Jarshky's Jargon

Hello again! It’s time for an “end of 2016, beginning of 2017” update from Fort Yukon, Alaska! I am amazed that once again this year, we had great weather in the middle of winter on New Year’s Eve. Our theme was Comic-Con, and everything was superhero/super-villain themed. The kids had a blast, and some of them came with costumes. With only six, our leaders were spread thin this year, but we made it work, and the youth had a fun and safe place to spend their New Year’s Eve. ​

After the New Year’s all nighter, Pastors Jeremiah and Sharnay left to raise their support budget as US missionaries. They brought little Lucas and Araya with them, so the house has been pretty quiet much of the time! Angela Sergie from This Generation Ministries (TGM) has been staying up here as a third person, as well as a helper in the various ministries of the church.

​January was a month of awesome opportunities. I started my sixth consecutive semester with SAGU (Southwestern AG University). At may current rate, I should be graduating with a bachelor’s degree either December of this year or April of next. I also began teaching a guitar class to the high schoolers as an elective at the school. I have nine students in my class, and it has been fun showing them what I know about guitar. I am looking forward to a great rest of the school year. I have served in multiple ways in the volunteer fire department these past couple of months- Chase, the police chief and director of public safety for the City of Fort Yukon, recently promoted me to Battalion Chief within the department, so I have been busy helping with grants, doing administrative tasks, and contacting the firefighters with news and any situations that happen (fire calls, search and rescue, etc). God is opening many doors for us to serve our community and reach them with His love, and it’s exciting to see!

On February 5th (aka “Super Bowl Sunday”), we had 7-8 people over for an awesome time of food and fun as we watched the game. We had to pull out more chairs in the cafe area, which was a welcome surprise. Now, as we come closer to March, I have been getting our students pumped about Winter Xtreme, which, for the first time in its 17 years of operation, will be hosted in Valdez this year. This is a powerful winter camp that gives students an excellent environment specifically created for the purpose of encountering God. I ask that as you read this, you would say a prayer for the camp, and for the students- that those who need to go would be able to make it, and that God would provide the funds and and the means for them to go. James 5:17 says that the fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

I am very excited about year number three in Yukon Flats youth ministry, and look forward to developing leaders that will reach their school campus, their homes, and their town for Christ! ​