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