Alaska, America's last frontier.
00:00:01.06\00:00:04.22
The land of vast beauty and
endless miles of open wilderness
00:00:04.25\00:00:08.83
Airplanes are the
life blood of Alaska
00:00:08.86\00:00:12.02
Only aviation can connect
communities, where there are
00:00:12.05\00:00:15.42
no roads, with violent
weather and extreme terrains
00:00:15.45\00:00:19.69
make these the most
dangerous skies in America.
00:00:19.72\00:00:23.26
Adventist World
Aviation has two outposts
00:00:23.29\00:00:26.21
positioned in
north and south Alaska.
00:00:26.24\00:00:29.25
Hauling critical
supplies, rescue personnel
00:00:29.28\00:00:32.81
and the Gospel
message to remote villages
00:00:32.84\00:00:35.46
all across the Alaskan regions.
00:00:35.49\00:00:38.21
Without aviation, these Alaskan
villages would be unreachable.
00:00:38.24\00:00:42.46
This is Adventist
World Aviation OFF THE GRID
00:00:45.03\00:00:50.17
Today above the Arctic
Circle in northwest Alaska,
00:00:50.20\00:00:53.69
we join Jim Kincaid
as he shares with us
00:00:53.72\00:00:56.90
about one of the
ongoing AWA projects.
00:00:56.93\00:01:00.58
One village, the
village of Shungnak
00:01:00.61\00:01:03.00
where a young missionary
couple are now living.
00:01:03.03\00:01:06.99
We are in partnership
with Adventist World Aviation.
00:01:07.02\00:01:12.22
Leading the effort to
replace the substandard housing
00:01:12.25\00:01:16.28
in which they are
residing personally.
00:01:16.31\00:01:18.62
Adventist World Aviation
will be involved in the effort
00:01:18.65\00:01:24.33
to provide transportation
support for this project.
00:01:24.36\00:01:27.98
Shungnak is about 150
miles east of Dillingham.
00:01:28.01\00:01:32.05
There are no supplies, equipment
or materials available in
00:01:32.08\00:01:35.65
Shungnak for this construction
project, so everything needed
00:01:35.68\00:01:39.79
to complete this building must
be flown in from Dillingham.
00:01:39.82\00:01:43.00
Arial transportation
of supplies typically adds
00:01:43.60\00:01:46.52
a huge expense to
any construction project;
00:01:46.55\00:01:49.07
however, AWA eliminated that
cost by offering to transport
00:01:49.10\00:01:54.16
the supplies for Toni and Irene.
00:01:54.19\00:01:56.91
Jim and Linda Kincaid are the
project managers of AWA Alaska,
00:01:56.94\00:02:02.84
and they are very pleased
to be included in this project,
00:02:02.87\00:02:06.41
however transporting supplies in
Alaska can be full of obstacles.
00:02:06.44\00:02:11.65
Both, Linda and I are pilots.
I had my pilot license for 40
00:02:11.68\00:02:18.47
years this year.
We fly in extremes.
00:02:18.50\00:02:21.70
Extremes of weather
extremes of temperature.
00:02:21.75\00:02:24.57
extremes of
geography topography...
00:02:24.60\00:02:29.36
During the winter when
there is snow everywhere
00:02:29.39\00:02:32.56
When there is
very little vegetation,
00:02:32.59\00:02:36.15
you can't tell the
sky from the ground.
00:02:36.18\00:02:39.26
So flying with reference
instruments even in VFR
00:02:39.29\00:02:47.85
conditions is what we have to do
00:02:47.88\00:02:50.63
VFR stands for
visual flight rules.
00:02:50.66\00:02:53.73
Flying by reference to
objects and topography.
00:02:53.76\00:03:00.13
But here in the winter
when most of the winter
00:03:00.16\00:03:04.80
there is nothing to
look at, until you get to
00:03:04.83\00:03:08.58
a lighted village,
or a lighted runway.
00:03:08.61\00:03:10.52
Or there is a stand of trees
00:03:10.55\00:03:13.58
or some willows
standing in the creek
00:03:13.61\00:03:15.66
You know, there is
nothing to look at.
00:03:15.69\00:03:17.40
So you have to fly
following very good judgment...
00:03:17.43\00:03:25.94
It's unarguable that
flying in Alaska means
00:03:25.97\00:03:28.75
navigating some of the
most dangerous skies in America.
00:03:28.78\00:03:32.86
Unpredictable weather and
the vast topography make flying
00:03:32.89\00:03:36.51
up here a challenge.
