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Dealing in Futures
Why Do We Keep Returning
The Blessed Life as a Preschool Teacher
Village Vision
Lessons on Whaling
Call for Summer Workers
Kodiak Baptist Mission Contribution
Return to Kodiak Baptist Mission Home Pages
I am
sitting in the back row of an Era Aviation jet – the Dash 8 de Havilland turbo
prop – one of the four workhorses that run the relay between Kodiak and
Anchorage day in and day out, year round. Anyone who is familiar with Kodiak
Island or KBM knows that a ride in the Dash 8 isn’t just another one hour jaunt
through 250 air miles of Alaskan sky. A ticket on Era or Alaska Airlines can
mean only two things: going to or leaving the Emerald Isle. Either way, it
becomes a time of spiritual reflection, especially for those with a relationship
to the Mission. No matter how many times you’ve made the trip, the same things
tend to dance in your mind and knead at your heart - usually powerful memories
of life at KBM: the people and faces, the children and laughter, the music and
silence, the work and play, the winter dark and the summer light. It isn’t
simply a job. It is a way of life.
On this particular trip
I’m visiting family, in a lower-48 state farther from Kodiak than Russia
itself. Far below, through swirling gaps in the clouds, mammoth mountains keep
vigil over the Kenai Peninsula, unmoved by human endeavor. The bird’s eye view
is astounding. The glaciers begin as small tendrils at the mountain peaks and
stretch down the rifts like tendons, flexing muscles of ice at the base, earth
and stone locked in a timeless grip. I’ve made this trip a dozen times, but the
raw beauty of God’s creation is still captivating.
What are my efforts compared to this majesty?
The drone of the engines and a bit of turbulence draws my attention away from the spectacle, and I begin to wrangle with thoughts of the past year. Anyone who knows me understands that when I look back, I often grill myself with criticism: I could have done better. I could have been a better worker, a better
friend, a better Christian. Though taking personal inventory is necessary, it’s an activity that is meant to help us learn, pray better, improve our relationships. But it’s a difficult and delicate process that often leaves us vulnerable. The devil wants us to believe that we have failed, or at least come up short of God’s expectations. I have often given in to this assault, and so taken my eyes off the good things, matters of mercy and God’s love.
Pausing from these ruminations, I pick up a copy of Alaska Business Monthly: oil, minerals, trade, investments…these topics boggle my mind as well. What business have I been about? What have I been doing with the life God has given me?
It’s never a simple plane ride. It is on these flights to and from Kodiak that I seem to process everything. I continue to process the year. It has been a full one. Last December I lost family. My cousin Curtis, his wife Jessica, and their ten-year old son, Wolfgang, perished in an automobile accident. A fourth passenger survived: their toddler, Augustus. I’ve spent the last six months asking God why that happened, and I really don’t have an answer. It churns in my mind every day, and will probably do so for the rest of my life. But, I have a choice. I can continue mourning those losses, and the fact that three people are gone. Or I can pray for Augustus, and rejoice that he is still here.
Dwelling on the past, on
tragedies, mistakes or missed opportunities is easy. On the contrary it can be
quite difficult to live in the moment and look forward to what God has in store
for the future. No one can escape asking the “what if” questions in life. There
isn’t a human who doesn’t at some point feel a slight throb of doubt in their
heart. But the person who can wade through that tide, forget what is behind and
press on towards the goal, that is the person I admire and aspire to model my
character on. And that person is Jesus Christ.
I think one of the most powerful aspects of KBM is the legacy. No matter where you walk on this campus, someone else has gone before. The work here is both watering seeds that workers before us planted, and planting seeds for those who will inherit this ministry tomorrow. But the Lord makes all of it grow. When I realize this, my self scrutiny lessens. It’s not about the “me”. It’s about the “we”, the Body of Christ. And the work we do, it’s not about worldly profit, but a matter of heavenly treasures. Whether we succeed or stumble, we do it as one body, and because of His sovereignty, everything works for the good of God’s purposes.
