Gary's brother Lon and his wife Janet in their home in Wenatchee, Washington. We are celebrating Lon and Janet's 40th wedding anniversary.
Lon and Janet's daughter, Carol and her daughter, Emma
Son Brad, his wife Lindsey and sons Spencer, Wesley and Elliot
Janet's mother Jesse, Janet, Emma, Margo and Carol
Eunice Landlord, babysitting little Titus while his mom and dad, Mike and Cayla Boettcher lead AWANA games at our first Kids Club in the village of Marshall. George and Eunice have moved to Marshall to minister to the people of that village. Although they have left Kako, they remain part of the Kako Family.
We were a bit overwhelmed with the response to our Marshall Kids Club when 45 kids showed up! There were 11 and 12 kids on each game team. They kept their leaders hopping!
Carolyn Lyman hosted a Kako Womens' Retreat at her home at Snow Gulch Mine. From left to right. Vera Penz, Carolyn Lyman, Cayla Boettcher, Eunice Landlord and Margo
Gary and several men from local villages attended a conference at the Moravian Bible Seminary in Bethel. Here they are relaxing together in the dorm.
Gary bagged his first bull moose on the second day of the season! It may be small, but it is sure good eating. Mike's teasing him about his trophy antlers.
The Yukon River near Kako Landing
The barge off loads fuel, building supplies and equipment up and down the river twice a year. Here it is off loading our fall fuel supply at Kako Landing on it's return trip up-river.
The Fuel Farm at Kako Landing. Fuel is hauled from here by 4 wheeler or snow machine, 8 miles to Kako. Getting the washed out bridge repaired will allow us to haul fuel with a fuel truck, saving many trips and wear and tear on the machinery.
Vern, a volunteer mechanic, from Washington State, doing major repairs on our D6 CAT. The cat is needed to do the bridge repair work that will allow the fuel truck to transport the fuel. There are steel girders at the wash-out site that will replace the old bridge and should prevent wash-outs in the future.
Gary hauling propane tanks from Kako Landing with his 4 wheeler
Kevin and Mike quartering Mike's moose before loading it on the 4 wheelers to transport to Kako. Kako needs at least 4 moose a year to supply meat for the staff families, retreats and Kids Camps. George shot one this fall as well, so we need at least one more. A cow season opens in December and the guys will travel 50+ miles on the frozen river by snow machines for this hunt.
From 46F in Alaska to 103F in less than 24 hours!
Sand Castle on the beach in La Paz, Mexico
Hacienda Del Sol - Our home, just outside the city of La Paz
Our private swimming pool
Baylano
One of many ice cream breaks!
Our Morning Counseling Sessions in our little Hacienda
A Cruise in La Paz Bay to go snorkeling and swim with the Seals
As soon as we jumped off the boat, the seals slipped off the rocks to swim with us!
Mango on a Stick - 20 pesos
Down town La Paz boardwalk and beach
Junior High boys at the archery range, not caring that it's a cold, wet day.
Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church VBS donated money for new playground equipment. We have added four new swings, and a trapeze bar with rings. A slide is ordered, but has not arrived yet. Thank you FHPC Kids!
This group of young men from California came a week before camp to help finish the pavilion that was started last summer. They got the sides up and the screens built to enclose the building that houses the swimming pool, ping pong table and foose ball. Now they are serving as camp counselors, activity directors, dish washers, and wherever else they are needed. They have developed a way to heat the pool by building a fire in a wood burner outside the pavilion and circulating the pool water through a water jacket. They have actually raised the water temperature from 36F to 61F! The kids would swim regardless, but how much more fun to have it warm! (relatively)
Now the kids can play and swim in the pavilion relatively bug free!
Carolyn and Margo serving a little cheer and TLC to hungry Elementary Campers during the first week.
Tie dying T-Shirts in the Craft Barn. The kids enjoy the process almost as much as the end product!
Henry and his mother, Virginia came to Family Camp for the first time.
Tata, Anna and their boys, and one more on the way!
It's ok Brother, the lady only wants to take our picture!
Kevin, MaryAnn and baby Kyra, having dinner with us before they left Kako for Fish Camp
An unprovoked bear attack on Gary's snow machine led to a couple of all night vigils, waiting for the culprit to show up again.
The thing continued to terrorize the neighborhood for two more nights, dumping out bags of aluminum cans and prowling around the chicken coop. The third night, Gary was determined to shoot it.
We waited up with the window open so we could hear the thing. Around 12:30 pm we heard something thump against our cache door. We looked out the window and there he was standing on his hind feet, with his front paws pushing on the cache door. Gary had his rifle ready and when it got back on all fours, he shot him. One shot in the head was all it took. Our neighbors, Mike and Sheldon came to help gut it and hang it in the airplane hangar.
The young male black bear measured about 6ft. and weighed around 300 lbs. Gary skinned it out the next day. He hopes to tan the hide and make a bear skin rug for our living room
He said his back was getting tired by the time he got to the head! We cut and wrapped it the next day and had bear steaks for supper. It doesn't replace the almost new snow machine seat, but revenge never tasted so good!
