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
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Friday, October 17, 2003
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
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
