School started last week, and that ordinarily signals the end of summer. Many people enjoyed our unusually hot summer. We set a record for the lowest amount of precipitation this summer–barely exceeding 2 inches. Now wildfires plague our state. Fire season has been extended from August 31 until September 30 because of the extremely dry and hot conditions. The Swan Lake Fire burns mostly uncontained just 20 miles from our homes. It consumed 150,000 acres already–that’s the equivalent of half of Manitowoc County for Wisconsin residents. Please pray that we will get rain soon to moderate the fire and pray too for the firefighters’ safety –over 600 focus on this fire alone!
Summer work teams blessed ABM and ministry families across Alaska this year. August teams came from Wisconsin and helped a missionary in one remote village build a house. Another team from Oregon blessed an ABM staff family in Homer with upgrades to their home, inside and out. Their home (Light on the Hill) gets used like a B&B for ministry families needing a break from remote village life.
Many work projects remain unfinished and will continue into next year. Watch the ABM website for opportunities to serve. You could help with a building or remodeling project, summer VBS program, or a sports camp. These projects might be on the Kenai Peninsula or in a remote village. Contact mike@abmalaska.org to get more information for your team.
Pray for the ABM team as we transition to Ministry Family Retreat (MFR) season. Planning started over a year ago for this annual retreat. Over 50 volunteers signed on to help ABM host this year’s event. Our key speaker is Pastor Craig Smith from Mission Hills Church in Denver. Mission Hills will also bless us with Danny Oertli and team leading adult worship time. Mount Aetna Bible Church from Pennsylvania leads the children’s program, and Justin Hostetter returns from Oregon to encourage the teens. Dr. Hodges and his Michigan team once again will bless everyone with free dental exams and more. MFR is our signature retreat, and many ministry families plan their year so they don’t miss this special time of encouragement.