Summer 2014

It may not appear to be fall in many parts of the lower 48, however it is happening here in Alaska. Our last work team of the summer is here from Michigan. Our first work team arrived June 1. Needless to say it has been a very busy and productive summer. Victory has been blessed by all who have given of their time and talents.
I (Debbie) wrote in my notes from church on June 1st:
  God's followers are builders. When we build with the right heart it is worship to God. God provides time, commitment and dedication.

Victory Bible Camp and Conference Center would not be able to function without the continued support of the work teams during the summer months.

As we reflect on the past 2 1/2 months, we are grateful for the many words of encouragement. Satan loves to attack us, we are a prime target of his because of our desire to obey and follow God. The only offensive weapon provided in the Christian's armor is God's word.

Below are pictures of various work teams and projects from this summer:

Leveling and re-positioning a cabin at Frontier Camp

Adding foundation drain tile alongside Alpine Lodge (note the old board and batten siding on lodge)

Another waterline break! Gate valves and PVC in Alaska - neither should be sold here

When opportunity (or necessity, usually) knocks, fix it properly!

HDPE with fused joints - no barbed fittings or hose clamps

Then you insulate it and backfill

The Trinity Crew Brothers re-staining the deck on Miracle Lodge

Jora was a staining machine

 Here our friends Nellie and Dean were re-siding Alpine Lodge

Rod and Randy siding also ( Randy's holding down a rock )

Crew chief Bob, Glen, and Clarence grouting the new tile floor in Alpine Lodge (good thing Bob's holding up the wall)

Elinor served up many delicious meals while volunteering out of Miracle kitchen

...and work on the water line just keeps going!

 Liam and brother-in-law Brian helping to unload 500 bales of hay

Repainting conference housing

 I made new curtains for all the windows

These ladies did a lot of painting! Thank you!

During

After!

Thanks to all the volunteers of summer 2014!

Ezra

I often pray and then open my Bible to whatever God's word has for me (us) that day. Yesterday, I opened to Ezra. The purpose of this chapter is to show God's faithfulness and the way He kept his promise to restore His people to their land. It is written around 450 B.C. and is recording the return of the Jewish people from exile in Babylon back to Jerusalem. My NIV Bible states in Ezra that the starting place for serving God is a personal commitment to serve Him today, even before knowing what that service will be. It is not personal achievement, but personal commitment to God that is most important. It also goes on to say that the most effective leaders spoken of in the Bible had little awareness of the impact their lives had on others. They were too busy obeying God to keep track of their successes. This was Ezra.

Chris, Liam, and I mark our one year at Victory on June 10th. As support people we may not be able to see the fruit of our labor. We wake each day and do the same things many of you do. It is understandable to see how Satan can interfere with our days making us think, are we really making a difference? Ezra was exactly what we needed to be reading this week. Summer camp is gearing up and there are so many "things" that need to be done. We just need to stay on track and keep God in the center of everything - everyday.

We especially want to send out a sincere thank you to all our supporters and prayer warriors. You are our heart and soul! You are our Ezra encouraging and leading us onward. Amen.

Please be in prayer for all who come to Victory this summer - may God shower His love upon them and bring them into a personal relationship with Him.  Also, please pray for safe and productive experiences for the work teams coming this summer.

The following pictures are highlights of our departation out to the midwest for 3 weeks

 Caitlin's Graduation from college

Crossing the Mississippi River into Wisconsin

The beautiful rolling hills of Wisconsin

 This was the backdrop for our Victory Bible Camp presentation at our home church!

 Table settings were amazing!

This is part of our church's work team coming to Victory in July - Yeah!

 Walking, unicycling, and rollerblading the trail near Red Rock Lake and Pella, Iowa

 Climbing on the sandstone "cliffs" at Red Rock. A typical very hot and humid day.

 Liam "bunny hopping" on the unicycle

 "Rock shot"

 Observation tower near Red Rock made from an old silo frame

 Possibilities for our cargo trailer!

Caitlin's next ride!

 Our wonderful hosts for our B & B while in Pella, Mary and Duane and Mickey too!

My nephew's wedding, also pictured his mom and dad :)

 Reception at this ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. This was Buddy Holly's last concert place before his tragic plane crash.

 Brunch with my beloved family at my sister's house

 quatro selfie

 The vistas of Iowa

 The vistas of Missouri with a thunder storm rolling in!

 Chris's dad's inurnment service in Leawood, Kansas

 The Mock Clan

Our amazing kids and their spouses!

Seattle Airport

Home again - Home again. We brought our family friend Naomi with us for 2 weeks!

We received 6 inches of snow on Monday June 2nd - surprise! Who wants to take their swim tests!

God's Love is Total

Paul says God's love is total. It covers the breadth of our own experience, and reaches the whole world - it continues the length of our lives - it rises to the heights of our celebrations and elation - it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death - it reaches those that feel shut out and isolated - you are never lost from God's love.

