Alaska is the most incredible state. The native culture is beautiful.
I was so incredibly blessed to get the chance to serve in Nome, Alaska in January. I went with a team from my university and we met up with a team of women from Alaska Missions. Our purpose was to help Alaska Missions put on their annual Women's Conference for the women of Nome and the surrounding areas. This time of year, Alaska has very little daylight, around four hours in the middle of the day. It is a very dark time physically and spiritually. We were there to be encouragers for these women.
Never did I think I would leave this place full of encouragement. Some of the women we met have led incredibly difficult lives. Many of the people living in these villages have experienced sexual abuse from the people around them that they trusted. Sometimes their abusers are family members. Sometimes they were betrayed by a neighbor or other trusted adult. Alcoholism is very high among these communities. The suicide rate among men in these communities is also incredibly high. These people have a lot of hurt and suffering around them.
Despite all of the evil they face every day, the women we met at the conference praise Jesus with every cell in their bodies. They know that the Lord is faithful and will save their people from this vicious cycle.
Our team was so blessed to get to meet these women. Alaska Missions brought us together as a team of women from all over the country and of all different ages. The native women couldn't believe we'd traveled so far to be with them. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Alaska stole a piece of my heart.
