Always when preparing the bi-monthly MARC newsletter, I'm convicted of not communicating better with our own friends and family about our ministry work here in Alaska.  True confession:  it's easy to become "numb" to missionary newsletters if you see them too often... or maybe that's just me... but probably not.  Just like the sales call on the phone we had this early morning from the east coast ("Why, yes, I was still in bed.  Yes, Alaska is four hours behind New York."), we all get tired of unsolicited calls and junk mail.  But, Karin and I are still hoping you won't mind getting the occasional note from us about what's happening in Alaska... after all, we just confessed to not sending very many :-)

First, like all awkward belated conversations, let's talk about the weather.  Summer has been an absolute joy here this year.  Granted, August has been wet almost every single day so far, but we had such a beautiful May, June, and July, it hardly feels right to complain about the abundance of mushrooms and tall grass now growing in our yard.  After a few travels early this summer, we've stayed mostly put and have taken the time for some beautiful hikes across the Kenai Peninsula this year.  When I was a kid, I spent most of my time (when I wasn't reading) outdoors in the woods plinking around with my pellet or BB gun.  Now I've traded the gun for a camera but still love to be hiking through the woods looking for a view I haven't seen before or even admiring the same view again and again.  When the mosquitos aren't so bad, Karin likes it too... but she would probably confess that she loves her long walks along our neighborhood beach far better.  The beach rock collection outside her craft room window confirms that story, at least :-)

Summer for MARC is focused around kids, kids, and more kids.  For the many kids who grow up in the 200+ remote Alaskan villages, life is tough.  We've mentioned before all the major issues they're surrounded with from suicide, addiction, and abuse.  Many grow up in loving homes... but many more don't.  It's a tough place filled with depression, loneliness, and despair.  So every opportunity MARC has to fly kids to camp during the summer to experience true unconditional love is a great thing!  You'll see more about that in the upcoming MARC newsletter, but helping fund a large portion of the Bible Camp travel costs for the youth of Alaska is a particular joy for Karin and me in our development role at MARC.  We hope you share our passion for this ministry aspect at MARC.

Looking back at God's blessings on our fundraising efforts this summer at MARC is encouraging.  We started the summer with the unfortunate news that a major donor who had greatly blessed the Kids to Camp program the two years prior had to shift their donation to another need this year.  While we know God continued to bless their donation elsewhere to help reach the youth of Alaska, it was nonetheless a major blow to our ability to provide the usual amount of "scholarships" for the camps to fly kids in this year.  But, God intervened.  This year MARC was blessed by another Christian aviation non-profit stepping in to provide more than $91,000 in flying, and approximately half of that flying was for Kids to Camp!  We're very thankful for Flying Under the Son Aviation Ministries (www.flyingundertheson.org) and their gracious partnership with MARC once again this summer. 

And then on top of that blessing, nearly double the amount of donors than last year stepped in and increased their usual camp donations by 177%.  So our complete Kids to Camp flying expenses were actually covered this year!  Usually MARC has to subsidize the camp flying with other revenue from our commercial fuel sales, aircraft maintenance, or flight training activities; but this year we can actually divert that needed revenue to other ministry flying expenses.  What a blessing!  Thank you to each of you who participated in our Kids to Camp donations this summer!!

At the risk of being longwinded, I also have to tell you that because of FUTSAM's incredible partnership this summer, we were also able to cover the Galena flood evacuation flight expenses (make sure you go back and read MARC's Jul/Aug newsletter if you didn't hear that story!), along with a significant amount of flying for missionaries and churches throughout remote Alaska that would have otherwise been unable to afford transportation for needed ministry events this summer.  It's been a great summer, and we're very thankful for God's blessings.

So, that's what we do.  Karin and I see our primary role at MARC as building relationships, to lead others to Christ, to disciple good stewardship habits, and to connect interested stewards with great ministry opportunities here in Alaska. 

And we couldn't do it without your involvement and financial help, so let us once again say how thankful we are for each and every one of you!!

Karin starts her next semester of school next week.  Pray for her busy schedule!

We'd love to hear how your summer has been.  Drop us a note at dkalaska@dkreese.com.  Better yet, come visit!

With Love,

David & Karin