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Sonshine Christian Preschool & Daycare
Before School / After School Program
Return to Kodiak Baptist Mission Home Pages
The alder and cottonwood
trees are almost bare. The smell of wet fallen leaves is a pungent reminder that
summer is indeed over. The termination dust (first snow) on the mountains is a
hint of the cold to come. The screams, squeals and laughter of children playing
on the Slip-n-Slide are a distant memory as I run out to start my car to let it
warm up and defrost the windows.
KBM Summer Day Camp 2000 was an incredible success this year! The average attendance doubled and then some over last year. Each week about 65 children in first through eighth grades were dropped off at the mission to participate in some exciting activities. Fourteen high school, college and graduate young adults gave much of themselves this summer as counselors and instructors in the Day Camp Program. Staff came from Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Kansas, Colorado, California and Alaska. They came with as much enthusiasm as the children they ministered to did. Several mornings, if you were awake early enough, you would have seen what looked like giant cocoons out in the middle of the yard. Closer examination would have revealed the cocoons were sleeping bags encasing staff who had slept out under the stars because it was Alaska and because they could.
The staff did not have an easy job. Many of the children who attended camp came because they needed a place to be while their parents were at work. Several were on medication to help control difficult behavior.
One particular youth found pride and a new sense of freedom in learning to control his behavior regardless of whether he had his medicine or not. Kim spend much time working with this youngster encouraging him helping him to learn a special Bible verse that would remind him when he needed to regain control.
Not all was difficult there was humor as well. I was speaking with one boy who was having a bad day. He had come to see me several times already and I was talking to him for what seemed like the fifth or sixth time that day. I asked him if he had gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Imagine the difficulty I had keeping a straight face when he said, "Yeah, Miss Heather, I did get up on the wrong side of the bed. Usually I wake up on the side next to my nightstand with a glass of water. This morning, I woke up on the wrong side and couldn't reach my water."
I look forward to next summer. I anticipate greater numbers than this summer. Recruiting has begun for a staff of sixteen. If you or someone you know has some time, a heart for children and a calling to come to Kodiak, please contact me. I would be happy to talk with you and send you an application with more information. Perhaps you will come and be able to help a child reach the Living Water from the fountain that never runs dry. For details regarding KBM's summer program, please call 907-486-4126; write, KBM, 1944 Rezanoff Drive, Kodiak AK 99615, or e-mail kbmak@ptiaslaska.net.
Day Camp 2000 Statistics:
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1. Volunteers. We need people who can come and dedicate a month or more of their time to help us run our second hand store that provides funds for our programs and free clothing to those in need. We need volunteers for the winter to help with carpentry, maintenance, programs with children.
2. Financial
Assistance. Financial assistance to help us pay our mission staff would be a
Godsend. In particular, I'm thinking of Faith Bancroft, a full time volunteer
who runs our Food Bank. She will be here until January when her funds run out
and she must return to Rhode Island and to work. Faith can continue with us if
we can cover her basic needs for which minimum wage will provide. This would
cost about $780 a month.
3. Heating Oil. We are needing to pay for oil to heat the cottages for the winter. The price of oil is way up everywhere but it has particularly impacted us here in Kodiak being on a remote Alaskan Island. Heating oil has risen to $2.00 a gallon and it will cost us about $400 a month to heat just one of the cottages. An interested group could sponsor either the Ayer, McWhinnie or Doane Cottage with heating oil for a month or two this winter.
4. Back-up Skiff Motor. Two years ago we were able to purchase a new motor for the skiff we use to transport kids to Camp Woody and also to travel to the outlying islands. Having a new motor has given us great confidence in traveling out into the open ocean but in truth we are putting ourselves and others at risk as we don't currently have a back-up motor as we know we should. To purchase about a 15 HP outboard would cost us approximately $3,500.
There are many other large projects that we have on our list: new windows for the Ayer and Doane Cottages, building a Chapel on campus and a four wheel drive 15 passenger van to transport kids.
This is a big list representing many important needs for the mission but more than any of these I would like to stress that most of all, we need to be claimed and supported by the churches, to be an extension of their love to the people of this world. For many years KBM drew the larger part of its sustenance from the government. Today we live by the efforts of individual churches such as yours. No one can serve two masters and laying down our government funding has made us draw near the hand of God. It has made a remarkable difference in the spirit and vitality of our work.
