Ministry continues!

Dear Friends,

If you haven't received  our newsletter updates, I wanted to clue you in on what has been going on at Akina recently.

Like the rest of the world, beginning in mid-March, we had to close Akina Kid's Club due to the Covid-19 outbreak.  While this has made us pretty sad, it blessedly hasn't stopped God's ministry!  We've been able, in some ways, to bring Akina and God's Word to the community.

We've been able to bring meals and care packages to families, every other Thursday since the outbreak began.  Volunteers and donors have created hand-made cards, purchased treats, baked cookies, made homemade soup, and so much more.  This included a large Easter bag giveaway the weekend of Easter.  Churches, schools, and individuals have stepped up to provide resources in the mighty name of Jesus!  We've been able to keep contact with families, pray for kids, and share devotions with them.

We've seen an uptick in activity on the Akina page, as we've live streamed church services and updated it with scriptures, songs, and devotions.  God is still working, even with the country shut down.

Regrettably, we have had to cancel the majority of our summer events, including our Nehemiah Fundraising Dinner.  However, we hope to bring that to you virtually, as soon as possible.  We'll keep you updated on that front.  Thank you all for your prayers and support.  I'm adding a few pictures to help you see what we've been doing!  Blessings!

Be Still and Know that He is God

"Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act." Psalm 37:7a

Many of us are in a "waiting" phase of our lives right now. Everything seems to be frozen in time, as plans are cancelled and we struggle to find a new normal.

This verse, then, is quite the encouragement.  It is teaching me that I can use this time to be still.  I can still my body, and my mind.  I can still my anxiety and come into the presence of God.  Now, instead of my own actions, I will have to trust in God, and wait for Him to act!

Our camp theme this year is going to be, "Be Still and Know that I am God." Now is the perfect time to practice that, as we hope and pray that camp will still happen.  But, above all, we know that we can trust the Lord, whatever the outcome.

I'm adding some camp pictures to the blog today, to remind us to pray for camp this year.

 Pray that all of us can be still in the presence of the Lord, as we place our trust in Him!

My Favorite Things (and ways YOU can help😉)

I'm sure most people know the classic song from The Sound of Music.  The chorus states: "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad!"

That's actually kind of Biblical, although in times like these, Psalm 77 counsels us to think back on the great things God has done and be encouraged.

Check it out.  Psalm 77: 10- 12 says: "And I said, 'This is my fate:  the Most High has turned his hand against me. But then I recall all you have done, O Lord  I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts.  I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works." (The whole Psalm is pretty great.  You should read it.)

As we are quite disappointed that Akina might not be meeting for a few weeks, I'm posting several of my favorite "Akina things." These are pictures that are reminders of the fun and good God has accomplished in the past.  They are reminding me that he is not finished yet.  There is much more in store😀.

Also, we can SERVE the community in this time.  Keep your eyes peeled for small group, low exposure service opportunities happening in the next few weeks, including food service to doors of families, prepping meal bags, cleaning at Akina, etc.  This is the time servants of Christ can shine for Him!

PLUS- Save the date of May 15, at 7:00 for an amazing dinner and a chance to hear how YOU can help at Akina.  Looking forward to it😁!

Enjoy the pictures!

We Met Kyle Jorris!! (Among Other Really Cool Things!)

This past Saturday, we had the amazing opportunity to bring 8 kids, two teen chaperones, and some amazing leaders to an event called the "Kids XP."

I'm going to go out on a limb and admit I was a little nervous bringing kids to an all day event. However, it was better than I could have ever hoped for. We saw kids dancing in worship, laughing in joyful anticipation of the Word given, and having an amazing time.  Several kids that we brought even responded at the altar time. We were so blessed to be part of this event.

The Akina students really loved the speaker at the event named Kyle Jorris.  And no wonder! This kid was funny, an amazing puppeteer, and could ride a 9-foot unicycle while juggling machetes.  They loved him so much, that they begged to meet him after the show.

I, once again the downer, did not think we could, but wisely remained silent as one of our amazing leaders led the charge, and guess what?  He came out just for our group!  The whole way home, the kids kept saying, "We met Kyle Jorris!"

Thanks Minnesota District Council for the amazing scholarships, and chance to come.  This was amazing!

In Case You Were Wondering...

Hi Friends!
I don't have a whole bunch to report on regarding Akina last week, because our family had the DREADED influenza A last week (dum, dum, dum).  We were quarantined in our house until Friday.

However, for this week's blog, I thought I'd clarify a bit about who we are, and what we do.

