Trip Presentation at Jacksboro UMC Tonight at 7PM

Rev. John Crabtree will give a presentation on the Alaska mission trip. It happens tonight, Friday July 31, 2009 at 7:00 pm. Included will be a slide show of photos, maps and information about missions.

Light refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

Changed Lives

People are still asking me about the trip. I'm still talking about it. It amazes me that God could take a group of near-strangers and form the bonds of friendships that were created.

That's one of the things that happens on a mission trip. It's beautiful. Next month my daughter is traveling to DC to view a college. We are planning to meet up with one of the (ironically enough) local members of the mission team. It turns out that she'll be in DC during the same time we'll be there.

We'll see more of her on trips than we have here locally. She's only been here a few months. Already, our friendship feels like it's been forever.

I feel blessed to have been a part of such a team and to have gotten to know such terrific people. If anyone asks me now about going on a trip I'm telling them to go, Now!

Gayle

Reflections on our Mission Trip to Alaska

After driving over 11,000 miles my daughter, Hubby and I are finally home. (More on our return trip is on my personal blog at www.youvebeenreviewed.net) The rest of the team returned via air. They've been home for a couple of weeks now.

As I type this I am sitting in my living room. A glass of unsweetened iced tea sits by the computer. My daughter's dog is peering in the window begging to be allowed inside. From my daughter's room the quiet tones of flute practice dance in the air. The sun is setting. Soon it will be dark. The effect is a little surreal.

On the mission trip ice was often not included with drinks. While we could get unsweetened tea most of the time, the sweet variety (known as the house wine of the South) was as nonexistent as the stars in the sky.

That's right. Stars. This time of year there is no real darkness in Alaska. The sky goes from the pinks and oranges of a spectacular sunset to the medium blue of twilight. The sky quickly lights up again with the pink hues of sunrise. It simply didn't get dark enough for stars - or the moon that I can recall.

It is the experience itself that will always stay with me. There were a few defining moments. These included the look on my daughter's face when the ground shook beneath her feet for the fist time. It was her first earthquake.

Then, there was the moment when she was complimented for her caulking skills. She had never held a caulking gun before. That was another first. The trip held several more firsts for her as well.

But mostly, the missions trip gave her (and us) a chance to learn about ourselves. It is one thing to proclaim that you love Christ enough to follow him. It is another thing to actually do it. Mission trips move you from comfortability to reliability so that you can more fully depend on God.

You become a mission team member so that you can help others. In the process of helping you find yourself coming to terms with who you are in Christ and why you should help others. You gain new understandings and new visions of what God can do and is doing.

And that, my friends, is why you should experience a mission trip. You can hear about a trip but until you participate, you are only receiving half of the blessing. And oh, how sweet that other half is!

In Him,

Gayle Crabtree

More trip receipts

Here is the screenshot of my Pay Pal account. I have managed to misplace our car repair receipt and the motel room receipt at the moment. This will give you an idea of what some of the extra expenditures have been. 

In addition to the car repair, extra meals and extra motel expenses in Fargo, ND there is the room in Brandon, Canada. The journey has been incredible so far. 

It only seems fair to give the accounting since we've used the quickie fundraising help from Jacksboro to cover these costs. Allie and I have appreciated the help tremendously. Without it we'd have been back at home weeks ago. This is an incredible trip so far! I can't wait to tell you about it.

Take care

Gayle

Moose Quest Completed

Moose quest completed. On the 11 hour Denali National Park tour yesterday the entire team finally saw a moose. Look closely at the photograph below. The dark spot is the moose. It was confirmed through the binoculars of our tour guide.

I almost had the chance for a better shot. But you know how the big ones always get away.

At least the entire team got to see a moose.

We also saw a golden eagle, snowshoe rabbits, grizzlies, a swan and duck, caribou, wolves eating (it was a bad day for the caribou) more moose and a toad. Not bad for a day's drive through the park.

The team has now split up to go in different directions. Three of us are staying to enjoy Denali another day. Some are going to Fairbanks. Others are going back to Tennessee. The missions portion of the trip is officially completed.

Keep viewing this blog for updates on planning other mission trips. To view my blog and follow my family through other Alaska experiences before heading home click this link.

Saying Goodbye

The team said goodbye to Willow United Methodist Church today. For the past week we have called their fellowship hall home. Our part of the homebuilding has been completed on schedule. This is an accomplishment of which we are all proud.

The next leg of our adventure happens at Denali National Park. On Sunday, the team will take a bus tour of the park before splitting up to head our separate ways.

Very well organized and put together the mission trip has been a good experience.

3.2 Alaska Earthquake Not Felt by Team

A 3.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska today. The epicenter was 50 miles from the team. None of the team members reported feeling the ground shake. Everyone is safe. There were no injuries and no damage.

