Emily Brink's Summer 2013 mission trip to Alaska

Monday, July 8, 2013

and here is the rest of the story.....

Meanwhile back at the ranch.... TONIGHT, Michael has a mtg to attend, so Sa and remaining Brink children plus one extra head to one of our local parks to get some energy out before bed. Beautiful night, Sa was able to be a blessing to a friend by just being in the right place at the right time, and the Brink Bunch did a little babysitting that allowed another family a break.

We return to multiple semi-frantic phone calls from Emma. Sa tries to call her back to no avail. After finally deciding that I should check email and facebook, I receive this message from Em. So... We just found out that we will only be able to take our backpacks to Rampart. Fun right! Ha! So much sarcasm in that fun comment. Talk to you tonight. Love you! BTW, no cell service in Alaska so tonight will probably be the last time I call for a while

Mom can't fathom this to be true b/c she is still in the USA right? surely everyplace in the US has Internet, phone, and a Walmart on every corner. But, then I remembered the information about the closest hospital being like 85 miles away...and human fear kicked in.

I pray, and update my facebook status with her information....and here is how that "conversation went"

2 hours ago near Binghamton

just heard that Em will have no cell service or internet while in Alaska...very old school....calm my heart Lord, please help me to trust her with You! Also heard that she can only bring one backpack with her to Alaska...that has her a bit panicked...please pray for her! (and me (mom) )

Jamie She's in great hands I got your baby an will lead her to get over amazing mountains an open our hearts to amazing people

about an hour ago via mobile · Like
Jamie Thank you for letting her bless this team she's amazing !!!

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Michael.Melissa Brink thank you so much...your words are an encouragement to this mama....if you are comfortable to give her a hug for me that would be great!

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Jamie Of course I am !!!!!

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Jamie I'm happy y'all share her with us she is a special amazing part of our team !!!!! We're so proud of her thank you

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Ally I am praying for her and all of you!!! Love you all!

about an hour ago · Like
Ashley Praying!!!

about an hour ago via mobile · Like
Laurie Praying!

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Comfort Sa remember that she is doing the work that God has put in her heart. She is following the path god put her on. All will be okay.

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Charles Mary Lou we survived "old school" while we were growing up and so shall she.

54 minutes ago · Like
Comfort Charles maybe that's what kids need these days is to kick it old school.

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Charles Mary Lou I think it is what they need. We were stronger when we had to rely on our word (being where we said we would be) and using our brain to handle unexpected situations.

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Renee That made me laugh because we have cell phones and all modern conveniences of life BUT it also brought tears to the surface. I understand the anxiety of the heart. God is good and she is going to have an amazing time not only blessing but being blessed. Love u. Just think. She may fall in live with far away places...

49 minutes ago via mobile · Unlike · 1
Comfort just think of the conversations you will have when she gets back. that's going to be priceless.

48 minutes ago · Like
Michael.Melissa Brink oh Renee, God has used you tonight...I don't know exactly what it means when we were told that she could only take a backpack and that we wouldn't talk to her again till she gets back to TX. God has also shown me that my heart is trusting in technology and convenience more than our God....hard stuff to own up to....so if for whatever reason Rampart truly does not have cell service...maybe that is more about my learning to TRUST Him than it is about Em learning to TRUST Him....Thanks for blessing me with your words of wisdom...anxiety of the heart was a beautiful way to express my panic....I will TRUST in the One who knows, sees, and orchestrates ALL for good, His GOOD as He writes His story.....knowing it and living it out are sometimes 2 totally different things in Melissa world...thanks for praying for me/her/us!

39 minutes ago · Like · 1
Comfort This is a test..a test you did not get to study for. Good luck with that. I'll be thinking of you guys. Can't wait to see you all on Wednesday.

27 minutes ago · Like
Jamie I prayed over Emily an gave her a HUGE mama hug

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Renee I am definitely praying. With mine overseas and zero communication I too have had to reevaluate my heart. Oh course I still worry but God called her and she belongs to Him ( I know u believe that) so He will take care of her. Sad part is you will miss her way more than she misses you ;)) they can communicate out easily if needed. Just not service with that company.

5 minutes ago via mobile · Like
Renee And one backpack caused me panic my first trip to Nicaragua but now it is fine. She will have everything she needs

5 minutes ago via mobile · Like
Michael.Melissa Brink Jamie & Renee THANK YOU! I actually just had a quick conversation with her. Time will tell if we have cell service and she will be fine with one backpack....I am amazed at my heart....can't she be a Jesus follower in comfort and style? I can't believe that I am typing that...but God is dealing with this mama tonight....thanks for praying everyone! ~melissa

2 minutes ago · Like
Renee So you really are normal ;)) makes me feel better hehe

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Michael.Melissa Brink way too "human" for my liking.... ~me

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I could think of no better way to let you know how the last few hours have looked in my world. "Thank YOU Father for loving my feeble human heart and taking care of all of my anxieties!"

As God would have it, I did talk with her for just a few precious minutes tonight and this is what tomorrow looks like.

leave Garden Valley at 5:40 a.m.
4 hour shuttle ride to Houston, TX
7.5 hours via plane to Alaska straight flight
5-6 hours drive to village
all her luggage is going with her but she cannot take it to the village with her. She will need to pack what she will need for the remainder of her trip in her backpack. They will travel via boat to the village and are only allowed to take what she can carry.

