Labor Day Picnic

Well, on August 2, 2013 was Labor Day, and I have to tell you something, it was a blast! Here at the college, we had a picnic, the best that I ever had! There was food, a dunk tank, sports, singing, and good old fashion preaching!! The whole day was pretty much awesome sauce.

The day started with me and my whole room sleeping in until noon! We all figured it would be the last day  for a long time we get to sleep in past 7 am, so we slept in!! After waking up we got dressed (for the last day in a long time we can go casual all day) and headed out to the main area for the picnic. I soon realized that the picnic wouldn't start until 1:30 pm. yeah total bummer. So I began hanging out with a new pal of mine, his name is Peyton and he is pretty kewl. So we goofed off until it was time to eat.

At 1:30 it was time for lunch! Burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, coleslaw, everything you need! I somehow made it first in line, yeah!!! I grabbed my food, and went inside to the chow hall and ate with a group of guys, one of them was one of my room mates and his two brothers were there as well. We all ate together and afterwards proceeded to hang out at the softball fields.

At the fields, we just watched and cheered for fellow student playing (I would have played, but it was 90 something degrees, not good for this eskimo) softball. After the games were over we went to the gymnasium to play dodgeball, yeah, that was epic! It was inside an air conditioned room, so I played this time! I think we played ten games or so before it turned out to be 6 pm.

At 6 pm, everyone gathered at the main area outside for PEACH COBBLER and ICE CREAM!!! While stuffing our faces is, we enjoyed multiple testimonies and singing groups. Then came time for the good stuff, the preaching!! It was good preaching, he preached on being vessel for God, and how He will form us if we allow Him.

All in all, the picnic was great in my book. Thanks for reading!

James W. Schene Duffett

In Christ Alone

Week One!

It is the end of my first week at Heartland Baptist Bible College, and it has been a great week! I have been running around trying to figure out all that I need to do to get started. Classes don't start until Tuesday, September 3, 2013 and I am looking forward to it!
I left Fairbanks on Friday, August 23, 2013 and arrived in Oklahoma City, OK on Saturday, August 24, 2013 (my 22nd birthday). I was picked by a man names Steve Whitaker, who so happened to be one of the handful of people who came up to Alaska this summer for a missions trip. It was a great time of fellowship! We caught up on certain things and talked a lot about Alaska, I think he is going to get called to be a missionary to a village, and just goofed off. As I arrived at the college I learned where my dorm was, and was brought to it. I went to my room only to learn it was locked...so for an hour I just hung out at my locked door until someone with a key came to my rescue!
After making it into my room, I unpacked and learned I forgot some things (dress shirts), but had no time to worry about it. Shortly after arriving, all of the Heartland students currently in OKC and on the campus took a field trip to Frontier City. Frontier City is basically a small version of Six Flags, and A LOT BIGGER version of Fairbanks little fair. I was there for 5 hours, in the 100+ weather, so I really didn't ride to many rides, I believe only 2. Ooooooo, I almost forgot, no one told me that it was a secure place, where you can't bring guns or knives, well I had my CRKT M16-14 SFG in my right pocket as I was walking up to the metal detectors....and there it was, a broken one! It was beautiful, I walked through and there was a guard who had a wand, so I did a little slight of hand, held my knife in my right hand with my phone covering it, and made it through without a problem!!
After Frontier City was over we all hopped on the buss to return to campus, this is where I met Bro. Hayline (not to sure on the spelling), who is the main missions teacher here at Heartland. He was the one who brought the group up to Alaska, it was another great time of fellowship! I also met the Ungry girls on the bus, who are the children of a very awesome missionary to Wainwright, Alaska.
Well back on campus I find out that there is a WalMart only a mile away, and that I have about 3 hours to make it there and back. So I set out on my epic journey, it was epic. I made it to Wally World and bought the things I needed and began my way back to the campus, when I noticed it was dark outside, I was excited! I thought it was going to be nice and cold, since in Alaska, if it's dark, it's cold. However, this was not the case, it was still HOT!!! Plus, I had to walk all the way back to campus with my bags falling apart, it was fun. All and all, I made it no problem.
The next morning was Sunday morning, CHURCH TIME!! It was AMAZING, it isn't like Bible Baptist in Fairbanks, but still good. I had a blast, first was Sunday School for Heartland's single students, then preaching in the main auditorium. After a great service, it was lunch time for all first year student, while at lunch I sat across from a student and his parents. We talked a bit about Alaska (I talk about Alaska a lot to many people) and told him about my awesome teens!! After the meal, he slipped me a $100 bill, thank the Lord. Church that night was just as amazing; singing, preaching, singing, preaching, special singing, preaching... just awesome sauce.
This whole week has been getting ready to start classes, go here then there, sign this and that, stand in this line for an hour....yeah, that part was boring. However, I have heard about 10 messages from God's men, and it has been grand. If I went home today, I would have to say college was worth it. But I have a full 4 more years of this, UBER EXCITED!!!!
I'll try to continue to keep updating on Saturdays or so! LOVE YOU ALL!!!
James W. Schene Duffett
"In Christ Alone"