You are now entering tribal lands... enter at your own risk.

Many Americans don't know that our country still has Native tribes living within it's borders. Most can't even imagine life outside of our own Americanized civilization. We are not only blessed to know, but to also have the opportunity to experience these beautiful people and their great culture first hand! The villages here in Alaska are not like the villages we've visited in other countries. The villagers speak their own Native languages as well as English, have electricity and even resources to live somewhat comfortably. Some of the villages even have access to financially well standing careers that supply them with up to date equipment. However many, if not all villages have something to live with that we don't necessarily have to. Their forefathers and great forefathers lived here long before our type of civilization. They have to deal with a constant struggle between their native culture, beliefs, religions and the Americanized life that we bring. Today we have found many cases of people who needed no convincing about the reality of the Supernatural. They just wanted to know why they see spirits and demons lurking in their house. Some wanted to know how to get their house clean and free from them. Some of the people wanted to know the truth about Jesus aside from cultural religion - and they all wanted to be free.

I woke up bright and early to start getting myself and the family ready. I had a lot to think about when packing today. It was my first time bringing our baby to a village where a "Walmart" wouldn't be found for hours. I needed to not forget anything because if I did there was a good chance I either wouldn't be able to find it anywhere else or if I did, the price of whatever I would need would be inflated ridiculously. After cooking breakfast and packing everything I could possibly remember to pack, we jumped in the van and headed for the dirt roads.

As a Missionary I can say that it is a great advantage to be able to have your own vehicle on the field! We waited in our van to meet our contact where the paved roads meet the dirt road - and when she arrived we followed her into the first village. There we prepared to do a children's outreach. Our contact, Crystal, had been working with this village already for some time, and today we were going to minister to the village and even the visiting children with a program including music, a lesson, games and speaking and ministry time. At the end, Rob was to share about Jesus and pray and impart the Holy Spirit to them. When asked the question "What is sin?" the children shouted back some shocking answers. One would say "Cursing", and another would shout, "Stealing". What took me by surprise was when the children would yell "Hitting girls!", and another would yell "Smoking Dope!" We were shocked to hear such young children (ages 4-10) even aware of such things but we had been previously warned that some of the biggest issues in the villages are things like abuse, suicide, drugs and alcoholism. In fact, suicide is an epidemic in Native Alaskan villages - and that is only the tip of the iceberg. Needless to say, the children joyfully interacted and participated in the program. It was amazing to see such young hearts touched by Jesus. Some of them had already given their lives to Jesus and some who previously hadn't wanted to receive Jesus for the first time! God is so good to us, giving us the honor of seeing such miracles! One young man could not see very far and needed to stand very close to a sign just to read it. After prayer, he testified to us that he began to see clear from farther and farther away! The other children witnessed this miracle and all wanted prayer and began to display an interest in the supernatural. Many of them had a broad understanding if witchcraft and the occult because it was in their family history, and at some point along the line, they had been introduced to it. We prayed and broke the ties of witchcraft, and the joy of the Holy Spirit fell on those young guys!

After leaving the church, Titus fell asleep in the car so I needed to stay with him. (Some villages have pretty alarming crime rates.) Meanwhile Rob, Crystal and the rest of the team went door to door in the village offering to pray for people and getting words of knowledge for them. This was incredibly fruitful as they got to pray for many sick, and one lady even invited them in saying "There is evil spirits in my house and I want it clean!". God did amazing things there and many were touched. Next it was time to go to the next village named "Tetlin".

The next village was over an hour off the highway down a narrow, winding dirt road. Upon approaching the entrance, there was a sign that read "You are now entering Tetlin tribal land - enter at your own risk" I wasn't quite sure what exactly the sign was meant, but we thanked the Lord for protection and trekked on. We arrived at the Village Tribal Center where there was a planned Tribal dinner and meeting where Rob would preach for the village. Unfortunately, without notice they cancelled on us because there was a death in the village and when there is a death most of the village takes the time out to mourn and feast together. Rob, Crystal and the team went out praying and ministering to people anyway. One young man went for a walk with Rob, a walk that would change his life. There he asked to receive Jesus into his life. They also prayed for a crippled man and some others on their way. As they were ministering someone came to ask about the meeting. Apparently, they didn't know it was cancelled and Rob, Crystal and the team decided to hold the meeting anyway for the few people that still wanted to come!

No, it wasn't a revival gathering of a bazillion people and Hillsong wasn't leading worship. It was just us, and a few villagers who were hungry for the presence of God. Rob preached his heart out like he was leading a crusade and prayed for them. We know that when God sends us, He expects us to do as He would do. He would leave the 99 for the 1. He would leave behind a whole schedule of activities to come to a village and minister to just one person! We consider it a great honor to see all that  God has done changing lives today!

We didn't get back to our cabin until about midnight. After cooking dinner and laying the baby in his portable crib, it is 1:30AM and I am ready to hit the pillow. I'm so thankful for this opportunity and I realize that tomorrow is only getting closer as I continue to write. So goodnight all. Pray for our journeys tomorrow!

