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
Friday, July 18, 2003
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
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
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
