Looking forward to the summer, Team ABM plans to make several construction trips out to bush villages. But in the meantime, while winter weather still cloaks most of the state, our team still travels to villages to serve missionaries in a variety of hands-on ways. Recently, a handful of our staff traveled to work on a missionary’s home in the village of Port Lions on Kodiak Island. The work team headed to Homer on a snowy Sunday and boarded the ferry in some nasty weather. In spite of deteriorating conditions, the ferry ride was smooth.
Team ABM began work on the first day in the sunshine, but that was the last of the good weather for the eight-day work trip. Battling strong wind and cold rain, Pete Ekle and Jeffrey Spang proceeded to install siding and trim on the outside of the missionary’s home, while on the inside Rob Dillingham, Pete Ekle and volunteer Tom Hagen helped case and trim six windows. The team also helped with some milling and other projects that needed to be addressed! Phew!
Staff member Jeff Spang commented, “A few rainy days made it easy to focus on the inside projects, but good rain gear made it easier to work during the rain, too. When you are joyful, no rain or wind can get you down. Our time spent in Port Lions was just as God intended it to be. It was a joy to serve and accomplish a few tasks for them. The progress was noticeable, and the missionary family was encouraged. We even got to participate in a Sunday Bible study with some of the community members.”
And here is a note of thanks from the missionary family Team ABM served:
What a great team we had helping us with our house! All kinds of work got done and we had a great time with everyone. The weather did NOT cooperate much at all. These guys were working in winds gusting to 65 mph with driven rain in an effort to finish up something that would have been pretty tough for us to do. Nothing like handling 4′ X 8′ sheets of plywood in heavy winds!!! What a great team. Many thanks Jeffrey, Tom, Pete, Rob, Bethany, Kristi and children!
God has richly blessed us through your efforts.