IN MARCH-SEPTEMBER 2000 WE HAVE SERVED…
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Wedding bells sounded a change in Sonshine this year. Monica Inman returned to Ohio and was married in October to Jason Overbey.
Our new director, Carolyn Weise, recently returned to Kodiak from Clearwater, Florida, with her husband, David, a member of the Coast Guard, two sons, Chad and Colt. Carolyn taught for Headstart and Trinity Christian School while in Florida. She reports, "I am looking forward to a great year and hope to teach the children that the world is a wonderful place and to give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
Cindy Jones is teaching in the preschool/daycare once again. Cindy started the program four years ago. She worked with her husband, Evan, in the residential program for youth during the past two years. She is a certified teacher and has OJT (On the Job Training) with 1 ˝ year old son, Joshua.
Jessica Skonberg arrived recently from Chignik, Alaska with her husband, Darren, and daughter, Anastasia. She is a teacher's assistant and looks "forward to creating a positive learning, and Christian environment for the children."
Rebecca Foster is also a new teaching assistant. She was born in Kodiak, has worked with children in the Philippines and on many mission trips. She recently completed a course in ministering to families and orphans focusing on the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of children. She looks forward to putting into practice all that she has learned.
Our basic work at the mission is with children and with children there are usually families and where there are families there are sometimes people who need help. A ministry that has been effective in the lives of people is called LIONTAMERS. This is a 12 Step Support Group addressing all kinds of addictive behaviors (i.e., drug and alcohol addiction, control problems, eating disorders, gambling, pornography, smoking, and the list goes on).
Lucien Bernard is the founder of this ministry. He saw a need for identifying Jesus Christ as the Higher Power and for showing that the 12 Steps come from the Bible.
This has been a thrilling ministry. Many have come to Christ for the first time and some have re-dedicated their lives to the Lord. One who came to the mission seeking a pair of pants saw a LIONTAMERS flyer and inquired, was referred to KBM Director, Trevor Jones, and was quickly referred to Lucien. Today, six months later, he is clean and sober, rededicated to the Lord. He, additionally, laid his cigarettes on the altar two months ago and hasn't smoked since. He has his first apartment ever. He volunteers his services to the mission as a janitor. He loves the Lord and has a desire to pass on to others what the Lord has given him.
There is victory in Christ. He breaks the chains of bondage. He sets the prisoner free.
The major activity of the Sale House continues to be a source of revenue for KBM by selling clothing and household items to the people who wish to buy second hand items. The objective of the Sale House goes beyond the selling of donated goods. A portion of our merchandise is used to serve the humanitarian needs of the people of Kodiak as well as the needy people in distant countries. Some of our donated goods goes to support the pre-school and after-school programs. Other items are used to furnish the quarters of those living in the mission's houses.
Clothing that has been in the Sale House a specific length of time is given
away to the people who qualify for our food bank program. They are allowed to
receive one free set of clothing for each member of their family. Clothing and
household items are frequently given to people who have been subjected to
specific hardships within the Kodiak
Community.
The instances where the Sale House has gone beyond its primary mission is impressive. The fact that people in need have a place to go for help in Kodiak is in concert with the basic and longstanding objectives of KBM
Written by Bill Holbrooke as told by Vera Catlow. Bill and his wife Betty are short-term volunteers working at KBM's Sale House under the guidance of long-term volunteer, Vera Catlow of Desert Hot Springs, CA. Volunteers this quarter also included Fran and Chilly Bowman of Washington, Walt and Carol Schmidtman of Michigan, Sister Mary Butler and local volunteers, Carol Wandersee and Meryl and Guy Powell. Many thanks to each of you.
People come by the Mission every so often that have lived here for some portion of their lives. Leo and Lacey Brownfield recently visited the mission. Leo stayed at McWhinnie Cottage where he had spent many years as a child. Leo returned to us as a successful adult who is a credit to the mission matrons who ministered here years ago. Leo related many stories as he reflected upon his time here in the late l940's and early 50's. He met some of his housemates and renewed many acquaintances.
As former residents of the
mission return, the houses are often smaller than they remember. One thing that
inevitably comes up is the laundry chute. These chutes have been used for just
about everything from communications, to raiding the storeroom in the basement.
