RETURN

Our time here in Soldotna is quickly coming to a close.  We have seen a lot and met some wonderful people.  In less than one week we have had meals with 9 families, visited 2 churches and 2 schools, met a realtor. took one flight with Samaritan's Purse to Port Allsworth and spent hours and hours at MARC asking questions and getting to know the ministry.

Jennifer and I know that God has called us to Alaska.  We were invited here by MARC for us to explore and make sure this is where God has called us before we take the next step - Candidacy.  We have been praying for eight years for God to show us where He would use us.  Obeying God is enough for us regardless of the location - Greenville, Europe, South America or yes even Alaska.  We believe that God has shown us this week exactly where He has prepared a place at MARC for the Bodoloksy family to serve.  After being here and exploring we are in love with the mission, the location and most of all the people.  The people serving God here at MARC are already family.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a flight in the Samaritan's Purse Casa

It was an awesome experience.  I was not supposed to get to fly this week and at the last minute they had this run from Soldotna to Port Allsworth to take some building supplies to a camp that Samaritan's Purse is rebuilding for the local kids and

"Wounded Warriors" from Afghanistan and Iraq.  We flew right over Mount Redout (picture to left).  The pilot told me that the last time Redout blew in 2009 it created the saddle you see at the top between the 2 peaks.  Even now the volcano has been smoking and steaming quite a bit but there have not been any eruptions in 2010.

We arrived at the camp and landed on a snow packed gravel runway.  With the

windchill It was somewhere around -2 degrees F.  It was cold crisp and beautiful.  Tim Amundsen was on the flight with us and he had his little dog with him.  During the flight the dog wondered around the cockpit and just pretty much went where he wanted.  The load we took there was drywall, insullation and a snowmobile.  Without these flights these towns would have no contact with the outside world during the winter.

We are excited to come home and share with everyone our experiences.  One of the biggest questions is "What's next?"  The next step in the process is Candidacy and if we are invited back for Candidacy it will be in the Spring.  Candidacy is a 2-3 week period of time during which we live and work here in order for them to evaluate us as a family and me as a pilot.  We will need much prayer and support during the next few months as God prepares the way for this.  After Candidacy the team decides if we are to be invited to serve with MARC.  At that point they send us home to raise support.  MARC missionaries are Independant Missionaries and must raise their own support.  The MARC staff works with you to develop a budget for living in Alaska because the cost of living here is so high.  After this it is up to you to gain support from churches and individuals.

Please pray for us as we begin our travel back to Greenville.  Please pray for the amazing families that have cared for our kids.  Please pray for our baby that Jennifer is carrying and that he will be peaceful during the flights.  Please pray for MARC and the mission here in Alaska.

James & Jen