The four maple trees we brought from Kansas last year are turning various shades of red, which we’re enjoying because it’s a nice contrast to the evergreen forest surrounding us.

Despite the difficulties predicted by some about Y2K, most of us are doing just fine!  We hope you are.  When we keep our eyes “fixed” upon our Savior our faith will remain firm, unshakable, unmovable. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3 NRSV

Be careful what you wear!  Last year after Marge and I had lunch at a small café in Craig, I noticed a man wearing a red Mayflower Van Lines shirt.  I approached him and asked who he drove for.  He looked puzzled and inquired, “Why do you ask?”  To shorten a long story, it turned out that Jack Davis had forgotten what shirt he was wearing, but he isn’t a driver, he’s the retired owner of Accent Mayflower in Tulsa OK.  When he learned I pastor an Assembly, he said he wanted to bring a team of men to work on a church on Prince of Wales Island.  Throughout the next months, we worked out the details, and in July 2000, 11 men came and refurbished the exterior of the Assembly in Hydaburg, paying all the costs themselves.  We’re very grateful to Jack and six other men from NewSpring Assembly in Jenks and four men from Woodlake Assembly in Tulsa.  Click here to go to our page about the project; it has lots of photos. 

Marge and I went to Anchorage for our first Alaska District Council in May, before heading to Kansas for our vacation with family and friends.  We were there in time to go to the ground-breaking for the new facilities of Northland Cathedral in Kansas City MO.  We returned home in June after participating in my 50th Reunion of Lyons KS High School.  Marge’s brother Carl Seaton was also a member of that class, so he and Vernie went too.

Pastoring has kept me busy for another summer in Alaska.  We’re still learning about the culture here.  And this old dog is still trying to learn new tricks, if that is what you call them.  We’re expecting to see some changes take place in our church schedule throughout the coming year.

Retirees, let me encourage you to “set your sights higher” and make yourselves available to minister for at least a couple of years in Alaska, where there are churches who need you.  That’s it from me. –Howard  howardmarshall@yahoo.com 

By Marge

My Spacious Skies Web Designs business has reached the stage at which we decided I need my own “domain,” which is Spacious Skies.  If you have Internet access, be sure to check it out.  Our son Larry’s company “hosts” it.  His domain is www.etionline.net.  Don’t worry if you don’t understand those terms, because I’m not real sure I do either!  It’s a bit like driving a car even though I have no idea how the thing works – I just want it to get me where I want to go!

One of the Web sites I do is the one for the church my brother Leon Seaton pastors in Loyal OK.  It’s at www.loyalpeace.org.

We hope that our next newsletter will include the great news that we have a home phone.  But not this time. Just in case you're wondering how I get on the Internet:  I use our phone line at the church.

This recipe for comfort food is “down-home” Kansas-style cooking, which some of the folks here have never even heard of!

1½  lbs. ground meat (beef or wild game) 
3 or 4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 medium onion, grated
salt and pepper to taste
beef bouillon, if desired, as flavoring
water - enough to make the whole thing moist
canned peas, if desired
canned corn, if desired

Brown the meat and pour off grease.  Stir in the chopped onions, potatoes and water.  If you use bouillon, mix it in as the hash cooks, along with salt and pepper.  Simmer for half an hour or so, until the potatoes are soft.  The peas and/or corn can be added to the hash, or served separately.  We like to have biscuits with our hash.

If you wish to donate to our church or to our ministry, please make your check payable to Prince of Peace Assembly of God and mail it to the church.  Thank you.

Howard baptized five people in the baptistry in Craig’s Church of God in May. 

We’ve had one wedding; Howard officiated and Marge played the organ.  Ken & Val Phippen were married  in the Klawock School gym, but it looked more like the grand ballroom in a large hotel; it was beautifully decorated with small trees, bushes and flowers, with balloon arches over the aisle.

A few weeks ago, we went to a 90th birthday party in Hydaburg for Claude Morrison, a wonderful Christian gentleman.  Two of his grandsons made a beautiful little totem pole to honor him and his late wife, Gladys.  It’s now mounted in his front yard.

A big highlight for the two of us was to meet Jim & Nancy Mercer and Bob & Carolyn Wheeler in Anchorage.  Part of the reason they are ministering in Alaska is that they read about us on the Internet!  The Mercers are now pastoring in Kotzebue and the Wheelers are in Emmonak for a year.  The Mercers’ Web page is www.gospelroadministries.org.

Howard drives to Hydaburg for Bible Study each Thursday evening, a 70-mile round trip.  When the weather gets colder, he’ll overnight there.  We’re praying that the Lord will send a pastoral couple to Hydaburg.  Perhaps a retired couple, or a younger couple without children, because they would have to have employment, such as teachers.

When we came here we had the notion that life would have a more leisurely pace “out here in the country.”  But we are finding that everyone keeps very busy.  One of our ladies said that the only difference is that here we can wear jeans most of the time and we rarely feel the need to wear makeup – otherwise it’s just like being in the city.

So we’re making an effort to keep physically fit, instead of working all the time. (smile)  Howard brought a bicycle home with us from Kansas.  He was riding around our subdivision a few days ago (rock roads) and saw a bear crossing the road a block or so ahead of him...so he came back!  Marge goes twice a week to the very nice Aquatic Center in Craig and exercises in the water, then “cools off” in the hot tub.  (I dog-paddle because I haven’t taken swimming lessons yet.)  We have a treadmill which will get more action this winter.
 