Read more on the USGS website.

It's the First Mission Trip for This Team Member

It's the first mission trip for this team member. Hear her talk about it by clicking the link above.

LaFollette Team Says Alaska Mission Accomplished!

Today the Lafollette United Methodist Church declared "mission accomplished". The last of the windows and doors were installed, the vapor proof barrier is in place and the insulation is ready to go.

Another mission team is coming to hang dry wall. The Willow United Methodist Church hopes to have the parsonage ready in time for their new pastor to arrive in June of 2010.

Many mission team members are calling the experience and once in a lifetime event. More photos are available on the Picasa album online. Some are shown here.

After the final day the team is relaxing with a barbeque dinner of pork chops, chicken and Alaska salmon.

LaFollette Team Says Alaska Mission Accomplished!

The LaFollette United Methodist Church team says "mission accomplished". In

Visitng Talkeetna, Alaska

The team took a side trip after work today. They paid a visit to the town of Talkeenta, Alaska to do some tourist shopping. Some team members took an airplane ride around Denali to visit Mt. McKinley and landed on a glacier.

Talkeenta, Alaska is a small town which offered a lot of charm. It made a good place to relax.

Visitng Talkeenta, Alaska

The team took a side trip after work today. They paid a visit to the town of Talkeenta, Alaska to do some tourist shopping. Some team members took an airplane ride around Denali to visit Mt. McKinley and landed on a glacier.

Talkeenta, Alaska is a small town which offered a lot of charm. It made a good place to relax.

Team members still hope to see a live moose. Some of them are despairing that seeing this wooden moose is as close as they are going to get.

Moose Quest Completed! (For Some!)

The Moose quest has been completed! For some team members anyway... For others the quest continues. A few team members ventured out after 10:00 pm last night. They came back with the photos you see here.

Willow Alaska Church Hosts Mission Team Dinner

Tonight we were treated to a potluck dinner. Were we ever impressed! The dishes featured Alaskan favorites. Everything was delicious. There was moose meatloaf and meatballs, halibut pie, two different kinds of reindeer sausage (caribou), a salad featuring lettuce plucked from the parishoner's garden and lots more.

After the dinner, the missions leader and missionary presented the team with gifts. These included a pen and a lapel pin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood and a t-shirt from the Willow Winter Festival here in Willow, Alaska.

We appreciated the gifts and truly enjoyed meeting the parishioners. Everyone here has gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. It has been a wonderful experience!

The House Progresses

Progress continued on the parsonage today. We're going to continue installing the vapor barrier tomorrow. It looks like we may get finished in time. This is good news and the team is excited.

Later tonight the church is going to be giving us an Alaskan potluck dinner. We'll be sure to post photos.

The Youngest Member of the LaFollette UMC Mission Team Speaks

At age 20, Allie is the youngest member of the LaFollette UMC missions team. The trip has greatly impacted her life. She says she would move to Alaska if she could. Click on the box to hear her talk about the trip in her own words.

No Moose on this Quest

There's been no moose on this quest. Team members did go out early this morning. They came back without photos. We've heard stories but we wonder... Are there really moose in Alaska? Will we see one? Stay tuned to our blog to find out!


The next trip out will be after dinner. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Moose Quest Continues...

The mission team is on a quest to see a moose. After visiting the Alaska Host B&B the team ventured forth to seek out a moose. We toured through the local state park but did not find one. We drove through the park for about an hour. Hopes are high that we will be able to spot one.

Plans are to go out again early in the morning. Maybe we''ll have better luck?

Picasa Photo Album Link

Here's the link to an online photo album. Click here to view the latest photos. These are being updated at least daily.

You can really see how much progress the team has made on the house. It looks great!

Remarks from Rev. Crabtree on the Willow Alaska Mission Trip.

A few remarks from Rev. Crabtree, pastor of Jacksboro United Methodist Church. These were made during our first day of work on the parsonage in Willow, Alaska.

5.5 Alaska Earthquake Shakes Up Missions Team

Today an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 shook up the mission team. The epicenter was about 25 miles from Willow, Alaska. There was no damage and no injuries were reported. Some of the team reportedly did not feel the ground shake beneath them. They were too focused on the task at hand. For some, it was their first earthquake.

The ground shook for about a minute. This was followed by an aftershock less than a minute later. The aftershock also lasted for less than a minute.

Alaska leads the US in earthquake activity. Read the report from the USGS about the earthquake here.

Related links:
CBS News
MSNBC

Our First Big Day!

