Alaska, America's last frontier. 00:00:01.06\00:00:03.93 The land of vast beauty and endless miles of open wilderness 00:00:04.23\00:00:08.32 Airplanes are the life blood of Alaska. 00:00:08.35\00:00:11.81 Only aviation can connect communities, 00:00:12.51\00:00:14.93 where there are no roads with violent weather 00:00:14.96\00:00:17.61 and extreme terrains make this 00:00:17.64\00:00:20.27 the most dangerous skies in America. 00:00:20.30\00:00:23.08 Adventist World Aviation has two outposts positioned 00:00:23.11\00:00:26.67 in north and south Alaska. Hauling critical supplies, 00:00:26.70\00:00:30.82 rescue personnel, and the gospel message to the remote villages 00:00:30.85\00:00:35.16 all across the Alaskan region. 00:00:35.19\00:00:37.86 Without aviation these Alaskan villages would be unreachable. 00:00:37.89\00:00:42.23 This is Adventist World Aviation OFF THE GRID 00:00:44.72\00:00:48.77 The people of Alaska endure many harsh realities. 00:00:49.97\00:00:53.06 The weather, the remoteness, basic survival itself, 00:00:53.09\00:00:57.96 are all drastic problems up in America's last frontier. 00:00:57.99\00:01:02.40 Unfortunately, another extreme Alaskans face 00:01:02.83\00:01:07.37 is the suicide rate among their people. 00:01:07.40\00:01:09.66 It is said, that the rate of suicide is 500 times greater 00:01:09.69\00:01:14.14 in Alaska then in the lower forty eight. 00:01:14.17\00:01:17.23 While no one knows the exact reason 00:01:17.26\00:01:20.18 why suicide is so prevalent among the native Alaskans, 00:01:20.21\00:01:23.42 it's a bitter reality that they each face in their lifetime. 00:01:23.45\00:01:28.14 AWA has 2 mission posts in Alaska. 00:01:28.17\00:01:32.31 The missionaries and pilots stationed here are regularly 00:01:32.34\00:01:36.96 faced with the challenging issues of suicide 00:01:36.99\00:01:39.90 among their village members. 00:01:39.93\00:01:42.12 Let's talk about some of the mission work, that is here. 00:01:42.15\00:01:47.93 Tell us about the suicide rate here in Alaska. 00:01:47.96\00:01:51.08 Suicide among young people age 16 to 30 has been on the rise. 00:01:53.07\00:01:59.45 all across the United States for some time. 00:01:59.48\00:02:02.98 But here in Alaska, the rate is about 500 % higher 00:02:03.01\00:02:07.53 than in the lower 48. 00:02:07.56\00:02:09.90 Some of the reasons, which could be affecting that rate 00:02:09.93\00:02:19.24 is the lack of jobs, for young people in a small native village 00:02:19.27\00:02:28.01 where they might only be half a dozen jobs that are available 00:02:28.04\00:02:31.26 through the local school, or the 1 or 2 local stores 00:02:31.29\00:02:37.79 that might be in the village. So high rate of unemployment. 00:02:37.82\00:02:40.81 Everyone has TV, so they see all these images of 00:02:42.42\00:02:49.09 consumerism and materialistic success and it creates a desire 00:02:49.12\00:02:55.80 to have what they think other's have. 00:02:55.83\00:02:57.77 And so there is a wide disparity between what they see 00:02:57.80\00:03:02.62 that they are living with and what they see on TV 00:03:02.65\00:03:06.19 and it creates a disconnect. 00:03:06.22\00:03:09.75 So they question the value of continuing to live. 00:03:12.82\00:03:16.87 Coupled with almost every suicide that we are 00:03:16.90\00:03:22.67 familiar with is the presence of alcohol. 00:03:22.70\00:03:25.77 It seems to push them over the edge in their discouragement, 00:03:25.80\00:03:32.51 and their depression takes over in the presence of alcohol. 00:03:32.54\00:03:37.42 And they take their lives. Young man more frequently, 00:03:37.45\00:03:44.42 than young women, but they are both affected. 00:03:44.45\00:03:48.07 and I think another factor, which impacts this issue 00:03:48.10\00:03:54.29 is theology. 00:03:54.32\00:03:57.62 Because by and large the largest percent of the Alaskan natives 00:04:01.25\00:04:08.26 are Christian, they call themselves Christian 00:04:08.29\00:04:11.14 of one denomination or another. And they've all been taught, 00:04:11.17\00:04:16.63 that when you die, you go to Heaven. 