“Psssst- Mom are you awake? Mom! Wake Up! The water's almost up to the kayaks!”

The word water and kayaks cleared the fog from my sleeping brain in an instant. The last thing I wanted to happen was to lose any gear or kayaks this far from help. The VHF was an emergency option, but not one I looked forward to using when the emergency could have been prevented.

These thoughts and more made their way through my mind as I groaned and pulled my boots on. I was in charge of six kids with one other adult. We were camped just up from the beach at Crag Point on the Southern entrance to Anton Larsen Bay. Our trip was the culmination of a week long Kayak camp, part of the KBM Summer Day Camp program.

We had started that morning by packing our gear into the kayaks and driving out the road. After unloading the gear and grabbing a quick bite to eat we suited up and shoved off. The paddle took us between islands, past rocky beaches, and over water so clear you could see 15-20 feet to the bottom. Silent, soaring eagles, acrobatic salmon, a trio of porpoise, nesting puffins, and screeching seagulls escorted us in different places as we stroked our way across the flat calm waters of Anton Larsen bay.

Upon reaching our campsite we unloaded, set up tents, started the fire, and hauled the kayaks up above the high tide line. The kids had awakened before us in the night and noticed the rising tide line. As Sandra and I crawled from the tent and made our way to the beach I was struck by the silence of the night. No crickets or peepers (frogs), the birds were even silent at roost. We secured the kayaks and gear making doubly sure that everything was well above the tide line.

Then, we saw it. Like hundreds of fireflies floating in the water, or like the stars had moved from the sky to the sea. Unseen until the surface was disturbed. Twinkling, glowing yellow-white dots that clung to your hand and continued to glow for a split second in your palm. It was one of those moments that come rarely in our lives. We played for over an hour, waking all the kids so they wouldn't miss out on the experience.

Now, six months later, as I approach this Christmas season and look up into a crystal clear night sky I am reminded of that night in July when the stars seemed to have taken up residence in the sea. It was Christmas in July; a gift of joy given by a loving, playful Creator. Will your Christmas season end with the New Year? I pray not. May you experience the simple gifts, a clear, starry night, the beauty of creation, the love of family, friends and our Heavenly Father throughout the whole year.

What am I going to do with my life? That question plagued me terribly last April when I was laid off. With my severance package, I didn’t really worry too badly at first. My sister said, “If it were me, I’d go to Kodiak.” Umm. Well, of course, she had volunteered for Camp Woody and KBM for 5 summers. I spent 2 weeks here in 1999 with a work group and enjoyed it immensely. But after living all my life in Indianapolis where all my friends and family are, do I really want to “drop off the face of the earth,” and venture into small town life on an island up in Alaska?

Well, the more I thought and prayed about it, the more the idea appealed to me. I had other options that I was looking into, but nothing really panned out. I think what clinched the fact that I was meant to go was when I stopped in a bookstore. I made a beeline for the travel section and picked up the Milepost for the drive north, and left. I had never been out of a bookstore in under a half-hour before!

Soon after I arrived, Vera Catlow, the Sales House Manager fell ill, so I took over for her. After she came back, I continued to help her and also filled in for Doris Hill in the office. Trevor then came up to me and said that he heard I was good with computers. Suddenly I became the web master for the mission’s web site, and residential computer guru.

I am having fun and I have discovered that I am using different skills than I thought a missionary would use. Yes, I left family and friends at home, but I have also expanded my circle. The people here at KBM are like family and I have many new friends from the community I have met through the Sales House.

Jack is a troublesome dog. He lives at KBM and is known as the “Mayor”. He doesn’t try to make trouble. Trouble just kind of follows him around waiting for a chance to assert itself. He looks like a beagle with a few extras thrown in to mellow out the package. He is at home anywhere. He will even take his own walks. He is low maintenance in many ways. He does, however, have some problems that are irksome at best and life threatening at worse.

