2001 FALL GATHERING OF YUKON PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
Sept. 14 and 15 at First-Anchorage.  Nancy Davison, Moderator of Synod PW-Alaska-Northwest worshiped and shared with us.  CLP Heather Smith served communion and was assisted by Elder  Marie Neakok from Utqiagvik.  Toni Kahklen-Jones from Eagle River led us in tolerance exercises.  Vera Kaneshiro shared about her work with NACC and as Yukon PW's Racial/Ethnic person.  Sandra Wagenius, United Protestant, told us about the Feb. Kairos Program at Highland Corrections and encouraged women to get involved in this ministry.   Gambell Presbyterian Woman Virginia Soonagrook has persevered with prayers to God and calls to leaders of Yukon Presbyterian Women to have Presbyterian Women come to St. Lawrence.  Her prayers were answered when Edith Ewing and Jo Ann Bantz traveled to Nome, Savoonga and Gambell in July  to be learners, supporters and encouragers to the Presbyterian Women in those churches.  The Presbyterian Women of Nome, Savoonga and Gambell ministered and nurtured Edith--Missions and Jo Ann--Moderator. The Gathering offering was sent to the Netting Project for malaria control and the Gambell Building Fund.


2001 SPRING GATHERING OF YUKON PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The Spring Gathering was held March 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church with a potluck, worship and a business meeting.


2001 SPRING GATHERING FOR THE SYNOD OF ALASKA-NORTHWEST
Eight women from our Presbytery-including 2 from Savoonga and 1 from Utqiagvik-- attended the Spring Synod Gathering at Trinity Lutheran College, Issaquah, WA, April 27-29.  The used towels were given to the Church of Mary Magdalene for homeless women in Seattle after the Gathering.

Former Moderator of GA Freda Gardner and mission worker Rev. Dr. Eunice Poethig were the featured speakers.


Subject: St. Lawrence and Nome report of Presbyterian Women
Trip to Savoonga, Gambell, and Nome for the purpose of encouraging our sisters in Christ and learning from them.

On Friday, July 27, 2001 I flew from Anchorage to Nome to begin my exciting trip as an encourager and learner from Yukon Presbyterian Women to St. Lawrence Island and Nome.  Edith Ewing, Yukon PW Missions person,  had flown to Savoonga, using her own funds, earlier in the week to visit her friend there.   Then the two of us became partners, just as Christ sent out His disciples by twos, in encouraging and learning from the wonderful Presbyterian Women on St. Lawrence and in Nome.
 

Bernice Rookok, Moderator of Savoonga PW arranged for us to meet with women in Savoonga at the church on Friday, July 27.  Mary Ann Wongittilin, Janet Noongwook (Yukon PW Enabler, North), Bernice Rookok, Rose Martin, Margaret Kingeekuk, Gertrude Toolie, Co-Pastor Intern Kelly McAlpin and Wabash WA. Presbyterian Church Volunteer Jandina Konop was there.  The women led us in prayer and singing  in Siberian Yupik, lit a candle to remind us of Christ as our reason for  the meeting, read scripture. Edith and I shared the Cancelled Stamp Project and the Least Coin Offering.  We showed and left the Horizons Bible Study-Esther's Feast.  We suggested they us whatever Bible Study would be most useful to them. Savoonga Presbyterian Women requested clean, gently used clothing for children and adults such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, jeans, jackets, shirts, mittens, warm hats and also baby clothing. The PW holds rummage sales to earn money for their PW.  Both Edith and I were able to visit with lovely Ora Gologergen, one of the village elders and a faithful long time worker in Presbyterian Women.

Lucy Apatiki of Gambell arranged for Edith and me to meet with the Gambell Presbyterian Women at the church on Saturday, July 28. The women of Gambell, like the women of Savoonga, were so gracious to us.  Edna Apatiki, Della Campbell, Charlene Apangalook, Charity Apangalook, Alyne Booshu, Susan Campbell, Clara Iyakitan, Lucy Apatiki and pastor's wife Rachel Lim attended. The Gambell Presbyterian Women also ministered to us when they led the meeting in songs and prayers in Yupik, lit the candle to remind us Christ is the reason for our meeting and read scripture.  Edith and I showed the Cancelled Stamp Project and the Least Coin Offering as some of the mission projects of Presbyterian Women.  The Presbyterian Women of Gambell are prayer warriors almost everyday at the church.  It was suggested to the women they might incorporate some of the parts of a Presbyterian Women's meeting into one of their prayer times rather than schedule another meeting.  It was pointed out by Edna that Friday night is family night and that it is very important to keep a time for family.

 Edith and I were able to worship at Gambell Presbyterian Church on Sunday, July 29, ate lunch with Pastor Lim and Rachel and then flew to Nome so we could meet with the Nome Presbyterian Women.

Linda Gologergen set up the meeting for us in Nome.  Since there was another congregation using the Nome Presbyterian Church building, we met in a local pizza parlor. By the way, the pizza was good!  Linda Gologergen, Hun Im Erickson,  Rev. Youl Rhee and his beautiful wife Hee Boon were there.  The Nome Presbyterian Women led us in prayer, lighting the candle, reading scripture.  As we had done at the other PW meetings, Edith and I shared mission projects, showed the chart of how PW is organized in the congregation, presbytery, synod and churchwide levels, left a copy of the Horizons Bible Study of Esther, left information about the Yukon Presbyterian Women Fall Gathering in Anchorage Sept. 14 and 15 at First Presbyterian,  gave all attendees   the list of churches in our presbytery with addresses and pastors' names and a list of the Coordinating Team of Yukon Presbyterian Women.  At all the meetings the women wrote their names and addresses  and got copies so we could all stay in touch with one another.

Edith and I learned so much from all these wonderful Presbyterian Women in Savoonga, Gambell and Nome.  We thank each woman for sharing her love of Christ with us!  Thank you and God bless you!  It was wonderful working with Edith.  We complemented each others strengths  as we made presentations and did our planning. As the Coordinating Team of Yukon Presbyterian Women encourages women from the villages to come to the Yukon Gatherings in teams of two, so would Edith and I suggest the next PW visit to villages be in teams of two.  We would also suggest this type of trip be funded each year.  Presbyterian Women are connected to each other no matter what the distances.

To the Coordinating Team of Yukon Presbyterian Women, thank you so much for making this encouraging and learning trip possible!                               Jo Ann