I guess they were even used for laundry once in a while. My grand children came
to stay with me a few weeks ago and the first thing they noticed was the laundry
chutes. They immediately investigated the whole setup with rapt attention.
It tells me kids will always be the same. It is thrilling for me to see the mission alive with young children once again. Once there were up to twenty children in each of our cottages. They were just kids who needed a place to live. By the 1980's the program focused on children with serious social problems. There will always be a need for Residential Treatment and I hope we will always have a place for young people to come who need special care. I am especially glad, however, for the young ones God is sending us in our new programs--programs directed to teaching children to make positive choices early in their lives and to develop a life foundation in Christ. I hope they will never know wasted years and the hard journey back from devastating problems and addictions.
VICK HILL
The kids were buzzing around Vick like a little swarm of bees. He seemed
strangely unperturbed as he guided them through their wood working project for
Day Camp. It was a high point for one young girl who came to camp. She was new
to Kodiak and didn't know any of the kids. Earlier in the day she had made it
very clear to the adults dropping her off that she did not want to attend Day
Camp. As Vick helped her with her project, she had a change of heart. It was
only a little wooden spice shelf, but she was proud of it and looked triumphant
as she presented it to her mom. Vick was the encouraging presence in the wood
shop not only for this young girl but for the many volunteers and staff at KBM.
Vic went to be with the Lord August 18, 2000. He worked all morning in the shop, took his wife, Doris, to lunch and walked through the Gates of Splendor that same hour. Vick and Doris came to KBM to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. They loved the mission and returned once again. Finally, they made their home at KBM. Christian brothers and sisters filled Community Baptist Church in Kodiak for Vick's memorial service. Doris returned to Iola, Kansas for Vick's funeral. She has now returned to the mission to complete her work until December when she expects to celebrate Christmas with her KBM family and then her own in Georgia and Kansas. She has decided to return to KBM the last of January unless God says, "No."
Vick had the joy of working for Christ until the hour of his death. I count it a privilege to have known this humble servant of Christ who was faithful in duty, fervent in prayer and a fellow in the community of Christ.
JEANNIE VOLKER
A solemn yet joyful group met at the outdoor chapel at KBM to remember
Jeannie Volker. Jeannie was the Director of KBM from 1983 through 1994. Jeannie
died July 10, 2000. She lives on in a legacy of ministry at KBM and at Central
Seminary. Jeannie had a long battle with cancer. She was used by God during the
whole ordeal as an example of a believer confronting pain and problems. She bore
testimony to the truth of the Gospel of Christ among all who knew her. She will
be missed by so many here but has had a great homecoming over there.
GENE SNELLER
We received word of the sudden death of Gene Sneller in Australia while attending the Baptist World Alliance Conference, January 15, 2000. Gene and Frances, his wife of 47 years, have been volunteers at KBM. Gene was a faithful servant, constant in prayer. Gene's legacy was a prayer journal which he kept for many years and will be a treasure for his family. Gene loved people, the work of Christ and his ABC family. Our prayers are with Frances.
"What a privilege to have the opportunity to see Christ at work in the families and children on a long term basis," said RonDeLu. She is excited about her ministry here. It was difficult to get going right after Summer Day Camp ended. While others were taking a rest, RonDeLu immediately began working with the After School Children's Program. About 18 children participate and most were with us all summer. She has seen whole families brought together and sitting in church in response to the Spirit of God and prayer.
Pray for this ministry of outreach and concern.
We want to thank all of you who have so generously contributed items for the Annual KBM Bazaar. The items represent countless hours of work and love. Last year we raised over $2,500 at the Bazaar. The community looks forward to this event every year. Your gifts help make the ministry at KBM.
I frantically searched through the craft room to get the popsicle sticks I needed to complete the puffin project with the kids. I found enough but I needed a hot glue gun, too. Couldn't find it. I know we have several because they came in the White Cross things. Someone said the preschool had them. I dashed to the preschool. Yes, we did have them but now one of the Summer Day Camp interns is using them. I ran to the intern then to the shop. Eight children were gathered around Cara. I arrived just in time. The glue gun, the popsicle sticks were there for the use of many hands, because you cared. Thanks White Cross's faithful ladies.
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