How A Famous Dog Sled Race In Alaska Has Become A Wonderful Mission Adventure
Temperatures that are constantly below freezing. A state where 84 days out of the year from May through August the sun never sets. With facts like these, Alaska would not appear to be a place for great adventure – that is unless you know about the great Iditarod dog-sled race.
The Iditarod cannot even start to be compared to any other race in the world. At 1,150 miles long, competitors traverse some of the roughest, toughest terrain Mother Nature can throw at them. Some obstacles they will be facing are frozen rivers, miles of windswept and desolate tundra, and dense forests among jagged mountain ranges. Such a race has built in hazards and dangers including loss of visibility, long hours of darkness and treacherous climbs over steep hills. This race cannot happen anywhere else but Alaska!
The entire course runs from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. The entire race which consists of teams of mushers with twelve to sixteen dogs takes a total of ten to seventeen days. Many different people from all walks of life take on this extreme challenge to test themselves and see if they have what it takes to complete this course. With the worldwide acclaim and interest, it is easy to see why it is called the 'Last Great Race On Earth.'
Unfortunately, though, there is a negative side to this picture that Global Partnership Ministries (http://www.GlobalPartnershipMinistries.com) are working to help out with. All year round the Inupiat (Eskimo) city of Nome, Alaska faces incredible challenges to merely survive. Due to geographic and social isolation and lack of employment, alcoholism and drug abuse has been on the rise. Teen pregnancy, domestic violence and high rates of STDs being contracted also are occurring. Even crimes by young people continue to climb, which leads some to believe their only out is through suicide.
Those who travel with Global Partnership Ministries as missionaries start helping out by simply serving free hot coffee and hot chocolate to the crowds and the arrival of the racing mushers. During the beginning of the race, activities such as youth and prison ministries are encouraged, as well as helping with the nightly chili dinner (proceeds go to the local battered women's shelter). And to help with those who like to party late into the night by getting drunk, they will provide a morning 'sober-up' pancake breakfast with hot coffee, while evangelizing to them showing that they care.
But not all is full-on working everyday. Oh no! Between times of ministering to those in need, the missionaries are encouraged to try snowboarding and dog-sledding, or even shopping for native artwork and crafts on their free-time. If you feel this might be a great opportunity for you this next March, please pray for God's guidance, and then check out the Global Partnership Ministries website. You will be glad you did.