A Note From Kris 12/22/03

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...." Well, that is the song going
through my mind since it snows everyday!! We are having an absolutely
gorgeous Christmas, sledding, building snowmen, taking walks in the Winter
Wonderland-my very favorite time of the year!

Now that you know it is snowing here, I'll fill you in on the other events.
Most recently, we received an e-mail from Ty this morning expressing his
desire to come home for Christmas. You can well imagine the gamut of
emotions Gary and I have been dealing with today. Of course, we long to be
with our Son and to see him again. However, there are many things about Ty's
life right now that are heartbreaking to put it mildly. After talking it
over with each other and with the girls we have decided to fly him home from
Anchorage Tuesday. He will be with us through Thursday when we drop him off
in Anchorage. PLEASE keep our family in your prayers that Gary, Chelsie,
Cassie and I will be Jesus to Ty and that Ty's heart will be tender towards
us and towards God. Thank you with all our hearts!

Life has been flying by since the beginning of October. I can hardly believe
Christmas is just 4 more days away! Then New Years and we are off and
running in 2004! We are planning a Ladies trip in January to visit two of
our newest missionary wives. Our plan is to fly to Pt. Alsworth, pick up my
dear friend, Sharon, fly to Pedro Bay and spend a day and a half with
Mari-mother of 9, pastor's wife, part-time Post Office helper, part-time
Teacher's Aide, etc..... Lord willing, have a Ladies Tea while in Pedro Bay.
Then fly over to Iliamna to spend time with Wendy. Wendy and her family
have just returned to Iliamna after a year in the lower 48 raising support
and finishing up their training. They were planning to work side by side
with the older couple serving there but due to some health issues they left
for the lower 48 the day after Wendy and her family arrived. Whew! We are
anxious to see how they are doing.

Since Gary usually does these e-mail updates I'm going to take advantage of
having this opportunity and bring you up to speed with the Ladies Ministry.
We've been doing a Ladies Newsletter exclusively for the ladies we sever
since June 2003 and have been receiving

many positive comments. On the back of each month's newsletter we feature
one of the missionary wives serving in the Bush. This has enabled the ladies
to "get to know" each other better.

Now we are working on having each missionary wife fill out a questionnaire
and write out her testimony so we can get to know her better. My plan and
desire is to use the questionnaire for ideas so we can send the ladies a
little gift for their birthdays that is truly chosen just for them. We also
desire to know how to pray specifically for each lady and the ministry she
is involved in.

A few weeks ago Gary and I attended a Barnabas International Conference in
Waxhaw, N.C. I'll let Gary fill you in on the details of that week-it was
wonderful! While there, I received some literature about a magazine called
"Women of Harvest" that is written specifically for missionary wives. The
subscription is $24.00 a year. Over the next couple of months I will be
contacting as many people and churches as possible to raise money to buy a
subscription for each of the missionary wives we care for. If you would like
to know more about the magazine you can visit their website at
www.womenoftheharvest.com. I'd encourage you to check it out as it is truly
a wonderful resource. Also if you would be interested in buying a
subscription for one of the ladies please just send your money to Arctic
Barnabas Ministries with a note designating it for WHO subscription. Thank
you!!
With the new year Gary and I will be stepping back and spending some
concentrated time praying about our work with Arctic Barnabas Ministries, about
fine-tuning our responsibilities s the ministry expands.

The Lord has been using the book "A Purpose Driven Life" to cause both of us
to really think about who God desires us to be, what gifts He has given us
and just how does He desire to use us specifically. Please pray with us for
some clear direction for our ministry. Being effective is our goal. God has
brought both of us to this point with a purpose. There is much we feel
competent to do, and even enjoy doing. But is it what God would have us
spending our time and energy doing? There is no question about Arctic
Barnabas Ministries, just about what the details of our jobs should entail.
You are a very precious and valuable part of our ministry. Thank you for
your prayers, your love and even your financial support. We love you! We
pray your eyes will be open to see all the marvelous gifts our Father has
given to you today.
Joyfully Serving the KING,
Kris

Gary's addition:
It goes without saying how import a time of year this is to all of us. Without His birth, there would be no death. Without His death, there would be no atonement for the sins that separate us from God. It is our prayer that your Christmas will be filled with joy, and that you always be ready to give an answer for That Hope that is in you. Thankyou for your involvement in our ministry.

Thanksgiving 11/26/03

We thank God for salvation we have through the blood of Christ. I was saved 28 years ago, and Kris was raised in a Christian home. The cross of Christ still brings tears.

We thank God for good health, a warm home, and a Christ-honoring household. Kris and I have been married 22 years now - - and it just keeps getting better. Chelsea and Cassie are delights to our hearts. Tyler is a reminder to us of what it means to grieve . . . but also to hope. He is not walking with the Lord. But he is sure of our love and knows the door is always open.

We thank you for your prayers on our behalf, and for our God who hears them.

We thank you for those who have partnered with us financially, and for our God who supplies all our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus.

We are thankful for the Body of Christ, and for those who laugh and cry with us. I am thankful for men who know the "real me" and yet are still my friends.

We are thankful for the skilled pilots who take us back and forth from village to road system. I've been tossed, bounced, near deep-freezed and seemingly lost in the clouds - - but not once have I ever felt like we were not in the best of care.

There's a whole 'lot more I could say - - - but you need to get back to Thanksgiving Day preparations!

God bless each of you.

Gary Harris

Cords and Chords! 11/4/03

Thank you for your prayers. Our time at KAKO Retreat Center was great!
I am in the midst of my 2nd 2 week phase working with kids from the bush in Career exploration - as I mentioned to you in previous e-mails. I am involved from 7 am to 1030 PM for 8 days and then traveling to Seward, Alaska for 6 days. So, I just don't have time right now to update you too much.

God Bless and Thank You for Praying. By November 16 I should be "back to normal" I will give a more detailed update then, but I know many of you were concerned about our safety, so I wanted to give you a short version now!

Gary Harris

Chop, Chop, Chop 10/23/03

Please pray for me and a group of 4 men from my church who will be traveling to KAKO Retreat Center on Sunday the 26th with a return on Friday the 31st. KAKO is located near Russian Mission, Alaska - on the YUKON River, and serves 50 villages in the Alaskan Interior. You can visit their website at http://www.kakoretreat.org/

The thing that amazes me about KAKO is there is just so much buildings and equipment that is all "out in the middle of nowhere" but in short flying distance to many native villages.
The folks at KAKO actually have LESS than you might find in a village. No Village Store, No Post Office, No health aid. They generate their own power (6 hours a day) and have so much they have to do just to exist. Their ministry is MAJOR.

I'm taking these guys up to cut down trees and chop firewood to help KAKO get prepared for the harsh winter ahead. We are also bringing in Sunday Night's dinner! KFC Chicken, or "That Chicken Man-Chicken" as Dave Penz of KAKO told us once. Sometimes, when the plane is smelling like pizza or chicken or Chinese food, I think we are more of a delivery service than a ministry. But think about all the conveniences you have and then think about NOT HAVING them for 6 moths at a time. The "Chicken-Man" looks pretty good!

Working around chainsaws in a wilderness environment has a certain amount of danger to it, I guess. We will be over an hour by air to nearest medical facilities in Bethel. We can really use your prayers for us for the 26th thru the 31st.

By the way, pray for our LANDING at KAKO. I've done it many times, and it's always been fine - - - but there's just something about landing on a small dirt strip, that runs uphill, that makes it an interesting trip. And I'll be with 4 guys who have not been into the bush before!
Even the villages have better, state-maintained runways (because of mail service, mainly)
Kris will be back home from Indiana and Illinois on the 28th, two days after I leave for KAKO. Then, I'll jump into another two weeks of working with village high school kids on the 1st of November!!

I know you just have to be asking, "What about the Kids??" Well, it's been a real experience being the only parent around for a couple of weeks for me. But we are all doing well. Kris told me on the phone the other night that Chelsie thinks it's kind-of cute that I am doing my own laundry! And when I'm gone, it just seems a bit easier. Not that I'm not missed - - but Kris is very much the "constant" in our family!

God Bless you all! I'm amazed that God manages to use us the way he does. It must have something to do with our willingness . . . and has everything to do with His power and your prayers.

Am I just sort of rambling tonight??

THERE or in the air!

Gary

Better Late Than Never 10/17/03

What a busy, busy time of year.

Kris and Cassie were part of this years ABM Ministry Family Retreat at Tanalian Bible Camp in Port Alsworth. There were about 175 people there, up over 100% from last year's retreat! Pastors and missionaries and their families from all over the state. Praise the Lord!

