Ocean Challenge Testimony

Kiyomi Todd
January 2010

Overall, this trip has been worth fundraising for two months for. I did not know what to expect in the beginning. However, from the minute I arrived, I knew that Kodiak would be a place I would love. Because of this program, the ocean has become another part of myself. Everyday when we went out. I felt a little nervous, but at the same time, eager to be out again on the wide-open sea. Catching those beautiful fish, every one of them, is an offering to father's vision.

At first the well organized system, and strictness of the schedule here shocked me. I am not used to that after being on the River Trip for so many years. I thought that it was good but at the same time, it bothered me. Out on the river, it would be a big group of people just being together, and working together constantly.

We would really become like a family. I think that on Ocean Challenge, it is a little harder to develop relationships with people. This program would be perfect if there was a way to bring everybody together even if it means something like cooking our own meals, as we did at Chiniak. We were all I the kitchen making enchiladas and had a good time.

I've very grateful to the first generation for putting on this program. I know that they worked very hard and I want them to know that this experience has been something I will never forget. I really feel like I can go back home again, to college, with confidence. I have done some things here that I never would have expected. You have n o idea how much that means to me. All I want to do is to go home and tell my parents everything that happened. Alaska is a beautiful place and has so much to offer to the future, to the children of our movement.