00:04:16.66\00:04:18.72 That is the option that everybody aspires to. 00:04:18.75\00:04:25.15 You go to heaven when you die. Virtually every native person 00:04:25.18\00:04:29.37 is sent there by the preacher - so to speak 00:04:29.40\00:04:31.80 And if their favorite aunt, or uncle, or their grandmother 00:04:31.83\00:04:38.55 if they went to heaven when they died, 00:04:38.58\00:04:42.10 than my life is pretty miserable I think I'll go there too. 00:04:42.13\00:04:46.18 So every funeral, every memorial service 00:04:47.21\00:04:51.21 reinforces this understanding. 00:04:51.24\00:04:54.51 I believe it has some impact on how young people feel. 00:04:54.54\00:04:59.00 We are trying to bring the truth of Scripture to these people. 00:04:59.03\00:05:03.27 The truth about what happens 00:05:03.30\00:05:05.02 when the world is going to come to an end. 00:05:05.05\00:05:08.30 What happens when your life comes to an end. 00:05:08.33\00:05:11.30 What happens to people, who die? Where do they go? What happens? 00:05:11.33\00:05:16.08 We try to bring the truth of the Scripture, because it is 00:05:16.11\00:05:19.67 very much a corrective to what brings on suicide. 00:05:19.70\00:05:25.43 The message that we, Seventh-day Adventist have, 00:05:25.46\00:05:29.64 can bring people hope, it can bring them a reason to live. 00:05:29.67\00:05:35.20 A reason to move forward, pursue education, 00:05:35.23\00:05:39.76 the betterment of the world in which they live. 00:05:39.79\00:05:42.35 The goal of the AWA is to bring the good news of the gospel 00:05:42.68\00:05:47.53 to hurting people all around the world, this includes Alaska, 00:05:47.56\00:05:52.11 where they are making great advances to combat alcoholism, 00:05:52.14\00:05:56.65 depression and suicide rates in their area. 00:05:56.68\00:06:00.58 Most of the outreach that seems to work at this point at least 00:06:00.61\00:06:05.33 is just friendship with the local people, 00:06:05.36\00:06:09.12 in the community and stuff. 00:06:09.15\00:06:11.87 I worked with the school district for about 3 years here 00:06:11.90\00:06:16.93 and made some good friends there I just ran into a lady 00:06:16.97\00:06:20.33 at the post office and she is dealing with some 00:06:20.36\00:06:23.41 pretty serious health issues and stuff, but she is always happy 00:06:23.44\00:06:27.07 to see me, gives me a big hug. She knows that I am a Christian 00:06:27.10\00:06:31.39 so she is free to share what is going on in her life, and knows 00:06:31.42\00:06:38.19 that I am going to pray for her and with her 00:06:38.22\00:06:39.94 and give her a big hug back. And wish her the best. 00:06:39.97\00:06:43.97 I try to just keep track of what is happening with her. 00:06:44.00\00:06:46.68 I think that is the only way that these people are really 00:06:46.71\00:06:52.35 going to be impacted by us, is whether 00:06:52.38\00:06:56.39 we care about them or not. 00:06:56.42\00:06:58.04 Jim and Linda do much more than just friendship evangelism 00:07:08.05\00:07:11.43 to fight alcoholism and suicide rates in their area. 00:07:11.46\00:07:14.64 In fact, they even employ the use of aircraft in this battle. 00:07:14.67\00:07:19.31 They offer their aviation services to help rehabilitate 00:07:19.34\00:07:24.01 native Alaskans by flying them to receive professional help. 00:07:24.04\00:07:27.93 Jim regularly flies clients, supplies and staff to a remote 00:07:27.96\00:07:33.85 facility named "Spud Farm". 00:07:33.88\00:07:36.45 The local social service provider has operated a remote 00:07:36.48\00:07:43.58 drug and alcohol rehabilitation program 00:07:43.61\00:07:47.23 located in a rural setting, about 12 miles from the nearest 00:07:47.26\00:07:53.56 village. It is located by bush runway. 