2019 Women’s Retreat Speakers “Uplifted” Psalm 121:1-2 I am in a new life season. Turning 50 in just a few weeks has me wondering how God will use me as my children (ages 21,17 and 14) are more independent daily. I love this stage of parenting, as I get to know my kids as emerging adults. Much of my time is devoted to my husband Curtis, my kids, and sharing through hospitality ministry, discipleship. I work part-time for the Alaska Conference. I am starting seminary classes this month, as I’m sensing God’s leading into new areas of pastoral leadership and ministry. I currently attend Mountain View Hope Covenant Church and will be preaching regularly there a few times a month starting in October. I love to laugh, be with people, enjoy creation, study and teach the Word and enjoy dark chocolate. If I get to do all those things at the same time (like at the Women’s Retreat), I’m in my element.
Kristi Ivanoff Friday Evening
Pauline (Egoak) Thomas Saturday Morning
I was born in Bethel, raised in Akiak most of my life, went to boarding school in Mt. Edgecumbe, Bethel and graduated in Akiak. I met my husband in 1981, and was blessed with four children, two girls and two boys. On July 11, 1992 we married after all our children were born, and they witnessed us being joined together in matrimony. Currently I work for Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation as the Emergency Services as Case Manager. The work that I do is helping gravely disabled people or those who are suicidal or in other times of crisis. I enjoy the subsistence way of life, as I grew up in that environment--- cutting fish, gathering berries, fishing, camping, and spending my time in the wilderness where God created the nature to find peace in yourself. In nature I reflect on where I may be in life, and I think about what changes I may need to take steps in. I accepted Jesus in my life on March 3, 2015, as I read Psalm 120: 1 —“In my distress I cried to the Lord, and he heard me.”
Doris Van Amburg has spent 25 years living, ministering and teaching with her husband and children in the Northwest Arctic, mostly in the Eskimo village of Noatak. She has recently been transplanted to Fairbanks where she is striving to adjust to a new place and culture. Her life’s goal is to live and work for Christ with an eternal perspective and to encourage and love others in their journey to the Kingdom. Doris has published the devotional Tundra Talk: Lessons form the Berry Patch.
Doris Van Amburg Saturday Evening Bea Kiokun lives in Mekoryuk, AK, on Nunivak Island,and is active in the Mekoryuk Covenant Church. She describes herself as someone “blessed to be God’s kid, wife to husband Ed, mom to three wonderful kids, panik to my parents, and one who absolutely loves native food, fish camp, knitting, singing, and women’s Bible study.”
Bea Kiokun Sunday Morning