So if someone asked me what business I was in, what would I say? I would tell them that every day I am greeted with immeasurable enthusiasm, love, and joy from dozens of children: caring for them, teaching them, helping them to know their place in the world - that is the business my colleagues and I have been about. That is who we are. We deal in futures.
—David Kitzler
We
have been returning to Kodiak Baptist Mission each year since 1997 when the
Michigan Region of American Baptists brought a work group here. Friends often
ask, “What is it that keeps drawing you back? Aren’t you old enough to let
others do the work?” (We are 90 and 78 years old). We ponder the answer:
Is it the beauty of the emerald island? YES!!! We love the ocean, lakes, rivers and snow covered mountains, magnificent forests of moss covered Sitka Spruce, soaring eagles, odd looking puffins, magpies, whales, and sea lions. Each of these and more lift our thoughts upward to contemplate the magnificent and unimaginably creative powers of our mighty God. Is it the history of this Mission, which started 113 years ago in 1893 as Kodiak Baptist Orphanage? YES!!! Working to organize KBM’s archives filled with documents, pictures, letters, and other materials has helped to make possible a view of the work over the years.
Through it all, the Lord enabled His work to carry on in an effective way by not only drawing the needed workers, but by giving them needed strength and wisdom. Yes, the history of KBM brings much interest and awe in the workings of our Lord, as he brought the right people at the right time to enable His work to carry on.
Is it the present work taking place at KBM?
YES!!! Within the past 10 years, the Mission has changed its emphasis,
as former Executive Evan Jones Senior said, from “acting as ambulances at the
bottom of a cliff to try to heal those who have plunged over its banks, to
building a sturdy fence at the top to keep them from falling over in the first
place. Prevention is now being emphasized.” 
Is it the people at KBM? Yes!!! – The people are magnificent – drawn from all over the USA. As Trevor Jones, our director states – “No one chooses to come to Kodiak Baptist Mission. The Lord calls them.” At the present time we have several young people who have been drawn here and are faithfully serving the Lord in ways uniquely suited to their talents. However, each is willing to do whatever is necessary and helpful with the Mission’s upkeep. From scrubbing toilets, running errands, or filling in program spots they do a little bit of everything.
Last but not least – is it the animals and pets? YES!!! – Horses – especially TOYON who is 44 years old (which is very old for a horse). We enjoy seeing this aging animal, who is so dearly loved, plodding along. Dogs like Roscoe, Morgan, Willow (who will chase a thrown stick forever), and JAX, a 13 year old dog who is the gentleman of the group.
We trust that if two such aged animals can keep contributing to the love that abounds on these grounds called Kodiak Baptist Mission, perhaps we too will be welcome for as long as the Lord allows us time and strength to return. We treasure KBM’s beauty, history, its work, the people, and the animals. Each is an important part of God’s providence. May He continue to call people here to carry out the work He has planned. We are very thankful He called us here and enabled us to be a small part of His plan in Kodiak.
—Barbara & Bill Hass
My
name is Lynda and I am a preschool teacher. Not an easy job, and not an
entirely sane choice either. Why do I devote my time, mental and physical
energy and life to this? That was exactly what I asked myself one snowy, (yes
snowy) April afternoon. It had been a particularly hard day. Who am I kidding,
it had been a rough month.
It was nap time, and I was trying to catch up on a mound of paperwork. The children had been especially needy and demanded a great deal from me that day. I was beat. It was that moment when I heard a small voice, “Miss Lynda?” Wearily I answered, “Yes? . . .” A little louder the voice asked, “Could you read a book to me?” I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath as I thought, “No, I can’t read a book to you! I can barely see the paper in front of my face!” However, something in me stirred telling me to get up and go read. So, I dragged my weary body to the floor and laid in a heap next to the small child. As I read, I began to relax. When I was through reading, I kissed the child on the head and when I began to move away, he grabbed my hand. His small face looked into my eyes and with his high pitched voice he said, “Miss Lynda, you can’t run away, you can’t walk away, you can’t drive away. You have to stay by me and snuggle with me forever!” I stared at the small face, so serious, so honest and I felt a rush of love bigger than I had ever felt before. He soon drifted to sleep, while firmly holding my hand. I looked at this child and said a prayer of thanks. “Thank you Lord, for giving me this moment. Thank you for showing me why I devote my time, my mental and physical energy and my life to this ministry, for giving me these moments, that touch my heart and soul. Thank you, thank you.”