I will have to get her to send you an update of her own regarding this - - because I was not at our MFR this year! I was working with Juniors and Seniors from villages around the state who came into Kenai and Seward for Job shadowing and training as part of a unique "Phase 3+ Career Exploration/Preparation" program. I was asked to be involved because of my "village savvy" and because of my varied business background. I agreed because Kris and I have been praying about adding to ABM's ministry an emphasis to assist Christian school teachers in villages, and we saw this as a chance to get to know some of the educators in rural areas.

Of course, all the other facilitators knew that I am a missionary, and were probably wondering how I would fit into the mix. But the Lord really went before me. I had a chance in our opening introductions to say to all the Kids that I believe each of them was created in the image of God and that they were created for a purpose. Then, as the two weeks progressed, I was able to work with them in the areas of career choices. But I also had a few neat chanced to share my faith.

If you're anything like me, I sometimes think I'm smart enough to know what God has in mind when He presents something. Yeah right. When it was first brought to me as a possibility, I was concentrating so much on the thought of getting to know the other facilitators and experiencing a bit of what they experience as educators. But from the start of the two week phase I realized that I was working with very sharp kids who were here because they had met certain standards that granted them the right to be in this program.

These young folks will be the leaders in their villages in the years to come. I developed a close friendship with several of them and I have an open invitation into their homes in their respective villages anytime I am in their area! I may have had to bite my tongue these past two weeks - - - because these kids need a saving relationship with Jesus Christ first and foremost. But I know I will meet them again, and I intend to keep in touch with them. Please pray that the investment I am making now will pay off as I ruin into these people later in their home villages.
As you know, Kris is visiting families and churches in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio - and will be back home October 28. I'm sorry that this may be a bit late coming to you, but I have included her Itinerary at the end of the e-mail. If you would like more specifics because she may be in YOUR neck of the woods, let me know with some contact info and I will have her get in touch with you.
Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. The flesh and blood battles are nothing compared the warfare we face spiritually. But in Christ we are MORE than conquerors!
THERE or in the air!

Kris Deputation Schedule (What's left, that is):
Sunday, October 19th - Adult Sunday School, Grace Brethren Church of Wooster, Ohio
Weds Morning, Oct 22nd - Ladies bible Study in Indianapolis, IN
Weds Evening, Oct 22nd - Mid week service, Community Grace Brethren Church in Warsaw Indiana
Thurs Evening, Oct 23rd - Home Meeting, Warsaw Indiana
Sun, October 26th - Leesburg Grace Brethren Church, Leesburg Indiana

Gary

Where Have We Been? 9/19/03

It has been a while since our last update! I like to send these out once or twice a month, but we have been very busy and overwhelmed lately. Ready? Here I go . . . .

1. Our son, Tyler, left home earlier this month. I don't want to say that I kicked him out, but he was not honoring the rules we have set up for our household so I gave him his walking papers. Please pray that the Lord will grip his heart and he will be restored to a love-relationship with Him. He's not a "bad" kid. But he is, by his own admission, "walking on his own and just having some fun, even if God says otherwise." We think he is in Anchorage, but we only hear from him occasionally. He doesn't have a job, or car, or permanent home. As I write this rather matter-of-factly" my heart aches for him. This helps me understand in some feeble way how the Lord ached as he turned from His Son and allowed him to die for you and me. I'm not at all trying to spiritualize a situation in our life . . .I'm just saying now that I think I understand better.

2. Chelsie and I have butted heads a few times as well this month. But we are doing pretty good right now. Sort of the "immovable object meeting the irresistible force" situation. Please pray for me, that I will be patient and more willing to hear her side.

3. I have been in bed for three days now with some sort of flu-bug. Fever broke yesterday afternoon-Thank you Lord!.

4. We have been in 7 villages in the past three months and I will be traveling to a retreat center near Russian Mission Alaska in October. I will also be working with school kids coming to Kenai for some career exploration. I will be one of the house parents for 2 - two week phases. This isn't an ABM activity per se. This training may open the door to me assisting in school districts in villages. But I am hoping to familiarize myself with some of the school teachers in the villages, some of whom are Christians and who need ABM's encouraging support just like the pastors or missionaries. I can think of several villages where there are Christian school teachers but no gospel witness.

5. Kris will be going to the lower 48 in October, visiting family and sharing about our ministry. She will be in Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois from October 10 - 28. Please pray for this time for her with her family, and that she will make additional contacts for our support. Let me know if you would like specifics on where she will be and when.

6. Arctic Barnabas Ministries 3rd annual Ministry Family Retreat is coming up, September 30 - Oct 3rd. Jerry Bridges (yep, the Navigators Guy, author of Pursuit of Holiness) will be the main speaker and Kris and the ladies have some exciting things in store for the missionary wives. It's looking like it will be our largest retreat yet. As I write this, I just can't believe that it's our THIRD one!

7. Kris, Cassie and I have been in 4 of our supporting churches (local to us here in Alaska, that is!) over the past 4 Sundays! Our visits were precious and enjoyable. It is always good to reconnect with our Partners and bring them an update of what is happening with ABM. However, we are ANXIOUSLY looking forward to this coming Sunday and being back in our home church! God has given us a wonderful church family and we miss them when we are visiting.

So, maybe this short one will get us back on track again, huh? I don't mid telling you that I struggle at times. When I'm out in a village everything is fine. But when I'm back on the administrative side of things it's easier for me to not think of this as part of my ministry and start to feel un-productive. Also, problems we have had in our own family have left Kris and I emotionally drained at times. We KNOW that we are able to keep going because of folks like you who are praying for us-THANK YOU!

There or in the air!

Gary

Say "Boo!" to Caribou! 8/17/03

Well, I'm back all safe and sound from the caribou hunt. Had a wonderful time with my pastor and his brother-in-law visiting from Michigan in the mountains on the east side of Tustemena Lake for the first few days of Caribou season.

I've never really been much of a hunter, but was excited about this trip simply because it's a beautiful area of the peninsula that I have never been to before. The added logistics and weight of packing out the meat from one 400+ lb. beast in addition to all of our personal and base camp gear was a real challenge.

We had a grand time trying to sneak up on a group of 7 we could see thru the spotting scope in a snow patch about 2-3 hours walk from where we were spotting, and an additional 1000 feet higher. We made our way towards them in a real surreal situation where we were trying to maneuver around in full view to where they couldn't see us but we could see them if they darted from their "snow chorale, " a bull caribou shot out of the bushes just about 100 feet where we were standing, and Pastor Dan got it on the 2nd shot with Randy's 7MM Ruger. We looked back up at the snow patch and the others had disappeared. The two shots from the rifle no doubt sent them off far, far away.

Why didn't Dan defer to his bro-in-law, who had to pay big bucks for an out-of-state license and tag? Well, Randy was limited to 1 cow only, and Dan could take a bull and two cows. If a cow had popped out of the bushes, it would have been Randy's

The fun sort-of ended as soon as that trigger was squeezed. And it was just about too late in the game to even consider trying to get another one. Dan had a wedding rehearsal the day after our last available day out, and a wedding the following day. I just don't think that missing that would go over too good with the bride and groom, even here in Alaska where hunting and fishing seem to work their way to the top of most people's priority list.

Dan and Randy carried out the meat, and I carried out whatever else we needed to make the long trip back to the boat and again back up to our base camp to pack everything else out the second time. Things were complicated by the fact that the weather got bad on us and we had to deal with some rain and really ferocious winds. (At one point, only about 1/2 mile from our base camp, I felt like God was actually pushing me up hill, the wind was so strong at my back.)
The caribou was shot some 8 miles inland from the lake where we beached out boat, and at about 3000 ft higher altitude, so it made for a real challenge to get things back out. But thankfully we were able to get back to the boat with enough time to spare and we even waited till next morning to "shove off." We had to travel about 25 miles on this lake, so weather and calm waters were a real important factor. Not to mention the fact that the lake is fed by a glacier and the water is very, very cold. It all added up to a great experience. In all, we saw 13 caribou, 3 black bear and maybe 5 or 6 other people the whole week.

Our base camp was on a mountain ridge and it looked really cool looking back at our tent from the next ridge over. Looked like it was parked on the side of a cliff!

I sure enjoyed and needed the time away. And I hope you enjoyed my first ever hunting recap!!
Cassie came back today from 5 days in Pedro Bay, where she was visiting friends that she knew from Child Evangelism training. She had a great time. Today is her birthday, and we plan on celebrating this evening.