We are the Pack Family and we have the distinct honor of serving amazing kids and families in the Native American Community in South Minneapolis.  We've served in the community for about 15 years, give or take.

Currently, we have an after school program that meets two nights a week. We, along with some amazing, creative and selfless volunteers get to: serve dinner, share the Gospel, and teach literacy and apologetics to these kids and families.  We mentor, have fun, play games, make crafts, etc.

Our motivation is to love kids and families, create community, speak life, and give HOPE in the name of Jesus.

That's the short version.  (For the long version, email me.  I'm scheduling appointments.😉)

I write this blog each week primarily to update our amazing partners with the goings-on of Kid's Club.  But if you like to hear a great, inspirational story or two, you are welcome to read along!  Plus, we are a lot of fun so you may just want to join us!  (Providing background check is clear.🤔🤗)

Many Blessings!

When God Uses Kids!

1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.  Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."

Happy Valentine's Day from our family and Akina!  We had a smashing time sharing about the love of God last week, and discussing the story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  (That story in itself is a profound lesson on the love of God, and how we can continue to trust Him even when we feel he's let us down.  But I digress...)

Standout Moments
Something you may not know about Akina was that when Kid's Club began,  the idea of ministering with kids, to kids, was at the forefront.  I witnessed why this such an amazing idea again, last week.

One student who comes to help volunteer with his mom really connected with a little guy who can be tough to work with.  At one moment this sweet kiddo got very angry and ran out of the room.  Undeterred, the 11 year old leader followed right behind.  As I approached the situation to monitor, I heard the older boy say, " You know, you won't get in trouble for feeling angry.  Everyone gets angry.  It's what you do with that anger that matters." The younger child, once inconsolable, listened quietly.

Woah.  The power of God at work in kids, to other kids.  We love it, and are humbled by it.  How amazing to see kids raised up, as leaders, ministering to other kids. Friendships are built, hearts are healed, students are discipled, people groups are brought together.

I'm adding some fun pictures of the night, so you can see what else happened on our Valentine's Night!  Thanks for your continued partnership and prayers!  They make the biggest difference!

Monuments

Dan and I go to an awesome church on Sundays, called Emmanuel.  A few months in to when we began attending, the Pastor of the church, Dr. Nate Ruch, gave a sermon about the momuments people set up throughout the Bible, in remembrance of what God had done.

That message has stayed in our hearts and minds as we've continued at Akina, taking note of the amazing things God has done so that we can look back on those things when times get tough.

Dan reminded us about that message at the Akina Leadership Luau last Thursday, and we all took the opportunity to share "monument moments" from Kid's Club with each other.  It was a refreshing time to be with one another, and celebrate the goodness of God!

 I think that the Leadership Luau itself was another "monument" for us, as Dan and I thank the Lord for the amazing, selfless leaders who come to Akina.  They have a heart for the next generation, and a heart to see people know Jesus!

We are thanking God for our amazing leaders, and partners today!  Attached are some pictures of our amazing leaders in action!  We love you!

Life!!

     "Did you have a good time upstairs?" I asked one of our amazing, world changing leaders, after she had led her small group study upstairs.
   
"I don't know," she replied, slightly concerned.  Looking at one of the kiddos in her group, she asked, "Do you think there was too much Bible time tonight?"
   
"Psh.  No!" The girl responded walking away.
   
The kids here are truly understanding that God's Word is LIFE!

 I'll say this a billion times because it is a huge part of our passion: reading proficiency and Biblical literacy go hand in hand.
   
On a personal note, I've been in a "season of stretching" for a while now.  Being in uncomfortable, anxiety inducing situations takes a toll on me!  But what brings me through, EVERY time, is the life giving Word of God.
 
  It reminds me that God is for me (and you!) and his Word will always breathe life into my weary soul. His Word will point out what is wrong and lovingly restore!
   
 We are glad for God's life giving Word at Akina.  His Word will never fail!

Sin Hurts, but God's Rules Heal

Sin hurts, but God's rules heal.  That is such a simple, yet difficult reality!  That has been our big idea at Kid's Club these last few weeks.  Many kids at Akina see first hand how much sin hurts, as drugs, alcohol, and violence have affected many families.

So, we talked about the beauty of God's rules.  We talked about what they are and how they are designed to help us love others and take care of ourselves.

We wrote the Ten Commandments on stones, and it was spectacular to see the kids reaction as they learned them.  I could best describe it as though they were little sponges, soaking up the words of God!  They could repeat them that night, and even the next week!

God is doing amazing things.  We are always looking for more leaders who are interested in mentoring, teaching, food, or clean up.  This is an amazing mission field.  Email the5packfamily@gmail.com if you'd like to come check out Akina!