00:07:53.60\00:08:00.11 For the past 3 years, approximately, Adventist World 00:08:00.14\00:08:04.53 Aviation had the responsibility of transporting clients 00:08:04.56\00:08:10.26 to and from. Bringing in supplies of groceries and other 00:08:10.29\00:08:15.15 necessities. And providing transportation for the rotation 00:08:15.18\00:08:24.81 of staff and support people to and from that establishment 00:08:24.84\00:08:30.28 We have also, upon invitation of the staff 00:08:30.31\00:08:35.57 provided music programs on weekends for the benefit 00:08:35.60\00:08:41.48 of the staff and clients. 00:08:41.51\00:08:44.13 They have requested that we come back again and again. 00:08:44.16\00:08:49.16 We have used Adventist World Aviation aircraft 00:08:49.20\00:08:53.53 for support of this effort. 00:08:53.56\00:08:55.24 Hi, my name is Loddy Gaffy Hi, my name is Roy Davis 00:08:55.27\00:09:00.89 We are traditional counselors at Spud 00:09:00.92\00:09:04.79 Spud is a recovery center for 00:09:04.83\00:09:08.54 families and clients for addiction and alcohol. 00:09:08.57\00:09:13.14 Spud is remotely located, so its clients can escape from their 00:09:13.75\00:09:18.58 addictions and truly be surrounded by nature and healing 00:09:18.61\00:09:22.54 In Alaska, most suicides are alcohol related. 00:09:22.57\00:09:26.49 By having a rehab center focused on dealing with addictions, 00:09:26.52\00:09:30.72 the rate of suicide is diminished. 00:09:30.75\00:09:34.31 Spud is a remote place, there is only an airport there 00:09:34.34\00:09:40.51 where we could fly in the clients. 00:09:40.54\00:09:43.99 Spud is located 13 miles out of Shageluk 00:09:44.02\00:09:48.22 We cannot drive from Kotzebue or from many of the other villages 00:09:48.25\00:09:53.27 The most common way to go to Spud is by airport over there. 00:09:53.30\00:09:59.12 Aviation is essential to reach many places in Alaska, 00:09:59.15\00:10:04.38 including the Spud Farm. 00:10:04.41\00:10:06.53 Here in northwest Alaska, they are 400 miles away 00:10:06.56\00:10:11.74 from the closest road system connecting to North America. 00:10:11.77\00:10:15.45 There is no infrastructure connecting the villages together 00:10:15.48\00:10:19.59 All travel must be done in the air. 00:10:19.62\00:10:22.69 So aviation is a vital component 00:10:22.72\00:10:25.97 that keeps the Spud Farm in existence. 00:10:26.00\00:10:29.27 Clients, personnel, counselors and supplies must all be flown 00:10:29.30\00:10:34.32 in and the Kincaid's are happy to help. 00:10:34.35\00:10:37.36 This is just one way that aircraft can be used 00:10:37.39\00:10:41.06 as a powerful mission tool to help fight against 00:10:41.09\00:10:44.09 the highest rates of suicide present in Alaska today. 00:10:44.12\00:10:48.77 It really helps for them to fly us there being religious 00:10:49.78\00:10:54.92 They are good towards clients traveling to Spud. 00:10:54.95\00:11:00.47 The Kincaid's not only use AWA aircraft to fly others 00:11:00.50\00:11:04.69 to the rehab center, they also 00:11:04.72\00:11:06.91 personally get involved themselves. They pack up their 00:11:06.94\00:11:10.39 guitars and hold music programs for the clients. 00:11:10.42\00:11:14.00 Through their songs, they lift the spirits of the patients, 00:11:14.03\00:11:18.71 and the staff. 00:11:18.74\00:11:20.35 When I was there one time, they flew in on a Saturday evening. 00:11:20.86\00:11:25.13 did some singing over there which was really, really, nice. 00:11:25.16\00:11:28.48 to have over there, I really enjoyed it, so did the clients. 00:11:28.51\00:11:33.30 Jim has flown the staff to work so many times that 00:11:33.51\00:11:36.98 he has created a good relationship with them. 00:11:37.01\00:11:39.46 They were real nice towards the clients and the staff 00:11:39.49\00:11:42.33 and we got along pretty good it was real nice for them to 00:11:42.36\00:11:46.79 Picking us up and taking us back. 00:11:48.50\00:11:51.68 We get along with the pilots, we get to know them personally. 