Chelsie came back from her wilderness training class with a newfound love for wilderness hiking. Breaking in her new shoes on the hike (not a good idea, you think??) was probably the toughest part for her.

This next weekend Kris and I will be traveling to Kodiak and the villages of Ouzinke and Larson Bay. Actually, I guess Kris will be in Ouzinke with Linda Ross and Heather Overbeek, doing a Ladies Tea and community Outreach and I'll stay back and visit with Alan and Mark. The Rosses and the Overbeeks are InterAct missionaries serving in Kodiak and surrounding villages.
The following Sunday Kris and I will be sharing a ministry update at Kenai Grace Brethren Church, and the Sunday following that, we will be visiting supporting churches in Anchorage. And we are entering the final planning stage for ABM's Ministry Family Retreat in Port Alsworth Alaska Sept 30 - Oct 3rd.

Please pray for a new project I will be organizing for ABM, called "The Arctic Last Minutemen." The concept is simple. By the time someone call US in the middle of the winter for help, they have usually used up most of their other options. A generator goes down, need for firewood, help with engine repair, plumbing problems, who knows. We want to have a database of people locally with different skills. This isn't to organize and plan out trips in advance, but to be available to make a last minute trip out into a village to help with a critical need. The only commitment initially is just to be on the list we call when a need arises. You can guess how many people I will need on the "call list" to even be able to find a few that will be available at a last minute's notice. One advantage here in Alaska, is that many people work a week on and a week off on the North Slope or an oil platform. But we want the list to be very big so we won't need to call on the same people over and over again. In fact, we might not have this need arise at all one winter, and quite a few times another.
While the concept is simple, setting it up and coordinating it with local churches will be a very big task. I need your prayers and the Lord's direction. Thanks.

I would also appreciate prayer for the possibility of some short-term income for me that will take me away from ABM a few times this fall, although it will expand our contacts in the villages long-term. It will mean a two different times of two-week commitment on my part. More specifics later. Right now, I just wish you would pray that God would give us wisdom. At one time, I would say that something like this was "taking me away" from ministry. But I need to feed my family, and I really believe that God will use it to enhance our ministry in the future.
Finally, Kris will be traveling back to Indiana and Illinois for about three weeks in October, after our Ministry Family Retreat. She will be visiting churches and family. We really, really, really (Did I say really) need to kick start out support raising, which is still hovering at just under 50%.
Thank you for your partnership as we prepare to head into yet another winter season in our ministry.

By the way, I am asking for a "Read Receipt" back for this particular message. There has been some concern lately about spam filters on servers and people's machines NOT letting distribution e-mail's thru. So please allow the return receipt to process, just to help me confirm everyone is getting our updates

Gary

Cassies Report on Naknek Ministry 8/6/03

Being out in Naknek for 5 weeks was an experience of a lifetime, one I’d gladly take again, but knowing Naknek, and the people there, it’ll be totally different! My three main highlights were 1) my spiritual growth while I was there, 2) the friends that I met, 3) the live broadcasting!
The spiritual growth to me was the most precious thing of all. While I was there I was asked to share my testimony, while I did, I had to search my heart to find what was really there. So I learned to grow so much, because God and I got to talk a lot! But this was also my first time away from home where all my phone calls consisted of was, "how are you, yeah, my day was great, how’s the family? Can I talk to Dad." Yes, we did elaborate, but it just wasn’t the same. So hardships really came up and when they hit hard, it was God and God alone that could hold me in his arms. No matter how much I tried to prepare myself that it would be hard without mom or dad there, it still stung a little. But I wouldn’t change it for the world!

My 2nd favorite was the people there. I had 2 roommates. No, this wasn’t my average day apartment. I had, the radio station lobby then about 3 yards down a hall way to your right, was where I lived when I didn’t have the board or office work. So I had my 2 friends, Roberta and Christine, and then 3 other people in 2 different apartments; Rhonda and Russ Olsen (R&R as we like to call them) and Jeremy Cole. Although it wasn’t always your fairy tale of how perfect it was, we still had fun. You could almost always hear laughter from one room or the other. Life was good.

Last but DEFINITELY not least, is the broadcasting and radio station itself. Oh was it fun! I recorded the programs that we put on for a day, and when I got that down well, it took about an hour tops. There was a lot of patience that went into that job, which was good for me, because patience isn’t one of my main gifts. So I did that the entire time, but for the first 3 weeks that was my main job. The training with the microphone and actual radio broadcasting was very interesting. Some of the mistakes would have made you laugh so hard. My Dad had started telling me before really saying good-bye "slow down Cassie, so they can understand you, okay?" It was actually great advice, but I’m still waiting nervously for the recording of me doing a broadcast to come to my house!

So all and all, I had a great summer, no, it wasn’t perfect, but it was fun. The little things made such an impact, the way the village excepted me like I was one of their own, was just awesome. I left part of myself there, and I can’t wait until, Lord willing, I go back next year!

Hiking, Hunting & Helping 8/6/03

I appreciate your prayers as I head off Friday morning for an 8 day caribou hunt. It was originally a dahl sheep hunt as I reported. But we choked at the air fare (You would think I would know that, huh?) and one in the group had to cancel. So we combined our trip with another involving my pastor and a brother-in-law visiting from Michigan. I'm just along for the ride anyway. We have plenty of caribou in our freezer from the times we help friends in the bush process theirs.

The hunt will involve a 25 mile boat ride from the north east side of Tustumena Lake to the southwest side and then some hiking to a smaller lake and then on to high ground to do some spotting. We will leave on Friday, but the season on bou doesn't open until Sunday, so be very specific in your prayer, won't you? . We want to see them Saturday and shoot them on Sunday. Since my pastor's bro-in-law is a non-resident, he's paying big bucks. We will be gone for 8 days and spending time in some heavily bear-populated areas. That's alright - - I don't have to be the fastest on my feet, just not the slowest.

I am really looking forward to some time away from everything for a few days. We love our ministry with ABM, don't get me wrong. But, overall, the cares of this world just seem to add up. What about Kris? Well, she's going to have some time in the lower 48 in October with her mother and sister, so she is willing to wait until then.

As you may recall, our daughter, Cassie spent 5 weeks this summer in the village of Naknek and next week she's going to the village of Pedro Bay for 4 days while I'm on my hunting trip. Her older sister, Chelsie, is away for the next three days for some wilderness survival training! It's a course offered thru one of the local schools with two days of class and 3 1/2 days out in nowhere-ville.

Pray for safety all around will you?

Thanks for praying!

Here a team, there a team, everywhere a team team 7/18/03

Things have really been busy here at the Harris household.

Cassie comes back from Naknek tomorrow. We have heard some exciting things about her time in Naknek from her and from others there in the village. We are looking forward to having her home. Chelsie had a wonderful time in Tyonek. She was amazed at the way the kids in the village would hang on them, and stay with them as late and long as possible. We are hoping that the group from our church that Chelsie was a part of will be invited back to Tyonek. Please pray.
ABM and Soldotna Bible Chapel sponsored a group of Mexican nationals to come up and evangelize the cannery workers in Chignik Bay. What exciting things happened while they were there. Several workers accepted Christ, and the boost to the InterAct missionaries who have labored there for years was a real plus. These people are elders from their church in Mexico and were well received by the immigrant workers at the cannery. Next summer, we hope to have a repeat of this fine event.

ABM just said goodbye to one group from Wisconsin, who came up as a work team for a couple of weeks to help out at the same place where Cassie is ministering. (That's how I got some of the "intel" on how great a job Cassie is doing!) These folks poured themselves into working on the facilities at KAKN Radio.

Tonight, we have a group of 7 coming and staying at our home. Then, tomorrow, they will be traveling out to the villages of Egigik to do VBS and follow-up. Did you hear that? Follow-up. This same group has been in these two villages the past two years and they have bent over backwards to maintain relationships with the people of these villages in the interim. I'm excited to see their ministry increase from year to year. Pray for the Community Church in Naknek, that is helping us coordinate this effort in these two villages.

On the home front, we are smack dab in the middle of dip net fishing. What's that? Well it's where you stand out at the mouth of the Kenai river in chest waders with this huge net on a long pole and wait for the salmon to come slamming into the net. Then you flip the net over, and drag it up onto shore. Some people cut up and fillet the fish right there . . . we bring ours home. You have to be an Alaskan resident to dip net, and it's only allowed a few weeks in the summer. 25 fish for each head of household and 10 for each additional family member. We've never done that well - - - it's allot of hard work! Kris and Chelsie and a friend went last night and brought home 4 pretty good size reds. I'm not a real big fish eater - - but salmon caught fresh and cooked on the grill with a brown sugar glaze, and then served with rice? It just doesn't get much better.

