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Praying Pelican Missions Logo

North Raleigh UMC

Serving In Alaska
May 18, 2024
Staff: Mel Frecceiro (Trollman), Cyndi Lakey

We Arrived!

by Mel Frecceiro | May 19, 2024 6:27 AM

We made it safely to Alaska. Our first step was a souvenir shopping spree in downtown Anchorage before heading to Chugiak to settle into lodging. When we arrived at the church, we were greeted by Kay who will be our hostess this week.

We Arrived!

Alaskan Dinner

by Mel Frecceiro | May 19, 2024 6:31 AM

Kay made our team a delicious homemade dinner of Caribou stew and sourdough bread. She said she wanted to give us a taste of Alaska! There were also numerous jellies as well as pie made from local Alaska berries. Yum!

After dinner, we had a team meeting, then went to Walmart before settling down for the night. We are looking forward to tomorrow's church service and a week of serving!

Alaskan Dinner

Sunday Morning

by Mel Frecceiro | May 20, 2024 3:53 AM

Several members of our team jumped on the stage for Sunday service. We were interviewed in front of the church, asked to share parts of our faith journeys and answer personal questions. It was a fun and unique way of engaging with our partner church, UMC of the Chugiak.

Sunday Morning

Afternoon Hike

by Mel Frecceiro | May 20, 2024 3:58 AM

After church service and lunch, we went with a member of the church to the Eagle River Nature Center. She took us on a hike, explaining a lot about the land and animal life in Alaska. Afterwards, on our drive home we saw a mama moose and two twins!
Afternoon Hike

Beans Cafe

by Mel Frecceiro | May 20, 2024 11:25 PM

Our team served with Beans Cafe this morning. They serve hundreds of free meals all around the city of Anchorage. They also cater and have a bakery. Several of us got to help in the food prep area.

Beans Cafe

Po-ta-toes

by Mel Frecceiro | May 20, 2024 11:26 PM

Can't even count the amount of potatoes that were chopped, but they sure smelled delicious when they came out of the oven!
Po-ta-toes

Chocolate Factory

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 1:14 PM

Anna got a workout chopping large bars of chocolate into chunks for cookies in the Beans Cafe bakery.

Chocolate Factory

Onion Master

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 1:16 PM

Riley championed chopping up onions! Way to take one for the team!
Onion Master

A Generous Portion

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 1:24 PM

The staff at Beans set us up very well for lunch! They wanted to treat us to spaghetti with sauce that our own team got to make. They also sent us home with a plethora of coffee cakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, and artisan bread... Enough that we probably won't be able to eat at all by the time we head home! What a treat.

It's incredible what Beans is able to do for the community. We were happy to be a part of it for one day.

A Generous Portion

Beluga Point

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 1:58 PM

We went to a beautiful lookout spot south of Anchorage called Beluga Point. We got to walk around, climb on rocks and take photographs.
Beluga Point

Reflective Waters

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 2:00 PM

On our afternoon recreation excursion, there were places where the water was so still, we could see the reflection of the mountains and sky. So beautiful!
Reflective Waters

Alaska Wildlife Conservation

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 2:09 PM

We spent a couple hours of our afternoon at the Alaska wildlife conservation, where they care for wounded, abandoned and endangered animals from around the state. Some of the animals we saw included bears, moose, wolves, reindeer and bison.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation

Portage Lake

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 2:18 PM

We made a stop at Portage Lake, where the waters are fed by the surrounding glaciers. We trekked down to the water to feel how icy cold it was. Some of us took a drink too.

Portage Lake

Team Meetings

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 2:25 PM

Each morning and evening, a different member from our team leads a devotional. In the evening times, we also debrief and talk about our day. A variety of topics are being discussed by our group in these sessions. It's a great opportunity for us to share and grow together.
Team Meetings

Work Project

by Mel Frecceiro | May 21, 2024 2:41 PM

Retired Pastor, Steve, and the foreman, Dave, are our guides this week as we work together to replace the roof on the church's parsonage next door.
Work Project

The Parsonage

by Mel Frecceiro | May 22, 2024 2:27 AM

This is the parsonage. It is a beautiful log cabin home, but in great need of a metal roof. It reminded some of our team members of linkin' logs.

The Parsonage

Clearing the Work Site

by Mel Frecceiro | May 22, 2024 2:30 AM

Steve let us use his personal truck to move around some materials. He had us load the pickup with garbage, and we filled the church's dumpsters in no time.
Clearing the Work Site

Many Hands...

by Mel Frecceiro | May 22, 2024 2:32 AM

We had to work together as a team to lift beams up onto the roof. They were quite heavy!
Many Hands...

Getting Ready

by Mel Frecceiro | May 22, 2024 2:37 AM

Steve is so appreciative of the amount of hands we have available to help with the project. Relayed the vapor barrier down in preparation for the trusses.
Getting Ready

Blessing our Host Church

by Mel Frecceiro | May 22, 2024 2:42 AM

It started to rain outside. After the vapor barrier was spread out, we moved inside to help with special projects all around the church.
Blessing our Host Church

Trusses

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:30 AM

We started off our Wednesday with a few of us helping to put the trusses on the parsonage roof. There will be plenty of work on the construction site for all of us once those are in place.