He’s a beagle so I guess we can’t fault him for chasing rabbits. He loves to keep the furry creatures hopping. He chooses the worse possible times to conduct this business. Like on the way to the top of Pyramid Mountain in Kodiak. When you’re nearly to the top someone asks, “Where’s Jack?” Far down the mountain Jack can be heard in a place where no man could get to, chasing his quarry. When exhausted and you finally reach the bottom of the mountain, you must begin the ceremonial calling of Jack. Jack does not respond to pleas to come home. Jack does not respond to threats, “Jack we’re going.” Finally, after an hour of waiting, you leave worried about what happened to Jack and spend a night dreaming of Jack being eaten by a bear. The next morning you return to the spot where he was last seen. No Jack. A Military policeman stops by to see if you need help. “Well, yes, I’ve lost a dog.” “A little beagle?” the cop questions. “Why, yes, how did you know?” “We just picked him up trotting down the road looking for a ride. He’s in the brig right now.”

You hurry to the brig hoping to arrive before the animal control guys and there is Jack like he owns the place being pampered by the MPs and looks at you with an accusing look, that says, “You left me. If it weren’t for the kindness of strangers who knows what would have happened to me.”

Or like on Woody Island when goes for a walk with you but is soon diverted by his other interests. You can hear him bay for a mile in the quiet woods. Then suddenly, you hear a terrible bellow. It has “I am in trouble,” in every note. You notice it is not moving through the woods any longer but is stationary and insistent that you come immediately. You run to the barking and in the distance you see Jack in the ice. He has learned a great lesson for all hound dogs. Rabbits may pass safely over one half-inch ice. Beagles cannot. He is about in the middle of one of the salt lagoon’s arms. Desperately you try to get something to him or to break the ice so he can swim free. Nothing works. Anne connects with him from the other side of the arm. You run thru the woods dragging a discarded hatch cover. Anne is in the water up to her waist frantically pushing everything to Jack so he can get out. He is too tired. He says with pathetic hound dog eyes, “Come and get me.” I strip down and walk in the frigid water, not knowing the depth. Finally at my chest level, I can grab him. He is hypothermic. He’s been in the water for about 45 minutes. I take my t-shirt and try to dry him then wrap my wrap my warm winter coat around the soggy shaking dog and hug him to give him all my body heat. I realize, it’s a little cold for me out here in the nude. I quickly get my clothes on and the three of us make a forced march back to the camp forgetting my best pair of woolen socks hanging on a tree.

Or like today, I sit to write an article for the paper and here comes Jack. Fresh from the pasture sporting a big smile anxious to share with me whatever it was that he recently was so fortunate to find to roll in. He has a variety of scents that he likes. Dead salmon, in season, is always nice. The scent hangs low and is powerful. There are no tell tale signs and unsightly smears on your back. But in the winter one must content oneself with whatever is at hand to achieve the proper olfactory response. Warm horse manure is great. Stop writing. Dog in tub. Strawberry shampoo. Dog wishes to leave tub to shake off excess water. Careful not to use a good towel or Anne gets mad. The tub’s a mess. Anne just cleaned it. Clean tub.

Why have a dog? And the worse thing of all. He isn’t even mine. He belongs to my brother-in-law, who at this very moment is in some warm place. I can think of no good answer, except, there is a certain bond that has grown between Jack and I. I don’t know whether it is love or not. But it is close. Can a man really love a dog? Who knows? Can God really love a man? Why bother. But time after time, he comes searching for me. Sometimes I am bellowing for help. Sometimes I am not even smart enough to know how much trouble I am in. But he comes, taking off the royal robes and getting in the cold water with me. Cleansing me time and again from all the stink that I think is so attractive. There is nothing to say in the face of such mystery, except, “Thank you.”

Thank you to all of the volunteers across the Lower 48 residents and here in Kodiak who have helped me in the Sale House (Thrift Store). There are too many of you to mention all of your names. Besides the many hours of sorting & selling clothes, household items, etc., it has given me many other ways to serve God. What has meant the most is the opportunity to help others in Kodiak.

Through the Sale House, we are able to help young women from the Teen Pregnancy Crisis Center. We supply them with clothes for themselves and their babies, as well as baby furniture. The mothers bring their babies in to thank us. We are called on to help families in need from fires or other emergencies. On Food Bank Day, we offer an outfit of clothing to each member of the family for free. We find many items to put into the housing units here, as well as bedding for Camp Woody. We also find many books and toys for our Sonshine Preschool, where I love working with the children.