00:11:51.71\00:11:57.08 That is good about it, we know each one and... 00:11:57.11\00:12:01.12 As we've gotten close to some of the people that we carry 00:12:01.83\00:12:05.55 back and forth, that are employees, like I was saying 00:12:05.58\00:12:09.07 at the medical, the rehab center just the different villages 00:12:09.10\00:12:17.22 we've gotten so we were on the first name bases 00:12:17.26\00:12:19.68 with those that travel with us frequently and they are 00:12:19.71\00:12:23.51 well aware that we don't fly on Sabbath, and often times 00:12:23.54\00:12:29.10 will adjust their schedule to fly either Sundays, or Friday 00:12:29.13\00:12:34.17 and than Sunday to go back, so they can fly with us. 00:12:34.20\00:12:37.57 They commented, that they liked the service that our pilots give 00:12:37.60\00:12:43.29 The friendliness, the encouragement that our Christian 00:12:43.32\00:12:49.53 pilots give to them, as they fly back and forth and that they 00:12:49.56\00:12:53.10 appreciate our use of experience that the pilots have 00:12:53.13\00:12:57.09 and they like to fly with us. So I think we've established 00:12:57.12\00:13:00.48 the reputation for good service and care for them as a person. 00:13:00.51\00:13:05.82 The area where we live of course is predominantly native American 00:13:10.96\00:13:16.98 Eskimo people and like a lot of those indigenes peoples they're 00:13:17.01\00:13:24.04 struggling very much with alcoholism, and drug related 00:13:24.07\00:13:30.73 addictions. They also have a real challenge, that they are 00:13:30.76\00:13:36.68 trying to live in two different worlds it seems. 00:13:36.71\00:13:39.98 They see things on the internet, and on TV, that are attractive, 00:13:40.60\00:13:45.47 that they want, but they still want to be connected to 00:13:45.50\00:13:51.40 their native heritage and the way that things have been done 00:13:51.43\00:13:57.33 in this area for centuries and that is a very difficult 00:13:57.36\00:14:01.36 thing to do, because once you start bringing in all the 00:14:01.39\00:14:06.77 different toys and electronic things, that lots of other 00:14:06.80\00:14:12.73 people in the world have, then you don't have time to do the 00:14:12.76\00:14:16.30 subsistence life style, or go out and hunt and it is not 00:14:16.33\00:14:19.81 necessary any more. They don't have to do that to survive. 00:14:19.91\00:14:23.08 And so it is very hard for the young people to see the need 00:14:23.11\00:14:26.72 for doing that. So I am challenged personally 00:14:26.75\00:14:31.44 how to reach people to help them see that there are needs 00:14:31.47\00:14:34.90 in their life, when they are trying to fill those needs with 00:14:34.93\00:14:38.27 all the gadgets and toys that other people are using as well. 00:14:38.30\00:14:42.54 The Alaska native people, are faced with many of the same 00:14:42.87\00:14:47.48 issues that emerging cultures around the world are faced with 00:14:47.51\00:14:53.22 today, that their traditional, cultural values are eroding. 00:14:53.25\00:14:59.19 The things that they were used to are suddenly changing 00:14:59.22\00:15:03.01 with the advance of technology and the advance 00:15:03.04\00:15:05.65 of consumer materialism. 00:15:05.68\00:15:08.67 What the native culture specifically in Alaska is faced 00:15:08.70\00:15:14.15 with is a lack of role models, who can help the young people 00:15:14.18\00:15:21.80 that are growing up right now to be able to walk 00:15:21.83\00:15:25.64 in more than one world. 00:15:25.67\00:15:27.09 They will be able to walk in the emerging world of technology. 00:15:27.12\00:15:32.57 And to be able to find purpose for their lives and be able 00:15:32.60\00:15:36.37 to make a contribution as citizens of this world, 00:15:36.40\00:15:41.39 and the world to come. 00:15:41.42\00:15:42.45 And so part of our challenge is to identify people who have a 00:15:43.01\00:15:50.22 who recognize a calling to make a contribution and try 00:15:52.71\00:15:59.02 to give them an opportunity. So we are in the business of 00:15:59.05\00:16:03.73 building people by helping them to pursue their visions. 