The Final Frontier

(An alternate title for this could be “Expectations vs. Reality”)

Last month I moved to a tiny little island called Wrangell in southeast Alaska.

The views are breathtaking, the weather is moody and the town is like another country entirely. But, then again, I’m a city girl so I suppose any small town would seem that way to me.

I’m working in a fish processing plant also known locally as “the cannery”

(pictured below)

                                     

In between 14+ hour shifts, 7 days of the week, God plopped me right in the center of a group of beautiful souls: Haley, Katelyn, Anna, Dylan and Ryan. 

People like them are hard to come by in life yet somehow I look around and I see loving arms, eyes and warmed up bellies waiting to laugh and commune at any given moment. They are givers and leaders and so many other things. They embody grit in all the ways God possibly could have designed. I wanted to say Lovers too, but that felt weird? I’ll do it any way. They are LOVERS above all else. 

If you would, stop for a second and pray for them: Pray guidance, wisdom, a filling of the Holy Spirit and for their blessings to be multiplied.

They have fed me, taken me in and supported me without even thinking twice.

Despite my own opinion on the matter, God deemed me worthy enough to receive that kind of a blessing. 

When I arrived here I thought it would be for the duration of the summer, I formed that thought around the length of the job. Pretty logical. In retrospect, however, I don’t think I even asked God how long He wanted me to stay – I just assumed. I created expectations based on that assumption and began striving towards making the most out of the couple of months I would be here. 

In all honesty and fairness, it’s not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just not the kind of life I’ve resolved to live right now.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves”

Philippians 2:3

About a week ago, it dawned on me that I would not be leaving at the end of summer. I’m hesitant to put another time stamp on it as well, so let’s just say it’s indefinite.

This time has looked like the complete opposite of anything I ever expected or dreamed up – good or bad. 

I’m seeing practical applications of all things I experienced and learned throughout my time on the mission field overseas. It’s building my faith more and more and challenging many things I just accepted as truth without doing too much digging. 

Some of the kookier aspects I came to learn about Christianity and specifically the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been very prevalent since my arrival in Wrangell.

I was given what I didn’t know was a prophetic word when I was in Japan:

“Allie I see you as a firework; bright and unmistakable.”

The women of our group had gathered for a girls day and one of them had seen us all as different, unique forms of light. Something I thought was beautiful, sweet and just a nice encouragement. It was something that stuck and that I held onto in moments where my spirits were low.

I began attending a church called Harbor Light here on the island with the aforementioned group of friends and the pastors just so happen to be from Texas as well. I met up with the youth pastors for a dinner about a week ago and we chatted about the craziness of being led to this little Alaskan town and I shared that I believed I was supposed to stay longer than I had initially intended.

This past weekend that couple announced their relocation to Fairbanks and at the end of church on Sunday, the head Pastor was speaking about their coming departure and said the following:

“Some of you know the prophetic words spoken over Wrangell:  That we would send people out like fireworks from this island…”

All sound was lost after that in my ears – I was too stunned to hear the rest.

Now….

I don’t believe in coincidences anymore, and this could just be one of those really random things, or maybe it’s not.

A curious thing has come into play with myself, Anna, Dylan, as well as Katelyn (and I think if I asked Haley and Ryan they may have something similar to contribute as well) none of us expected to be here in Wrangell for an extended period of time but varying external circumstances have placed us all here together “for such a time as this”. Maybe we’re just supposed to be a little extra support for the church as they transition pastoral roles, or maybe there’s something else entirely. I’m not sure, honestly.

But something that is undeniable is that we were brought together for a reason and I’m a little excited to start asking why. Maybe I’m just a sucker for finding the deeper meanings in day-to-day moments but as I work out my own salvation with fear and trembling during this season I can confidently proclaim:

 

“Heaven on Earth is Life with you.”

Voice Memo, Mosaic MSC

 

I will always have more to say, but I’ll end with asking you to join me in prayer for the Father’s love to fall fresh on everyone here. For eyes to be opened, hearts to be moved and for kindness to be doled out like candy on Halloween. 

May we never grow tired of seeking one another and understanding one another and searching for all the ways God is always with and around us.

 

As always, I love you, please let me know your thoughts and don’t be afraid to reach out (though admittedly being on weird Alaskan time has caused my responses to be delayed)