4th of July Extravaganza!

Each year at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (ORLC) families gather at the church for a time of food, fellowship, and crafts. The 4^th of July parade goes right in-front of the Church on the Old Glenn Highway. This makes ORLC a perfect spot for families to gather and watch the parade.  Before the parade, there is a potluck picnic to supplement the grilled hot dogs. 

Taylor and I setting up the sign by the road

Taylor and I putting on water bottle labels.

Let the fun begin!

chips, hot dogs, and watermelon 

Sword fight

There are craft tables set up to give the kids something to do while waiting for the parade to pass by.  This year they made paper towel tube streamers (to wave during the parade), an Uncle Sam paper plate, and American Flag pins. It was a grand old time.

Making paper towel streamers.

Little beads for the American Flag pin

The Chugiak community has a slight twist when it comes to parades. In the parade, the floats and cars drive by tossing candy to the onlookers. We, at ORLC,  do a reverse roll by  handing out free hot dogs and water to the people on the floats in the parade as they pass by.  It is really a neat experience as the younger kids and youth of the congregation hand them out.  It is a service project for them and they really enjoy doing it.

Nathan is ready to serve the parade participants

Taylor and Nathan

Water and hot dogs for all!

When the parade finished, it began to rain.  There was a dark cloud that had been hanging over our heads throughout the afternoon and we wondered when it would rain. I was glad that it held off until the parade was over. The only downside to the rain was that there was a scheduled softball game after the parade and most of the participants left for home.

Big hitter...Vern!

Vern has speed!

Ryan!

Players of all ages

Hannah

A few and devoted remained for the softball game. It was raining but we decided to play anyway. First we just took turns hitting  the ball, as there were only 8 of us.  We would rotate from hitting and then to the various positions of the outfield. Then the Kodiak Baptist Mission showed up! The Kodiak Baptist Mission is a group of volunteers from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Kodiak is the second largest island in the United States, located about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The Kodiak Baptist Mission has it’s headquarters on the Kodiak Island). The group of individuals who showed up to play softball had seen ORLC's signs for softball as they passed down the parade route (they were in the parade). As I was talking with some of the group, I discovered that a lot of the students were my age (20 somethings). They had come from all across the United States including New York, Florida, Nebraska, California and beyond. They  go out on different missions across Alaska leading Vacation Bible Schools and day camps.

In the "stands" our faithful fans!

The Kodiak Baptist Mission!

Everyone who played: ORLC & Kodiak Baptist Mission

The game was very soggy but incredibly fun!  The field was wet and people were sliding left and right. We lost several balls in the water-filled ditch and others to the Devil’s Club, a large plant with huge stickers.  Most balls were recovered which resulted in several retrieving players to become completely soaked. We did not keep score in the softball game and we split up the teams so that is was not just Kodiak Baptist Mission verses Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (we were badly outnumbered).

Highlights for me in the game include catching several pop fly balls, an awesome grass stain from accidental sliding to second base, a softball to the back of my head from an innocent seven-year-old (I still have a bump), and three bruises from softball contact.  It was wet, but it was fun and I was glad that the Kodiak Baptist Mission could take part in the game.  I must say the 4^th of July is a busy day but it was also a very rewarding day. My internship is giving me many ideas as I continue to work towards the day when I am working in the professional DCE field. Regardless, someday I hope to come back for another ORLC 4^th of July Extravaganza!