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PRAYER FOCUS MAY, 2003

REPORT FROM ALASKA – BR. JEFF LITTRELL VISITING PROFESSOR, BETHEL, ALASKA

Today was wonderful in worship as shared together in Holy Communion for the first Sunday in Lent. The church was overflowing due to the General Bible Conference, with several having to sit in the fellowship hall. Of nearly three hundred people present, the vast majority were native Eskimo. I especially enjoyed singing our familiar Moravian hymns while hearing many others singing them in Yup'ik. The Yup'ik language seems a difficult language to me (all languages seem difficult to me).  It is not a soft or romantic language, with the "k" sound very prominent. As we sang the familiar "Jesus Makes My Heart Rejoice," I read the Yup'ik verses:

Jesus makes my heart rejoice
(Yesusam whi piknganga),

I'm His sheep, and know His voice
(Kuyakapigtlartun);

He's a Shepherd, kind and gracious
(Itlenun tarekutsimnik)

And His pastures are delicious
(Tshelli dlo nulukotsimnik)

Constant love to me He shows
(Kinkanga, nakdlikange),

Yea, my worthless name He knows
(Atkn dlo natlunrita).

I will be preaching for Bethel Moravian Church for the next two weeks while Grant Shimanek is away on vacation. I'm not sure that they're ready for me, and I'm even less sure that I'm ready for them! There are so many ideas floating in my mind at the moment, that I must truly go on a "weed pulling" expedition to rid myself of the things I should not say. I am thankful for this opportunity, and eager to preach. My prayer is that God will give the message through me that needs to be heard and can be received.

I taught Moravian History to the Confirmation Class at Bethel Moravian today. Four young gentlemen (ages 12 - 14) listened intently as I told the "story" of Jan Hus. Dealing with the first two hundred years of our history, I simply told the story of Jan Hus. Increasingly I find myself telling stories of our history and traditions by emphasizing the faith that made it happen in the first place. For instance, when we celebrate a love feast it is too easy for us to talk about unity and fellowship. While that is what we celebrate, the first love feast in the renewed Unity was born out of conflict and dissension. In exercising faith to see beyond their problems, they celebrated a unity through the power of the Holy Spirit that had not yet become complete reality. I made the point with the boys that our traditions often have more to teach us when we look beyond the "what" to discover the "why."

Jeff shares with many Moravians daily by e-mail about his exciting adventures in Alaska, as he encounters first hand the sharing of the Gospel in a culture, completely new to him. His words have moved many to appreciate this personal encounter, and pray for him in this unique encounter. His home page is listed below.

http://www.geocities.com/unitylibertylove/ak1.html