Now it all makes sense!

These pics are taken from today's training times. She said it went amazingly well, and she actually enjoyed practicing how to share her faith with others.

Thanks so much for praying for her, her team, those that she will be near over the next few days. I am excited to see how God is continuing this adventure novel. :)

~sa (aka Emma's mom who way too easily forgets Who we serve!!!)

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Emma's team assignment for Alaska

We both had a great conversation with Emma tonight via a friends phone. Our little cell doesn't receive a strong and steady signal at the ministry compound in Garden Valley. We are praising God that a friend allowed her to call home using her phone.

Melissa was just talking to a friend tonight and commented that Em is more of a servant type than an evangelist type. She loves to "do" for people. Guess which team Em got assigned to? As only God can do, He placed her on a service team. He also placed her on the smallest team, which is her personal comfort level. ONLY our God who sees every detail could provide in this way.

She will be part of a team made up of 9 girls and 3 guys. They will be part of a first contact mission in Rampart Alaska. This means that there is no established ministry in this village.

As of the 2000 census, there were 45 people, 20 households, and 10 families in Rampart, Alaska.

Rampart is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 24 at the 2010 census. Wikipedia

Area: 168.8 sq miles (437.2 km²)

This is way beyond my imagination and try not to panic over information:

Hospitals/medical centers near Rampart:

FAIRBANKS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (Acute Care Hospitals, Voluntary non-profit - Other, provides emergency services, about 85 miles away; FAIRBANKS, AK)
MAT-SU REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER (Acute Care Hospitals, Voluntary non-profit - Private, provides emergency services, about 273 miles away; PALMER, AK)
ALASKA NATIVE MEDICAL CENTER (Acute Care Hospitals, Government - Federal, provides emergency services, about 298 miles away; ANCHORAGE, AK)

WOW! What a different kind of ministry experience than when she was in NYC last year. Please continue praying. Thank you! ~melissa

Facebook pics from Team Training time, stories to be added later...

watching a team practice their child. min. presentation

These are some pics that are taken from the team Alaska's facebook site. Based on the comments about it, the above appears to be some sort of share your story training. The 2 directly below are during one of the sessions and the final one...your guess is as good as mine! :)

where's emma?

Emma not knowing that her pic is being taken... :)

can't wait to hear the story behind this...

this is labeled team climber girls...I can't wait to know what it means...

labeled as our amazing project (Emma is in the center second row)

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Day One: debrief with mom :)

A friend commented to me this sentiment last evening, and it has stuck in my head all day. Absolutely amazing what a difference a year makes. For both of us. God has grown our faith and is allowing us both to TRUST Him to do what only He can. I just got off the phone with Em. We had only about 20 minutes to talk, the conversation was very staticy and interrupted by all of the loud bug sounds. But, I could tell just by the sound of her voice that she is good. She sounds excited and ready. My goal is to capture her hearts view of the days as much as I can.

After landing in Dallas, she and Kyra waited just a short time till it was time for the shuttle to leave. It is a 2 hour journey from Dallas to Garden Valley. Once they arrived, they met their team leaders and other team members. They then unpacked, spent some time swimming, and served dinner to the other missionaries. She then joined all of the outgoing mission teams for worship. She said that the only song that she knew was "Our God" by Chris Tomlin and she is anxious to learn more new songs. God allowed her to reconnect with two of her teammates from last year, J.R. (who is staying in the same bunk house as she is) and Amy. She also got to hear her representative Caleb, share his story over the last few weeks. She has been praying for him. He unexpectedly lost his father this spring and he does not yet have all of his money needed to go to Alaska. He shared openly about both of those circumstances this evening and Emma commented on how brave he was to share like that. I am praying that God allows her to be an encouragement to him.

She is anxious for bed. For those who know Em well, you know that she is not your typical teen. She needs her sleep and will do whatever it takes to get it, so that is a priority for her tonight. Good for her, maybe her mama should learn the same lesson.

Good night everyone, and thanks again for praying. Please continue to do so. Especially that she would have opportunity to share the good news of our Savior and that she would be a part of real life beginning.

~Mom Brink for the Bunch

Garden Valley, safe and sound!

She has arrived safely in Garden Valley and is ready to begin some training and worship. Part of what she will do over the next few days is to be introduced to great men and women of God who chose to live their lives in light of eternity and gave their ALL for Him!

We received this from Global Expeditions as she checked in.

Great news! EMILY BRINK has registered for her Global Expeditions mission trip to US with Teen Mania at our headquarters in Garden Valley, Texas.
Over the next few days, EMILY will be preparing to go to US. EMILY will be attending training sessions to learn how to share her faith and effectively serve the people of US....

Some quotes that are meaningful to the Em & the other teens:

They have landed in Dallas safely!

Some pics (borrowed with permission) from Kyra's Facebook page. Thank You ,God, for Your provision of timing, perfect weather, and good friends. Thank You also for instant communication; I am feeling amazed at what You have created and allowed! Next step...wait for the shuttle to take them to Garden Valley, Texas to meet up with their team and begin training!