What touched me most was helping a battered wife and child with furniture and clothing. She came back later with a picture of her little boy on a couch that we had given her and she re-upholstered. I cried to see how well she is doing at starting over.

My late husband and I have volunteered many places including Green Lake, but this has been the most rewarding of all.

Under the direction of our great leader, Trevor Jones, we are like a real family. We are very close with each other. We pray, laugh, work, cry, eat, and fellowship together on many occasions.

I must tell you about the neatest house of all, where I have been fortunate to stay. Chamberlain Cottage (a.k.a. the Log Cabin) is cozy, warm and friendly. I have shared it with many wonderful people. Some for overnight, a few days, weeks or months. It is a super place to stay. The most honored guest to stay with us from time to time is Rev. Joyce Smith. She is in charge of Ouzinkie Chapel and has taught three generations of kindergarten children.

Dear friends out there, if you have any spare time and a desire to serve God, KBM is the best! Thank you for all of your cards, prayers and letters.

In Christian Love, Vera Catlow

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Liontamers is all about people being transformed into the image of Christ, through the power of the Spirit of the living God. Exciting and busy times are ahead, and only through the power and wisdom of God can Liontamers continue to advance the kingdom of God. Here are some of what has been happening, and where God seems to be leading:

As you can see, much is happening, and much more is on the horizon. Our most urgent need is prayer. Pray for Dianne and Judy in Rhode Island, thanking God for their faithfulness and asking an extra measure of his grace for them and their families. Pray for the concerns Dianne’s husband and son have as she works with troubled women. Pray for Liontamers to be an instrument of God’s healing. Pray for me to be open to the Spirit’s leading for specifics on restarting open meetings. Pray for possibilities of a kid’s ministry, both here and in Rhode Island. Pray for openness to new directions, and sensitivity to the Spirit’s voice. Pray for strength as the pace picks up and I have new demands on my time and energy. Pray that in all things, God will be glorified, and for Liontamers to be an instrument of healing and spiritual growth. If you would like to support Liontamers with donations, please make checks payable to KBM, with Liontamers in the memo.

This is a late entry. I have finally decided to give up my wonderful orange Toyota pick-up. I always enjoyed telling people I lose about one pound a year on the truck due to rust. Well this year I lost in excess of ten pounds (two side panels fell off, plus the muffler system fell out). I can’t keep tail lights because they keep burning out. I ask for your prayers that the Lord will bring another truck as faithful as this one has been.

As always, feel free to contact me. To God Be the Glory! info@kodiakbaptistmission.org

In His service--------Lucien

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A win! Not only for the New England Patriots, but also in our Wakefield Baptist Soup-er Bowl! On Super Bowl Sunday about 60 people had some delicious homemade soup, we filled several boxes with canned goods for the local food pantry, and we received gifts of $398 for Kodiak Baptist Mission. (Since then, we’ve received a total of $897.) We also collected 162 more soup and food labels for KBM’s van project.

We had our Toy Boat Regatta where kids of all ages raced boats and hauled canned goods around our “kiddie pool island.” The event was great fun, and we felt God’s love touch down!

Thank you also to the Whittier First Baptist Church for participating!

Yes they cost a little more than the 10 cents a can shown in this advertisement but most of us still eat a can now and then. You and your church should think about becoming a collection point for Campbell’s Soup labels. KBM can get a free 15 passenger van with 1.5 million labels. 1.5 million may seem insurmountable but if every American Baptist contributed just one label a week, our denomination could get two vans a week. So take the first step and begin collecting them yourself and then consider collecting from everyone in your church.

We are calling out to all of the military personnel, civilian federal employees and US Postal Service employees to designate KBM to receive your CFC contributions. We are asking that each of you just work one hour a month for us so that we can work for the kids of Kodiak. It is easy to do, just fill out a CFC pledge card and designate KBM as the recipient (CFC organization code #5187) and return it to your keyworker. This is just another easy way that you can give a little and help KBM at the same time.

Please pray for Joyce Smith as she continues to recover from serious surgery. She is up and doing well but will be in need of your prayer as the busy Easter season is coming up. The services in the Ouzinkie Chapel are special event for the village but do require a lot of preparation on Joyce’s part.

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