Lone Star volunteers helping on the Last Frontier

Feeling a call to serve, volunteers have been coming to the Valley to do community service projects all summer, through the Alaska Mission Committee.

This week, 21 volunteers from Texas are in the Valley, doing everything from holding Bible camps to helping move the Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center.

"More than 900 volunteers are coming to Alaska through the Alaska Mission Committee this summer," said Ingrid Johnson, Lamb of God Lutheran Church's Christian outreach coordinator.

Earlier this summer, volunteers helped work on Lamb of God's building, doing the "hammer and nails" portion. Last week, the 21 Texas volunteers split up into two groups -- one group was at St. John Lutheran Church helping with the Vacation Bible Camp, while the other half helped with moving the Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center across the street to its new location. The groups also helped out at Earthly Treasures, the Treasure Loft and other second-hand stores in the Valley.

"We've had volunteers go to Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Big Lake for a one-day Bible camp, too," Johnson said.

Two more volunteer groups will be in the Valley later this summer. One group will be out at Point MacKenzie doing a Bible camp in July. This will mark the third summer the same volunteers have come to Alaska.

"They raise all their own funds to come to Alaska because they feel called to serve," Johnson said.

The volunteers said they have been impressed with Alaska.

"The people are so warm here, and so considerate," said volunteer Elaine Norrell. "You don't see that everywhere you go.

"We did a Bible camp in Big Lake, and the children were so thankful to have us here," Norrell said. "We are blessed to have this opportunity."