| About forty miles north of the Arctic Circle in northwestern Alaska
is Shungnak
, an Eskimo village, set on a bluff overlooking the Kobuk River and flanked
by the beautiful mountains of the Brooks Range. The Seventh-day Adventist
Alaska Mission began work in that area in 1968-69. Over the years, task
force workers and pastors have worked in this village to share the love
of Jesus and His gospel. In the early days of the work there, the Adventist
Mission was able to acquire a piece of property in the village and a couple
years later, the materials for a small house and church were donated to
the Mission by Harris Pine Mills of Pendleton, Oregon.
Time passed, and eventually the mission work in Shungnak slowed and came to a standstill. A few years passed with only the sound of silence in the little mission church. In 1999, a request came to the Alaska Conference from an individual wishing to purchase the property in Shungnak. After some consideration it was decided to again begin work in that region instead of selling the property. In December of 1999, Delta and Tok churches volunteered to adopt Shungnak as a mission project and began planning for a summer of 2000 project launch. In mid-July, three small planes departed Fairbanks loaded with a team of four adults and five teens with their luggage, food, VBS supplies, tools, paint, windows and a variety of other things that would be needed for the project. Because the facility had not been used in some time there was a need for much cleanup both inside and out; grass and brush was cut, painting and repairs were done. The children of Shungnak all but moved in with us. From early in the morning till very late at night, and no, it wasn't dark, they would be with us, laughing, playing and wanting to help or just watch us. The first year, home conveniences were limited to cold running water in the kitchen sink only, and a little path to a not-so-private-spot in the bushes where more often than not, mosquitoes and little eyes were upon you. Baths were taken in the Kobuk River, which was a very refreshing experience to say the least. Many of the village children would join us in the river each day for a swim. We had 53 children attend VBS that first year, their ages ranging from 3 to 17. Wow! What a thrill it was to see as many as twelve teens (ages 13-17) crowd into a tiny little room and listen eagerly to the Bible story and see the story come alive with felts on a felt board. With four VBS seasons in Shungnak behind us now, I look back and see many ways God has been working in the Alaska bush. There are many wonderful stories we could share of how individual lives, both young and old, have been touched. Each year we have a few new team members and some new attendees at VBS, but one thing remains the same, Jesus is still in th business of bringing hope to the hopeless, joy to the sorrowing, forgiveness to those burdened down with guilt from sin. Terry Pflugrad Jeanie K
|