We just keep hanging on, you know? God is so patient with us. Our support level is at about 50% and Kris is still working part time outside the home. We go without quite a bit . . . . but we never go it alone. Praise the Lord for his watch care and his sustainment through some difficult times.
Oh yes, I mentioned about a sheep hunt in my last update. I'm not much of a hunter . . . but I couldn't pass this up. These Dahl sheep live in a no man's land. Above tree line, in the rocks and crags. We will be dropped off in a float plane and picked up 8-9 days later. I'm not going for the hunt as much for the wilderness experience . . . and to see if I can survive for that length of time on dehydrated food!

Thanks for keeping up with us in our ministry. You know, we have been at this for 2 1/2 years now! And I just couldn't imagine any other life style right now. Both Kris and I have some very significant relationships going with the people whom we serve. It's exciting.
Thanks for being a part. Your prayers and your partnership make all the difference.

THERE or in the air!

Gary

Summer! 7/2/03

Have you heard about the 4 seasons in Alaska? Almost winter, winter, still winter, and . . . .Road Construction. I would prefer to call the last of the 4 "Summer". It's a balmy 65 degrees outside today. Good thing there's a little wind or else we would be much too hot. Sound like summer to you? Sure it does!

The Harris household has been a bit quieter over the last few weeks. Chelsie spent a week in the village of Tyonek last week, and Cassie is about half way through her 5 weeks in Naknek, working at the Christian radio Station KAKN, which broadcasts the Gospel to villages in the Bristol Bay region.

The longest day of the year came and went without much fanfare. My mother, visiting from Georgia, went out a night or two before and took a picture in the front yard without a flash after midnight. She was pretty impressed! Actually, there's not much night at all. It goes from light to dusk, dusk to dawn, dawn to light. No night. Of course, now things will be starting back the other way! Ouch! We need to enjoy it while we have it.

What is significant about 260,000 miles? Well, that's what you get if you add the odometer readings on both our vehicles together. One has about 150,000 and the other about 110,000. I've even got used to the bungee cord (Don't ask). But for the long trips to Anchorage, it's getting just a bit more of an experience than I want it to be! Please pray that the Lord will supply us a dependable vehicle.

I have felt more like a computer beta tester recently than a missionary. Here at ABM, we share information back and forth between staff in a way that allows us all to stay mobile. It's great when it works. It's a mess when we need to change it. But it's been a nice way to keep focused in the midst of some difficult family times.

Our kids are growing up, and we just aren't always seeing them make decisions we hope they would make. But there are victories, too. Thanks be to God!

Kris and won't be out much in July. I will be going sheep hunting in mid August and then we will be down in the villages of Kodiak Island helping some friends of ours there, serving in missions there among the people of Kodiak. Alan and Linda, keep on keeping on! We love you!
But Kris and I will be providing allot of behind the scenes support for other ABM activities. We have a team coming up from Mexico to take the Gospel message to Spanish speaking people in the canneries on the chain, and a team returning from Manitowoc Wisconsin for the third year in a row to work in Egigik and Levelock. Time to put the revolving door on the front of our house and add a leaf or two to the table!

Thanks for taking the time to read our updates and keep us in your prayers. Without your partnership, we would be burnt out, shriveled up, and beaten down. A potion of Psalm 139 says something like "Where can I go from Your spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I make my bed in the deaths, you are there. If I settle on the far side of the sea, if I rise on the wings of the dawn - - even there your hand will hand me, your right hand will hold me fast."

Well I see God's upholding hand in the e-mails we receive from you. the telephone conversations, the prayers offered on our behalf, and the financial partnership you have with us.

Thanks!

Gary

Again? 6/18/03

At the risk of sounding a bit dis-organized, let me say that when I sent out an e-mail about our 14 year old going to Naknek for 5 weeks, I didn't realize at the time that our other daughter, Chelsie, our 16 Yr old, will be going out on a 10 day missions trip to the village of Tyonek.
Cassie, our 14 yr old, left this past Monday for Naknek and is having a great time.

Chelsie, our 16 yr old, will be flying to Tyonek this Sunday with 10 other people from our church. This trip isn't an ABM event. Our church has a Native Fellowship group that has been ministering to the village of Tyonek for over a year now. The team of youth and adults will be going out to do Vacation Bible Schools, and meeting a very specific need in that village!
So, Kris and I are excited on several different levels. 1. Cassie is out on a missions trip. 2. Chelsie is going out on a missions trip and 3. Our church is active, not only in partnership with us in our ministry, but in giving youth in our church the chance to experience native Alaska in a cross cultural setting.

Continue to pray for Cassie in Naknek.

Pray that Chelsie will have an exciting time of giving of herself to some needy kids in Tyonek.
Pray for the Chelsie and other kids in our church's youth group that God will really open their eyes to the fields, white for harvest.

And pray for Carman. Carman is the youth director at our church. She's involved in a 4 day camping trip and this weekend, and in finalizing the Tyonek trip. She's learning first hand what some of the logistics are in this sort of travel. How much do people weigh, how much does their baggage weigh, etc . . .

See ya! And thanks for letting me e-mail you "a whole mess of times" these last few days!

Gary

Rough Roads 5/28/03

We would appreciate your prayers for us over the next week. Our oldest Son, Tyler, moved out of the house about a month and a half ago and recently has made some bad decisions. I really don't want to go into specifics at this time - - but we need to remain strong as a family and stay plugged in to our Lord. Please Pray.

Cassie is enjoying two weeks with "kindred spirit" friends at the Christian Youth In Action training Camp put on by Child Evangelism Fellowship every year in Soldotna. It's exciting to see teens from western Alaska as well as those from the road system getting together for the purpose of sharpening their skills at presenting the Gospel to Kids. Isn't that cool.
My mother is here visiting from Georgia for a month. She gets these e-mail updates, so I need to be careful what I say!

Seriously, it's a real blessing to have her here helping us through some difficult times. I sure do love her!

Ummmm . . . let's see, what else to share in this "This that and the other thing" style update. Oh yeah, things are progressing with my father. He has some health problems that he says might prevent him from visiting here in July or August, but he has said that he would be willing to have me come down there and see him if that is the case. Only problem with that is that I would have to go alone. If he came here, he'd get all of us! Keep this in your prayers.
Here it is 2:30 in the morning here in Alaska. No one is up but me and the Koo Koo clock! A little Vivaldi in the background. gee, do I really have to go to bed?

Good night Mrs Kalabash, wherever you are!

Gary Harris

Family Update 5/7/03

Friends In Christ,

Wow! Remember how I shared with you all about finding my Father? Well, it's gone from an incredible moment to a painful few weeks. At first, he was as excited as I was and seemed eager to see me. But since then he has cooled somewhat and is preferring to put of any meeting until later this summer.

I understand the need to "assimilate" but, to be quite honest, the hurt at being :rejected" in this way is very real. pray for patience and understanding - - - finding him wasn't just the end of a search, it was the beginning of restoring a relationship!

My colleagues at ABM and my family have been very understanding and supportive of our family in this time of dis-function I am thankful that I have never felt that I had to sacrifice something in my family for the sake of "ministry." Thank you, too, for your prayers.
Now on to other matters . . .

What can I say - - - you received a copy of the appeal that was sent out by the director of ABM on our behalf. You know how things are hurting for us financially. But here it is, two weeks later and we are still here. God is carrying us through this in some real incredible ways. Pray that we will not grow weary.

I must admit I used to downplay the idea of being "called by God" into ministry. In my mind it was always (1.) Pray (2.) Make a decision. But now I see that it's only the belief that we are right where God wants us to be that keeps us here. If you think it's the flying all over the place, think again. In and of itself, that got old along time ago.

We simply have a burden for people who go without things that we have. And we have been called by God to assist however we can. Sometimes, after spending time in the bush with a family that is just soaking up the fellowship like a dry sponge - - - I come back to my home, my church, my friends, and feel sort of "fat on fellowship." It's hard to describe what it's like for these people working in villages most people have never heard of! If you ever have to experience it, I hope it's only because God has called you to a difficult task that requires it. A good missionary friend expressed it like this "It's my love for these people that keeps me here. Otherwise, I don't think we could endure it!"

I will be traveling later this month to three villages. Two of them I have never been to before, although I have met the native pastors that lead in their churches. We will be bringing the Christian recording artist, Andrew Petterson, with us for some time of concerts, evangelism, and late night discussions with friends.

