our reaction was loud and heard throughout the rally. We surprised Senator Cruz, he stopped and said he would have to let Pastor Matte know he got a Whoop from Alaska.
 
After the rally concluded we waited to speak to Senator Cruz and scored this awesome picture. As well as a shocked look when we invited him to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.

Ferrying to Alaska

This post is four months late and for that I am very sorry. Driving my car onto a boat and being stuck there with one of my best friends for five days has been a highlight of my life.

Linzay and I on top of the space needle in Seattle

We started our journey in Seattle where I picked Linzay up from the airport. We experienced Seattle from the top of the space needle Friday night and Pikes Place Market Saturday morning.

 After we explored Seattle we drove to Bellingham and roasted in the sun waiting in line to load my car on the ferry. It was almost surreal realizing that at moment, there was no turning back. I was actually moving. Even now four months later it doesn’t completely feel real. 

Our days on the ferry where spent just having fun. We sat outside as we left Bellingham watching the scenery as we moved away from the US and into international waters. We watched the sunset over the water, one of the best parts of the day. It was a fun night.

 























The following days where much of the same, watching the scenery pass by as we talked about a million different things. No matter how many days we where on the boat I never tired of watching the water, wildlife, the mountains and the sky. God’s hand in creation was so obvious throughout the entire trip. I could see it all a hundred more times and never tire of seeing it.

Five days after getting on the boat, seeing Ketchikan, Junea, Yakitak and everything in between, we landed in Whittier and finished our trip with a short drive up to Anchorage. While I could write a book about my trip, and may consider it, I could not have done it without the amazing friend beside me Linzay.

 

Five days after getting on the boat we landed in Whittier and finished our trip with a short drive up to Anchorage. While I could write a book about my trip, and may consider it, I could not have done it without the amazing friend beside me Linzay. 

She is someone who no matter what the topic is she has wisdom, depth and love. From ministry, to community around you, to just making me laugh with her crazy awesomeness. You know that feeling when you try so hard to adequately explain someone or something that you completely miss the mark? That is what I am feeling trying to describe the blessing I have of calling Linzay a friend.

  

Though there have been times when we didn’t talk to each other much, yet I always knew that when I called she would be there for me. I am incredibly glad to have experienced this amazing trip with her. There are so many memories that will never be funny if I tell you, but I mention them to Linzay and we will both have an image in our head that will result in copious amounts of laughter. 

She is outstanding. I thank God for putting her in my life. Linzay I love you and hope one day I can be the incredible example to someone that you have been to me. 

 

 

Aggie Ring Opening

I got on here with the thought of posting about my trip up to Alaska on the ferry from Washington. Who knows, maybe you will get two posts out of me today. But first I have to share about one of those random awesome moments God gives us.

This past Sunday Aaron Brown (Skilled Missions Operations Director) and I volunteered at the Iron Dog booth at the Oxygen and Octane show. We worked the booth, answered questions about merchandise pricing and random Iron Dog questions. One of those interactions speaks to how all of our life, everything we do, and all the challenges we face, God brings together for His glory.

Each year Iron Dog supports a charity with the proceeds of their raffle. This year the charity is the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska. Buddy Whitt is the Executive Director. I was talking with him about a few of the Iron Dog items when he asked me if the ring I had on was an Aggie ring.

Of course the answer is a resounding yes. He is a Fighting Texas Aggie class of 1998.That first question led us into a conversation about why I am in Alaska, what my purpose is and what we do as a ministry. The longer we talked the more we realized several similar goals. His family had worked with Samaritans Purse on construction projects, had discussed whether there where people meeting needs through construction and how they could serve through their gifts and talents. Many of which are construction oriented.

When our conversation ended I realized that the entire conversation, the way I got to meet another person who has a heart for people, and works to better those around him all came from the fact that morning I put on my Aggie ring.

If I had attended Oklahoma State like I wanted to, that conversation never would have occurred. If I had not spent many of my school breaks in Alaska, this conversation would not have occurred. If I had said no to moving to Alaska I would not have had the conversation.

Isn't it crazy how amazing our God is? How no matter how often we think our conversations and actions are our decision alone, God uses them for great and amazing things. When I get discouraged, in a rut, or just don't want to go on, God shows His mighty hand in the small significant ways.

Alaska Adventures

This summer has been so crazy and amazing in many different ways. I am sorry I have not kept you all up to date better. So here is my attempt to start updating everyone on my summer. I am going to work backwards. Starting with the latest adventure in Alaska all the way back to when I moved from Eugene to Anchorage. 

The nearly four weeks I have been in Alaska have been awesome, busy, crazy, interesting and completely new in so many ways. Living in Alaska is finally, slowly beginning to feel real. 

Since arriving in Alaska I have seen many prayers answered, added many new prayer requests to the list, and had many great adventures. I have been on several different hikes since arriving and those have been outstanding. I also had the opportunity to fly with a friend from church over the valley north of Anchorage and the Knik Glacier.

Working with Skilled Missions: Alaska has been great. Getting a schedule made and routine down has been a challenge. Yet, progress is being made. I am slowly getting involved with a church here. I am trying to slowly pick and choose when and what I will get involved in. I do not want to say yes to too many things then be overwhelmed with a crazy schedule. 

A huge prayer request was answered when I got a job teaching CPR. This job will allow me to make money with a flexible schedule. Because my boss is also my boss for Skilled Missions I also have his blessing to take off to do ministry when needed. 

This is my life. The crazy, awesome life I get because of the crazy awesome God I serve. Please keep praying for me as I seek to make my life a reflection of Christ. Pray for me as I need a clear schedule for my own sanity and in order to be efficient as possible in ministry. I am sure there are many other things I need prayer on, but right now I cannot remember any other specific requests.

Thank you for your prayers and support in this journey. It has been amazing, but not without it’s challenges. Stay tuned as I walk back through my summer. 

A few pictures from the hikes and plane ride I got to take.