00:03:36.54\00:03:37.91
However, experience, preparation
and awareness can all make
00:03:37.94\00:03:43.70
aviation travel the
safest mode of transportation.
00:03:43.74\00:03:47.13
Aviation is a mode of
travel, which can be very safe
00:03:47.48\00:03:54.51
and can be an
excellent way to get around.
00:03:54.54\00:03:59.62
In some cases, like where we
live, there is no other choice.
00:03:59.65\00:04:03.03
You have to travel by
air in order to do the work,
00:04:03.06\00:04:07.72
that you need to do.
Because there are no roads.
00:04:07.75\00:04:10.78
We are about 400
miles from the nearest road
00:04:10.81\00:04:13.85
here in north west Alaska.
00:04:14.06\00:04:18.13
In Alaska where the geography
is such that if Alaska was
00:04:18.16\00:04:25.11
superimposed over
the 48 states of America,
00:04:25.14\00:04:29.58
it would almost
extend over both,
00:04:29.61\00:04:32.91
eastern and western
seaboards and we joke up here,
00:04:32.94\00:04:37.27
that if we divided Alaska in two
than Texas would be number 3.
00:04:37.30\00:04:41.88
So it is a huge area,
with only a small part of it
00:04:43.38\00:04:47.96
accessible by road. There are
225 native villages in Alaska.
00:04:47.99\00:04:53.79
Most of them are
inaccessible except by air.
00:04:53.82\00:04:57.03
At Adventist World Aviation it
is our purpose to have an impact
00:05:00.68\00:05:06.23
On all those that
are reachable by air.
00:05:06.26\00:05:13.28
This is not just about
flying, that is very important,
00:05:13.31\00:05:16.31
very critical, but
this is ultimately about
00:05:16.34\00:05:20.95
an eternal mission of
reaching people for Jesus
00:05:20.98\00:05:25.00
in north west Alaska.
00:05:25.03\00:05:27.05
Most of Alaskan towns
are completely isolated
00:05:27.08\00:05:30.24
with no connecting
roads between them.
00:05:30.27\00:05:32.37
The only way in and out of
these villages is by aviation.
00:05:32.40\00:05:37.60
They are completely
reliant on air support.
00:05:37.63\00:05:40.02
Today Jim is flying out to visit
the young missionary couple
00:05:42.05\00:05:46.04
Toni and Irene
Sherman, and check on
00:05:46.07\00:05:49.43
the progress of the construction
of their new church and home.
00:05:49.46\00:05:53.04
Jim is very
involved with this project.
00:05:53.74\00:05:56.16
He knows that the completion
of this construction ultimately
00:05:56.19\00:05:59.96
means the
furtherance of the gospel
00:05:59.99\00:06:01.66
here in the small
village of Shungnak.
00:06:01.69\00:06:04.74
As the run way comes into view,
he prepares for his landing
00:06:06.12\00:06:09.77
on the icy runway. He is very
accustomed to these conditions
00:06:09.80\00:06:13.57
in Alaska, yet it still
demands his entire focus
00:06:13.60\00:06:17.98
to make the
landing a smooth one.
00:06:18.01\00:06:20.52
Once on the ground, familiar
faces rush over excitedly
00:06:21.36\00:06:24.78
to great him. It's not often
00:06:24.81\00:06:27.45
that the villagers of
Shungnak have visitors.
00:06:27.48\00:06:30.69
The young children
run out and eagerly greet
00:06:30.72\00:06:33.56
the arriving airplane.
00:06:33.59\00:06:35.02
It's a very heartwarming
welcome that Jim never tires of.
00:06:35.05\00:06:39.42
Toni is also at the
runway waiting to meet Jim.
00:06:39.45\00:06:43.13
Its spring here in
Shungnak so it's perfect time
00:06:43.16\00:06:47.07
for construction.
00:06:47.10\00:06:48.31
There is a very small
window of opportunity in Alaska
00:06:48.34\00:06:52.11
where the weather will
allow for construction.
00:06:52.14\00:06:54.69
Winter starts very
early in September,
00:06:54.72\00:06:57.86
and lasts well into May. So
they only have 3 short months
00:06:57.89\00:07:02.98
to work on the new
house and church building.
00:07:03.01\00:07:06.15
I am Jim Kinkade, AWA
Alaska project manager
00:07:13.30\00:07:17.58
This is Toni Sherman, he
and his wife Irene have moved
00:07:17.61\00:07:22.32
to this village sometime back,
and we want to learn from you
00:07:22.36\00:07:26.98
Toni, about this village.