00:16:03.76\00:16:08.55 There is a huge segment of young people that don't seem to have 00:16:08.96\00:16:20.71 a lot of hope for the future. And the suicide rate in this 00:16:20.74\00:16:24.64 area is very, very high. Higher than the national average 00:16:24.67\00:16:29.40 I think that is very much related to not knowing 00:16:29.80\00:16:34.54 how to fit into the world, and why the depression 00:16:34.57\00:16:38.16 that results from that. 00:16:38.19\00:16:39.64 Jim and Linda recognize the daily challenges of their 00:16:40.28\00:16:43.47 Native American neighbors. 00:16:43.50\00:16:44.95 Especially of those of the young adult population. 00:16:44.98\00:16:48.49 The Kincaid's are actively reaching out to young people 00:16:49.42\00:16:52.81 and encouraging them to flourish and expand their horizons. 00:16:52.84\00:16:57.84 One way they do this is by opening up their office to young 00:16:57.87\00:17:01.71 people and giving them the opportunity to work 00:17:01.74\00:17:05.11 and gain practical work experience. 00:17:05.14\00:17:08.16 We are in the process of trying to meet the challenges of Alaska 00:17:08.40\00:17:13.61 Alaska's native people by searching for young people 00:17:15.85\00:17:21.55 who are looking for an opportunity to advance 00:17:21.58\00:17:28.65 not only in this world, but in the world to come. 00:17:28.68\00:17:31.16 Give them an opportunity to go on a mission trip, to work 00:17:31.19\00:17:37.07 as one of our workers and to advance and go to college 00:17:37.10\00:17:42.37 and do something significant with their lives. 00:17:43.37\00:17:46.42 Because this culture, as many cultures in the world are 00:17:46.45\00:17:51.44 hurting for role models to lead the next generation 00:17:51.47\00:17:55.12 into the future. 00:17:55.15\00:17:56.56 My name is Kaylin Banks, I live in Kotzebue Alaska. I am a local 00:17:56.66\00:18:00.39 student, I have been working since the beginning of the 00:18:00.42\00:18:03.25 summer, 2011. It has helped me a lot. I learned a lot about 00:18:03.28\00:18:07.25 airplanes and how traveling to the different villages works. 00:18:07.28\00:18:11.67 How transporting people to different parts of Alaska 00:18:11.70\00:18:15.69 can really help the people and us. It is important to have 00:18:15.72\00:18:20.14 airplanes as a mode of transportation, because a lot 00:18:20.17\00:18:22.51 of the villages here don't have transportation methods, 00:18:22.54\00:18:25.50 such as cars, or trains that a lot of places in city areas do. 00:18:25.53\00:18:29.91 A lot of the seasons are different as well. 00:18:29.94\00:18:33.47 We don't have more than one transportation method. 00:18:33.50\00:18:38.75 available at all times. So we have to use airplanes 00:18:38.78\00:18:41.71 to make up for it in the future. I believe this has helped a lot. 00:18:41.74\00:18:47.64 I worked with really great people and it's just been really 00:18:47.67\00:18:51.49 humbling activity just seeing all the different people 00:18:51.52\00:18:54.44 that we transport day to day. 00:18:54.47\00:18:56.39 In small villages, there are very limited training 00:18:57.08\00:19:00.46 opportunities or ways to gain hands on experience. 00:19:00.49\00:19:03.79 Jobs and training opportunities are very few. So by opening up 00:19:03.82\00:19:09.48 their office to young adults, they are giving them substantial 00:19:09.51\00:19:13.20 career advancement opportunity. 00:19:13.23\00:19:15.02 Another missionary project that AWA supports is in the very far 00:19:16.00\00:19:20.61 west point of Alaska, on Saint Lawrence Island. 00:19:20.64\00:19:24.27 This post is the most remote one can get in the United States 00:19:24.70\00:19:29.37 in fact the island is only 30 miles away 00:19:29.40\00:19:33.73 from the coast of Russia. 