Kris and I have had some time of "sort of" this week and last week. The lady who owns the store we used to own needed some time with a daughter and new grand baby on the west coast. So I asked ABM if we could cut back a bit on ABM for the two weeks she will be gone and run the store for her. It's a real nice reminder to us of the situation that shaped the passion we now operate under. The Body of Christ is such a neat thing. The listeners, the exhorters, the pray-ers, as well as the "scratch your head and wonder what's up with that guy" types come and go. We are enjoying re-connecting with some dear people.

There are some real exciting things happening in our ministry. Want to hear just one of these God-Things? The foundation we were awarded a grant for a portion of our new plane is located on the west coast of the lower 48. The chairman of this organization was at some sort of community event, and literally bumped in to someone who had moved to that place from Naknek, Alaska. He immediately asked the man, "Have you head of an organization called Arctic Barnabas Ministries?" As the story was recounted to us later by the person with whom we dealt directly in this grant, if the man said "NO" it wouldn't have really meant anything one way or another - a neutural response. But the man responded with so much enthusiasm about ABM and what we are accomplishing among the villages of western Alaska, that this CEO was absolutely amazed.

He returned to his office the next day and told the man who recounted the story to us . . ."We need to stick with Arctic Barnabas Ministries. Let's make sure this is a long term thing."
WOW! Wasn't it gracious of the Lord to allow us to to hear about our ministry this way? Who was the guy from Naknek. We don't know, and we probably never will. But it was a real eye opened for me at just how much God does. One person plants, the other waters, but God causes the increase.

I don't know if you will be afforded that sort of glimpse about the effect you are making on other people. But don't let that stop you from being the Salt of the earth. One day, when we stand before the Lord, we will see the bad we did, but we will also see the "cups of water" we passed on to someone almost without thinking - - - and how God turned that into something big! So don't get discouraged. Sure, always be ready always to give that answer for the hope that is in you. But also practice your listening skills as you make the difference in someone's life today.

Scoopin' up the manna - one day at a time!

Gary

My Father 4/13/03

I am sending this e-mail to everybody who is in my Outlook address book listed as "family" as well to those of you who get our Harris Hotline e-mail updates. Therefore, some of you may get it twice.

I want to share this exciting news with all of you, and I would like you to "hear" it from me as much as possible.

As you know, I have tried half-heartedly off and on for the past few years to locate my father, Delmer R Harris. My mother and he had divorced when I was younger and I lived with my father until I was 16. I left home on very bad terms on my 16th birthday.

I visited my father once during a break in my first year of college. Then, I received a letter while in school where he told me not to try to find him. he was moving to an undisclosed location and the letter said something like "You go your way, and I will go mine." That was either 1977 or 1978. I have never seen or heard from my father since.

Over the last few years especially, I have tried to locate him, but I didn't really push it to much until this past Christmas. Tyler, my 18 year old son and I had an argument. It ended with us both crying and asking each other's forgiveness. This happened on Christmas Eve!
From that point on, I decided that I had to find my Father and do whatever I could to restore a relationship and introduce him to his only child's wife and three kids! I spend a long time creating a database of all the D Harris, Del Harris, and Delmer Harris names I could find, from every state. Hundreds. I wrote a letter, intending to send it to all these people. but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

But for some reason, I could bring myself to call each of these names, a few at a time. Little by little I had been working my way through the list when, to my amazement, I talked to my father on the phone yesterday - - for the first time in 25 years. At first, it was just another number on the list. When a man answered the phone, I said "I'm looking for the Delmer R Harris who lived in Silver Springs Maryland in the 1960's and 1970's." The voice on the other end answered "Where did you say?" I repeated my opening line. "Umm . . . I think you've got him."
I was dumbfounded. It's one thing to be making the calls. The list had become just that - a list of names that I needed to get through. "NA" was the notation for "No Answer." Those who had told me over and over again, "Sorry, not here" or "Wrong Number" softened somewhat when I gave them the rest of the story, and often, they would say "I hope you find him!: Or "Good Luck."

"This is Gary, your son.!" Silence. We were both satisfied just to be silent for a few seconds.

Then we talked.

We talked for almost two hours. Apparently he was saved in a street mission in San Diego. Yes - my father had accepted Christ many years ago!

He now is semi-retired, living alone in a two bedroom apartment, still in San Diego. Some of the details are a bit sketchy - - - and what do you expect, trying to catch up on 25 years. And for me it's "just" him - - but for him, he's got a daughter-in-law and three grandkids to get to know.
Please pray that, as I try to make plans with him for him to come up here to Alaska and visit, that we will simply not "overload" with all the new emotions and feelings. I'm pretty "raw" emotionally right now! Needless to say, I want everything to "work out." It's neat that, in Christ, whatever animosity or hurt that there has been - - - - just doesn't seem to matter. Kris and Cassie are still in King Cove. But I told Kris on the phone last night. As soon as she gets home on Monday, I think I'll break down and cry some more!

On a lighter side - - I want to walk up to every one I meet and say "Guess what! I found my father!" Feel sort of silly!

I just had to share this with all family and those who pray for us in our ministry with Arctic Barnabas Ministries. Some of you, aware of the estrangement between my father and I, have been praying for years. Others are hearing about it for the first time in this e-mail. It just seemed appropriate after calling and telling immediate family, that I should let you all know about it.

In summary - - -the subject line of this e-mail is "My Father." Up until yesterday, I would have thought that meant only my Heavenly father. But now, I see it just a bit different. By the way, thanks Mom - - and thanks Chelsie!

Gary

Kris and Cassie are in the Aleutians! 4/10/3

I just saw Kris and Cassie off as, along with Joel as pilot and two other ladies, they headed down to the villages of Chignik and King Cove in our Seneca III. Chignik is located on Anchorage Bay on south shore of the Alaska Peninsula. It lies 450 miles southwest of Anchorage and 260 miles southwest of Kodiak. King Cove is located on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, on a sand spit fronting Deer Passage and Deer Island. It is 18 miles southeast of Cold Bay and 625 miles southwest of Anchorage. Both villages are somewhat "out there" even for Alaska! The Aleutians!
The weather down in those parts is cold and rainy - - - or maybe it's rainy and cold. Winds can also be high. I guess it's easier for me to put myself on an airplane than put my wife and daughter on one! Please pray for them as they travel. it's about a 4 hour flight to Chignik from Kenai, with a fuel stop in King Salmon

The ladies will be doing Teas in both villages. The Missionary couple in Chignik will use this as an outreach into the village, while in King Cove, it will be mainly a time for a core group of ladies to enjoy each other's company in a way they don't really experience in the bush. I must admit, I once though the idea of doing a tea party in a village was a bit silly - - until I had one missionary wife thank me with tears in her eyes afterwards, saying "We just don't get to do this sort of thing." Of course, the focus for Kris is on the devotional she will share . . . all about slowing down and being at peace. Two other ladies will be helping out and taking the experience back to their churches. Mutual Encouragement!

They are due back on Monday. In the meantime, I will be holding down the fort with Chelsie, our 15 year old. Our oldest son, Tyler, moved into a place with a friend- - - but we are still keeping his room open. Please pray for him. Relations between him and us are very good, but he just wants to be out on his own. Pray that Chelsie wand I will have a fun weekend. I just got back on Tuesday from 5 days out. I'm gonna play catch-up in the office today, and relax tomorrow, and then play catch up with our oldest daughter this weekend!

See ya!

Gary

From ABM's Director 4/8/03

Praying Friends,

Joel has asked that I forward this letter to all who receive our newsletter and e-mail updates. As you know, we are reluctant to talk too much about support in these updates, but we are seeking the Lord in ways to increase our current support base.

Since some of you also get our written newsletter, you may get hit with this twice! Thanks for your understanding and your continued prayers as we seek God!

Gary & Kris

April 3, 2003

Dear Friends of Gary and Kris Harris,

I need to tell you what an integral part the Harris’ have become in the big picture of missions in Alaska statewide. Their giftedness in many areas of ministry is helping to encourage missionaries and pastors in their work and resource some of them with tools to do more than they ever could have before. God has uniquely equipped the Harris family and is greatly using them to build His Church in the villages of the North.

Gary is trained as a Pastor to Missionaries, but he also serves as Director of Administrative Services for Arctic Barnabas Ministries. In-between his traveling, training, and managing the office here Gary has built deep personal relationships with key Christian leaders in the villages of rural Alaska and has earned the trust to help them carry their own burdens as they minister to the people they are responsible for. Gary has also used his technical skills in not only designing and maintaining our website but also working on sites for two other ministries that we serve. He is currently setting up an accounting program for one of the remote Bible Camps in the bush. Gary Harris is a key element not only to the successful operation of Arctic Barnabas Ministries but also an increasing number of other ministries throughout Rural Alaska.