What's the name of this town?
00:07:27.01\00:07:31.74
My wife and I, we
moved to this village
00:07:31.77\00:07:33.41
the name of the
village is Shungnak.
00:07:33.44\00:07:35.31
We moved here about 3 years
ago now, September of 2010.
00:07:35.34\00:07:41.57
We moved here to take on
a position with the Alaska
00:07:43.10\00:07:49.07
Arctic Mission Adventure program
through the Alaska Conference
00:07:49.10\00:07:52.72
to be missionaries here.
00:07:52.75\00:07:54.19
There has been a small mission
post here, that's been inactive
00:07:54.22\00:07:59.88
since about the late 70s, or
something like this, maybe 80s.
00:07:59.91\00:08:05.87
We just felt impressed that this
is where God wanted us to move.
00:08:05.90\00:08:11.88
So we came here. There
is on this particular road
00:08:11.91\00:08:16.84
in Shungnak we
got about 250 people,
00:08:16.87\00:08:23.60
it's all native, all Inupiat.
00:08:23.63\00:08:26.52
Shungnak is a very small
village comprised of natives
00:08:26.57\00:08:30.32
situated in the
heart of north Alaska.
00:08:30.35\00:08:33.14
They're isolated by
the beautiful wilderness
00:08:33.17\00:08:36.17
that surrounds them.
00:08:36.20\00:08:37.23
We live in a beautiful place,
there are no roads, that really
00:08:37.49\00:08:41.19
connect village to
village. There are some trails
00:08:41.22\00:08:45.22
that people take by snow machine
and people can also take by boat
00:08:45.25\00:08:48.67
and go up the Kobuk river and
they can take that all the way
00:08:48.70\00:08:52.41
to Kotzebue, if we wanted to.
00:08:52.44\00:08:54.11
Aside from that our main
means of traveling is by plane.
00:08:54.14\00:08:58.56
Which is not cheap, but that is
the main mode of transportation
00:09:02.30\00:09:06.04
for us here in the village.
00:09:06.07\00:09:07.45
To travel outside the village,
aviation is the only option.
00:09:08.36\00:09:12.33
But within the village, natives
most often use snow machines
00:09:12.36\00:09:16.30
and 4 wheelers to
commute the few miles
00:09:16.33\00:09:19.58
around their small village.
00:09:19.61\00:09:21.03
Toni takes the
visitors back to his home
00:09:21.06\00:09:24.59
and shows them the progress.
00:09:24.62\00:09:26.56
We are standing in
front of the new house,
00:09:26.59\00:09:29.01
the new unfinished house,
that is to replace the shack
00:09:29.04\00:09:32.97
they have been living
in, and you can see behind me
00:09:33.00\00:09:35.64
a broadcast antenna.
The Alaska conference has
00:09:35.67\00:09:42.14
generously installed a
low-power AM station here
00:09:42.17\00:09:49.64
and we're trying to broadcast
3ABN radio by live stream
00:09:49.67\00:09:54.96
off the internet.
00:09:54.99\00:09:56.03
And Toni has been
working with that project.
00:09:56.06\00:09:59.58
We haven't got the internet
stable enough for real good
00:09:59.61\00:10:02.50
signal for the whole
village, but that is the goal.
00:10:02.53\00:10:05.18
And so that is what
we are working towards.
00:10:05.21\00:10:07.83
Toni and Irene's old home
is a small, one room parsonage
00:10:07.86\00:10:12.49
attached to the old church.
It's not insolated properly,
00:10:12.52\00:10:16.10
and the cold winter months are
almost impossible to withstand.
00:10:16.13\00:10:20.38
They consume great amounts
of expensive heating oil just to
00:10:20.41\00:10:24.80
keep the temperature
inside the home manageable.
00:10:24.83\00:10:28.95
The living space is
also very small and cramped
00:10:28.98\00:10:32.02
for a growing young family.
00:10:32.05\00:10:34.20
They have outgrown this space
and desperately need another
00:10:34.23\00:10:37.96
place to live and
keep their new child warm.
00:10:37.99\00:10:41.17
Having a new home
would drastically change
00:10:41.20\00:10:43.55
this couple's ministry.
00:10:43.58\00:10:44.77
They would be able to open their
doors year round to the natives
00:10:44.80\00:10:49.26
of Shungnak and invite them in
to a warm and roomy atmosphere.