00:19:33.76\00:19:35.20 It's here that Fran and her husband Mike are positioned 00:19:35.40\00:19:39.65 to help fight suicide among the Alaskan Natives. 00:19:39.68\00:19:44.30 I am Fran Hansen, my husband Mike and I are here in Gamble 00:19:44.41\00:19:47.87 Alaska. We work with the children here. 00:19:47.90\00:19:49.73 We've been hired by the Alaska Conference, 00:19:50.24\00:19:54.74 as suicide prevention workers. We work with the smaller 00:19:54.77\00:20:00.61 children mostly. The teens are very, very hard to reach. 00:20:00.64\00:20:04.32 But we feel like, if we start with the younger ones, than we 00:20:04.35\00:20:07.73 can have a chance to bond with them, so by the time they are 00:20:07.76\00:20:11.42 older, we can have more influence in their lives. 00:20:11.45\00:20:14.56 Long term goal is to bond enough with the children, 00:20:14.59\00:20:17.99 so that as they get older, suicide is not a part of 00:20:18.02\00:20:23.19 their thinking process. 00:20:23.22\00:20:24.81 That things will not get so hard on them. They can come talk 00:20:25.01\00:20:28.64 to us, and just know that they are cared for. 00:20:28.67\00:20:31.88 We have an open door policy, where anybody who can come 00:20:32.78\00:20:35.44 who wants to come over and just sit and talk, or for eating, 00:20:35.47\00:20:39.63 They are invited to join us. Sometimes I ask them if they are 00:20:39.66\00:20:42.77 hungry. If they are than I just fix a meal for them. 00:20:42.80\00:20:45.16 Life in Gamble is anything but simple. 00:20:46.27\00:20:49.34 This island is completely reliant on air support. 00:20:49.37\00:20:53.22 Without it, they would have no access to the essentials of life 00:20:53.25\00:20:57.27 AWA has provided support for Fran and her husband. 00:20:57.30\00:21:01.86 The Hanson's effort to reach the young Alaskans and offer them 00:21:01.89\00:21:05.96 other options, other than suicide is something that 00:21:05.99\00:21:09.69 AWA strongly supports. 00:21:09.72\00:21:12.59 Fran dedicates her entire afternoon 00:21:12.99\00:21:15.75 to the village children. She opens her home and gives 00:21:15.78\00:21:19.88 them a safe place to play. In return the children open up 00:21:19.91\00:21:24.28 to her, and she is able to touch their lives with the love of God 00:21:24.31\00:21:28.95 So many issues are involved with suicide. It has to do with the 00:21:29.36\00:21:32.63 breakdown of the family, the breakdown of the subsistence 00:21:32.66\00:21:35.65 economy. They are caught between two worlds. They are caught 00:21:35.68\00:21:39.71 between the white teachers and their elders that give different 00:21:39.74\00:21:43.81 messages to them. It is just so many things that you can't focus 00:21:43.84\00:21:48.10 on one thing. That is why I feel like the younger children 00:21:48.13\00:21:51.57 they just need to be stabilized and to know, 00:21:51.60\00:21:55.45 that they are worth something. That suicide isn't the way 00:21:55.48\00:21:59.01 to solve a problem. 00:21:59.04\00:22:01.93 That there are survival skills that they can use. 00:22:01.96\00:22:05.37 We had all ages come and talk to us and asked us to pray for them 00:22:05.40\00:22:10.65 so we pray with them and for them. 00:22:10.68\00:22:12.93 We pray every day, that there won't be suicide in the village 00:22:15.64\00:22:19.30 that the children will be safe. That people can learn more about 00:22:19.33\00:22:25.19 the hope of heaven and God. 00:22:25.22\00:22:27.41 That there is a better life coming for them. 00:22:27.44\00:22:31.47 Another suicide prevention effort AWA supports is in the 00:22:39.23\00:22:43.48 village of Shungnak, where missionary couple 00:22:43.51\00:22:46.70 Toni and Irene work. The small village is plagued with 00:22:46.73\00:22:50.26 depression, alcoholism which often leads to suicide. 00:22:50.29\00:22:54.96 However, having the mission plant here, has greatly impacted 00:22:54.99\00:22:59.99 the suicide rates. AWA is honored to provide air support, 00:23:00.02\00:23:04.84 financial help, and construction help to this 00:23:04.87\00:23:08.50 worthy cause here in Shungnak. 