Travel Adventure

What an adventure!  Nothing is ever dull when you are serving the Lord!  There was a huge storm predicted to come through Kalskag the day I was going to leave for the weekend to visit my kids in Anchorage. It would have grounded all planes. Many of us prayed and the Lord, Master of the wind and sea, blew the storm north to the Bering Sea and the Friday I flew out the weather was calm!  Praise the Lord!  The first leg of my journey on the little 6 seater plane was turbulent but made it into Aniak, a larger village where I can catch a larger plane (19 seater) to Anchorage. 

When I arrived in Aniak, the plane to Anchorage was delayed...twice.  Then at 2:00 the airlines announced (the lady at the counter talking loudly) that the plane to Anchorage was cancelled.  All planes were grounded.  No one was going anywhere!  I had never been in Aniak.  Was there even a hotel or place to stay?  I must have looked lost because a white haired lady asked if I knew of a place to stay in Aniak. She would become my new friend. Just by the brief encounter with her I knew she was a Christian. I asked around to a couple other stranded travelers and my new friend called a couple phone numbers.  The first place was full.  The second place had a couple of rooms. 

After getting my suitcase back from the airlines, a young man came and picked us up in a little pick up truck.  The three of us packed into the front seat of the truck and drove around the airport to a hostel.  The Aniak General Store was just around the corner so we were able to get some lunch and breakfast for the morning.  The hostel provided dinner and the people were very hospitable to us stranded travelers.

Upon talking more to my new friend, Ronna, I found she was an ordained minister and was one of Mark Ausdahl's Bible College Teachers at Far North Bible College back in the 90's.  We had a great time of fellowship and prayer.  I called Mark in Kalskag and the two were able to reconnect over the phone after all these years.  Ronna came to another village, Anvik, for an art conference that was suppose to last 4 days, but the Lord delayed her 3 weeks.  I told her it was because the Lord wanted me to meet her!  It was definitely a divine appointment (like Saul's lost donkeys in 1 Samuel 9).  We spent the afternoon doing pop-up books and other paper crafts.

Little did I know that God had other divine appointments for me during my 24 hour stay in Aniak.  I met the owners of the Aniak General Store, Jimmy and Jody.  I have wanted to meet them for the last year but never had the chance.  The hostel was in their home and Jody made the most amazing Shrimp Scampi ever!  I was able to talk to them about what the Lord was doing in Kalskag.  I now have two great friends in Aniak!  If I'm ever stuck again I can call on them.  God is so good.

But that's not all!  When I arrived back at the Aniak Era terminal (small building with a counter and a few seats) at the appointed time I met Trooper Kim and Trooper James, who service many smaller villages, including Kalskag.  I wanted to meet Trooper Kim and knew this was my chance.  I approached her and introduced myself.  She had heard positive things about me, too.  We must have talked over an hour waiting for my plane from Anchorage to come to Aniak and fly us all back to Anchorage.  What a treat! When she comes back into Kalskag she is going to come over and we'll invite a couple other lady friends.  She says, "we'll have a ladies night out!"  In the meantime, Trooper James flew to Kalskag for a day trip but arrived back in Aniak a half hour later.  They flew out but one mile out of Kalskag the pilot turned around because the wind was too strong to land!  I would have not been able to make it out of Kalskag on Saturday.  Friday morning was my only open window to fly into Aniak. Thus meeting Ronna, Jimmy & Jody, Trooper Kim and Trooper James!  Only God could have organized everyone's schedule...just all divine appointments.  And all in 24 hours!

Finally left Aniak and made it to Anchorage where I was warmly greeted by all my kids.  Sweet family reunion.  I feel so loved!

Christmas List Almost Complete

Nearly all the children in Kalskag have a sponsor for a Christmas gift! We need people to sponsor children under 3 years old. We are thinking of giving diapers and possibly infant milk if needed. Baby toys or warm hats & mittens are another idea for gifts. If you are interested in sponsoring a child or two let me know and I can give a first name and age of a child.  Thank you for making Christmas for Kalskag kids brighter this year! Lord bless you. 