00:10:49.29\00:10:54.53
We moved here to Shungnak
from Delta Junction, which is
00:10:54.56\00:11:00.17
just south of Fairbanks. We
moved here in September of 2010.
00:11:00.20\00:11:06.59
We moved here to take up
the position as missionaries
00:11:06.62\00:11:12.59
with the Alaska conference
under the guidance here of Jim.
00:11:12.62\00:11:16.01
I also got a job, as a community
health aid working at the clinic
00:11:18.38\00:11:23.88
I see patience there and I deal
with everybody's medical needs.
00:11:26.33\00:11:31.29
Anything that
anybody needs to have done
00:11:31.32\00:11:33.60
is going through us first.
00:11:33.63\00:11:37.31
We moved here because we believe
in the Adventist message.
00:11:37.82\00:11:42.43
We believe in what a
relationship with Jesus can do.
00:11:42.46\00:11:47.24
We believe that God
wants more people in Shungnak
00:11:47.27\00:11:52.80
to hear the full Gospel message
and that is why we are here.
00:11:52.83\00:11:58.94
Irene, why don't you comment how
it's been living in this house
00:12:01.10\00:12:06.22
for the last 2 and 1/2 years?
00:12:06.25\00:12:09.62
It's been lot of challenges
and really have to be patient
00:12:13.55\00:12:23.75
because, it is not too
bad, when it is not too cold,
00:12:23.78\00:12:28.69
but during the winter time when
it is the coldest temperature,
00:12:28.72\00:12:33.48
things get really rough with
the little guy, but we survive.
00:12:33.51\00:12:36.88
We've been here for almost 3
years now, even though it's hard
00:12:36.91\00:12:42.98
we are still here.
00:12:43.01\00:12:44.04
When you look out the window
and see a new house next door,
00:12:44.07\00:12:49.11
what do you think of?
00:12:49.15\00:12:50.29
Well I am really looking forward
to be moving into the new house.
00:12:50.32\00:12:56.26
hopefully this year,
if everything works out.
00:12:56.29\00:13:00.11
But now that I see the new house
just next door and I am still
00:13:00.14\00:13:07.05
here. It's a little bit of
pain, kind of because the house
00:13:07.08\00:13:15.03
is just right there, but living
in this house has thought us
00:13:15.06\00:13:20.67
a lot to be more
patient and just you know trust
00:13:20.70\00:13:27.15
and everything
will come in time.
00:13:27.18\00:13:31.44
Toni, why don't you tell us
what it is like to live here
00:13:31.47\00:13:35.43
in extreme climate, or the
weather, summer to winter, etc.
00:13:35.46\00:13:40.55
What is it like?
00:13:40.58\00:13:42.16
Well, it is a pretty
extreme place to live you know.
00:13:42.19\00:13:46.00
I'll be honest, I am fairly
used to it, I grew up in Delta
00:13:46.03\00:13:50.75
Junction, just south of
Fairbanks. And in the winter
00:13:50.78\00:13:55.31
time it's not uncommon,
for when it is really cold
00:13:55.34\00:13:58.19
to get down to
70 below Fahrenheit.
00:13:58.22\00:14:01.16
Here in Shungnak it is
not really any different
00:14:01.19\00:14:05.09
in terms of climate. During the
winter time from about October
00:14:05.12\00:14:10.11
till May you have snow, and from
about November, December time
00:14:10.14\00:14:19.05
all the way through till
March it could still get down
00:14:19.08\00:14:22.68
to 20 or 30 below, pretty
easily and in the winter time
00:14:22.71\00:14:28.06
lot of people know that it gets
dark up here and that is true.
00:14:28.09\00:14:32.34
I think the darkest day
of the year in December,
00:14:32.37\00:14:37.41
it probably gets to
couple of hours of daylight.
00:14:37.44\00:14:43.31
You go into the summer time
and it is totally the opposite.
00:14:43.34\00:14:46.59
It's almost 10pm and the sun
is still out, like it is 5pm.
00:14:46.62\00:14:55.43
So it is totally the
opposite from summer to winter.
00:14:55.46\00:14:59.87
The construction can only be
done during the summer months.
00:14:59.90\00:15:03.13
Fortunately during that time,
the sun doesn't set until 11pm,
00:15:03.16\00:15:08.98
making for extra long work days.
00:15:09.01\00:15:11.79
Having AWA involved with
this project has expedited
00:15:11.82\00:15:15.90
the project substantially.