Kris Harris leads one of the most important areas of Arctic Barnabas Ministries. She is Director of Women’s Ministries. Many pastor and missionary families have left the field due to the burnout and lack of pastoral care for minister’s wives. Those of you that know her well have most likely been recipient of her giftedness in this area. Kris has a passion for the care of ministry wives and needs to be freed up to give as much as she can to this vital aspect of our work. She is currently spending much of her time working at Alaska Christian College to make ends meet in their personal support. No other member of our team can do what she does so well.

Cassie keeps up with cards and notes of encouragement for missionary kids throughout the bush. She has been very involved this last year with Child Evangelism Fellowship and is also traveling in the villages. Her call to ministry is as strong as that of her parents. I am so proud to see her say "yes" to God’s call in the same way that her parents have.

How can they go unless they are sent?

Most of you know that the Harris’ as staff of Arctic Barnabas Ministries raise their salary by partnering financially with churches and individuals called to send workers for the growing of God’s Kingdom. They work more than full-time in a vital ministry that cannot exist without the commitment of those called to give. Some of you are already giving as part of their team and know the joy of being yoked with such worthy servants.

Harris’ joined Arctic Barnabas Ministries before raising any of their necessary financial support and have been working on building that team along the way. They are now so valuable to the cause of Christ in Alaska that we cannot imagine having them available any less than full time in ministry. However, they are currently receiving less than 40% of what they need to meet their personal living needs. Will you please help us meet this urgent need?

Our prayer is that some of you might commit to regularly supporting Harris’ or consider increasing what you are already giving. It is important to build a good base of churches and individuals for a support team of prayers and givers. Would you please help us in connecting Harris’ with other churches and individuals that may be interested in hearing about the work of Arctic Barnabas Ministries? We would like to put together an itinerary for the Harris’ to present their ministry both in Alaska and the Lower 48 in the next months and you may know just the right place to send them.
Please pray with us that 100% of Harris’ support might be raised soon. The longevity of Ministers in our villages is a matter of life and death. Harris’ play a key role in the spiritual and emotional health of many families serving in Rural Alaska. Let us know what you can do to help through giving and connecting us with other potential support team members. Thank you for your commitment to the care of the Body of Christ in Alaska.

Sincerely,
Joel Caldwell
Director
Arctic Barnabas Ministries
joel@arcticbarnabas.org

Cassie, Christianity Today, & W2W 3/25/03

Praying Friends,

Cassie's Ministry

Thank you for praying for Cassie. She had a great time "just being part of the gang" with some kids in the village of Quinhagak. It went great. She will report to you next update!
Christianity Today Article

I have been told that there is an Article that refers to Arctic Barnabas Ministries in the April 2003 edition Christianity today, Page 23.

There are no copies here locally, but I can order some through Good Books & More bookstore. But the first person who faxes me a copy will get an extra orange in their stocking this Christmas! (Not really, but I would really like to see the article before I decide how many to order!!)

ABM fax number is 907-283-3347

Women to Women Ministry At It's Best

A couple from Dimond Grace Brethren Church, one of our supporting Churches in Anchorage, are traveling to the village of Allakaket. Allakaket is on the south bank of the Koyukuk River, southwest of its junction with the Alatna River, approximately 190 air miles northwest of Fairbanks and 57 miles upriver from Hughes.
This couple is going to spend time with one of the missionary families they were introduced to by way of Arctic Barnabas Ministries' Women to Women Program that Kris heads up. We are so excited to see people with the vision of encouragement and support that has gripped our own hearts! Praise the Lord!

Whadaya Think About This?

I will be attending a open panel discussion on the influences of Christianity on Native Culture in Anchorage. I know some of some of the panelists. I also have an idea of the type of audience that will be there. I'm just going to observe. Like our brothers and sisters in IRAQ and similar areas, Christianity is often viewed as OUR religion that we brought to THEM. It doesn't help that, In Alaska, kids were sent off to boarding schools and children would be punished for speaking their native tongue in the "Missionary/Schoolhouse" model that was used here in the early 1900's, and people were wiped out because of TB brought to their villages.

I think of one native brother, an older man in his 70's, who starts out his testimony with "I thank God for the missionaries who first brought us the Gospel!"

What follows is the Press release about the program. I'll end my part here.
God Bless you!

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER EXPLORES THE INFLUENCE OF CHURCH AND
SPIRITUALITY ON ALASKA NATIVE PEOPLE
(Anchorage, AK) - The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is exploring
the influence the church and spirituality had on the Alaska Native
people. The program will be held on March 29, 2003 from 12pm to 5pm.
Church and Spirituality Day is one of the continuing series of
Celebrating Culture Saturdays sponsored by BP.
Spirituality has always been an integral part of Alaska Native people's
lives. Their beliefs and ceremonies were often centered on their
relationship with the earth, sky, sea and animals. Songs, drums, dance
and masks as well as other cultural objects and traditional healing ways
all played a part in their spiritual beliefs. Native ways of healing
were also part of people's spirituality.

When the Alaska Native peoples came in contact with the Christian
missionaries, some of the valued traditions and ceremonies were
forbidden and eventually lost. Many Native people became Christians and
were educated by the missionaries. The missionaries' ways of healing in
many cases replaced the Native healing ways. The relationship of
missionaries and Natives was complex and often involves mixed emotions.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center will be hosting a mini-symposium with
representatives of Christian churches that have worked with Native
peoples for a long time. This program will provide a sharing of the
beliefs and spirituality of Native peoples, Christians and Christian
Alaska Natives both ancient and current. There will be a discussion and
question and answer period.

Panel members include: Pastor Nicholson from the Moravian Church, Mary
Koch, Reverend Koch's wife from the First Congregational Church, Pastor
Wilson from the First Native Baptist Church and Reverend Elliott the
Rector Emeritus from the All Saints Episcopal Church. Pastor William
Nicholson has served in Dillingham, Bethel and now at the Moravian
Church in Anchorage. He is the only Moravian pastor who is Alaska Native
and graduated from the Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania in 1977. Pastor Jonathan Wilson has been a minister for the
First Native Baptist Church for the last 10 years. He has spent time in
many rural locations such as Mekoryuk, Kobuk, Dillingham, Tetlin and
Tanacross. Reverend Norman Elliot came to Alaska in 1951 and became a
ordained priest in 1952. He has traveled extensively doing missionary
work from Point Hope all the way to Southeast Alaska. Choirs that will
be performing will be the Moravian Fellowship Choir and the Anchorage
Native Assembly Church.

See ya!

Gary

Cassie in Quinhagak 3/20/03

Please pray for our daughter Cassie as she travels to the native village of Quinhagak. Quinhagak is a Yup'ik Eskimo village on the Kanektok River on the east shore of Kuskokwim Bay, less than a mile from the Bering Sea coast. It is about 70 miles southwest of Bethel.

Cassie has been through extensive training with Child Evangelism fellowship her in Alaska, and will be traveling there as part of a CEF tem that was been working with people in that village doing VBS and training for Sunday School. ABM works very closely with CEF. We consider their ministry a vital part of training up disciples in the villages. Cassie will be renewing acquaintances with some of the kids she already knows from that region, and will be part of the team ministering there.

As you all know by now, we consider our ministry with ABM to be a family ministry. Cassie, our youngest daughter, 13 years old, is very much a part of the ministry. Please pray for her. As you probably also know, she has Cerebral Palsy. We decided long ago as a family not to allow this to get in her way when it comes to ministry. But we would appreciate your prayer coverage for he tomorrow and Saturday.

Thank you!

Koyuk Trip 3/12/03

Thank you for praying for my recent trip to Koyuk, Alaska, where I attended the annual convention of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK). Koyuk is located on the South Eastern Edge of the Seward Peninsula, where the Koyuk River meets the Norton Sound. If you follow the Iditariod, Koyuk is where the mushers come back to land after crossing over a large frozen expanse that is part of Norton Bay.