Traveling to Tok

For a day of travel it was not quite as hectic as it usually is getting everything we need packed and out the door in time to travel comfortably without arriving at our destination at an ungodly hour. Our target estimated time of departure was 10:00 AM. We only fell behind one hour leaving at 11:00 AM which still gave us plenty of travel time. The trip started out slow as Rob wanted to catch a picture at every stop there was on the side of the road to catch a view of the breathtaking landscape. We did get some good pictures out of it. Alaska is just an amazing part of our country. I hope as friends and family visit us in the future that we can share in some of it's beauty with them too! We eventually made our way to a huge glacier. It was enormous and beautiful! There was a sign that said we could drive to it and even walk on it! We were incredibly excited as we took the turn down the rocky mountainside road until we approached a gate. Of course they'll charge to go see it. :( 20 dollars a person. We thought we'll just have to do it next year. So we jumped back in the car and kept heading Northeast to Tok. As we got closer we saw less and less civilization. We approached Tok at about 6:30 PM. (Yes, that is actually good timing for us!) We passed the only gas station we saw which did not look very busy at the time. I snagged a picture for y'all though! We made our way to our cabin in the forest. Its a cute little cabin. I got things settled and unpacked at the cabin as Rob went out to buy some meat for us to cook for dinner. He had quite the experience at the little market. All the rotten fruit was on clearance and a bottle of A1 Steak Sauce was $7.00! Sitting just outside the market were a group of young native men wearing bandanas and staring at everyone who passed by. Rob picked up dinner and made his way back.

Though there may be principalities here we know God keeps us safe and that we have the authority over them! We spent the rest of tonight praying and preparing for tomorrow. Thank you to everyone who is praying - we feel it and keep it up!

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Blind Faith - preparing for village ministry and service.

Us at the Alaska State Fair

We have just had an amazing time here in Alaska. When God calls you somewhere, He certainly knows what He is doing! So far, we've had many opportunities to minister since we've been led to stay. As soon as we arrived in Alaska, one of the main things we heard about was the Alaska State Fair. It happens once a year to close out the summer, and is the only fair with entertainment of it's kind. When we accepted our heavenly assignment for Alaska and did not take our flight back to Charlotte, we decided to head to the fair to see what all the hype was about. When we arrived, one of the first things we came in contact with was a “Spiritual Reading” tent. Some of the Master's Commission team we were with went up to them. In my head I thought, “Oh that's so good! They are witnessing to the psychics!” As I come closer I saw scriptures on the walls and I could hear prayers throughout the tent. This certainly was no psychic tent! This was a prophetic evangelism tent! I was so excited to see this as I have never seen one in action before. I was honored when they offered for me to join them, but I nicely declined as my husband and son were with me. We spent some time there and went on our way to check out the rest of the fair, however as we walked away I could not get the opportunity out of my head. “How can I just walk away?” I thought to myself. This was such a chance for God to use me to impact people. I had to go back. I handed Tor off to my husband Rob and got back to the tent as fast as I could. They were delighted to see me return and I headed right to the back for training, prayer and 

Spiritual Reading Tent

impartation. Soon enough I was teamed up with a partner, and people were filing in to get a “Spiritual Reading”. Although I cannot give out too much information because I feel it is confidential I can say that I really saw such a hunger stirred up from people to know God and that it was so incredibly fruitful with right on prophetic words from God! One person even asked “So, God is okay with this?” People who have had such a view of a distant God were opened up to the reality that there is an intimate real God waiting to have a relationship with them! It was truly amazing! I had an amazing time seeing God change lives right in front of me.

Since then we have been building relationships with the people here in Alaska. Rob has ministered a few times with the youth group at our church, Master's Commission and in the main services of the church itself. We've seen God do amazing things here and we are just so thankful to everyone who has welcomed us and helped us begin to get established here. God provided a place for us to live, a van, clothes, jackets and so much. We are speechless with how quickly God confirmed that we are, without a doubt, supposed to be here.

So in the midst of the opportunities to minister and the friendships and trust we are building here in Alaska, an exciting door has opened before us to minister to some native villages in the interior of the state. First thing this morning we are packing to leave and we are thrilled about it!

We've heard that there are some intense issues in these villages we are going to, however we know that we in and of ourselves cannot do anything alone about these issues but as we've so clearly so many times seen God do the miraculous in villages we've visited in other nations - we know we can rely on God to do the same here for the villages in our own nation! I count it a privilege to be able to serve all the different types of people found in our own nation. It is an honor.

I can say that as we go along to the villages I will try to keep the blog somewhat updated to keep you informed of all that is happening. I know I will have amazing testimonies to share!

Please pray for these things for us as we go: the road conditions are safe (rumors are that there is snow already along the passes we will have to drive through), that we will have a peaceful trip free of stress or distractions, that we will have favor in the villages and they will open their hearts to what God wants to do in their life! Pray for our safety and Holy Spirit opportunities to serve these people.

Thank you for your prayers. We love and appreciate you dearly!

Millie