Supplies and building personnel
00:15:15.93\00:15:20.27
are not restricted to
another airline's time schedule
00:15:20.30\00:15:23.55
and costs.
00:15:23.58\00:15:24.69
Jim is happy he can
assist and expend this ministry
00:15:24.72\00:15:28.17
here in Shungnak
with the tool of aviation.
00:15:28.20\00:15:32.04
So Toni, tell
us about your work,
00:15:39.42\00:15:42.42
what do you do in this
town? How do you survive?
00:15:42.45\00:15:45.27
Well currently, right now I am
a health-aid, and what that is,
00:15:45.30\00:15:50.09
every village in the region,
they have a small clinic.
00:15:50.12\00:15:53.92
You can call it like an outpost
clinic. And all these clinics
00:15:53.95\00:16:00.20
work in conjunction
with Maniilaq Health Center,
00:16:00.23\00:16:03.73
which is the main
hub hospital in Kotzebue.
00:16:03.76\00:16:07.32
What I do, is I basically.. have
gone through a training program
00:16:09.85\00:16:13.99
that Maniilaq, the Health Center
has paid for me to go through.
00:16:14.02\00:16:17.64
So that I can see patients, I
can see anybody for any problem
00:16:17.67\00:16:22.08
with the help and aid of the
doctor, who lives in Kotzebue.
00:16:22.11\00:16:27.49
So all the emergencies,
or regular patient care,
00:16:27.52\00:16:33.10
or chronic care
patients. We see them all year,
00:16:33.13\00:16:35.84
and that is my job. I have met
a lot of people. All my friends,
00:16:35.87\00:16:40.33
all the people that
I know here, primarily,
00:16:40.36\00:16:43.45
I've got to know
them through my job.
00:16:43.48\00:16:45.67
The town's clinic has also been
a great ministry tool for Toni.
00:16:45.70\00:16:50.38
Not only does it financially
help sustain his mission,
00:16:50.41\00:16:53.93
but it also gives him
great opportunities to interact
00:16:53.96\00:16:57.82
and get to know all
the villages personally.
00:16:57.85\00:17:01.06
The whole entire region
here in the north-west arctic
00:17:01.09\00:17:04.50
has 11 villages total, including
the hub which is Kotzebue.
00:17:04.53\00:17:10.16
On a daily average, I probably
see about maybe anywhere
00:17:10.19\00:17:16.43
from 5 to 10 patients.
Depending on what is going on.
00:17:16.46\00:17:20.79
Emergencies may vary. I imagine
each month we probably med-evac
00:17:20.82\00:17:27.31
about, anywhere from 1 to
3 or 4 people, depending upon
00:17:27.34\00:17:31.82
what the incident was... To
go to some of the other villages
00:17:31.85\00:17:39.03
that are much busier, such as
Point Hope, I go and cover there
00:17:39.06\00:17:43.15
sometimes when they are
short staffed. This is something
00:17:43.18\00:17:46.45
that is pretty common. Some of
the villages don't have regular
00:17:46.48\00:17:48.54
staffing, so they call on us,
who have more consistent staff.
00:17:48.57\00:17:52.50
I might go to Point Hope I
might go to Kobuk, I might go to
00:17:52.53\00:17:57.43
Norwick, or one of these
other villages and cover in some
00:17:57.46\00:18:01.79
larger place. I might see more.
And have emergencies every night
00:18:01.82\00:18:09.46
and have a med-evac every
couple of nights, and that is
00:18:09.49\00:18:12.34
something that is more common
in some of our larger villages.
00:18:12.37\00:18:16.40
We are a very active clinic and
it seems to keep getting busier
00:18:18.43\00:18:22.33
and busier every day, and
to make an important point,
00:18:22.36\00:18:26.88
without this job, I would not
have nearly the relationships,
00:18:26.91\00:18:32.40
that I have with the
people in the community.
00:18:32.43\00:18:34.39
This job, has given me a level
of responsibility in the village
00:18:34.42\00:18:38.74
in which a lot of people
have extended their trust to me,
00:18:38.78\00:18:42.77
because of it. And without it,
I don't think that I would have
00:18:42.80\00:18:45.78
nearly the respect,
that I probably have
00:18:45.81\00:18:52.28
with most of the community.
So this job is really a miracle
00:18:52.38\00:18:57.57
when I first got here, that
it was even open for me to have.
