We're Staying!

We're staying in St. Croix!
For another month...

It was bittersweet to say good-bye to our team this morning as they head back to Kona for debrief without us. We have treasured our time with this new extension of our 'family' and hope to see them when our paths meet again.

The Fisher crew has decided to stay another month in St. Croix as we are praying about our plans for the future. The base is in immediate need of a new septic system which Matt has offered to design and install along with several other maintenance projects (See photos of our housing and the YWAM base here), we are continuing a marriage study with our mentors here, partnering with local service ministries, and considering the invitation of long term or quarterly service here as the base is in leadership transition.




I wish there was a way to adequately share all the ways we have seen God build his kingdom here in St. Croix (Find out more about island needs here). Our newsletter overview will have to do for now, until we can visit with you in person when we return in mid April.

Celebrating Black History Month

It was an honor to be invited to join the  Martin Luther King parade ceremonies with speakers that shared perspectives on accomplishments and setbacks for their community. An 8-year-old islander recited Dr. King's famous speech, "I Have a Dream" and we shared a moment of silence for fallen community members. We have encountered many residents struggling with fear about recent presidential policies regarding race and government assistance programs they have relied on (Crucians do not have U.S. voting rights as St. Croix is a territory owned by the United States).



 (The Golden Woman of 2016) asked for prayer for God's protection as she works at the local Casino where she has witnessed brawls but is grateful for the income her job has provided.

Paradise Mills Ministry

Long term missionaries here have developed relationships with residents of Paradise Mills government housing community that has become one or our family's highlights of the week. We visit to play games and share circle time devotions with our young friends there. Matt installed a much needed garbage can on new their playground last week.






Some kids seem to find a way into our hearts more quickly than others.







Once a week the Paradise Mills kids are invited to the base for dance, skate, and day camp activities. (Watch video clip here).










Lighthouse Homeless Ministry & Tutoring

We help serve weekly at the Lighthouse mission in downtown Christiansted by leading morning devotions, helping with clothing distribution, and tutoring children after school.




Friends at Lighthouse Mission


Our team also helped set up the Lighthouse Annual Fundraiser Event

Kings Kids Camps

Another highlight for our family was the beach campout with discipleship training for youth in King's Kids.







Basketball & Fitness 

Several times a week, the campus gates are opened to the community for basketball that is a draw for many local young men. The base has vision for more functional fitness in the future and Matt has enjoyed designing the first pull-up bars towards these goals .





Building the Wall

Our team devoted almost an entire week to help rebuild a stone wall for a long-term missionary family. The wall was once part of the original driveway boundary for the entrance to the sugar mill plantation that the base is built on.









Real Life

While most of our time on DTS is devoted to serving others and sharing the love of Jesus in the community, there are so many moments that have built our character and friendships in simple ways through real challenges and surprises like trying to keep a van full of kids quiet or tackling the base pig that got loose and laughing with each other along the way.



We have also been learning how to process our personal growth in many different ways including using simple color and line expressions. (Watch video of blindfolded warm-up activity here).



As we have grown to love our new friends here we are missing home and look forward to sharing life with you all again when we return to Alaska in mid April.

Thank you for your continued support and prayer for our family as we are on mission. We pray for you often as you walk out your own!

Happy new year from St. Croix!

It is nice to have a moment to reflect on the journey of the past year as the holidays ebb into a daily schedule that offers a sense of relief. Its interesting how in times of rapid change and shaking around me that I find Im longing for the anchor of familiar, constant, reliable…like our Father’s faithfulness in the rhythm of tides, the rising and setting sun, and the cycle of seasons. I love that in every new place we’ve traveled, I can see reminders of His familiar love beneath the differences in our accents and traditions. 

The head-back-can’t-catch-your-breath-belly laugh of the dark skinned children at the park, the wise wrinkled side glances through cigar smoke from the men at the domino table, and the gray haired giggles of beautiful grandmothers and sisters are expanding my sense of family. I see glimpses of many of you that we miss in Alaska- in the Crucian people- the way they tilt their head, the smile, the walk… and I know that in His kingdom, we are never really far from ‘home’.

The boys with a new best friend, Aslan

Miami, Florida

We began our outreach with a 2 day layover in Miami that was ripe for harvest. Every Uber driver seemed to be a divine connection: 

We got to pray with our first driver, Jose, and encourage him that he didn’t have to earn his relationship with Jesus. (listen to recorded conversation here) 

Our second driver in Little Havana shared how he was using his Uber driving to raise money for a children’s soccer ministry in Columbia that the Lord had been stirring in his heart. We were able to pray with him and give to that project as we were all encouraged by the many ways God is moving his church all over the world. (Listen to recording here)

Matt- the Uber Driver with Columbia Project

Our 3rd driver was a muslim who recently moved from Turkey because of the dangerous political state his country was in with the the current president advancing terrorism and the Isis Caliphate. I asked him if he had any hope for his home country and he said, “Yes, when we get a new president”.  Again, I was reminded of our common ground when I recognize a similar hope many Americans have shared in the recent presidential elections.

Our visit to Lynwood Street Art district clearly reflected the brokenness and beauty of the city. 

(Watch video of Bridger street dancing here)

It is incredible to see the way God is using each team member in their unique gifting and experience. Karl, from Germany was able to meet 3 different German speaking families at our hotel in Miami, sharing about Jesus and praying with them about the future. 

We were able to bless a young Cuban waitress with a financial gift for her young family. As we were praying for her in the restaurant, a local elderly man who had a speech impairment followed us out the door for prayer. I was so moved at this man’s hunger and faith- we are believing for his healing and continued relationship with the Lord.

Missions in St. Croix

It is evident that the Lord is revealing his heart as a servant here. There is so much need- so much work to be done, everywhere you look there is an opportunity to serve. From the simple act of cleaning up a yard or preparing a meal, to the direct sharing of the gospel on the street or helping disadvantaged children with homework, every act of service is making a way for His kingdom to be established. (Learn more about needs in St. Croix here)

Our first priority in phase 1 of outreach is to serve the longterm staff and local church with the work they have already begun: 

Children’s Camps

Previous YWAM teams have established relationships with children up to 18 years old in the government housing projects on the Island in Paradise Mills and at Lighthouse Mission. We will be spending intentional time with these kids in both places. 2 boys made a decision for salvation last week during the day camp on the base!

Zane with kids at day camp

(Watch Crucian kids dance during worship here)

Playing with kids at Paradise Mills

Basketball & Fitness 

Several times a week, the campus gates are opened to the community for basketball and functional fitness that Matt & Paxton have been leading. The staff here have vision and building plans for expanding fitness facilities as this is a huge draw for many local young men.

Street Ministry

The towns of Christiansted and Fredrickstead are our targets for ‘treasure hunting’ street minsitry. This begins with a time of prayer and waiting for the Lord to lead us as we go out on the streets to share Jesus with the local community. 

 DTS student, Mikaela,  got the name "Jacob" in preparation for our street ministry time & later we met Jacob who had recently spent time in prison & felt like the Lord was drawing him closer to Him to 'get things right'. We were able to encourage him in his relationship with Jesus and was so excited that God lead us to encourage him that day.

Youth Group

Our team will be leading the youth group at St. Croix Christian Church on Friday evenings for about 25 middle through high school age students.

Community Clean Up

We also have work duties around the base with meal prep, grounds keeping, and daily chores. (See photos of our housing and the YWAM base here).

(Watch video here of team brush-hauling)

A welcome surprise with visitors from Alaska!

Thank you for your continued support and prayer for our family as we are on mission. We pray for you often as you walk out your own!