Our first big day was yesterday. We participated in the worship service and got to meet many parishioners during a time of fellowship after worship. Today, we are going to head to the work site to start building on the parsonage. The weather is cold and damp but nothing can dampen our spirits today. The team eagerly anticipates getting started.

Here are a few photos. More are online at the Picasa Album here.

We have also heard a lot about Alaska wildlife. Moose are reputed to be prominent in the area. The team hopes to see one. Watch here or check the album for photos.

East Tennessee LaFollette Mission Team in Willow, Alaska

The LaFollette Mission Team got settled in today at LaFollette United Methodist Church. Startling, is the adjustment to the 4 hour time difference.

To fill in time this morning most members went exploring and were treated to their first views of Denali Mountain. Wikipedia says this is the tallest mountain peak in North America. Even though the team is 160 miles away from the mountain, the peak could easily be seen by driving less than 2 miles from the church.

The team headed back to church and was introduced to the church at the 10:00 am worship service. Invited to play an instrumental flute solo for worship was Alexandria Crabtree. She is a member of Caryville United Methodist in Caryville, Tennessee and is on the Band Staff at Berea, College in Berea, Kentucky.

Following worship, team members got to meet parishioners during a time of fellowship. Several of the church members expressed ties to family and friends in the East Tennessee area.

Later, the team enjoyed a grilled hot dog lunch before leaving for Hatcher's Pass. This is a historic gold mine and tourist attraction. More information can be found on the link above.

Tomorrow the team plans to begin work at the job site at 9:00 am. The plans are to install doors and windows in a new parsonage that is being constructed. A full slate of other weeklong mission activities and mixers are planned for church members.

Life is very different in Willow, Alaska than in East Tennessee.

There is running water and electricty but a shaky septic system. Team members are being asked to use an outhouse. The computer is old and slow. Cell phones may or may not work. The people are hardy and filled with a generous spirit. Their love for God and care for each other are evident.

The team members eagerly anticipate learning more. Photos are available online here. More will be posted as they are available.

Keep viewing this blog for more updates from the East Tennessee LaFollette Mission Team as we serve in Willow, Alaska.

LaFollette Mission Team Arrives!

A tired but excited LaFollette United Methodist Church Mission Team arrived at the Anchorage Airport at 7:00 pm local time this evening. Members from Willow United Methodist Churches were on hand to greet the team members and drive them the approximately 2 hours to the church where they will be working and staying.

Plans are to attend morning worship tomorrow. Look for more updates to come.

Back on the road again

The car is fixed. Thanks to a tremendous amount of help and support from Jacksboro UMC Gayle and Allie are back on the road. It's a little late but we're going to try to make it to at least Brandon in Canada tonight. The breakdown will cost us yet another night on the road but at least we're on our way now.

I'm posting the receipts here so everyone can see what we spent. We'll have some extra eat-out expenses and the extra motel bill for tonight to post later.

The car repair bill won't photograph. Because the guys at West Acres All Stop were very nice the bill to them only came to $563. I'll post a screenshot of it and whatever tonight's motel bill is going to be as soon as it shows up in Pay Pal. Thanks everyone! See you in Alaska!

LaFollette Mission Team Members Break Down in North Dakota

The timing belt gave out in Minnesota. We got towed as far as Fargo, North Dakota. The two members of the LaFollette Mission Team will evaluate based on word from the car repair shop tomorrow.

Wisconsin

We are in Menomonie, Wisconsin heading to Canada. I have seen several red-winged blackbirds and deer; fortunately, they all seemed to be in good mental health. At least, they stayed a good distance away from the interstate. The terrain at this point consists of very gently rolling hills, with mostly farmland. All in all, it's not a bad state to be in, unless you want sweet tea. I'm very much looking forward to crossing the Canadian border later today--it will mean that we are one step closer to Alaska!

written by Allie

Indiana to Canada

This is Allie posting here. Mom (Gayle) and I are now in Indiana on our way to Alaska. We hope to hit the Canadian border tomorrow. It's been fun so far, and has been a great chance to polish my map-reading skills. I am looking forward to learning how to build a house with the team as well as exploring Alaska itself. I can't wait to see what new things I will learn on this trip!

First Team Members Leave. View photos of the PT Cruiser and follow their blog here.

The first team members are on their way to Alaska. They'll be traveling 4,100 miles over land and will meet up with the rest of the team in Anchorage. The car is loaded with their gear and with team supplies of food and tools. It was a load but the team members still had space to see out their car windows.

The rest of the team will fly out on Saturday, June 20. Keep checking here for updates.

First Mission Team Members Leave for Alaska Friday, June 12.

The first mission team members are set to leave for Alaska on Friday, June 12, 2009. Team members Gayle Crabtree and daughter Allie Crabtree will be traveling the 4,100 plus miles to Willow, Alaska by car.