00:18:57.61\00:19:02.63
It can take years to
build up a mutual respect
00:19:03.33\00:19:08.00
with a different culture. This
is true any place in the world
00:19:08.49\00:19:13.37
and it is very true here.
00:19:13.40\00:19:15.23
The native people are used
to for over a hundred years
00:19:17.20\00:19:19.90
of non-natives coming and
taking jobs. And there are some
00:19:19.93\00:19:25.47
lucrative jobs here for
those that are qualified.
00:19:25.50\00:19:28.12
Taking lucrative jobs and then
retiring to their ranch in Texas
00:19:28.15\00:19:32.87
or what ever.
00:19:32.90\00:19:33.93
So they see as
non-local, non-native people,
00:19:36.08\00:19:39.90
they look at all of us
as just passing through.
00:19:39.93\00:19:42.73
So why take the time
to make a friendship,
00:19:42.76\00:19:47.19
if they are going to be gone.
00:19:47.22\00:19:48.98
So for Christians,
who want to make an impact
00:19:49.01\00:19:53.45
continuity, longevity, tenure,
these things are what can make
00:19:53.48\00:20:00.91
the greatest
impact all the time.
00:20:00.94\00:20:03.36
Often times, outsiders are
not welcomed into small native
00:20:03.76\00:20:07.72
Alaskan communities.
00:20:07.75\00:20:09.44
The job as the village
health aid greatly assisted Toni
00:20:09.47\00:20:14.44
in being accepted in the
village and helped develop close
00:20:14.47\00:20:17.91
relationships with the very
people he is here to minister to
00:20:17.94\00:20:22.38
Toni's main reason for
being in Shungnak is not to work
00:20:22.41\00:20:27.46
as a health aid, but instead, to
spread the word of Jesus Christ.
00:20:27.49\00:20:31.64
His passion and ultimate goal is
to spiritually reach the natives
00:20:31.67\00:20:36.36
and offer them
God's gift of salvation.
00:20:36.39\00:20:39.92
Building relationships,
teaching other's God's message
00:20:39.95\00:20:44.42
is the ultimate long term
endeavor for the Sherman's.
00:20:44.45\00:20:48.80
We've been here now for about a
year and the people are friends
00:20:48.83\00:20:56.04
with us. I can walk through the
village and I am not going to
00:20:56.07\00:20:59.68
walk through the village and
not hear someone say, hi Toni!
00:20:59.71\00:21:02.71
How are you
doing? Where is Irene?
00:21:02.74\00:21:04.05
Is she back from Kotzebue?
Is she back from the hospital?
00:21:04.08\00:21:07.55
Is she here?
00:21:07.58\00:21:09.19
So we made good friends. We get
to visit people in their homes.
00:21:09.22\00:21:13.69
We have elderly that are
bummed out if we don't swing by
00:21:13.72\00:21:16.76
at least once a week
and give them a backrub,
00:21:16.79\00:21:19.73
or help clean up their
house, or just sit and talk.
00:21:19.76\00:21:22.52
We've been very
well accepted here.
00:21:22.55\00:21:26.22
Well, Toni why don't you tell us
a little bit about what you and
00:21:26.25\00:21:34.78
your wife, Irene are attempting
to do to interact with the
00:21:34.81\00:21:42.35
community aside from
your interactions at work.
00:21:42.38\00:21:46.49
Aside from work, my job as a
health aid Irene and I have made
00:21:46.52\00:21:53.45
a point to visit with people.
We started mostly visiting with
00:21:53.48\00:21:57.75
the elderly, the
elders of the community.
00:21:57.78\00:22:00.58
And that's were we had probably
the most fruitful relationships
00:22:00.61\00:22:06.35
with people, who
are in their elder ages.
00:22:06.38\00:22:10.00
We do visitations probably,
when we are not back and fort
00:22:10.03\00:22:16.98
out of the village, when we
have our routine we are usually
00:22:17.01\00:22:19.40
visiting people's
homes, about two times a week.
00:22:19.43\00:22:22.37
Aside from that we
started in January a Bible Study
00:22:22.40\00:22:27.24
with a family, that has
been going very well. We've been
00:22:27.27\00:22:29.94
doing that every Wednesday
and it's been going very well.
00:22:29.97\00:22:32.83
On Mondays we do Alcoholics
Anonymous at the local NANA
00:22:32.86\00:22:38.27
office here. We also do
music class on Tuesday nights,
00:22:38.30\00:22:43.93
we are teaching
guitar to a couple boys.
