PORT ALSWORTH | JULY 6-15
Estimated Cost: $2,450
Application Deadline: January 12
DOWNLOAD THE INFORMATION SHEETAPPLY FOR THE ALASKA TEAM
WHY THERE?
Rural Alaska living has enormous challenges with its geographic remoteness. But the deeper issues relate to spiritual darkness, mixed with a high level of alcohol abuse and other addictions. The result: dysfunction in families and society in general.
We will be serving during the primary camp week which includes 3rd and 4th grade children, sharing and showing them the love of God through our actions and words that point to Jesus Christ. Tanalian Bible Camp’s vision is to equip and see hope-filled Alaskans glorifying God by leading healthy families and communities. Tanalian Bible Camp exists to build up the Body of Christ in rural Alaska by providing evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, and leadership development through camps, conferences, and Biblical mentoring.
WHAT WILL WE DO?
Roles are determined by camp staff upon arrival.
Counselor
- Live with and care for up to six assigned campers
- Watch for and encourage spiritual growth in campers
- Pursue building relationships with each camper
- Lead group Bible study and foster wholesome discussion
- Attend morning staff meetings & be attentive to all chapel sessions
- Be responsible for the safety of campers
- Be willing to lead or assist in a variety of camp activities
Support Staff
- Keep camp buildings, kitchen, and bathrooms clean
- Assist with setup and take down of meals and support cooks
- Preserve the beauty of the grounds through yard work
- Small work, improvement projects are possible
- Other camp needs as necessary
- Assistant art teacher
- Assistant the camp’s art teacher during daily art lessons with campers
- Assistant in creating lessons and prepping for art lessons
WHO SHOULD COME?
People with a desire and passion to share the gospel and love of Jesus with the youth of Alaska. Those who have a heart to serve others, the ability to be coachable and work within a team, and a willingness to be challenged to grow during the process of serving.
Must be 18 years of age at the beginning of camp, or 17 and younger if accompanied by a parent.
Mobility/dexterity requirements – able to be physically active with campers during games, hike 3 miles and walk daily on uneven ground.
TRAVEL
Plan to have a 6 ½ hour flight to Anchorage and about 1 hour flight to Port Alsworth. There will likely be time to sightsee, explore, and eat in downtown Anchorage.
LODGING
We will spend one night in a hotel in Anchorage and then spend the other nights in cabins at camp. The cabins sleep up to 2 adults and 6 campers and have electricity. The grounds are beautiful and well-kept. There are communal, modern bathrooms.
MEALS
Meals while at TBC will be provided by the camp. Meals prior to arriving at camp and before flying home will be together as a group at a local restaurant and will be paid for by participants.
GENERAL INFO
- Climate: It depends, but usually it is sunny and 70 degrees. The sun never fully sets at this time of year. It is full sunlight all day except from about 11pm to 5am it is similar to dusk.
- Located 100 miles southwest of Anchorage, less than 200 people call the bush village home.
- God created an incredibly beautiful landscape in and around Port Alsworth. You will be in awe of the beauty and ability to experience Alaska as you serve at TBC. Climbing, hiking, sightseeing, fishing, canoeing, swimming, and much more while surrounded by one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
- You will also experience an amazing flight from Anchorage to Port Alsworth as you fly between and above mountains, all the while scanning the terrain for waterfalls, glaciers, rivers, rapids, volcanoes, and wildlife. It will be a memory and experience that even pictures or videos cannot describe.
- Native Alaskans’ identities are heavily associated with their family, village, and tribe, and children are certainly raised to respect and trust elders. However, no individual person or family is immune to the impacts of sin and the brokenness it causes. Alcohol abuse is one example of how families can be torn apart and a parent, or parents may need to leave their remote village for treatment, while other family or foster families will care for the children. Additionally, most Alaskans do believe in and experience the supernatural or spiritual realm, but evil and false spirits will and do enslave people from the one and only true Spirit that gives true life and comfort.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
- Training: the team will have a couple of training and preparation meetings in advance of the trip. There will also be Tanalian-sponsored training and team-building exercises at Tanalian prior to the campers arriving.
- Strict luggage weight restrictions, due to the use of smaller planes to commute between Anchorage and Port Alsworth.
PRAYER POINTS
- That God will call a team together from all campuses.
- That we will see life change in the children we will be serving.
- That each one of the team members will also experience God’s blessing while serving at Tanalian Bible Camp. That God would lead us through the challenges and logistics of new traveling requirements due to Covid.
One of the requirements for joining a short-term mission team is being a covenant member of our church.
If you are not a member, now is the time to take that step!