God's plan for Penny and Bill

Penny and Bill met in McComb Mississippi over Easter week of 2007. Bill was a long term volunteer at the Furgeson house, a C.O.B. disaster response site. Penny was part of a group from Pleasant Dale C.O.B. This was God's will and both of them knew this before week's end. Twenty years of believing in the path they were walking led them to McComb. They will now chart the course of service that led them to each other. Penny's a Godly walk, Bill has walked a path with many mistakes, then retraveled with a whole new spirit.

fairbanks connections for community gardens

Bill and Penny have been used as tools to do the Lord's work in many parts of the globe. As they spent thier last day in Fairbanks in 2007, they were lead to Heidi Rader of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, David van den Berg of North Alaska Environmental Center, and Habitat for Humanity of greater Fairbanks. The ripple effect has been felt not only in Fairbanks but across Alaska. They're not sure how many organizations will be involved in community gardening in the summer of 2008, what they are sure of is the belief in the path they're walking. What a great thing it is to follow God's plan and inspire others to help our fellow man. Who knows what part of the construction process will be completed by Bill, Penny, and the group from Pleasant Dale C.O.B.? What we know is we're doing the Lord's work and everything else will fall into place. Never get too old to follow your dreams. Some laugh as they call Bill a dreamer, but thank God others are inspired by Bill's dreams and dedication to making them come true.

Habitat for Humanity in Fairbanks

In July 2007 Penny and Bill volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Fairbanks. Because of our interest and involvement with Habitat at home, we decided to see if Habitat was active in Fairbanks. Yes, they were building, so we spent our last day in Alaska helping frame the roof. We met a group from Idaho volunteering for the week, as well as the Fairbanks Habitat family. The Idaho group inspired us to pursue the possibility of bringing a group from our church in 2008. When we presented this to our congregation, the response was positive. As a result a group from Pleasant Dale C.O.B. will be volunteering in Fairbanks the week of July 14. YEAH!!!! We will leave the gardening projects in Arctic Village to travel south to Fairbanks to meet and work with the group that week.

Due to the Lord's calling, we will return to Arctic Village after the week in Fairbanks to continue the gardening projects.

Alaksa Environmental Awareness Conference at Aquinas College(Oct. 25, 2004)

Connections with the Gwich'ins don't always happen in Alaska. Bill attended an informational program at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan which featured Luci Beach, executive director of the Gwich'in Steering Committee and Subhankar Banerjee, author of "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land." They shared about environmental concerns in Alaksa due to the unwanted influences of industry. The subject of drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was cause for a very heated debate and dominated the Q & A portion of the program.

At a reception following the program, Mr. Banerjee held a book signing for his photographic journey, the book mentioned above, as Ms. Beach was asked more Gwich'in specific questions. She allowed Bill to field the questions knowing about his caring relationships with the Gwich'ins and his concern for their land. Bill's answers appeared to have an impact speaking on behalf of the Gwich'ins from the perspective of a white man from Grand Rapids.

Supporting My Gwich'in Family

Bill has made several trips to Arctic Village since 2003. He has seen the needs of the people and has been able to help them in many ways. Hundreds of pounds of books, clothes, and food have been sent in hopes of making life there a little easier. A subscription to Sports Illustrated has also been sent to the school to help with reading skills. The gardening project is a result of Bill's concern for the health of the villagers. We plan to leave around June 1, 2008 to lead and participate with the village in growing both community and home gardens. We ask for your prayers, especailly for the students' involvement and realizing the importance of a more complete diet and combating the effects of global warming.

Environmental Programs Update, Arctic Village 2004

Bill was invited back to Fairbanks, Alaksa for the wedding of Margerie and Danny Gimmell (in the caribou picture). Immedialtely after getting off the plane upon a return visit to the village after the wedding, Bill walked into an environmental meeting held in the village council office. The office was filled with energetic youth who were truly interested in the future of the village. He was happy to see that the recycling program continued to be an ongoing village awareness project and still is today.

Recycling Above the Arctic Circle

During Bill's 2003 trip to Arctic Village, the tour group noticed the man-made clutter of this pristine land. After establisihng recycling programs in Michigan involving youth, Bill approached the Arctic Village school principal and teachers. They were already considering a recycling program through the school. So, through brainstorming and discussions with the students and Bill, a plan was developed and implemented. The entire village was cleaned by the students, teachers, and Bill with recyclables be sorted and flown to Fairbanks. This is an ongoing program and the villagers say the first above the Arctic Circle.