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
