The People part 3: Young Adults

Young adults it seems in any culture is a bit of an awkward time. In city culture they might just be finishing up high school or college. People might be getting married, looking for a spouse, or newly married or even starting a family. They are often heavy with debt and at the bottom of the ladder at work. Village life is not that different. They are not considered a "village elder", they are not considered a child. School is done for them and they too are looking at starting families. It seems they are "on their own" but still tired to mom and dad if they are alive. What do they do for fun in the village? For the women of this age in the village, I was not able to see or find out in my short stay here. For the men their love is seen- its playing basketball! And let me tell you, they are good and fast! 

 As you can see they platy on a big board walk called a play deck. It is hardly level and the basketball hoop is only at one end as the other looks to have been broken down for some time and is laying in the water. Half court, no refs, and they call their own fouls. They have played together long enough they do not seem to get into fights. They have also played together long enough to anticipate each others moves. They communicate with each other through whistles, foot stomps, and other noises.

 Water retrieval is always part of the game!

Younger ones wait their turn, watch, learn and hope they get a chance to be invited to play. It almost seems that it is a "right of passage" of sorts. 

How did we as a team get to work with them this year? Well they do not get to play basketball in the school gym in the summer. We opened up the gym to them and gave them two nights and they played for at least 3 hours both nights. We supplied cookies provided from the Lutheran ladies group at Funny River, AK. They sent with us 1,000 cookies this year- thanks ladies!! We provided them with drinks and kept the kids out of their way so they could play full court basketball. They loved it and were very appreciative. I believe there were about 50ish people in attendance each night. 

 One night the chief of police stopped in and said thank you, this is just what these guys need. I hope that some way the village will find a way to open up that gym on a normal basis for the guys. They would appreciate it, it is a healthy activity and it is a bonding time.

 Here is the problem: 

Alaska Native men between the ages of 15-24 have the highest rate of suicide among any demographic in the country, with an average of 141.6 suicides per 100,000 each year between 2000 and 2009.

WOW, THAT IS HUGE! 

In fact the village was still upset from a suicide of a young man just recently. 

Half way through each night I spoke to them. I told them my family story of suicide. I told them of my sister who took her own life and how life is God's gift and how we are created by God and so our life is not ours to take. I took them to Psalm 139. I told them we need (all people) to watch out for each other and get help for ourselves or those we care for if they are in trouble.

The second night I told them of God's love for them from Romans 8. Nothing in all creation will separate them from the love of God. They have value. It was a privilege and an honor to be able to speak to these young men and women who were present. Pray for the people in the villages. Pray for those who see no way out that they would see Jesus and his uninterrupted love for them.