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It's Like Swimming in the Mud

A recent trip by the Arctic Barnabas women's ministry, "EncourageHer" inspired the following story: 

“It’s like swimming in mud,” she said honestly, describing what it is like to live and do ministry in her village. “Everything is hard.”

Into the night hours two missionary wives recounted the challenges of building relationships and credibility with the goal of pointing people to Jesus Christ. Our team of ladies listened and prayed, longing to bear their burdens and lighten the load.

The team included two women from Colorado, myself and our pilot. Our mission is found in Romans 1:11-12, “I long to see you that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. That is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” And that’s what happened as we spent the next two days living life with a family in a village that only remotely resembles life in the lower 48 states.

In another village of that same region we brought in pastor’s wives from nearby villages for a “Girls’ Night In”. Dinner, junk food, pedicures and stories served as a way to build relationships in a hurry. No time was wasted in getting to issues of the heart. “I was so far gone and I didn’t even know I needed a break,” was the conclusion of one lady.

For ministry wives, there is seldom a safe place to share the intimate places of the heart and the struggles of ministry. EncourageHer exists to offer encouragement to the ministry women serving in remote Alaskan villages.