00:22:43.96\00:22:45.79
We also do Bible school on
Saturday, we could have anywhere
00:22:45.85\00:22:53.81
from 3 or 4 kids to 20 kids that
might come and also been a very
00:22:53.84\00:23:01.67
fruitful experience.
00:23:01.70\00:23:04.99
Aside from that it's mostly
just seeing people when we go
00:23:07.02\00:23:14.21
to their houses. If we do home
visitation, that is the most
00:23:14.24\00:23:18.44
important thing
that we can do right now.
00:23:18.47\00:23:19.70
Currently we don't have a church
facility that is really suitable
00:23:19.73\00:23:23.98
for any real formal interaction
and so that is something
00:23:24.01\00:23:28.88
we are hoping we'll be able
to look forward to in the future
00:23:28.91\00:23:32.55
to solving that.
00:23:32.72\00:23:35.95
The current condition of
the church is almost unusable
00:23:35.98\00:23:40.36
therefore Toni and
his wife Irene cannot hold
00:23:40.39\00:23:43.72
regular weekly meetings in it.
00:23:43.75\00:23:45.82
There are many structural issues
with its current condition
00:23:45.85\00:23:50.19
so Toni and Irene eagerly await
the completion of the new church
00:23:50.22\00:23:54.58
building so they can
expand and faithfully continue
00:23:54.61\00:23:58.19
in their mission.
00:23:58.22\00:23:59.39
This little chapel was built
in about 1969, or there abouts.
00:23:59.42\00:24:06.94
But that was a long time
ago. It only has 4" walls,
00:24:06.97\00:24:12.32
The windows are Plexiglas,
the kind that snap in.
00:24:12.35\00:24:15.58
It really wasn't an energy
efficient building that can be
00:24:15.61\00:24:19.47
heated, economically
with $11/gallon heating oil.
00:24:19.50\00:24:27.15
The building is structurally
sound, but it needs retrofitting
00:24:27.18\00:24:31.98
for insulation, electrical
wiring and heating system.
00:24:32.01\00:24:38.17
That is what is holding Toni and
Irene back from holding services
00:24:38.20\00:24:43.26
weekly services in this
building in the winter time.
00:24:43.29\00:24:46.47
So Toni, once you get a church
building, so that you can hold
00:24:47.47\00:24:53.43
services, what are
you planning to do?
00:24:53.46\00:24:55.69
That is a good question, we have
a few different ideas of things
00:24:55.72\00:25:01.93
that we would like to do. There
are number of different services
00:25:01.96\00:25:05.83
that we would like to be
able to provide for youth.
00:25:05.86\00:25:08.49
We would like to be able
to start a youth group here
00:25:08.52\00:25:11.13
we would like to be able
to have a... important for us
00:25:11.16\00:25:16.23
we'd feel good just to be able
to have a weekly Sabbath service
00:25:16.26\00:25:19.36
here that we can
invite the community to.
00:25:19.39\00:25:22.15
We know that over time
people would start coming.
00:25:22.18\00:25:26.16
We know of people right now, who
already told us that they would
00:25:26.19\00:25:28.94
come to us, to a church service
here, if we had church service.
00:25:28.97\00:25:32.92
That is what we want to do most.
Like I said, we'd like to hold
00:25:36.29\00:25:40.34
youth groups, we'd like to
do work shops, we'd like to hold
00:25:40.37\00:25:46.22
mid weeks here. Having this
facility open and be able to
00:25:46.25\00:25:52.35
keep it heated, which would
be wonderful. There is a lot
00:25:52.38\00:25:55.92
times that we have kids
people want to come to our house
00:25:55.95\00:25:58.39
sometimes the house is just
too small and we don't have very
00:25:58.42\00:26:03.14
much privacy and so having
a place apart from our home
00:26:03.17\00:26:08.01
where we don't have to worry
about kids peeping into our
00:26:08.04\00:26:11.78
bedroom, or going through our
house... it would be really nice
00:26:11.81\00:26:16.35
So Toni, what would it take
to remodel or improve the church
00:26:16.45\00:26:23.56
building that you have, so that
it would be useful like you are
00:26:23.59\00:26:26.67
suggesting?
00:26:26.70\00:26:27.73
Well, some things that need to
happen for the Shungnak church
00:26:27.76\00:26:30.77
to be functional, we would
need to reinsulate the church
00:26:30.81\00:26:34.90
we would need to
remodel all the windows really
00:26:34.93\00:26:39.94
need to be replaced. The
porch needs to be replaced.