Trusses

Inside and Out

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:39 AM

Wow! Some of our team helped outside, the rest of us worked on a wide variety of projects indoors. One of those projects was applying varnish and paint to different surfaces.
Inside and Out

Make it Green

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:39 AM

Everything looks better with a fresh coat of paint!
Make it Green

No More Sag

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:40 AM

One of the projects was repairing chairs that had a sag in them. That was a challenge!
No More Sag

Fix It Drew

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:45 AM

Drew went around the church repairing various things. Kay had a long honey do list for us, and was so incredibly grateful for Drew's willingness to tackle various handy tasks.
Fix It Drew

Much Work to do

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:46 AM

After all the trusses went up on the roof, there was a lot more work to be done! Many hands make light work, as they say.
Much Work to do

Thunderbird Falls

by Mel Frecceiro | May 23, 2024 3:48 AM

After dinner, we went on a hike to a place called Thunderbird Falls. We went on an overlook deck to see the Falls, and of course take some group photos! It was a beautiful evening for getting out and enjoying nature.
Thunderbird Falls

We Like to Move it

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 1:54 AM

Our first order of business for the day: move the supplies to make room for more. We picked up boards and poles, sorting them into piles by size before additional boards were delivered.

We Like to Move it

Stack it High

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:07 AM

We divided and conquered moving the wood from the side yard into the front and shifting around the metal poles so they were out of the way.
Stack it High

Progress Meeting

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:19 AM

The construction workers, Church Representatives, PPM staff and our team have been gathering during lunch time. We've been building up relationships through fellowship during meal times this week as well as through the service projects. Today's lunch time served as not only a moment to refresh ourselves, but also a construction progress meeting. Pastor Steve gave us an update as well as our marching orders for the afternoon.
Progress Meeting

Yard Work

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:22 AM

Some of our group members pulled up weeds, used the loppers or did various other outside projects, especially around the playground area.
Yard Work

Progress Shot

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:25 AM

Here's the parsonage progress Shot! It's amazing how far it's come in such a short amount of time!
Progress Shot

Measure Twice-

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:47 AM

We helped with cutting boards for the new roof.
Measure Twice-

Jen's Turn

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 2:50 AM

There's nothing Jen can't do!!!
Jen's Turn

Working as a Team

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 7:03 AM

There was plenty of work up on the roof as we worked together to nail particle board down.

Working as a Team

Bird's-Eye View

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 7:06 AM

It's hard to beat the view from way up on the roof.
Bird's-Eye View

And break!

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 7:10 AM

At one point during our work day, a few of us went to a local Coffee Hut (aka, drive thru spot) and picked up drinks for the entire team, staff and workers. Nothing boosts morale like a delicious pause in the middle of the day.

And break!

Sand Dunes

by Mel Frecceiro | May 24, 2024 7:16 AM

After our dinner, we went on a little excursion to the Walmart in the fancier part of the city, not too far from the wealthy neighborhood, and shopped in their Alaska souvenir section. Then we did a short hike to the sand dunes to check out the view of the coast.
Sand Dunes

Continue Your Impact

by Praying Pelican Missions | May 24, 2024 11:57 PM


Landscaping

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 8:42 PM

A few of us worked in the weeds, lopping down the larger plants and pulling up the smaller ones.

Landscaping

Queen of the rock

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 8:44 PM

Riley sitting up on her hillside perch looking epic with the mountains behind her.
Queen of the rock

Insulation

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 8:47 PM

Finally after working towards this step the whole week, we were able to begin insulation! 
Insulation

Making up for lost time

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 10:23 PM

They worried we wouldn't get done what they planned for us to achieve this week between the bad weather and delays, but we reached the goal!
Making up for lost time

Saying goodbye

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 10:55 PM

Pastor Steve, the other construction workers and k gathered up with us before we left the church. They wanted to thank our group for coming to serve. They talked about how much we got done, how appreciative and blown away they were by how hard we worked.

Saying goodbye

That's a wrap

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 10:59 PM

Before we left, we had to get a group shot in front of the parsonage. They will continue working on the roof to get it done as quickly as possible after we are gone. We are so happy to have been a part of making this project go much faster for UMC of Chugiak. What a great way to love on our fellow brothers and sisters!
That's a wrap

Shopping and dinner

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 11:01 PM

Our last stop before leaving was to go downtown and shop a little bit, and then eat at Alaska's oldest restaurant, Arctic Roadrunner. Many of us had halibut or salmon burgers. Yum!
Shopping and dinner

Thank you!

by Mel Frecceiro | May 25, 2024 11:05 PM

- A note from the staff

Thank you all so very much for loving on your partner church this past week. We loved getting to partner alongside of you. Thank you for all the laughs, the shenanigans, the prayers, the hard work, and for the way you loved everyone around you. You will truly be missed! We pray it's not the last time we get to spend time serving with your group this side of heaven. Blessings as you go. Know our thoughts and prayers go with you!

~your friends at PPM

Thank you!

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Comments

Sandi

May 22, 2024 5:47 PM

Sounds like a great way to see Gods hands at work. Beautiful untouched Nature and helping those in need. I hope u feel the spirit!

Michael cobaugh

May 21, 2024 11:08 PM

And meet your husband

Michael cobaugh

May 21, 2024 11:08 PM

Heads up I’m working tomorrow @ auntie Ann’s in the 5th ave mall 2pm to 7:30pm when can we hang out like we used to do we haven’t done that in years

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