Please don't follow the ways of the world - stand for Christ and His truth. Please don't be enslaved to Satan - be Free in Christ to love, serve, and sit with Him.

We know so many people that are hurting, being torn apart by Satan. Please pray that they may know the joy that awaits them right now when they join hands with their Father - a God whose love is total - Amen.

March Newsletter

March 2014

Wise words from Moses: “...now choose Life, so that you and your children may live and that you may LOVE the Lord your God, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the LORD is your Life...” Deuteronomy 30:19.  Although these words from the Bible were written thousands of years ago, they are still so applicable today!

Moses challenged Israel to choose life - to obey God - and therefore continue to experience His blessings. God doesn’t force His will on anyone. He lets us decide whether to follow Him or reject Him. This decision, however is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for He would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment. Obeying God is reasonable, sensible, and beneficial. The most difficult part of obeying God’s laws is simply deciding to start now. No excuses.  Are we faithfully listening?  

God can roar like a lion warning us like a road sign of Falling Rocks Ahead! If we aren’t alert are we apathetic to obeying God? Does His word really have meaning and value in our lives? Many people  today are in a famine for the word of God. Perhaps this is why God directed our paths to Alaska. We usually think we might need to travel to third world countries to witness a famine. Yet there is a hunger here and we believe Victory is helping to feed the hungry.

Each weekend different groups come to Victory from young to old. We “feed” them with warm lodging, nourishing food, and loving “hellos” and “welcomes”. God does the rest and He is very good at it. They return home with their hearts FULL and alive! Victory is not a fancy hotel, it isn’t full of amenities like chocolates on your pillow and a person to park your car. We don’t advertise a 5-Star rating on Travelocity. No, Victory is God’s love - ready, willing, and waiting patiently for all to come - anyone and everyone.

Now for news on our daily lives here:

☺ We don’t name our storms

☺ Wait - we really don’t have storms. We have not seen lightning or heard thunder since

                our arrival here.

☺ A snowmobile is called a snowmachine

☺ Moose and caribou crossing signs instead of deer

☺ Alaskans eat roadkill

☺ Rocks falling means really big grand piano size rocks!

☺ They don’t put down salt on the snowy roads - it attracts the moose! Roadkill!

☺ Snowmachines and 4-wheelers = cars here at camp

☺ The water pressure at our homes can be nonexistent

☺ It is a very good idea to plug in your vehicle when not using it (Oct.-April)

☺ Studded tires are our heros!

☺ Potlucks at church happen every month, just because

☺ Alaskans like to linger and talk a lot - we love this

☺ You can’t drive to another state over the weekend

☺ You probably should take a gun with you when you go hiking

☺ The little chickadees will eat right out of our hands

☺ Christmas lights stay up outside till spring - turned on too!

☺ We eat a lot of moose meat - thanks for the roadkill!

☺ School is never cancelled

☺ The sun doesn’t shine directly on us from mid November to mid January

Caitlin graduates from Iowa State University in Biomedical Illustration in May. She will go on to grad school in August, but be able to spend a few months with us and has a job at a resort down the road. We have our plane tickets purchased and will be back in Iowa for the last 3 weeks of May. We will be in Pella May 17th to the 23rd. We will be sharing about Victory on Sunday evening the 18th at Trinity Reformed Church. Please let us know if we can meet up and visit with you!

We praise God with each new day and are grateful to serve Him here at Victory. Each of you are a vital part of our mission work here and we acknowledge that without your prayer and financial support we could not function at all! A mere thank you doesn't seem like enough, but thank you.

Our support dependent annual budget for year two (June, 2014 - June, 2015) remains the same as year one and is $42,500.  As of March 1, giving is at 30,880. We hope that clarifies any questions you have had.

We are excited for the work teams lined-up for this summer, especially from our home church! We love emails and letters that you encourage us with. They certainly brighten our day.

Please pray for God’s will and wisdom to show us and Victory staff the way to serve Him best each day. Please pray for our protection and good health.

If you would like to send us a care package, we always need stamps.

Blessings to all - as apostle Paul states in Galatians “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen”.

Chris, Debbie, and Liam

Our email - CDCMCL@hotmail.com

Our blog - www.mockstovictory.blogspot.com

"Jesus calls us beyond our comfort level to step into obedience and watch God do great and mighty things. We say to God, "Show me and I'll believe." Instead, God says to us, "Believe and I'll show you.” This is the life of following Jesus Christ. We say, "God, show me your will and I'll obey you." God says, "Obey me, and I'll show you my will." God isn't looking for a bunch of "I should do this because that's what good Christians do" kind of people. He is looking for "I wouldn't miss this for the world" kind of people.” The Jesus of Suburbia: Have We Tamed the Son of God to Fit Our Lifestyle? By Mike Erre

Spring - rebirth - redemption - the cross