Wrap the gifts and securely attach the name of the child to the gift and send to:

Calvary Missions Christmas

P.O. Box 99

Kalskag, AK 99607

Birthday Greetings

A Kalskag friend texted me in the evening of my birthday, October 8^th and asked if I had my VHF radio. After I affirmed it he asked me to turn it on.  I thought there was going to be a special emergency announcement about the inclement weather for people in the village.  We were having a severe wind & rain storm.

I listened to the announcement: “Happy Birthday, Shelly!” then another person announced birthday greetings.  It began a chain reaction!  I listened and thanked adults, children, friends, parents and community members!

At the end one five year old girl got back on the radio and I can hear her whispering over air waves, “Ms. Shellllllllllyyyyyy….. Ms. Shelllllllyyyy…I’m suppose to be asleep…”  Everyone in the village heard her whispering her top secret message to me. 

The next morning several more people wished me a happy birthday.  Many of them heard this little girl…we all laughed!!  Best Birthday EVER!  Quyanna!

Christmas in Kalskag Project

Calvary Mission’s big project this year is to provide a Christmas gift for every child/student in the villages ages 0-18.  Christmas gifts are hard for parents to get due to finances and having to order everything online.  Many children receive no gifts.  With the help of Larry Hobbs in Louisiana and many people across the states the children of Kalskag will have a Christmas gift this year!

If you or your church would like to participate in our Christmas project please contact me by email:
ToughAlaskaChick@gmail.com and I can send you some information.  You can adopt a child, family or children in a particular school. 

Thank you for helping us make 220 children in Kalskag very happy and blessed this Christmas.  For those who will be buying a gift feel free to write a little note to the child or the parents.

Quyanna!  Thank you!

 

 

Calvary Missions, Kalskag, Alaska

Calvary Missions, located in Upper Downtown Kalskag directly on the edge of the Kuskokwim River, is an interdenominational church. It was established in 1959 by missionaries, Martin and Audrey Ausdahl.  Today, their son, Mark Ausdahl pastors the church. The two story building was built in 1986.   The church is a landmark on the Kuskokwim River as it has a yellow lighted large cross on the top of the building providing a beacon of spiritual light to people passing Kalskag by boat, snowmachine or plane.  Preaching is straight from the Word of God.  The congregation spends time in worship with hymns and choruses and in prayer.  A fellowship dinner follows each Sunday Service.  This church building can hold about 35 people.  It serves people from both villages since this is the only Protestant church in the area.

 

The Lord has given me the honor and brought me out to Kalskag from Wasilla, Alaska in the summer of 2012 to work along side Mark and minister in this church and village.

What Calvary Missions does to help

In 2012 businesses, schools and churches in Wasilla, Alaska launched a “Coats for Kalskag” Drive.  They collected over 100 coats and mailed them out to us that we gave away on Halloween.  In Kalskag we called it “Coats and Candy.”  The coats were gone within the first hour.  Weeks later people were still asking for a coat. We attempted to get these people a coat.


In January a girl scout group collected clothing and boots  and we handed those items out at one of the schools. The kids were so happy and grateful for their new clothes, toothbrushes and books.  Prom dresses were mailed out and we were able to bless teenage girls with a beautiful dress for Prom in May.



People from the lower 48 have mailed up new socks, shoes, hats, scarves, and other clothing items for the children in Kalskag.  We have distributed them with "no strings attached."

 

Dinner is served to the children once a week during “Kids Club”, a weekly Bible Study for children/teens in the village. Last spring, 23 children were saved through our Kids Club. We encourage the children to respect and honor the elders and teachers by picking up trash in the village and around the schools, baking cookies and giving them away and other service helps with needy elders.  Besides Kids Club, Vacation Bible School is a ministry we do during the summer between fishing and berry picking season. 

 

 

 

For adults we offer a Bible Study called "Coffee with Jesus."  The people are so hungry for the Word of God that one night a week was not enough and they asked to meet two evenings a week. We offer soup or light dinner for the participants.  The meals are provided by people who want to donate and mail us food, such as dry soups, breads, pasta & pasta sauce, and crackers to help feed the adults and children. Many of these items are just not available in the village and if they are the items are quite expensive. Bibles are also sent out to Kalskag by people wanting to donate to the church.  We can hardly keep the Bibles stocked that are sent.  There is always someone who would like one.

