Alaska!

The unit (left to right: myself, Tyler, Renee, Leah, and Marlene)

The first three days in Anchorage Service Adventure have been a joy! The unit is already feeling like family and we've had no shortage of interesting activities, outings, discussions, and much more. We all start work at our service placements the day after Labor Day, so we have been enjoying some time before then to get the lay of the land. I'm loving Alaska so far - and we're all looking forward to exploring more of what the surrounding area has to offer, as well as build relationships with those around us, in the church and community.

Here's a quick run-down of some of the highlights so far for me:

• mountain biking: several of us hit the trails at Kincaid Park on mountain bike. Good group bonding and quite a thrill as we managed to achieve a relatively high velocity!

• Getting to know members of Prince of Peace Mennonite Church, the supporting church of our service adventure unit. We've been to church for only one Sunday, but already feel very welcomed and supported. I've really enjoyed talking with members of the congregation, whether over a potluck, fixing bikes in the back yard, or at someone's house for a delicious supper. I anticipate that this connection will only become more deep and integral to unit life. 
• Beautiful scenery in all 360 degrees! We've been fortunate to have great weather so far - it has allowed us to see Denali all three days. Merely biking on trails affords some pretty scenic vistas.

• The amount of daylight! Even two months after the summer solstice, there's still a nice amount of light in the sky late into the evening. Not anything extraordinary for someone who's lived here, but coming from Kansas, I'm still amazed at how much extra time we have to do things up here!

Our unit house at 10:30 pm

I look forward to the coming weeks as we get into our service placements and the flow of things. We're still getting to know one another (and will continue to do so), but its exciting to begin to plug in to the community here: whether through church, the natural world, or unit life.

Blessings,

Mark

T-Minus Two Weeks!

With the beginning of a year of voluntary service only two weeks away, I am becoming quite pumped about the journey that will soon begin. Right now there are many things I am looking forward to – things I am excited about or hopeful for. I know that I cannot plan how my year will unfold: Some of the things I am looking forward to might not actually happen. On the other hand, some truly amazing things will happen that I could never have foreseen. I hope to remain open to wherever my journey may take me, and dive into the activities, relationships, and settings that I find myself in. In any case, I come into this year of service with much excitement, anticipation, and joy. Here, then, are a few of the things I am looking forward to:

• A new experience: new place, new people, new relationships, new activities…
• Getting to know Anchorage and the surrounding area and its (among other things): people, thrift stores, parks, trails, eateries, disc golf courses, libraries…
• Getting to know the other members of the unit and becoming close friends and family. The best part of this year will probably simply be spending time with this awesome group of people.
• Unit life and the joys (and challenges) it brings with it: cooking regularly, living in community, chilling and talking late into the night…
• Interacting with and becoming part of a new and different church community. I anticipate that Prince of Peace Mennonite Church will be smaller, comprised of younger people, and more informal than my home congregation (Bethel College Mennonite Church).
• Serving others through my job at the Bureau of Land Management
• Biking to work, rain or shine!
• Working in the glorious outdoors!
• A new climate and amount of daylight.
• The mere idea of heading north, of the vast Alaskan wilderness, and of seeing some of the most pristine and untouched land in the United States
• Hiking and backpacking in some raw places with the unit and people from the church
• The chance to do photography amidst a beautiful and rugged landscape.
• A year away from school to reflect, become rejuvenated for future formal education, and learn in a whole new way.
• Living in a city where I can look up and see mountains.
• And finally, being stretched, challenged, and growing personally, spiritually, and physically (all that work outside with the BLM better put on some muscle mass…)

Alaska, here I come!

Hello!

Hello y’all! On August 24, 2013, I will begin a 10 ½ month service term with Service Adventure in Anchorage, Alaska. Throughout the year, I will regularly post reflections, thoughts, photographs, and updates pertaining to my experience in Alaska.

First a little background on the program that I will be in. Service Adventure is a program of Mennonite Mission Network and gives participants the opportunity to live in community, serve others, and grow spiritually. I will live in a unit house with three other young adults my age and one leader. We will share many of the responsibilities of communal living, such as cooking, shopping, and finances. My job placement – where I will work during my service term – is with the Bureau of Land Management. I anticipate doing outdoor work like trail maintenance, bridge repair, or grooming ski trails. Through this year I hope to deepen my faith and discipleship, work with the challenges and joys of living in community, serve others, and have a great time in a new and excite place!

Though I expect to fully dive in to the Anchorage community, I still look forward to keeping in touch with those back home and elsewhere. My contact information for this year (beginning August 24, 2013 and ending July 13, 2014) is as follows:

1310 W 47^th Ave

Anchorage, Alaska

99503

phone: 907-770-7743

email: mrkreider@cox.net

I’d appreciate communication in any form: email, replies to this blog, or – best of all – letters in the mail.

my new state of residence

I am pumped to embark on this adventure! Thank you for all your interest, support, and prayers.

-Mark