In a Perfect World: Bill and Penny

In a perfect world there's no misunderstandings or problems of any kind, I've not been there. We are so welcome, yet as outsiders we are the last to know when a problem does arise. Three times problems arose with us right in the middle. By the time we heard about each one it had grown out of per portion. What these nice people were reminded of was when you involve me you had better be ready for me not only to defend myself, but to be in your face. Rocky found that I will not let go and I will be ready to follow him village wide until he gives in and listens to reason. Marion found out it's best to back off and mind her own business and also to remember not to lose her temper. Sarah found that when you start something I will finish it. And most important, you may think you are getting the best of me, more often than not I will win. When it was all said and done Penny and I are like one of the family, and we all know for better or sometimes worse. But we are part of the family and we are already planning our 2010 Summer trip to Arctic Village.

Arctic Village: Out of my comfort zone

This harsh and beautiful place and the people who choose to live here is like home to me. The day to day struggles makes one wonder why don't they just sell out to the oil companies. Life here would be so much easier, that's the point. If this was like most cities in our country, so many more people would live here. The Gwich'in do not want change, nor are they interested in how white people come to " help " them. Having said that, I'm so welcome here and folks want to know when will Penny get here.
I count the days until Penny arrives and fill my days with sixteen hours of work preparing all the gardens throughout the village. I average ten to twelve miles a day carrying water, soil, and supplies to each garden. Plus creating a large garden in Mary and Todd's yard where our camp will be again this year. It's clear to everyone that Todd has lived in Fairbanks throughout the winter, so much needs to be done to clear the area for gardens. Sixty below zero weather can detour most men for keeping on top of yard work. With Todd in Fairbanks, nothing was done in his absence. Within a day or two the yard is ready for what will be as the elders described it as the most beautiful sight they ever seen in the village. Both greenhouses are filled with almost three thousand plus starts that will be planted throughout the village. Plus a dozen trays with hundreds of starts such as lettuce, spinach, and other leafy veggies. I have five times the number of starts from the 2008 project, which was such a success.

The people are warm, the weather is not. Sleep is near impossible due to the cold and twenty-four hour sunlight. We talked about a four season tent, yet our Coleman three season tent is still in good shape. Oh good Lord is it cold, yet I'm so joyful to be here, so far out of my comfort zone. I lost twenty pounds by the time Penny arrived fifteen days after me. We joke of the perfect weight lose plan, we call it " the Arctic Village diet "

The Gathering: Arctic Village -Bill

Upon my arrival in Arctic Village I was told the twenty year anniversary of when all fifteen Gwich'in tribes sent elders to Arctic Village to make decisions concerning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was being celebrated the following week. Representatives from each village would be traveling to Arctic Village along with state and national media. Also a production crew from Los Angeles would be taking an aerial photo to be used in Bonn, Germany at a conference on climate change and global warming. What I wasn't aware of is we would be used to make this aerial photo. This four day event was so informative, interesting,and just amazing to see all the love shown to so many in the Gwich'in nation. People in the Government, environmental groups and the Garth Brooks of native Americans Mr. Robby Romero was there. Daryl Hannah (movie star ) had planned to attend, but a minor injury prevented her from traveling to the gathering. I feel so fortunate to be present at this event, and so many went out of their way to thank me for coming so far out of my comfort zone to do this work. The question I was asked over and over again was, WHERES PENNY?
To see all the people from the village in a prayer circle at the runway was incredible. As Tremble Gilbert ( Village Priest ) said, " never before and probably never again will he see this site" , then we prayed

Garden Project 2009

Flying into Arctic Village in May is just spectacular. Beginning this long process, knowing so many entities in Fairbanks are watching and pulling for us is helpful and intimidating. Yes, we are nervous, so much is at stake, so much has been sacrificed in the name of this effort. So much support and money have been given by people who believe in us. We don't want to let them down and we know if success is achieved it will bring jobs to the village.
In the first hours and days I renew friendships and share what's been going on in my life and enjoy each of their stories. These really are interesting people who must resign them selves this is a life full of hardships when you choose to live two hundred miles north of Fairbanks in a fly in village. That's the biggest draw for me, when that plane takes off, your here and you have no place to go.

Arctic Village : Gardening Project 2009 Bill and Penny

After months of planning Bill traveled to Fairbanks, wondering, hoping, for a successful summer. Two days of meetings, plus all of the gathering of supplies went as expected, now the unpredictable part begins. It wasn't long after arriving at Wright Air I was made aware that this is in fact so unpredictable. I'd seen someone who made us feel so welcome, yet that person won't even acknowledge me. It will take weeks before I learned why and then I understood, but for now I thought here we go again. I had to remember I'm not in charge here, be led and everything will be fine.
Over the next few weeks we will share about our time in Arctic Village and how it has changed our lives. It will take that long because we are learning daily just how wonderful this experience has been and how it will effect our decision making for future plans.
We are continually amazed at how, as Christians we can be used as tools to change and inspire people as history is changed forever.
As I have shared so many times, my job is to make connections and seize opportunities to help others. If we take what our pastors teach us, all the love, support, and wisdom from not only our congregations but denomination wide, apply it to our own lives and the road we travel, we can be

used as tools to accomplish anything.

Disaster Response- Greenwood Indiana

Penny and I were part of a group from PleasantDale Church of the Brethren to travel to Greenwood Indiana to volunteer with home repair from last years floods. We were in Alaska when the floods hit last year and were shocked at the damage and joyful our denomination choose to set up a site. Since last Nov. groups have traveled from all over the nation to show their love to folks in the hardest hit areas.We spent the week in four homes doing major repair and more importantly listening to peoples accounts of that horrific night in June.

Several spiritual events filled this week , they will be posted soon.

For More Info: Alaska Projects

For more information concerning our Alaska projects please check The Decatur Daily Democrat's web-site. Check May 27, 2008 and Sept. 27, 2008. You will find front page articles on both service missions. In the May issue it states 15 out of 15 plants were successful. That should have stated 15 out of 15 varieties, several hundred plants.

In the Sept. issue it stated the number of hikers not the number of planes. There are 100 hikers on average a day landing in Arctic Village during the summer months.