 

Women's Brunch was a popular outreach I did twice last year. Several ladies looked forward to gathering together for community fellowship and a variety of yummy brunch items.

 

THIS YEAR'S MINISTRIES

This year we plan to have a dinner for the elders of the Villages.  We will serve native food and have it in our church building. In the Spring we plan to have a teacher appreciation dinner for the teachers of the schools. 

 

Our Big Project is the Kalskag Christmas Project...coming up next!

 

 

What do people do in Kalskag for recreation?

Depending on the season there are many different activities both inside and outside. 

During the long daylight hours of summer/fall, the Eskimos pick berries, hunt and fish, swim in the river and camp in the wilderness or at their fish camps.  They harvest beavers, bears, moose, salmon, birds and other animals to provide food during the winter and skins to keep warm by making mukluks (boots) or molokai’s (hats) or gloves.  Coats are made out of seal skin, beaver fur or other animals such as rabbit, lynx, fox, or martins.  A foot race known as "Rip the Ridge" is an annual event in September and participants run about 5 miles up a mountain, across the ridge and down to the finish line.  Many people participate by running or volunteering at check points.

 

 

During the winter/spring the Eskimos ice fish, go on snow machine rides out of the village, make fires and have cook outs roasting moose meat, hot dogs & marshmallows over the open flame.  They will pull the children up hills on sleds and slide down the mountain. There is fiddle dancing and native dancing in the village.  People gather together for potlucks, community picnics or feeds.  There are cross country skiing trails which is a favorite way for people to get exercise during our very short daylight in the winter. The Kuskokwim 300 Dog Sled Race comes through Kalskag in mid-January.  This fun event brings out people to volunteer or just to cheer on the mushers.  Sports games are very popular and games or tournaments take place every weekend November through April.

 

 

Unfortunately alcohol is a problem in the village.  People will buy a bottle of liquor for $100 instead of provide their children with necessary adequate clothing or even food.  The drunks can be violent and because there is no police in the village, people fend for themselves and take the law in their own hands.  Children need adequate clothing, shoes, boots, warm coats and a safe place to go when feeling threatened or in danger.  Bingo is another set back with families.  Parents abandoned their children to play bingo.  They lose a lot of money then they drink and the cycle continues. 

Kalskag Conveniences

Schools

The children from both villages are combined into the 3 schools:  Elementary School grades Preschool through 3^rd, an Intermediate School Grades 4-6 and the High School Grades 7-12.  There is a school bus that runs the children from their bus stops to the three different schools.  Kalskag is in the Kuspuk School District (located in Aniak).  Since the poverty level is low every child has free breakfast and lunch at school.  For many children, these are their only meals of the day.

Conveniences

The two main stores, Ausdahl Mercantile in Kalskag and Anica in Lower Kalskag, carry groceries and some hardware items.  The items can cost triple what they are in the lower 48. due to shipping costs to the Bush. For example, a half gallon of milk is $8, a pound of hamburger is $8, and a gallon of ice cream is $35.  There are no restaurants, hotels, banks, coffee shops, video stores, theaters, clothing stores or even thrift shops.  We do not have a Village Police Office (VPO) or Fire Department.

Medical Facilities
There is a medical clinic in each village with Health Aids running the clinics.  Any major medical emergency will be flown out to Bethel to the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corp.  Expectant Mothers are flown out to Bethel or Anchorage one month before they are due to have their baby in a hospital.  Physicians, optometrists  & dentists from other areas such as Anchorage or Bethel will travel to the village once or twice a year to do well child check ups, dental check ups and eye appointments. 

Travel

The main mode of transportation around the villages is a 4 wheeler or snow machine.  A few people have cars or trucks.  The school bus will pick up people walking if they flag down the bus. There is a gas pump between the two villages. Unleaded gas is $6.70 per gallon.  Many people walk!  I live about 1/2 mile from school and I walk everyday.