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	Missionary volunteers lead out during the song service at the Aleknagik Vacation Bible School.
	Alaska VBS: 4 Villages in 3 Weeks!

by Fran Hansen

This year a group of 19 people left for Togiak, Alaska, on June 5.  Two came all the way from Mexico, two from Iowa, one from Nebraska, and the rest from Missouri. After spending Friday and Sabbath in the Anchorage area, we flew to Dillingham and then on to Togiak.

	Mud play in Togiak Bay.

    The first day there were 15 children who came early, had lunch with us, and stayed until after VBS. They were so happy to see us again.  Several parents told us that their children couldn’t wait for us to come and reminded their parents to take them to the new church. The spaciousness was fabulous.

    Each day saw us preparing to minister to the children . . . physically, spiritually and mentally. There was some much-needed bonding between our teens and the teens of the villages. 

    We interacted with approximately 100 children and had the opportunity to meet several adults. On Thursday night we held a community potluck. A few adults came, along with about 50 children. There were no leftovers!

    When the tide went out on Friday, some of our group decided to walk out on the mud flats. Well, you know what happens when you mix kids and mud!  Yep, and some of the natives got involved, too. What a mess, but what grinning went on.

Playing cat’s craddle.

    We contacted the local native dance group that specializes in native culture portrayal and have made arrangements for them to be at Oshkosh for the Pathfinder Camporee next year!!!  They are very excited at the prospect. The dance group performed for us for three hours on Wednesday night. It was wonderful.

    On June 15, six people had to return home, and the rest of us flew to Manokotak. We stayed in the Moravian mission house and held the VBS in the Moravian Church.  The people who were renting the house, Melissa and Panta Paul and their children, were extremely gracious and moved out while we were there so we could have the house.

    Manokotak is different than Togiak in all aspects. While Togiak has no trees and is flat and right on the ocean, Manokotak has trees, hills, and is on a river. I wondered why, if the river was out on the tundra, the houses were built on stilts.  I learned this is because when the snow melts, it just runs under the houses, instead of flooding them. 

    Melissa Paul took two of us to look for wild celery. It tastes more like radishes and celery mixed. We also picked some fiddle fern, which is used like cooked spinach. She cooked a fresh salmon for us. It was delicious.

	The children make their own pinewood derby cars to race.

    The salmon are not running well this year, and several rivers in Alaska were closed. This hurts subsistence fishing very much, as the people depend on the fish for food.

    We had many delightful experiences with over 50 children in Manokotak. They really got involved with everything we did. Very respectful, but had a lot of fun at the same time.

    We think about all the children in the two villages, but we especially remember the young ones who are struggling so desperately to know who they are. One is repeating a third year in 7th grade.  He is very smart and has such kind eyes, and he was the first child we met on our first trip. Another young person is cutting himself. The poverty and isolation presents special challenges for working in these villages. 

    I would like to recognize those who took time out to help minister to God’s children:
Chris, Tammy, Cassie, Kyler and Therynn Oliver: Chris and Kyler were in charge of games, Tammy in charge of crafts, and Cassie took on the huge responsibility of the 5 years and under group.  She did a wonderful job! 

   Eric, Michelle, Gregory and Jackie Hansen:  Eric was a counselor for the teens and Michelle cooked for us. We ate well!

Togiak Native dancers practice.

    Jacob Watkins, Marian Collins, Britni Grannan, Abby Paul, Cayla Ried:  They interacted so well with the children and really did a fantastic job at showing what God’s love is all about.

    Melissa and Saritza Dyke all the way from Mexico: they were an inspiration to all of us.  They jumped in and filled gaps we didn’t even know we had!

    Crystal Van Fossen, Fletcher Grahn, the Fiedler family, Susan, Nick and Chris Eastman, whoever sent packages without return addresses and any I missed due to the labels being destroyed before I got to them . . . all the things you sent were wonderful and so appreciated.

    Eloise Farr for sending yarn from Hawaii and my sister Ruth Nielsen for knitting 200 hats for the children this year.  We are truly blessed by all those who contributed.

    Prices are outrageous. In Togiak, a gallon of milk is $10.00 and bananas were $2.99/lb.  There wasn’t even much food in the store in Manokotak and no fresh produce. Their food  is flown in from Dillingham. Rod and Brenda Rau donated our food for the week, and they will never know how much we appreciated that!

	Mike Hansen

    And my husband Mike, who didn’t know what he was in for when he married me!  He has been such a support through the years.

     The third week Kathy and Mike Rowe arrived in Dillingham with two more youth.  Five of our girls stayed the third week, presenting VBS’s in Aleknegik in the afternoon, and Dillingham in the evening. (see article by Kathy Rowe below!)

    We are planning to go again next year.  If you would like to join us, donate needed items, or help defray expenses, please send any inquiries to Fran Hansen at fayhxyz@gmail.com.