Hello friends and family!

I’m incredibly excited and humbled to share some news with you about where God is leading me in my life. As many of you know, God has woven in my heart a love for His Son, a passion for working with children, and an awe of all things Alaskan which has resulted in the opportunity to join the staff at Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska in a full-time capacity.

For two summers I have had the privilege of serving on short term missions teams at TBC and truly fell in love with the ministry and the kids. God laid on my heart the desire to serve in a greater capacity there and I’ve watched Him arrange just the right circumstances over the past several years to make it possible. Two years ago, Micah 6:8 became my verse for the year.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

God has faithfully shown me in countless ways over the past two years what it means to walk humbly with Him and as I continue to walk the path that He is laying out for me it is leading to me a small village in rural Alaska!

I’ll be joining a dedicated team of individuals as the Business Manager which is a change of pace from what I’ve been doing vocationally as of late. However, I can now connect the dots of what God may have been preparing me for when I was learning all of these tasks on the fly when starting and operating an autism center years ago. Being able to do that for an amazing ministry centered on furthering God’s Kingdom and spreading the hope of Christ is humbling and invigorating to say the least.

Ministry in rural Alaska poses some unique challenges and opportunities. Port Alsworth is off the road system and is only accessible by plane as are most of the villages that Tanalian supports. But, God is on the move in southwest Alaska! As such, I’m seeking individuals that would consider partnering with me in doing Kingdom work through prayer and financial support if you feel led to do that. Tax deductible gifts to the ministry of Tanalian can be used to support my involvement with the organization.

My short term journey begins when I fly to Alaska on June 8th to spend the summer volunteering at camp. I'll spend the next two months in camp housing while I learn my new role, learn how to order groceries and have them flown from Anchorage, and learn how to live in a small village in rural Alaska! I'll return to Chicagoland in mid-August to spend some time with Ellie and help her transition back to college for her second year at Taylor.

Prayer points

• For a smooth transition in terms of logistics and timing and for the summer volunteering to go well

• For financial and prayer support

• For Ellie and my relationship with her. I’m blessed to have a daughter who understands that we go where God leads even when that means sacrificing some comforts.

Thank you and God Bless!

Niki

If you feel led to contribute financially you can give online at www.tanalianbiblecamp.org/give

Or checks can be mailed to:

Tanalian Bible Camp

PO Box 176

Port Alsworth, AK 99653

Please include a separate note in the memo stating “preference for Niki Thurkow”