The Promise of God

This is the 5th year that the Kako Camp craft has been designed, produced, packaged and funded by our dear friends Don and Barb in Woodland Washington. Shipping was paid for by our friends at Islands Community Church in Friday Harbor Washington.

The theme was "The Promise of God" based on the story of the Great Flood in Genesis and the promise that God made to Noah to never again destroy the world with a flood. The rainbow is the sign of His promise and reminds us of His faithfulness.

The story lends itself to teaching of the promises that God has made to His Children and encourages the kids to trust Him to keep His word that He will neve leave them or forsake them.

250 campers from eight year olds to 18 year olds enjoyed the process as well as the end product. Margo has enjoyed teaching crafts at Kako for 7 years. Each craft kit contained Alaska versions of Noah's Ark animals, a moose and a bear. Thank you Don and Barb and Islands Community Church.

Jeremy and Matthew at Kako

Jeremy and Matthew came for a short visit the second week in June. Here we are at the Bethel airport ready to fly to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Kako's 206

Gary and Jeremy went fishing on Kako Creek about 10:00 PM

"At the cross, at the cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away, it was there by faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day."

Making Grandma dizzy!

On top of Kako Mountain. The boys drove Grandpa's four wheeler to the top to deliver a cooler of drinking water and paper cups to 40 thirsty Junior High campers

Matthew was fearless like his dad, exploring the outcroppings on the ridge of the mountain.

Niece, Brandi was also visiting Kako and helped out with camp for two weeks. Here is the whole family on top of the mountain with Kako airstrip in the background.

Matthew painting a Noah's Ark wood craft in the Craft Barn. He did a great job, but he really would rather be out driving Grandpa's four wheeler.

The boys were responsible for hauling all the camper's bags to their cabins when they unloaded the planes. That kept them busy all day the first day of camp.

Jeremy, helping out with the Paint Ball game. Our campers play with sling shots rather than paint ball guns. A new concept for Jeremy, but he had a great time and the kids enjoyed his help.


Pushing Grandpa on the swings

All worn out after a busy day at camp. Thank you God for bringing them to Kako!

Emma's Wedding

Margo was thrilled to attend her nieces wedding in Redding California on May 9th. Emma and Chris were married in a beautiful park on the banks of the Sacramento River.

The siblings together again! Harold from Salem Oregon, Margo from Alaska, Trula (mother of the bride), Rea from Florida and Shannon from California. We love any excuse to get together and we can't think of a better excuse than a wedding!

Matron of Honor, Emma's big sister Aimee and her son Charlie who was one of the ring bearers.

Great Nephews Miles, Scott and Louis getting the best use out of their fancy wedding clothes!

Beautiful cousins, Katie, (Shannon's daughter), and Ella, (Aimee's daughter.)

Great nephew Scott, ring bearer and great niece, McKenna, flower girl

Mother of the Bride and Emma at the rehearsal dinner in Trula's back yard in Red Bluff

March 2009

Alaska's governor, Sarah Palin and Margo met in the village of Russian Mission when the governor and Franklin Graham came to distribute food packages to the needy families in the village. What a thrill for Margo.

Gary co-taught the "By This Name" Bible Study Course with Tom Leger in Fairbanks. Here he is holding a model of Noah's Ark and teaching the lesson of obedience to God's Word.

Gary turned 60 in March and the boys and Margo bought him a new rocker-recliner for his birthday. An Eskimo friend of ours, Henry, told him that when a man turns 60 he is entitled to a nap. Now he has a comfortable place to do that. Our neighbors gave him some new hip waders so he's all set! I'm not sure if he's set for a fishing trip or a nap.

We attended a Family Life "Weekend to Remember" in Anchorage along with Dave and Vera, our friends, Thane and Chasity from Fairbanks, George and Eunice from Marshall and Joe and Becky from Russian Mission.

A new gas powered propane pump was donated to Kako by supporters in Friday Harbor. Now instead of filling our propane bottles by gravity feed, which took two days to fill one bottle, we can now fill 30 in three hours. We are grateful. This picture was taken at Kako's fuel farm at the river. Gary is actually standing on the top of the large propane tank that is covered with snow.

Winter in Alaska

Here is Gary out checking a trap line. This is a trapper's cabin built by a former Kako missionary about 30 miles round trip from Kako. He and Ray were setting traps for martin, lynx and wolverine.

Margo and Cayla going out to dinner at Donlin Creek Mine during the Kako Women's Retreat at Snow Gulch in October.

Best friends. Kira and Alissa and their mommies, Mary Ann and Cayla

Kako Women's Retreat. Vera, Carolyn, Cayla, Eunice and Margo. What a special time of rest, relaxation and fellowship hosted by our friend Carolyn at her home at Snow Gulch
Gold Mine.

A fierce January wind storm lifted the roof on Kako's hangar building. The guys were able to pull the roofing back over the gaping hole with the help of the front end loader and cables, but major repairs will need to be done when the weather is more forgiving. We are grateful that no one was hurt and the planes weren't damaged.

This is our home in the right front of the picture and the row of staff and guest houses on the hill behind our house.

Florida

We visited with my sister Rea and her husband Pat in Clearwater before Thanksgiving. Here we are in Downtown Disney in Orlando. We were blessed to spend 10 days visiting with Pat and Rea, their daughter Monica and husband Bubba, their son Matthew and daughter Madison and their son Marcus, wife Jocelyn and baby Callie.

Rea and her grandsons, Jordan and Logan at TGI Friday's in Olando

Pat took us on a tour of Kennedy Space Center

Walking on Clearwater Beach. I have to admit that the beautiful white sand was a bit cold, but I couldn't resist!

Rea and Pat and their grandaughter, Madison at Fort De Soto on Tampa Bay

Out West

We flew from Orlando to Seattle and our kids met us at the airport. We had a fun family dinner at Gary's brother Jim's and spent the night at their home in Everett. I guess Matthew and Jeremy were sticking out their tongues for the camera.

Grandma and the boys watching a movie at Uncle Jim's. Dylan, 8, Mathew, 4 and Nathan 4.

The next day we headed South to Salem to spend Thanksgiving with Marg0's brother's family. Along the way we stopped to have lunch with our dear friends Dave and Helen who were traveling North to spend Thanksgiving with their kids in Friday Harbor. What a treat to visit with them.

The traditional Thanksgiving game of Hearts is pretty serious business at Uncle Harold's, unless you are four. Gary, Randy, Harold, Adam, Chelsea, Jeremy and Matthew.