The Evangelical Covenant Church has about 20 churches in Alaska, and the majority of them are located in either the Yukon-Kuskoquim Delta or the Norton Sound area of the state. They rotate their yearly conference between the Road System (anchorage, Eagle River, and Fairbanks), the YK Delta and Norton Sound. An annual conference is always a big logistical challenge, but you can imagine how the challenge compounds when the conference is hosted by a village, where no one can run to KFC to pick up chicken or SAMs to get some paper cups.
Koyuk has about 300 people in it. The Evangelical Covenant Church of Koyuk in the only church in town, and has about 35-40 regular attendees. A very healthy church in a very friendly village. The weather was pretty warm, somewhere around zero, but the winds in from the sea were pretty ferocious.

Arctic Barnabas Ministries focuses in on a few Covenant Villages in our ministry and we are considered by the them to be "Friends of the Covenant." As I have said many times before, it is SO Expensive to do everything up here, including pastoral care. They welcome our assistance and we are pleased to help.

Most of my trips out are to visit single families and to spend time doing whatever I can to encourage and assist. That means alot of listening and praying, dreaming and crying. But this trip was simply a joyful time of fellowship, singing, and challenge from God's word (and most of it was even in English, although I enjoy a familiar tune sung in Yup'ik just as much - - even though I can't understand 99.9% of it!)

What this does for us in our personal ministry is to remind us of the importance of a healthy local body, and the role a local meeting place plays in the health of a community. As many times as I am in places where I do not see that, it's exciting to be somewhere where I see it flourishing! Praise the Lord for Pastor Chip Swanson, his wife, and the people of the Koyuk Evangelical Covenant Church for their gracious hospitality. I got my fill of Muktuk and even some Black Muktuk. But thanks to a fine host named Grace, I also got sourdough pancakes and bacon!

Kris and I will be attending the Family Life Conference "Weekend to Remember" Conference this next weekend. Please pray that it will be a great time for us as we focus on or marriage for a few days. We are both looking forward to it.

Also, our Pathfinder is acting up. Our Van has almost 150,000 miles on it and just isn't worthy enough to take out of town, and now our Nissan Pathfinder (with nearly 100,00 miles) seems to be having transmission problems. So, pray that we will continue to get where we need to go!
Please also pray for our staff meetings on Thursdays. If only you could see all the stuff we cover in two hours. And to complicate things, we aren't always there all the time. The nature of ABM is that everyone of us are traveling at different times. It's a real challenge to keep us all on the same sheet. But praise be to God for bringing the organization this far. Please pray for his continued guidance.

Gary

From Kris 2/25/03

We are SO thankful for you! Henry Blackaby in the "Experiencing God" Bible
Study teaches "How you live your life reveals what you believe about God."
As I've been pondering this and thinking about it I've been challenged by
the truth of it. Being in full-time ministry brings that home on a daily
basis. How often we catch ourselves relying on our understanding and
abilities when Arctic Barnabas is all about what God is doing in Bush Alaska
and not about what the Harris' want to do for God.

Things have certainly gotten busier for the Women's ministry side of things.
Two other local ladies and I will be making a trip to Chignik Bay and King
Cove April 10-14th. As always, your prayers are coveted. I spoke with the
missionary wife from King Cove today about our trip. It broke my heart to
hear how lonely she gets and that there is no one there she feels is of like
mind spiritually. I'm very anxious to get to King Cove and meet her face to
face and love up on her for a couple of days. I covet your prayers for
insight, wisdom and a sensitivity to God's leading. These trips are all
about encouraging these missionary wives so they can serve next to their
husbands with a heart that is overflowing instead of running on fumes.
The Women's Ministry team, Amy, Marylil and myself, is also
working on contacting all the missionary wives we minister to via the
telephone and letting them know we are starting a correspondence ministry to
them. Amy, Marylil and I have committed to writing these ladies every month.
Many of them use e-mail and enjoy receiving messages via e-mail-that will be
the easy part. But several of the ladies don't have a personal e-mail
address so we will be sending them a letter via "snail-mail". My vision for
this is that the ladies will feel more of a connection with Amy, Marylil and
me and will take advantage of our desire to be there for them when they need
someone to talk with. Once again, I truly covet your prayers for wisdom,
insight and sensitivity to God's leading. And, although we would much rather
be there in person, it is SO EXPENSIVE to fly. Gary told me that a round trip
ticket commercially to King Cove could cost two people about $1000! So and we are
always in the "do whatever we can otherwise mode".

Gary continues to keep those administrative wheels well oiled and running
smoothly, with his heart split between making it run smooth and wanting to
be in the villages more with our dear friends. His idea of a great trip would
be just to go out and work his way around from village to village, catching a
flight here, and getting stuck there - - always loving up on those "front-liners"
along the way.

Since I am not a detail person, I often get overwhelmed when Gary tries to explain
to me all that he is doing. But I KNOW that ABM runs so
well and is more effective because of the hours he spends keeping things
accurate and efficient. On top of all that, God has truly placed a passion
and desire in Gary's heart to encourage the missionaries in Bush Alaska. He
is very diligent and constantly looking for ways and opportunities to
encourage, while I often lose sight of the need when I get caught up in my
roles as wife and mom. As a matter of fact, because of his diligence, we
were able to spend a day and a half in Anchorage last week during the Native New Life
Musicale and connect with three missionary families, in town from the Bush for various reasons.
What a blessing! One I would have, no doubt, missed were it not for Gary! We
were so blessed by the sweetness of our time together and deeper level our
relationships with these families went as a result of spending a little time
with them. Truly our God is AWESOME!

Well, I'm reminding myself of Gary....WORDY (-: Until next time...remember,
we love and appreciate you more than words can tell.
Kris

JUST CAN'T LET THIS GET OFF WITHOUT ADDING NOTES (from Gary):
1. Why does Kris always worry about being so "wordy?" I love what
she has to say, don't you?
2. I will be in the village of Koyuk for a week in Early
March. Pray for a good time with pastors from villages in the area.
3. Kris and I will be attending the Family Life seminar in Anchorage in mid March
(Thanks, you-know-who, for providing the finances to make it possible. Other ABM staff
will be transported out to a village to stay with kids so missionary couple can come in
for the conference. Isn't that neat!? We just GOTTA develop this more next year.
3. I will be preaching at a local supporting church on March 23rd. Cool!


Kris

Plane! 2/10/03

I know this is "hot on the heels" of a previous update, but I just had to pass this on immediately.
Prior to bringing our new plane to Kenai, I was encouraged by a friend of our ministry to make sure the local paper knew about the grant we received and what we are doing in the bush. This is not an exact quote, but he told me "People NEED to know about this fantastic ministry and the tremendous grant and donations you have received for the plane. Our local community needs to know!"

Now, I know that goes without saying - - Public Relations is a key ingredient. But frankly, we had been immersed in this effort for better than a year and a half, and when it came to pass, we were in an immediate "crunch" to acquire the plane and we just didn't think about it too much. Until this friend put us back on track!

Joel was making final preparations to leave, so he told me to "Do it." "What if they interview me?" I said. "Well, get it right." he responded

I went down to the Peninsula Clarion Newspaper just hours before I was getting the cashiers check ready so Joel could go pick up the plane. I talked to someone in the press room. I prayed beforehand - - - because how do you convey what you are doing In Christ to someone who just "might not get it?"

They took down information, and then called me back later in the week, the day after the plane came in. I went through a phone interview, and then asked the reporter to PLEASE call the Director of ABM (Joel) and interview him as well, since he was now back in town.
Joel did the interview but was unavailable for the picture. We had decided a long time ago that our ministry was about PEOPLE nor about PLANES or PLACES, so Kris and Cassie and I got in the picture. The last thing we wanted was a picture of nothing but the plane!
Now, consider this as well - - - we are having our first ever fundraiser banquet to raise money for our general and airplane fund this Friday evening. What better way to start off the week than with a front page article in today's paper? Isn't that cool! God is so good.
Read the article at the newspaper's website below. They did a great job. Praise the Lord!
http://www.peninsulaclarion.com/stories/021003/new_0210030003.shtml

See ya!
Gary

The Seneca Has Landed 2/8/03

Wednesday of this week was a very important day for us here at Arctic Barnabas Ministry. The Seneca III plane that we were able to purchase thanks to the gifts of many supporters along with a grant, has come "home." It landed at Kenai Airport at a just about 5:30 pm, flown back to Alaska from Boise, Idaho by Joel and a close friend of the ministry, Dave

What does this mean? Well, it means that for the first time in our 2.5 years as a ministry, we now have our own plane! Everything the Lord has allowed us to do up to this point has been with leased planes. It also means that we will be able to get through in weather conditions that would have turned us back in both the Cessna 206 and the Cessna 310 we had been using. This plane has all the de-icing features that pilots drool over . It's a nice compromise between a larger twin-engine plane that is designed for doing full scale charter service (and thus very expensive to fly) and a smaller, single-engine plane that just cant fly some places because of the fact that it only has one engine! In a twin, fully loaded, one engine could quit and the plane can fly and land normally. So the safety factor is quite reassuring. It seats six. But the weight limitations mean we will probably never travel with more than 5 and full gear. (There are modifications that can be made to the plane that will help us carry more - - but we still have to deal with the amount of space available).