00:26:39.97\00:26:43.47
The whole entire floor,
walls and ceiling all need to be
00:26:43.50\00:26:46.92
re-insulated right now there
is only 2" of white foam board
00:26:46.95\00:26:50.11
it's like R5, or
something like that.
00:26:50.14\00:26:52.49
The interior it self isn't
cosmetically very appealing.
00:26:55.15\00:27:00.84
We could have new tile put
in, we could have it repainted,
00:27:00.87\00:27:04.52
We could... I mean there is a
lot of things that could be done
00:27:04.55\00:27:06.93
But the main things have to
do with heating and just being
00:27:06.96\00:27:13.63
energy efficient - energy
efficiency is the main problem.
00:27:13.66\00:27:17.86
A new church and a new home
for the missionary couple of
00:27:18.46\00:27:21.60
Shungnak are going
to drastically advance
00:27:21.63\00:27:24.69
mission opportunities here.
00:27:24.72\00:27:26.63
Adventist World Aviation is
pleased and honored to assist
00:27:27.23\00:27:31.90
Toni and Irene in the
spreading of the gospel,
00:27:31.93\00:27:34.89
by offering air support
for this construction project.
00:27:34.92\00:27:38.62
The construction of the
buildings is not yet complete;
00:27:38.65\00:27:42.61
however they are very close
to opening their new doors.
00:27:42.64\00:27:46.81
With these new buildings Toni
and Irene can continue to work
00:27:46.84\00:27:50.95
and minister to
the people of Shungnak.
00:27:50.98\00:27:53.50
This couple is determined
to make this village their home
00:27:53.53\00:27:57.49
and to reach the people who live
here with the Gospel message.
00:27:57.52\00:28:02.45
What Irene and I hope to achieve
what we hope is to be able
00:28:03.45\00:28:10.29
to be used by God in a way that
we would be able to establish
00:28:10.32\00:28:14.60
a group of believers here, that
are active in ministry, that are
00:28:14.63\00:28:20.52
active and excited the
about the message that we hold.
00:28:20.55\00:28:25.11
We're hoping that we'll be
able to move beyond just simply
00:28:26.61\00:28:30.02
visiting with
people, even though we know
00:28:30.05\00:28:31.66
that is the first step,
meeting people in their homes.
00:28:31.69\00:28:34.55
We are hoping that in time we'll
be able to study with people
00:28:34.58\00:28:38.14
in their homes, study
the Bible with families
00:28:38.17\00:28:41.01
to be able to create a church
here that would have a name.
00:28:41.04\00:28:46.57
We would have a face.
00:28:46.60\00:28:47.85
We would have a group
of people, who are active.
00:28:47.88\00:28:50.83
You know, at Adventist
World Aviation we go to these
00:28:57.42\00:29:01.54
communities, Again this
community that we are in
00:29:01.57\00:29:04.16
is 250 people here. We
are hundreds of miles from
00:29:04.19\00:29:07.93
from any other
source of civilization.
00:29:07.96\00:29:10.99
Any needs, that
are brought in here,
00:29:11.02\00:29:13.57
are brought in here by Aviation.
00:29:13.60\00:29:14.86
We can't supply all
their needs here, we don't.
00:29:14.89\00:29:17.56
Certainly there are other
Aviation organizations that fly
00:29:17.59\00:29:20.05
supplies for
those, who needs them
00:29:20.08\00:29:22.02
One of the things that
Adventist World Aviation does,
00:29:22.05\00:29:25.70
we support our
local missionaries.
00:29:25.73\00:29:27.50
We want to
increase our support here.
00:29:27.53\00:29:29.49
What we find many times
in communities like this
00:29:29.52\00:29:33.14
We find death, we find
despair, we find disease,
00:29:33.17\00:29:35.99
we find of course
suicide, we talked about that.
00:29:36.02\00:29:38.08
What we leave with is
hope and hope in Jesus!
00:29:38.11\00:29:42.72
Hope in the second
Coming! We leave them with truth
00:29:42.75\00:29:45.91
and something to hang unto.
00:29:45.94\00:29:47.29
As a result of
that, communities improve!
00:29:47.32\00:29:49.92
We can make a difference!
00:29:49.95\00:29:51.62
But we need your
help, we need your prayers!
00:29:51.65\00:29:54.47
We desperately
need your prayers!
00:29:54.50\00:29:55.78
I pray that you will
continue your prayer support!
00:29:55.81\00:29:58.52