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