It Is Christmas Party Night!!

It's the most wonderful  night of the year!  The Akina Kid's Club Christmas Party!  There will be crazy games, laughter, gifts, and caroling.  Of course, most importantly, we will share the amazing message of Jesus:  God's plan to save us and perfect picture of selfless love.

We have so many things to celebrate this year including God's amazing provision.  First, he has allowed us to raise nearly $17,000.00 to replace the broken boiler with some furnaces.  This was through the amazing generosity of several churches and individuals.  Second, nearly 35 gifts were purchased for the Kid's Club kiddos through the generosity of caring individuals.  We are amazed at what God does!

I want to leave you with this fun story, about what God can do at Christmas time in the lives of children.  Last year (and again this year) we had candlelight caroling.  It was a beautiful and memorable time.  I didn't actually realize how memorable it was until I was doing some spiritual assessments this year to gauge where the students were at spiritually.  One of the questions was, "Do you pray every day?"

I asked a group of first grade girls this question, and one of them perked up immediately.  "I do!" She said.  "I still have my candle from last year, and it reminds me to pray every day!"

She was referring to the candle she took home the night after caroling.  It's battery powered, don't worry!  I just though that was the coolest thing.  By the way, the candle lit carols were the brainchild of one of our amazing leaders.  I love how God uses Christmas to grow seeds of faith in the hearts of the kids!

Please pray with us that the truth of Jesus will take root in the hearts of children and they will truly know Him, and be changed by his presence.

Some Highlights from Minogi!

Hi!  Here are some fun pictures of Minogi nights.  We are currently learning about Christmas, of course!  We have been learning about Christmas prophecy from the Old Testament, memorizing a verse from Psalms, among other things!  Reading proficiency and Bible literacy go hand in hand!

The One who Makes the Darkness Tremble

I am seriously tempted to put up our Christmas tree early this year.  I partially blame the cold temperatures and daylight savings on my attitude.   However,  it seems like many people are feeling like they want to decorate early.  I've seen outdoor Christmas lights up even before Halloween this year!  In my cynicism, (which I am seriously working on), I partially blame that article that came out in social media that claims people are happier when they decorate early for Christmas as the probable cause for this phenomenon.

But I also wonder and can't shake the fact that the atmosphere feels metaphorically darker than normal.  The news...the negativity...the anger.  Perhaps we are all craving the light and hope that Christmas brings just a little bit more than usual.  But, we know that early Christmas lights and gifts are only an attempt at a placebo that will briefly take away the pain.  We desperately long for the hope that the darkness won't win.

Which brings me, rather wordily, to one of my favorite Akina stories from camp.  We sang a song with the kids at chapel that very simply goes like this:  "Jesus, Jesus, you make the darkness tremble.  Jesus, Jesus you conquer fear.."  The kids LOVED it.  They asked to listen to it again, and again, at night when they were going to bed, in the morning when they were getting ready.

The best part was one little girl who seemed to really "GET" it.  One day she pulled her leader aside and asked, "Does Jesus really make the darkness tremble?"

     "Yes," her leader replied confidently.  "The name of Jesus makes the darkness leave!"

     "Wow!" said the girl.  "We usually have to do so many things to try and make the darkness leave at my house, and even THEN it doesn't always work."

This same little girl has been coming to Akina regularly now, loving to learn about God and asking to read in the Bible about how Jesus loves her!

SO, in this time, when darkness seems like it is winning, we can know: it isn't.  It won't.  But as for us, we know "that our Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth in the end."  Job 19:25

We who place our trust in Jesus, who have come to know our Savior, believe the darkness trembles at the name of Jesus because it knows it has already lost.

So, decorate early, be happier, but also remember that the true light who gives light to every man has come into the world!  Yay!  (John 1:9)

Sweet Dreams

There are always honest, inquisitive questions that are asked by the sweetest little people at Kid's Club.  I love it, because these kids are finding their way to Jesus.  This week we were learning about God's Omnipresence.  A fantastic second grader raised his hand and asked, "Does that mean God can be in our dreams?"

The answer, I believe, according to Acts 2:17 is yes, as long as we remember Hebrews 4:12, making sure God's Word is the truth we measure any dream or vision with.

What I didn't realize was that this same little boy had reached out last week to one of our awesome volunteers.  He needed prayer.  He had been having nightmares every night and was afraid to sleep.  Of course, she prayed for him, and had then checked in him that evening.

The result?  His nightmares had stopped and been replaced with dreams of God beating up the bad guys.

Yay!

