Baseball in Alaska

Okay so this is what baseball in Alaska is like.....COLD!  I know that all of you reading this in the lower 48 are sweating but here in Alaska it is cold.  Of course everyone asks us if we are from around here, because they are running around in tank tops and shorts, but to us it is cold.  We are in Kenai.  Today we looked for caribou but didn't find them.  We also visited the old town which was originally Russian.  There we learned about the Orthodox church.

Walking

Okay so on Saturday, Ryan, Jackson and I went for a run-walk.  The night before we had discovered a lake near our  apartment and they thought we would walk around that.  But I wanted to find a new path.  So we started to follow a bike path.  It was beautiful, the sun was finally shining in Alaska and we discovered two more small lakes.  Well I don't really like to back track on a path....I learned it from my mother in the woods in Germany and she always found a new path home.  So we tried a new path.  Well we actually joined the course of the Mayor's Marathon.  The sign said it was the right way but after about 2 miles I looked at the boys and told them we were lost.  I knew the direction we needed to go though.  So we asked one of the marathon workers who had no clue how to help us.  So I talked the boys into going  on a path through the woods.  Now you have to understand...we are in Alaska...and moose and bears are common.  We were still in Anchorage and bear aren't as common but right now they have their cubs and are more aggressive.  So we started making noise and going through the woods on the path.  After about a mile, I thought we were on the right path but I wasn't 100% sure.  Of course I hadn't brought my phone, water, nothing.  The boys were a bit worried so we turned around and ended up back tracking our path.  (We did realize the path through the woods was right though).  So 1 1/2 hours later we were back at home.  It was a beautiful walk, although a bit humbling when the people started to cheer us on like we were the marathon runners!

Last night Ty wanted to hike, so of course I wanted to find another new path (maybe there is a theme here).  We were trying to take him to one of the lakes that we found on Saturday that has a park and beach.  So I tried to find a bike path with no avail.  Anyway he was a bit disappointed it wasn't through the woods but was through the campus, until we happened upon this moose.  If you look closely at the picture you can see the moose in the background.  The moose was about 90 feet from us.  Then of course he thought it was a cool hike.  Thankfully the moose didn't charge after us!

Of course after telling the locals at the game yesterday about our adventure of getting lost, one of the locals told me he was going to bring bear spray for me to borrow for the summer.  He told me that the bear has to actually be pretty close to spray it :(  okay I think a gun might be easier!

Reva

Well we are getting into a routine here in Alaska.  The guys have been very engaged in discipleship which is great.  The guys have been playing well also...we are 3-2.  This is a picture of Reva our player from Mexico.  His english is improving and he appears to be having a great time in America.  We are praying that he will come to know the Lord this summer.  The other players have done a great job with him too.  Not sure if he is tracking fully in discipleship.  The other day he asked Chris if he could ask out the beautiful girl at the concession stands.  Chris just asked him what his girlfriend at home would think...and Reva said he wouldn't tell her.  Chris then told him that no that wasn't such a good idea. So maybe he isn't getting the "Love, Sex & Dating" series, but please continue to pray for him...that he will see Christ. 
Thanks for praying!

We have arrived

We arrived on Sunday to Alaska.  Sorry it has taken me awhile to post but I have been very busy cleaning our apartment and getting it ready.  Our travel day went great.  In fact we kept telling ourselves...this is going really smooth.  We were able to find enough host families for June and so we got all the guys to their homes.  Then we as a family headed to our apartment.  Well I am going to look at the positive...it is very spacious and has a washer/dryer (I have never had laundry in our place any summer that we have traveled).  The place was very dirty (it is a dorm apartment), but that is enough said.  So we slept and spent most of yesterday cleaning and shopping to get it ready.  We played on Monday and won our game too.  Today we continued to unpack and then the boys and I met with our friends the Wuerth's (Lana is my room mate from college and our kids love hanging out every summer).  Chris went off to discipleship, which he will be teaching for the next two weeks.  He started his "Love, Sex and Dating" series.  This series is always a big one for the players.  One they learn that we base our standards  from God's Word and then they learn truly what God's Word has to say about purity.  Pray for the guys as they listen to this, that their  hearts would be impacted to love and obey the Lord.  Tonight we played in Matsu but the boys and I left earlier because Ty wasn't feeling well (I think he is just exhausted), so I don't know the score.  Please pray for our family to get rest and that we would be healthy that we could serve the Lord well.  Pray for Chris that he will have strength as he teaches and that the Lord would speak to the  guys hearts.  And pray for Reva, Scott, Taylor and Milt to become believers.

Host Family BBQ

We had our host family picnic at the Warnocks again.  It was a great time.  It was fun to see the guys hanging out having a great time.  And we are so thankful for our host families at WHCC.  They love hanging out with the players and spoiling them.  It is always a highlight of our summer.  This year the BBQ was on Chris's birthday so we celebrated that also!

San Fran!

Today the team went to San Fran.  They toured all of the exciting sites from the Golden Gate to Fisherman's Wharf.  After the tour they hung out at Fisherman's Wharf.  The boys and I met Chris there and saw the sea lions and had our yearly donuts.  Then we were off to the Giants vs Reds game.  Ryan loves the Giants so this was a huge highlight for him.  Unfortunately the Reds won.  It was still fun to see the World Series Champs!

Prison, games and fevers

Well the team ended up winning in Yuba City. So far the stomach flu hasn't spread further around.  Please continue to pray. 
Saturday, the team went to Soledad Prison.  They played two games with the inmates and shared with them.  They even had the warden give them a tour.  The games were in the rain, but they had many opportunities to share with the guards and inmates.  The host family BBQ which usually happens afterward was cancelled because of the rain. 
Sunday, the team went to West Hills Community Church, who had D. A. Carson as the speaker.  His sermon was great on Psalm 1.  It was a great time of worship.
Monday, the team went and played another game which they won 9-2.  They  are also playing tonight, but I don't know the score yet.
Unfortunately for the Beck boys....they have all come down with a fever and possible strep or ear infections, with stuffy noses and sore throats.  Monday we went to Urgent Care (we go there every year it seems) and got some antibiotics which we are hoping will knock out everything before we get on the plane on Sunday.  The boys are bummed we haven't made it to a game yet but hopefully we will get healthy soon.  Please pray that they would feel better soon and that the rest of us don't get it.
Please also pray for host families in Alaska.  We only have about 9 guys housed as of now. 

Flu & Game in Yuba City

Well today is our first game in Yuba City.  The guys are excited and although it is a 3 hour drive it should be a lot of fun. 
The stomach flu is going around the church here and now two of our players have it.  Mark Schook and A.J. Work got it last night, so they will be staying home today.  Pray that they would feel better and that the rest of the team and our family wouldn't get it!
Thanks for praying!