Everything about Fairbanks, about Alaska, is beautiful beyond compare. The most impactful part, however, was the people.
Fairbanks is a small town in the middle of nowhere close to the arctic circle. The winters are long, harsh, and isolating. The people have learned to live with it, in part because of their understanding of community. Being a small population plays a big roll in the close-knit mentality of the people. They are open, welcoming, and very generous. Throughout the town, we saw many buildings and small businesses with open doors and signs advertising free coffee. Eventually, the friendly mannerisms caught onto me and my teammates such that the locals thought we were locals! The most impactful of interactions, however, were the times we worked with the Fairbanks Rescue Mission.
We had the privilege of talking to some of the leadership team a bit about the details of what they do daily. This faith-driven organization is targeted toward the homeless and addicted. They offer a place to stay the night (especially in the winter), a weekly church service, recovery programs, among many things. The employees and volunteers understand relationships are the way for change in a person’s life. They have seen countless individuals choose more for themselves than they ever had because of the relationships they build with these individuals. The compassion and love these people at the organization have is incredible. They see the capability each person has underneath their brokenness and hurts. They walk alongside those who want to change until the person embraces their new life and can run with it. The Fairbanks Rescue Mission is continuously looking for ways to reach people further and more profoundly. This goal has lead to many developments, programs, and ideas to build people up and point them toward healing.
One of these ideas was to build a small and safe housing community for the once addicted and still homeless. This objective was the reason my mission team went out to help develop this community, basically from the ground up. After someone goes through one of the recovery programs, they don’t necessarily have a place to go to other than the place where their troubles started. This mini neighborhood aims to provide a safe living place until these people can get on their own feet and get their lives started. Working on these tiny houses was a way I could give to the people of Fairbanks who are in need. These people will always be around, and this gift to the community will continuously be giving to these people.
Back at the church, I spoke to one of our caretakers about taking a walk through the town. It was 10:30 PM, but I was not tired, and they assured me it was safe to go walking alone. So I went out. I was amazed at the high population of the homeless. Within the first 5 minutes, I came across six homeless people. They were everywhere, friendly and inviting people who somehow lost their jobs and homes, now living in the streets exposed to the elements of Alaska. Seeing these people first hand gave me a new love and motivation in the effort I gave to our work on the tiny houses.
I love the people of Fairbanks, and it breaks my heart to see them in the painful state they land. The bonds created between my teammates and me, toward the people of Fairbanks, toward the people of The Rescue Mission, I will not soon forget.