—Lynda Lorenson
April of 2006 Ryan Gorectke, Kodiak Island Food Bank Director, visited the small
village of Larsen Bay. This trip was a milestone for the Food Bank at
the
Kodiak Baptist Mission. While in Larsen Bay, Ryan had the opportunity to
register 10 eligible families for monthly food distribution. The Mission
expanded their borders and are now serving four different sights on Kodiak
Island: Kodiak, Kodiak Senior Center, Old Harbor and Larsen Bay.
The Food Bank has teamed up with the M/V Lazy Bay, a boat which takes supplies to this village, to ship the food, free of charge. They have also made contacts in Larsen Bay to distribute the food upon arrival.
It is encouraging to see the Food Bank ministry unfold with three out of the seven Kodiak communities receiving Food Bank assistance. It has been the vision of KBM’s Executive Director to have the ability to reach all the villages and this is a solid step in the right direction.
After the first shipment of food was received and distributed in Larsen Bay, the Mission received a phone call expressing the sincere thanks and appreciation of the people.
The
city of Kodiak is not large to say the least. We have a movie theater, bowling
alley (with four lanes), McDonalds and Subway and our paved roads equal out to
60 to 70 miles (with a maximum speed limit of 55mph). Although Kodiak is a
small, nice city, it is a buzzing metropolis to youth from surrounding
villages.
Throughout the winter months KBM has the opportunity to work with some of these students through Immersion Projects. During the day the students take part in special academic opportunities, and their evenings are spent with us. These groups come in different shapes and sizes. Some enjoy spending their time at Wal-Mart and McDonalds. Others like an evening of basketball in our gym, but the last group in April took us by surprise.
The students arrived on Sunday evening. I quickly realized I not only couldn’t pronounce where they were from, I had no idea where these villages were. Point Hope, Igiugig, Kokhanok and Newhalen became the geography lesson as we opened maps and began to learn about these amazing individuals and where they came from.
These
kids had genuinely good attitudes, showed respect and had excitement for being
at the Mission. They wanted to kayak, complete the challenge course, roast
marshmallows and get to know us. I loved watching the boys from Point Hope
swing on the buoy swing and complete the ropes course. W
here
they’re from trees are nonexistent and this was a treat!
The week flew by and the last evening the students wanted to go kayaking. I’m thankful we serve the God that controls the wind and rain. We pushed off the beach into the calm, cold ocean water with the sun in our face. The boys from Point Hope told stories and offered lessons on whaling in the Arctic. Although they were just in high school they had taken part in many hunts. The boy I shared a kayak with explained that he had just lost his two cousins to an early winter storm. Later we discovered his great grandfather had come from Nebraska.
As we raced back to Mission Beach my arms ached and my nose was quite cold, but I was sad to see it end.
Walking up the hill that evening I thought, so this is what sets us apart. We develop relationships, we pray for these kids and care about them. They become part of our family. We share the love of Christ through kayaking, climbing trees, eating marshmallows, going to the movies and playing basketball. I guarantee that these students will not forget their time with us at the Kodiak Baptist Mission, but it is my prayer they will remember that there was something different about us and that difference was Jesus Christ.
—Kelli J. Wellensiek
Kodiak Baptist Mission is accepting applications for 2007 Summer Work Groups. The opportunity to travel to and work at Kodiak Baptist Mission, on the beautiful Kodiak Island, is one you will not quickly forget. Enjoy learning the rich history, making new friends and using your talents and abilities in Christian service.
To receive an application you can go online at www.kodiakbaptistmission.org or call us at (907)486-4126.
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