A Great Turn Out in Our 2019 VBS Youth Leaders Training Camp

We had 19 youths participated in the 2019 VBS leaders training

No sooner did we arrive back home in Toronto, I had to pack my bag and get ready for the youth training retreat in Waterloo.

Youth leaders learning some outdoor games

The annual VBS youth leadership training was held during the second weekend in August before the start of our annual VBS.

J. also was home for the two weeks. After spending a week with him at home, I was sad to leave him in Toronto and left to do the training.

The outdoor program is always  popular among young people

We had a great attendance this year with 19 young people signing up for the leadership training program.

This was a record for us!

After the leadership training, these volunteer youth leaders would be running the children's program in the following week's VBS.

Jack did an excellent job leading the youths in the training!

Their involvement is invaluable to us. It is the key to the success of our annual VBS for the past decade in Waterloo.

A planning session during the leadership training program

The youth leaders are always involved in the planning, organizing and carrying out the full day week long VBS programs.

2019 VBS Youth Leader Training Participants, Waterloo

I am so grateful to have this group of wonderful young people assisting me every summer!

Thank you, God, for sending angles to do the work so that the children in the community would have a chance to hear the gospel during the summer holiday!

R.T.
Youth Leaders Training Camp
Waterloo, Ontario

A Review of Our Accommodation in Anchorage Booked on the Home Away Website

Accommodation in Anchorage

We booked a 2 bedroom condo unit for our vacation in Anchorage, Alaska

We stayed in Anchorage for 5 days. Instead of booking a traditional hotel type of lodging, we chose a more homey option for our vacation in Alaska.

J. could have his own bedroom in Anchorage

We booked through a website called Home Away, specially for people looking for a home style accommodation.

Our bedroom at the the 2 bedroom unit in Anchorage

Our 2 bedroom condo unit at Tall Birch, just outside of Anchorage, did not disappoint us.

A spacious living dining room at the unit.

We liked the place as the condo was spacious with a good size living dining room.

The kitchen was well equipped.

A well equipped kitchen made us feel like home. I bought some salt and other condiment needed for preparing our simply meals there.

It provided us with basic items such as paper towels, sandwich bags, species; it was convenient for us. We even made our sandwiches for our day trip to the glaciers.

We spent most of our time in the dining room in the evenings playing board games!

There was a big screen TV in the living room, but we hardly had time watching any programs at all.

We spent two evenings playing our favourite board game at the dining table.

A balcony which we didn't have time to enjoy.

There was a balcony with a table and chairs where we could sit and sip our morning coffee and enjoy the ravine like scenery outside.

However, we were busy every day with day trips, that we did not use the balcony much.

There were a few issues during our stay there:

1. The location of the unit was a little too far from  the Anchorage downtown area, therefore we didn't spend much time there.

Close to the airport, we could hear a plane flying over us often. However, it was all right at  night as there seemed to be less planes landing at the airport nearby..

Anchorage, Alaska

2. There was no immediate service available when something didn't work at the condo unit. When we turned on the TV, there was image on the screen but no sound. The coffee machine didn't work either. By the time, the owner of the unit came to fix it, it was our last night there.

3. This was the part I didn't like at all. We had to pay extra charges including a hefty cleaning fee and  other charges besides the cost per night charge. Even though we kept the condo spotless, we still had to pay the cleaning fees of US$ 250.00. It didn't matter whether we booked a 2 or 4 days stay, the same fee applied. Because of this charge, we booked a 5 night stay which meant that we could not drive too far from Anchorage to explore other sites and stay overnight somewhere else.

Overall,  the condo unit was OK for our accommodation during our vacation in Anchorage. It was a good place for family travelling with more than two people.

This was a first for us spending more time on a board game than watching TV.   I enjoyed playing games with my loved ones a lot. I hope we would keep up this activity at home once when our vacation is over.

R.T.
Anchorage, Alaska

Flying Home to Toronto from Anchorage, Alaska

Sadly, our Alaska vacation came to an end!