Our God is the victor, even when we don't see it or feel it.  He is our place of safety, and when we are afraid, we ask him, and he gives us peace.

This little guy knew who to trust: Jesus.  He knew, and his God was faithful to answer him.

These kids are world changers!  I say that often and I am constantly reminded of it.  Our leaders at Akina are world changers too.  They repeatedly step into difficult places and help kids seek the Lord. I'm so blessed that this amazing kiddo didn't hesitate to ask for prayer, and that our amazing volunteer so willingly prayed!

As always, be encouraged to seek Jesus.  Read His Word as the standard for truth, and ask questions. He will meet you and give His peace, even when you don't understand.

That Seeds May Grow!

When I see the two pictures of the Akina garden, I am reminded of how amazing seeds are.  They seem so small, but grow into something bigger and better.  Remarkably, our lives are kinda like that too.  We start out empty, but when God's word is planted in our hearts, it begins to bloom with glorious results.  That's one of the things we pray for at Akina:  That God will grow his word in the hearts of the kids and families who come!  He brings vibrant life to empty spaces.

One of the most anticipated Akina events is happening in exactly one week.  Kids Camp! It's life changing every year, but we need your prayers! Pray for us and the volunteers going.  Pray for safety, fun,

peace, and an incredible time of meeting with the Lord.  This year, our theme verse is John 10:10, and the Gospel is being taught using CS Lewis' story "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe."

Please pray that the students can clearly see the difference between the full and satisfying life God has planned for them, and the brokenness of the enemy.  God still heals hearts!  We believe that great things will happen as life and truth is spoken into campers next week!  Thanks for your powerful prayers!

Relationship=Discipleship

Hi Friends,
We were inspired by these words: In her book, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Dr. Ruby K. Payne states, " For students and adults from poverty, the primary motivation for their success will be their relationships." (Pg. 105.)  She also quotes J.P Shapiro from his book, Invincible Kids, where it is stated, "Locate a resilient kid, and you'll also find a caring adult - or several-who has guided him."

Want to change the world for a kiddo growing up in generational poverty ( or anyone, really)?  Introduce them to Jesus by being their friend.  "Do life" with them in healthy and safe ways.  Attend a school or sporting event.  Invite their family over for dinner, be there for them!  Scripture is FULL of support for this kind of ministry.  (Check out Galatians 6:2, Proverbs 27:17, and Hebrews 10:24-25 for example).

We have had the amazing privilege of working with some people who practiced relational ministry this month!  For example, we partnered with the Christian Life Church's women's group in Farmington to invite Akina kids to have a fun day at their playground with crafts, face painting, books, kites, and lunch.  It was a blast, and the fun was done all in the name of Jesus!

We also partnered with a fabulous middle school missions team from Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester for an art and sports day camp.  The kids played, crafted, and made new friends at the park right in the community!  These events truly did strengthen relationships with kids and families in the community, and thus allow us to share the Gospel and disciple on

a greater level.  June was a fun month!  Thanks for your continued prayers and support!

Planting Seeds

It's the most wonderful time of the year!  It's garden season.  We like our garden because there are so many amazing lessons we can teach about God's Word and life using it.  The garden is a fantastic object lesson.  Pray for "Akina Grows" this summer as we continue to mature in our walk with Jesus!

The Glory of the Cross: He is Risen!

It's Easter and FINALLY the grass is turning a muted emerald.  (Sorry.  I had to wax a bit descriptive because I just taught a mini writing lesson at Akina Minogi.  I asked the kiddos how many different ways they could say "green" to describe the spring.  They came up with some fabulous ideas.  But anyway.  I digress).
     After an amazing/brainstorming session on writing with some talented authors, we discussed the Gospel, and the story of Easter.  Ms. J, our teacher for the evening, used the Resurrection Eggs to help share the message.  The kids were very interested, and at the end, one lovely 1st grader came up and hugged Ms.J.
     With a huge smile, she said, " I love Jesus.  I know he died just for me!" Her sweet, child's heart was captured by the message of a Savior who loved her enough to give His all for her.
     The story of Easter remains the hope of the ages!  What a blessing we have to share it with the next generation!

We Will Remain Confident: We Will See the Goodness of the Lord!

The kids who come to Akina every week are such a blessing!  These past weeks we talked about how we can trust God, to heal us and take care of us.  Looking forward to another great week!

Building Each Other Up

How many students can you fit on a tiny board?  Surprisingly, quite a few.  Team building and learning about talking to Jesus at Kid's Club tonight!

Lots of Reading Happens on Minogi nights!

Pictures during Akina's literacy program. Reading Rocks!