00:23:08.53\00:23:10.91 My name is pastor Ric Swaningson I am president and CEO 00:23:11.22\00:23:14.26 for Adventist World Aviation. I am here with Toni, one of our 00:23:14.29\00:23:17.07 missionaries that we support at Adventist World Aviation 00:23:17.10\00:23:20.30 here in Alaska. The name of the town that we are in is Shungnak. 00:23:20.33\00:23:25.65 Shungnak Alaska. You know, we've been talking about some of the 00:23:25.68\00:23:30.54 some of the despair. Toni here was just talking about some of 00:23:30.57\00:23:34.94 the amazing cases that you see here. Toni is a medical worker, 00:23:34.97\00:23:40.23 health worker I think is the title that you have 00:23:40.26\00:23:42.48 I am called the Community Health Aid 00:23:42.51\00:23:44.25 a Community Health Aid. 00:23:44.28\00:23:45.39 Toni single handedly, he has three other colleagues 00:23:45.42\00:23:50.62 two other colleagues two other colleagues 00:23:50.65\00:23:52.64 that work with him at this level here, but they take care of 00:23:52.67\00:23:58.17 how many patients, the whole town? 00:23:58.20\00:24:00.31 The whole community. Everybody comes through here first. 00:24:00.34\00:24:02.95 And we see everyone for any and everything. 00:24:02.98\00:24:05.97 Any kind of problem. Every problem. 00:24:06.00\00:24:07.59 That is impressive, they are taking care of drunken 00:24:07.62\00:24:13.05 incidents, accidents, lacerations, trauma and... 00:24:13.08\00:24:19.76 What Toni leaves them with is hope. 00:24:19.79\00:24:22.03 That is the thing that we find at Adventist World Aviation 00:24:22.06\00:24:25.51 throughout the world. We go to a community and we find disease 00:24:25.54\00:24:30.04 despair, discouragement, high suicide rates, alcoholism 00:24:30.07\00:24:34.98 and what we leave them with is the hope, hope in Jesus. 00:24:35.01\00:24:39.09 We give them the Adventist message. 00:24:39.12\00:24:41.05 We fly supplies in, that they need. 00:24:41.08\00:24:44.20 We need to supply Toni and his family with many things. 00:24:44.23\00:24:47.63 Toni has lived in Shungnak for a few years now. 00:24:48.47\00:24:51.31 He has developed close relationships with the people. 00:24:51.34\00:24:54.81 With the opportunity he has as a community health aid, 00:24:54.84\00:24:58.74 he is able to clinically reach the entire village. 00:24:58.77\00:25:01.86 Coupled with his friendships and love for the people, he is able 00:25:01.89\00:25:06.23 to help drive down the rates of suicide here in this village. 00:25:06.26\00:25:09.84 Toni's future plans include receiving a higher level 00:25:09.87\00:25:14.59 of suicide prevention training, so he can help 00:25:14.62\00:25:17.80 his people even more. 00:25:17.83\00:25:19.84 Something, that I have a real bug for right now is getting 00:25:19.87\00:25:24.06 some kind of a trainer's training for suicide prevention. 00:25:24.09\00:25:27.57 That's one of the biggest things that I want to pursue. 00:25:27.60\00:25:31.64 So Toni, we've talked about high rate of suicide in Alaska. 00:25:32.34\00:25:36.98 How many suicides have you had in this village of 250? 00:25:37.39\00:25:42.30 Recently, we've had 3 since Memorial day last May. 00:25:42.33\00:25:46.88 And that's just here in Shungnak in this last year. 00:25:46.91\00:25:50.66 3 people, and all of them were young adults, in their mid 20s. 00:25:50.69\00:25:57.46 It's a big problem, and it's not just in our villages over here, 00:25:57.49\00:26:02.23 but the whole entire region and in lots of the 00:26:02.26\00:26:04.54 native villages of Alaska. It is a real problem! 00:26:04.57\00:26:07.00 So Toni, we've discussed the high rate of suicide in Alaska 00:26:07.90\00:26:11.93 among especially the Alaskan native people. 