Alaskan trip in january

My wife Judy will be ministering to young women in Nome Alaska the middle of January. Nome Alaska is the "Suicide Capital of the World" amoung young women. These are her words.

I have been given the opportunity to be a part of a team going to Nome, Alaska to hold a Womens Conference. Nome is a very dark place spiritually, and known as the "Suicide Capital of the World", because of the many suicides there each year among young women. I will be helping with the Worship, some speaking, and a lot of prayer time.
In order to go on this trip, I need to raise $1800. in a very short time. This money will go through the International Sports Federation, a non-profit Missions group that is a part of the Baptist Ministry. None of the money will go to me, but will be used to pay for the trip, airfare, lodging, food, ect..
If you feel led to be a aprt of this trip God has called me to, I would love for you to share in the glory of what He will be doing there. I will be the feet, you will be the hands. God's Word tells us that nothing can be done without the whole body. If you feel led to contribute, you may do so by going to the website below. There will be an area that says "SPONSOR a Volunteer." You would just enter my name in that space, and the amount that you would give. There is no gift too big or small.
If you don't feel led to contribute financially, I would ask that you remember me in your prayers. I know that this trip will be a challenge for me physically, as my body does not hold up to Oklahoma winters, let alone -40 temperatures, but know that because of the cost physically, will be a bigger blessing spiritually. I most covent your prayers, however, that God will use me in a mighty way. I want to be a simple humble servant that becomes a spiritual giant, in His hands, being a part of life changing experences for these women. Please pray that their hearts will be prepared to recieve what our great God has in store for them.

Thank you , and God Bless You,

Judy McGuire

Sports Mission Donations, Support Sports Missions, Coach, Play | ISF
and you can give any amount

or mail to:
ISF PO Box 2788 Acworth Ga. 30102

This will be a demanding trip but with great rewards not only for my family but for others as well. Thanks from my heart for reading this and your Prayers....Ranger Thumbs Up

I'll be praying for her trip and interacting with these young people, she'll need it. I worked with these young people while in Anchorage several years ago while working in a psych facility. They're extremely difficult to reach due to their culture.

Thanks Jim

If she has room in her luggage, I recommend she take a bag of oranges with her. Oranges sell for around $8.00 per pound when they're available. She'll be a big hit when she starts passing them out at the meeting.

Again Thanks Jim....Trying to put together some sub 0 degree clothing for her and I am finding it pretty hard to find clothes for a 4'11" girl. Its do'able with the net but challenaging. Will pass along the oranges idea to her......I was going with this same group for Dog Race later in the year to speak and minister to the group of sledders, plus take care of their dogs somewhat like feeding and watering but now since my wife has decided to go I guess 1 trip to Alaska is enough for 1 year.....I think for my wife this will be an experience of a lifetime and I pray a life altering experience for others as well..Thanks Again Jim.....Ranger

Have attained all my wifes (Judy) sub 0 clothing and awaiting the arrival time of her trip 1/11/12. Continue praying for her and the group of women heading into this trip for a safe trip, life altering experience not only for this group but the young women they will be speaking to, and Gods will be done for all....Thanks Ranger09

5 days and counting til the big bird lifts off..-39 today in Nome, its gonna be cold...oranges will be packed Jim...Thanks for all the prayers from all....Ranger

I'm excited for you guys, you're going to have the time of your life and I'm looking forward to hearing a good report when you return.

Ranger, thank you for posting about your wife's trip. I'll be praying for there travel and that God would use them to show love in a very dark place.

Has arrived in Anchorage at 4:30pm our time today, 1:30pm there. Was 27 degrees and 13" of fresh snow with very little wind. Had a 3 hr layover plus 1 hr delay before leaving for the remainder of the trip to Nome. Said the mountains were breath taking as they flew in all snow capped and majestic. She was all smiles and upbeat so far but she hasn't really seen the cold temps yet. Will arrive in Nome somewhere between 2 and 3 am our time.

Arrived in Nome Alaska 1:00am our time and is -26 with North winds at 20mph and snowing..Judy said the trip was awesome and the people she has met so far are just as awesome. She also said she had seen her first Polar Bear of the trip. Just so happened it was behind glass in a preserved artic scene at Anchorage Airport. lol...Will be posting pics when I can get them, right now she can't forward pics from her phone and will trying to find a wi-fi connection in a local business where she can log on and send pic's.

Hmmm, I was under the impression you were going with her Ranger, guess not. I've been wondering if the trip might be cancelled due to the fuel shortage in Nome and delay in the Russian tanker getting to port. Perhaps the trip to Nome can be made without refueling and Alaskan airlines will keep flying their regular route there. Never been to Nome but I would like to someday. The view of Mt. McKinley is breathtaking on a clear day, hope she got to see that and maybe she did from the plane as it landed in Anchorage. Mt. McKinley was in plain view from the 4th floor conference room at Providence Hospital and made it hard to focus when we were managing patient care plans. This time of year, she'll only get a few hours of daylight in Nome.......or anywhere else in Alaska. Doesn't get daylight until around 10AM and starts getting dark by 3:30 to 4PM.

Keep us updated, I'm excited for her and anxious to hear any new news.