We’ve been on the road again this year.  As mentioned earlier, we spent a week or so in Anchorage, then went to Kansas on vacation the middle of May to the middle of June.  In August, we went to Ferndale WA to help David and family pack, and then Howard came home and Marge rode on to Alpine TX with them, before she flew home from El Paso.

Well, that was the short version.  Here are some details.
 

Janet and Tasso are in Kansas City.  Janet has our KC house now, and she’s becoming quite a gardener; the yard looks great.  She says the summer was hard on it though.  Our granddaughters Kari and Jami live an hour or so away from Janet, so Grand-auntie Janet gets to enjoy Jacey, Hunter and Jaden, volunteering occasionally to baby-sit.  Jaden belongs to Kari & Andy.  Jacey and Hunter belong to Jami & Rick.  We enjoyed seeing everyone!
 

Another thing we did in Kansas City was to attend Tasso’s graduation from high school.  

Grandpa-son Larry is in Albuquerque.  Marge got to visit with him, Renee, and Miranda in August, along with David, Shannon, Branin and Halee.  It was a short visit but a good one.

As I (Marge) rode along with David, driving the rental truck, and Shannon, driving the car, we went through the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico on the way to S W Texas (plus a little corner of S W Colorado).  It took 5 days.  In Gunnison UT we visited with Shannon's Aunt Colleen & Uncle Carl, as well as Rusty & Patty and children--they were there getting away from the smoke of the forest fire near their home in Hamilton, MT.
Right, Utah sunflowers.
Below left, Branin, David, Shannon and Halee.  Below right, Howard and David
 

David, Shannon, Branin and Halee were able to find a nice stucco house to rent, before Marge left for home.  She says, "I had an interesting return trip.  Caught Amtrak in Alpine and rode to El Paso.  Flew to Phoenix, then Seattle, then Ketchikan.  Took the ferry to POW island, where Howard met me and brought me home.  I was so glad to get back to cool, rainy weather, because it was hot in Texas!  Alpine is in mountainous country, but it’s dry."

Claustrophobia – what an Alaskan feels in Texas.
 

While we were in the Lower 48 on vacation, Howard and Janet drove to Mitchell SD to see Marcille & Jack Hubbard.  In Lyons, we visited with Eva & Elmer Battershell, and Anne & George Fundenberger.  We also visited with Marge’s mom, Dorothy Seaton, in Lyons, along with Pat & Gary Crawford, Sarah & Steve Tharp and Elizabeth and Taylor, the Crawfords’ cute little grandkids.  Pat & Gary have a new house and will soon be tearing down the old farmhouse. 

Shannon’s mom and step-dad, Sharon & Gene Merrill also live here in Klawock, so we had the pleasure of visiting with all of Shannon’s family this summer:  Darin Snider and his bride, Ruthann; Paul & Janell Snider, Jackie and Savana; and Sherri & Louie Self, Grace and Méche.

137 people turned out to run, and we missed seeing it because we were on vacation.  ;-(

According to an article in Island News, the course covered 26.2 miles, starting out near the Harris River (on the Klawock-Hollis highway) and ending at the ballpark in Craig, which brought them through Klawock.  “A runner from Petersburg took first place, but a 7-member relay team from Craig Middle School placed 2nd overall and was the 1st place relay team.”

The runners have had other events since then, and we admire their dedication as we see them running along the 6-mile stretch between Klawock and Craig.  The ocean views along the way are a side benefit for them and us!   Next year, we’ll be on the sidelines, watching the 2nd marathon.  (Now, you really didn’t think we planned to run in it, did you?)

Cajun Blackened Redfish

8 fish filets                                         Oregano leaves
Onion powder                                  Sweet paprika
Black pepper                                    Garlic powder
White pepper                                    Salt
Cayenne pepper                              Dried thyme
½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter

Melt butter in iron skillet till it’s smoking.  Combine all ingredients in large bowl.  Each filet should be dipped so that it is well-coated.  Ingredients should be used to one’s own discretion; no set amount.  Take each filet and cook uncovered over high heat so it looks burnt.  Then turn over and repeat on the other side.  Serves 8.

The birds had to use potholders to pull 
worms out of the ground.

The cows gave evaporated milk.

Hot water came out of both taps.

The biggest bicycle wreck fear was 
“What if I get knocked out and end up 
lying on the pavement and cook to death!”

      The pastor teaches, but he must solicit his own classes.  He heals, but he does it without pills, medicine, or scalpel.  He is sometimes a lawyer, often a social worker, something of an editor, a bit of a philosopher and entertainer, a salesman, a decorative piece for public functions, and a student and scholar.

      He visits the sick, marries people, buries the dead, comforts the sorrowing, admonishes sinners, and encourages the weary.  He plans programs, appoints committees, and spends considerable time helping people with their difficulties.  On top of all this, he prepares three sermons and preaches them on Sundays and Wednesdays.  Then on Monday he smiles when some person slaps him on the back and says, “ONE DAY A WEEK.  WHAT A JOB!”
                                                                   –Tabernacle News