00:26:11.96\00:26:14.47 What do you think the solutions for this issue are? 00:26:14.50\00:26:19.27 It is a good question, you know. I have some ideas of what 00:26:19.87\00:26:23.76 things might be... Just to recap again, for anybody who doesn't 00:26:23.79\00:26:28.57 know, Alaska got about, I believe about 500% greater 00:26:28.60\00:26:34.59 compared to the national, continental average of suicides. 00:26:34.62\00:26:39.85 Alaska is very high rate of suicide, in fact it's been said 00:26:39.88\00:26:43.62 from the doctors that I work with, that if we were to stretch 00:26:43.65\00:26:50.01 out all the suicides in Alaska over the last year, we would 00:26:50.04\00:26:52.80 have a suicide every 8 days. Every 8 days a suicide and we 00:26:52.83\00:26:57.97 only got about 600,000 people in Alaska. 00:26:58.00\00:27:00.53 And it is much higher among native population, so it is 00:27:00.73\00:27:06.56 a very clear problem at the state level. 00:27:06.59\00:27:09.71 As far as what is the solution? I think ultimately 00:27:10.11\00:27:15.73 it's a relationship with God. And I believe the Seventh-day 00:27:15.76\00:27:21.56 Adventist Church has some special messages for people, 00:27:21.59\00:27:24.39 who have sickness in the hearth. Especially for people, who have 00:27:24.42\00:27:31.00 lost loved ones to suicide, for people, who are thinking about 00:27:31.03\00:27:34.74 who think about hurting themselves. 00:27:34.77\00:27:36.74 In particular the family that I've been studying with 00:27:37.65\00:27:41.65 some of the things that they really really appreciated is... 00:27:41.68\00:27:44.70 I spent about 6 Bible studies, 6 nights of Bible study with 00:27:44.73\00:27:49.60 this family, all on the state of the dead, and hell, 00:27:49.63\00:27:53.60 and the future resurrection. This has been very significant 00:27:53.63\00:28:00.07 to them, because their understanding of God and Heaven 00:28:00.10\00:28:04.86 and hell. Right when you die just instant torment and torture 00:28:04.89\00:28:09.75 Especially for the many loved ones that they have, 00:28:09.78\00:28:13.83 who have committed suicide. 00:28:13.86\00:28:15.46 It's been just... you know that particular message has been 00:28:15.49\00:28:19.39 very significant to them. 00:28:19.42\00:28:20.57 But I believe that the solution to the problem 00:28:21.07\00:28:25.99 is going to be in the home. 00:28:26.02\00:28:27.87 I think finding the way to introduce Jesus to people 00:28:27.90\00:28:32.64 in their real everyday life, home setting. 00:28:32.67\00:28:36.91 And I believe, what you guys are doing in Kotzebue and what 00:28:40.60\00:28:46.55 Adventist World Aviation is doing. 00:28:46.58\00:28:49.71 I believe that the different partnerships that 00:28:49.74\00:28:53.60 are working with us here, 00:28:53.63\00:28:55.17 all play an integral role in helping to provide 00:28:55.47\00:29:02.33 a solution for the problems that are within this village. 00:29:02.36\00:29:05.78 Toni and his wife refuse to give up. Their goal is to love their 00:29:05.99\00:29:11.11 neighbors and to provide them with hope and knowledge 00:29:11.14\00:29:15.30 that there is a better way. 00:29:15.33\00:29:17.73 Their ministry has and will continue to save lives. 00:29:18.13\00:29:22.61 The communities that Adventist World Aviation enter, are 00:29:23.41\00:29:26.51 not communities that you would see on a normal daily basis. 00:29:26.54\00:29:30.35 We enter communities, where #1, they can't be reached 00:29:30.38\00:29:33.67 by normal means, and they are communities 00:29:33.70\00:29:36.56 that have great needs. 00:29:36.59\00:29:38.12 And so when we at Adventist World Aviation go into these 00:29:38.15\00:29:41.87 communities, what we bring them is hope and life and health. 00:29:41.90\00:29:45.52 We deliver many cases of supplies, much needed supplies, 00:29:45.55\00:29:49.07 that you can't get by normal means. 00:29:49.10\00:29:50.97 And so ultimately what we end up leaving them with is, 00:29:51.00\00:29:54.88 the hope of Jesus Christ and His soon return. 00:29:54.91\00:29:56.92 They learn about Jesus and they fall in love with Him. 00:29:56.95\00:30:00.00