Sorry Jim if I said anything to make you think I was going also..Nope just my wife..She did say thanks you HONEY for the purchase of such fine warm clothes. The other girls with her I guess got alil cold outside after their arrival and most are from the Alanta Ga. area and I guess not used to dressing for outside frigid temps..But they will very soon I bet. Yes she said that Mt McKinley was just beautiful and words can't explain the beauty. I know the feeling due to diving on reefs and seeing the tiny fishes that glow from such bright neon colors that explaining them to others doesn't do them justice. I can't wait until I get pictures of her trying to eat the Eskimo foods. They will be served at each meal of the conference and she will be trying those since it is not polite to not try anothers culture and food from Mother Earth..wish her luck Jim..lol...a true experience....Ranger

glade the flight went good. will keep her in our thoughts till she gets home safe.

Heres 2 pics from Alaska taken by phone so sorry if they are not 2 good...but she is having the time of her life right now..Thanks to all that have responded and praying for her sucess and trip

Glad she made it safe. I am always moved by people willing to give of themselves to benefit others. I pray that she is as blessed by the experience as the young women she will be ministering to. I know that I personally have left every mission trip I have been on, a more caring, thankful person. After seeing what some folks endure, my life has not been all that bad. Thank you Mark for sharing this story with us and I look forward to following her on the rest of her trip.

Odie

Looks cold to me..The picture with the 5 women, my wife Judy in the middle and even all bundled up not hard to pick out due that she is always the smallest, was taken standing on Ice Covered Bering Strait in -29 degree Weather..The second is at high noon looking out over the Bering Strait at the incoming Tanker thats about 3 miles off shore and making its way to Nome at a balmy -37 degee..They have started their conference with 35 women in attendance out of 50 that had signed up. She said Eskimo Ice Cream was served for a desert. Dont hold me to it but I think its pronounced like Akutaq..good luck sayin that 5 times..lol..consists of whipped fat mixed with berries, fish, leaves, roots, and sugar. Yummy..She said it wasnt bad and she would eat alil more again if offered..Today its going to be Muktuk, frozen whale skin and blubber..wish I was there to take the picture when she wraps her lips around that wonderful piece of Muktuk. Tonight its off to see the Northern Lights and a Dog Sled ride..Having the time of her life and already saying its been a life altering experience.
MORE TO COME: .....Ranger

Word from Nome Alaska is that the conference is going well and God is opening the hearts and eyes of the world around Nome. Judy said that she is so excited what is being done there. She also stated she just couldnt begin to tell me what is happening over the phone cause it wouldnt do justice. She also stated that I would need to look into her eyes to really get the true meaning of Gods awesome power and love to understand the outcome of this Alaskan trip. "I CAN'T WAIT". No viewing of the Northern Lights due to hazy conditions but enjoyed the dog sled ride of over a mile and that it was an awesome experience for her. The Womens Conference is over but today and tomorrow the girls will be counseling and ministering to the young women of Nome that have responded to God's call. Flight home will start Tuesday as it stands now....Ranger

Oh one other thing. Judy said for entertainment during the day and during intermissions of the conference the girls would take a cup of hot water outside and throw into the air and the water mist from being thrown would turn into ice crystals and the bigger water droplets would turn into ice cubes before they started to fall to the ground..NOW THATS COLD..have seen a video of that on facebook and its hard to believe its that cold and people live with that cold for months.....Ranger

More from Nome. With the Womens Conference over and winding down, here are a few pictures just recieved. One is of "Muktuk" both Humpback Whale and Buluga Whale, and in there is dried Salmon, and last there is Seal. Judy said none of it was to overbearing but so tough you just couldn't chew it up even the dried salmon. She also stated that you had to wash it down a few minutes after eating it due to a strong taste, and that you had to wash your hands with strong abrassive soap to cut the smell left on your hands and with even that you wear it for a few days.''..lol..
Another is of a gold mine that is worked during the warmer periods of the year.
Another is of the girls that held the conference and a few sweet ladys of Nome.
And of the landscape around Nome.
As I write this its 3:55pm In Nome and with just an hour or more of daylight left today the girls are out on snowmobiles on the Bering Sea drilling holes in the Ice Cap to retireve King Crab traps hoping that Crab is on the menu for supper tonight.
The team of girls are leaving Nome if weather permits Tuesday morning and will arrive back in Tulsa around 9am Wednesday.
Thanks for all your prayers and response.
Mark McGuire..aka...Ranger 09

Thanks for the update and I enjoyed reading about one of my favorite places in the world. Glad she had fun and will soon be home.

Flight out of Nome has been delayed. Not sure when they can get a plane off the ground.

Finally got her home. Has some amazing stories of lifes struggles in the North Pole. Struggles from everyday life in frigid cold and ice to struggles with mankind. Some amazing things took place while she was there, where 3 of the group has been asked to come back (including my wife to come to a tiny island and dont ask me to pronouce it much less spell it) this spring to bring Gods word and love to their people of 300 on this island. There hasn't been a white man invited onto the shores of this tiny island for over 100yrs. It doesnt sound possible but thats the way it is per my wife Judy. Guess the word here is invited not shown up on the shores. Her life has been changed for the good from this trip and thanks to all that have blessed her trip by their prayers......Ranger

She will speak at our church on Sunday Night about the trip and the glorys she experienced while in the Nome.
Again Thanks
Ranger

If you would like to see a short video of Judy's Alaskan trip you can go to youtube and type in Alaska XYZ..A better 1 is on the way but have to get permission from the ladys on Nome....Ranger

Permission granted for the video..you tube..Alaskan Worship..enjoy.....Ranger