The ladies will be carrying team supplies and will meet up with the rest of the group at the Anchorage airport. The team will then travel together to the mission site where they will begin their work.

The ladies are calling it the mother-daughter trip of a lifetime.

You can keep up with Gayle and Allie on the blog Youve Been Reviewed or follow them on Twitter.

LaFollette UMC After Church Lunch for Mission Team

After church, why not join the folks at LaFollette United Methodist Church for lunch? It's a spaghetti lunch with all the trimmings. There is no set cost. Donations are accepted.

The mission team will be heading to Willow, Alaska. They are tasked with helping to construct a new parsonage there. The funds from the lunch go to buy construction supplies to help build a home in Willow, Alaska.

This is a great time to have a good meal and help a cause. Why not come out and join us? Team members will be there and will gladly tell you about the upcoming trip. See you at lunch!

Yard Sale at LaFollette UMC helps Alaska Mission Trip

The yard sale at LaFollette UMC helps the Alaska mission trip. Funds from the yard sale go to buy construction supplies. The money will help the team build a new parsonage in Willow, Alaska. The yard sale is set to start at 8:00 am and will run until after lunch (at least). Donations of items and funds are welcome. Tell your friends and come support this worthy cause.

Brandon, Canada

We've just checked into the room in the only motel we could find in Brandon. It's just after midnight. We're both tired and are hoping for a good nights sleep. The bill was about $120. I can't believe this is a Comfort Inn. I'll post the screenshot as soon as I  can. The internet is not stable so it's doubtful that it will upload.

We could never have gotten the room without the help from Jacksboro.

From Sunday through tonight we've more than doubled our expected expenses and added to the number of nights out. We're pushing forward and will see what happens.

Thank you all so much! Good night.

Happy Easter Sunday

Today is Easter Sunday.

This is the day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Our mission team members will be happy to welcome you at our churches this Easter Sunday. If you are reading this and do not have a church home, please visit one of ours.

We wish you and yours a Happy Easter Sunday.

Posted by Gayle
Mission Team Member

Join us for Lunch LaFollette UMC May 3.

Join us for lunch at LaFollette United Methodist Church on May 3. We'll be having a great taco bar. Donations for the lunch are accepted. All proceeds from this lunch will go to purchase supplies for the church in Willow, Alaska.

This is a wonderful way to enjoy fellowship, good food and support a great cause.

Will you help the church in Willow, Alaska. See you for lunch at LaFollette United Methodist Church.

Posted by Gayle
Mission Team Member

Good Friday

Today is Good Friday. Christians worldwide celebrate this day in preparation for Easter Sunday. Our service to others on this mission trip comes out of our dedication to God. We encourage you to celebrate Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the church of your choice.

If you don't have a church of your own why not visit ours? The members of the LaFollette UMC mission team reflect several different churches in the area. We would be happy to welcome you at any of our churches. You can find a list of the churches here.

May God bless you and yours on this Good Friday.

Gayle
Mission Team Member

Churches of the LaFollette UMC Missions Team

There are 5 different churches represented on the Alaska Missions Team. They are listed here in no particular order.

LaFollette United Methodist Church of LaFollette, TN
Caryville United Methodist Church of Caryville, TN
Jacksboro United Methodist Church of Jacksboro, TN
St. Mark's United Methodist Church of Clinton, TN
Mill Creek United Methodist Church of Rockville, MD
Alive in the Spirit Church of God of East TN.

Only God can pull together people from such a variety of churches and make it work. We look forward to see what He does with the rest of the trip!

Posted by Gayle
Missions Team Member

Alaska or Bust!

The Alaska Missions Team is off to a phenomenal start. We met today to go over the trip itinerary. Our task is going to be to install insulation and windows in a church parsonage. These items are two to three times as thick as the insulation used here in Tennessee. Our work will be overseen by a local contractor from Alaska. This will ensure that everything done to the parsonage is up to code.

Everyone on the Alaska Missions Team will have a lot to learn and a lot to share when we get back. While on the trip we will not only be educated by one another but by the people we will be serving. Benefiting from our experiences, will be our local churches as well as the community of Willow, Alaska.

But first we have to attend to the details, which is what today's meeting was all about.

Posted by Gayle
Missions Team Member

Leaving in June, deposits due

It's official! We're all leaving in June for Alaska. Deposits need to be in by Jan. 5, 2009. Not only do we have a full team, but a wait list exists. Everyone who is going needs to have the full fee needs paid in May. The team is building a parsonage. In addition to flights etc. the team members will be raising funds to help with parsonage supplies. Fundraisers will include dinners, yard sales, donations and possibly other activities. There will be lots of opportunities to be involved!!! Keep watching here for updates.