You can see pictures of the plane on our website at http://www.arcticbarnabas.org and then go to the Prayer & Praise page.

Please pray for our daughter Cassie this next week. She will be traveling to Iliamna and Pedro Bay to help ABM with two concerts that we have "booked" for Dave Beegle. Dave and his wife Sandy come to us from Colorado. They were with us at our Ministry Family Retreat last fall. Dave will be providing our music at the Love and Caring In Action Fundraiser ABM Fundraiser in Soldotna on Feb 14th. He will also be doing a "Coffee House Concert" at our church on February 15th. Dave is a wonderful guitarist and loves to honor the Lord with his incredible guitar skill. It's going to be a busy week!

Cassie has friends that she met from these villages while she was in training for Child Evangelism this last summer. She will helping with the concerts and renewing some friendship with some kids in the village.

Kris and I will be in Anchorage at various times in the next two weeks, trying to spend time with some of our friends from various villages who are coming in to Anchorage for some medical reasons, as well as to participate in the Native Musicale that takes place there every year.
I will be traveling to the village of Koyuk in early March to participate in a conference being held by some churches in the YK Delta and Norton Sound area of the state. Kris is busy organizing another Village Tea that she will be doing in two villages in late March to areas that we simply could not get to without our Seneca! (On anything other than a perfect day of flying ). More details on this as things get organized.

I have been busy in the office over the last month or so, and I am looking forward to getting out more in the next few months. We all do what we have to do to keep the ministry rolling, but our hearts are with the people we serve. I am also continuing to work on revising our policy manual.
Of course, we would love to be out in the villages as often as we can go. But we are always limited by funds. Part of the reason it's so difficult to do what we do is because it's so expensive! As God gives us opportunity, pray that the money needed to make things happen will be there.
Please also continue praying for our own personal support. It's frustrating at times - - - but part of the frustration is probably just me trying to make it all happen. You think I would learn, huh?

Gary

Pray For Plane Details 1/30/03

As you know, we are hoping to have our Seneca III plane here sometime next week. It seems that we have run into a bit of a timing issue regarding the grant check clearing the bank in time to make the purchase.

A supporter of the ministry paid and booked the flight for he and Joel to travel down to Boise, Idaho to fly the plane back. This was all based on the fact that we thought the grant check would be a cashiers check. But it won't be!

And the final check for the purchase will need to be a cashiers check or a wire transfer. And we can't do either until the grant check clears. But the flight has already been booked. But, but, but . . . .

If it wasn't for the fact that were are so excited that the plane is actually coming, after 18 months of alot of prayers, gifts, and amazing circumstances, I would be just a bit annoyed. As it is, however, I know God will work it out.

Please pray with me, won't you?

Gary Harris

Salty Eyes, Upcoming Events 1/24/03

Thank you for the prayer coverage you offered up on our behalf this for the week we were attending the Survivors of Abuse Leadership Seminar put on as part of the Family Warrior Wellness Initiative I have told you about in the past.

The seminar was held just 60 miles from where we live, and we didn't need a plane to get there! It was held at Princess Lodge in Cooper Landing. Princess Lodge is owned by the Princess Cruise Line. I must admit, it sounded a bit decadent when we first found out the location - - - - but in retrospect, I appreciate the wisdom of the organizers.

From early morning to late night for 5 days, we were involved in intense training sessions and small groups from 8:30 in the morning to 9 PM at night. We were really wiped out emotionally, and appreciated so much the surroundings and the way all our needs were cared for. Incredible!
In short, the seminar packed a 13-week program for small groups into a week. So, by day 3, we were 9 weeks into the program, having met in our small groups as many times! Talk about accelerated growth! I feel closer to those guys in my small group after a week than I do to many of my friends here at home!

The term "SALTY EYES" was used regularly to describe the way people looked as we dealt with grief and pain, in an emotionally charged atmosphere of safety and care. One person that we know of accepted Christ as she was captivated by the love of God being expressed in the stories of those who had been abused, and later (sometime much later) healed by the power of Jesus Christ and an understanding that the abuse they suffered as a child in some dark, painful place - simply was not their fault!

Please pray for the following:

1. Two of the ABM team are flying as I write this e-mail to Shaktoolik, a village on the east shore of Norton Sound for a weekend of participation in a conference between two villages. They are flying out in a small plane. Pray for safety, good weather, and safe return sometime Monday. The plane flight will be 5 hours or so.

2. ABM will be traveling to Idaho in early February to pick up our plane!!! We are so excited! An economical, twin-engine plane fully certified to fly in the worst conditions Alaska can throw at us! But you know, they say the cheapest thing about owning a plane is buying it. The price tag is nearly $200,000! We raised 40% of that ourselves, and the balance was awarded to us in a grant from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust.

3. Arctic Barnabas Ministries will be having our first fundraising event on February 14th at the Soldotna Bible Chapel in Soldotna, Alaska. The theme is "Love and Caring in Action" and the goal is to raise money for the Airplane and General fund and widen the awareness of our ministry in our local area. The week before, we will be taking Dave Beegle, the guitarist and dear Christian brother who is coming up from Colorado, into a few villages across the Cook Inlet for a couple of concerts. He will then be providing the music at our banquet, and doing a concert at our church the next night.

4. Between now and March, I will be focusing on reviewing and revising ABM's policy manual, especially as it relates to our work of pastoral care.

5. Kris and I hope to be in Anchorage Part of the week of Feb 17 - 21, to attend the Native Musicale and some of the sessions being held during the day.

6. I will be in the village of Koyuk in early March. Koyuk is about 90 miles northeast of Nome, and Kris will be doing her Woman's Tea in two villages on the Alaska Peninsula in late March, early April (That's the long arm that stretches down and to the west, on the south side of the state.)

7. Kris and I will be attending the FamilyLife conference in Anchorage in Mid March. If you know about these conferences, then you know how refreshing it can be for husband and wife. Because of our ministry with ABM, we have been offered a special rate for the conference. But we still need to pay for two nights in a hotel and all our meals. Please pray and consider helping us in this. Also, we were able to negotiate so that people we serve in the villages could attend the conference at no charge! Of course, they would still have to pay for their trip in, hotel and food. But we were able to send a special mailing out to our focus families, inviting them.

This is just a few of the scheduled events for this winter. It doesn't include some of the last minute trips we may end up making in response to some crisis of call for help.

As we become closer to some of the folks we serve, we become more and more aware of the need to continue in our ministry. It's not a ministry to natives, and it's not a ministry to non-natives. It's a ministry to anyone in a position of Christian leadership in small, remote areas. When we are saved, we are saved for a purpose. Please continue praying for us as we do whatever we can to keep people in ministry LONG-TERM.

We are currently at just under 50% of our needed support. Both Kris and I long for the day when she doesn't have to "work on the side" and I, likewise, can say No to all side jobs.

Thanks for your partnership with us in this ministry.

Gary

Time in Pt Alsworth 1/6/03

Thank you so much for your prayers for us the past three days as we traveled to the village of Port Alsworth to spend time with the Director of the Tanalian Bible Camp and his wife. We had a great time with these dear people. The highlight of the visit for me was the time on my knees with other men in the new camp building, only 3 or 4 months away from completion. We were praying to God prayers of dedication of the building and the impact of the camp for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The highlight for Kris was the time her and Sharon had to spend just enjoying each other's company, talking, laughing and sharing all the things women share when they get together!

I must admit that I was just a bit apprehensive about traveling after the recent death of a friend to our ministry. It had nothing to do with the pilot or the plane. We always know we are in the best care, whether flying in an ABM craft or using one of the local commercial air services.
But the thought still pops up occasionally when flying along in a small, twin engine plane at 3500 ft, with an outside air temperature of minus 2, mountain peaks on either side, and uninhabited wilderness below--- "What do we do if we go down?"

But you know - - when I have those thoughts, it never enters my mind what will be my own fate. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

We just squeaked back into Kenai about a half an hour before the weather front with allot of snow closed in and shut the skies down for VFR traffic. We were knocked around just a bit on the trip back in, so we were really happy to get back on terra firma!

THERE or in the air!

Gary