We flew home from Anchorage, Alaska to Canada.

All things must come to an end. We were a little sad that our holiday came to an end.

We departed from the Anchorage Airport, Alaska

It has been a wonderful three week holiday spanning a great distance between Canada and the U.S.

Wildlife sculptures, Anchorage Airport

We visited numerous cities, saw and learned many new things. The best part was spending time with our loved ones.

However, we were unable to get a direct flight from Anchorage to Toronto, Canada.

Polar bears, Anchorage Airport, Alaska

We flew from Anchorage to Vancouver.

Beautiful carving in Vancouver Airport

From Vancouver, Canada, we connected a flight to Calgary.
We waited for a few hours, had time playing our favourite board game while waiting for the connecting flight to Toronto.

Native artwork in Vancouver Airport, Canada

It took practically a whole day.

We were quite exhausted by the time we got home.

It  was good arriving home from our vacation.

We thank God for giving us such a marvelous time with our family,  for protecting us and blessing us with a safe journey! 

R.T.

En route from Anchorage, Alaska

to Toronto, Canada

Enjoying Arts and Dances at the Alaska Native Medical Centre, Anchorage, Alaska

We visited the Alaska Native Medical Centre in Anchorage

While visiting Alaska, we have learned a lot about this American state and its native people inhabiting in this region.

ANMC - A beautiful non profit medical facility in Alaska!

We enjoyed talking to the local people asking them for advice of what to see and where to visit.





















One of the places recommended to us was the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

Entrance to the Alaska Native Medical Centre

This local American native person informed us that the Alaska Native Medical Centre was more than just a health centre.

Sculptures hanging from the ceiling of the entrance

It is a centre full of arts and sculptures related to native cultures and traditions.

Native arts adorned the walls of the Alaska Native  Medical Centre

He told us that it was worth a visit just to see the art.

















Being interested in multicultural arts and traditions, we went to visit the Alaska Native Medical Centre.

































We were not disappointed at all!

It was full of native arts and sculptures the moment we stepped into the centre starting right at the entrance.














There were sculptures depicting the way of life of the indigenous people living in the north such as this sculpture telling the story of a walrus hunt.

The Alaska Native Medical Centre provides medical service to about 150,000 Alaska Native Americans.

This 160 bed hospital achieved the Magnet Status of nursing excellence.

A beautiful Gift Shop selling native arts and souvenirs at the ANMC.

The Magnet Status is a status  achieved by only 7% of all the hospitals in the USA.


















Opened in 1997, the building's construction was supervised by Native Alaskan Leaders.















These leaders sought the integration of Native traditional material, finishes, crafts and art displays inside the building.

Their involvement and thoughtfulness of the native arts and cultures were evident throughout the medical building.

We marveled at and appreciated  the beauty and spirit represented by the variety of art displays.






















 The Alaska native Medical Centre is a beautiful and well equipped facility.

We visited the food court and the outdoor patio on the main floor.
















 We enjoyed our refreshments in the nice courtyard.

Containers of bright colour flowers were placed on every table in the courtyard.

Waiting area at the Alaska Native Medical Cenre

Our most favourite part of the Alaska Native Medical Centre was the spacious waiting area.

It was built in the shape of a traditional native dwelling.

A group of dancers practices their dancing at the Medical Centre every Wednesday evening.

Patients and visitors joined in the dancing.

Every Wednesday evening, a group of Native dancers practices dancing in the waiting area to cheer up the patients there.




What a fantastic idea!

Everyone seemed to enjoy the song and dance, including us!

We learned about this Wednesday dance practices from our conversation with a local native person a couple of days ago.

Therefore, we went there to catch this free performance. Everyone, including us, were enjoying this wonderful  celebration of song and dance at the medical centre.

Our first such experience at a hospital!

We were glad that we went to the Medical Centre. It was like visiting a museum of native arts! Totally enjoyed it!


R.T.
Alaska Native Medical Centre
Anchorage, USA