Reunion Dinner and Presentation

On Sunday, November 20, 2005 there were 18 from the Kodiak Mission Trip on hand to share stories, enjoy pictures and express our thanks for the support we received while serving the Lord and the Kodiak Baptist Mission in Alaska. Here are some of the pictures taken that night.

Even More Pics You May not Have

These photos were sent to me recently. Jeff's footprints on Fossil Bay Beach may wash away, but our memories of this trip will remain imprinted on our minds and hearts for years to come. The Chapel and the Totem Pole on the US Coast Guard Base, Carl relaxing near a Kodiak Landmark, and Missionary Joyce Smith enjoying the last breakfast with Margaret all bring back wonderful memories.

Skinning and Skimming

Here you see the new cross our youth were "skinning" from two tree trunks; and several of our folks skimming across the cove in kayaks.

Philly Airport Snapshots

The transportation team of Steve, Janice and Linda met us at the airport with lunches for the ride home. And there were hugs all around as we said good-bye for now.

More Photos You May Have Not Seen

Here are some photos from the Kodiak Airport upon our departure, the skinned cross still in process, Mr. Coffee (Bill), the communion blessing and the finished deck at Joyce Smith's house.

Team Photo at the Airport

More to come later

Thank you for supporting us with your comments and prayers for these past two weeks.
We're about to leave for the airport and so I must bid you adieu. I will add more pictures in the days and weeks ahead as they become available - especially as we scan picturres from people who used cameras with regular film. The group plans to meet again to share their stories with the Seaview Baptist Church family in the next month or two.

Again thank you for your support.

Pastor Aiello

Second Work trip to Ouzinkie Island

We went back to Ouzinkie, and worked on the home of missionary Joyce Smith, (pictured here) who has been here for 53 years serving the children and families of the Kodiak Region. We were fortunate to meet her on the day we were leaving for New Jersey. She'd just returned from a trip to the lower 48 states. She shared breakfast with us and told us her story of service and sacrifice and joy.

Weather Proofing the Logs on the Dining Hall

Here you see a team given the task of weatherproofing the logs that hold up the roof of the Pavillion (dining hall). Hard Work but much needed to preserve the logs for years to come.

The Recycling Bin

The recycling bin has been upgraded and made more inviting so that it looks like it has purpose rather just a place to dump boxes and plastic bottles. Jim and Susan and Bill reshaped the area so that the items would remain in the bin, and they created collection points in the two dorm facilities (note Susan measuring the containers to be sure they fit in the alloted dorm space and the new signs for items) so that the residents could easily recycle items after they are used. Also, a new wooden sign is being made for the front of the bins so people know where to put the recyclables.

A Walking tour of the Kodiak Baptist Mission Campus

Here's the sign that greets visitors to KBM. Next is the Ayer House (which we cleaned inside from top to bottom). Then comes the scene that greets us every time we enter our "home away from home" - our shoes - which are removed everytime we enter the house, then the three pictures of our accomodations: we had three bathrooms/showers, bunkbeds and stayed in McWhinney House (see photo with two people in front); the building with the truck in front is the main admin building and next to it is the Thrift Store/ Food Bank (the two interior photos are of the thrift store; also pictured is the yellow building that's the nursery school (year round); and finally the "shop" for repairing the vehicles. Photos of the dining hall (pavillion) can be found on the "meals" post.

More Work Photos - we work alot

Here are more photos of the team at work. so much to do and so little time.

Climbing to the peak of Barometer Mountain

Five of our teamates climbed to the top of 2,500 foot Barometer Mountain. They had two guides to encourage them along the way. The climbers were Peg, Linda, Trinka, Jim and Susan. From the top they could look over the airport, much of the countryside and with binoculars see the mainland of Alaska. The climb was sometimes a 60-70 degree slope requiring hands and well as feet to go to the top.

Reader Reminder

Friends,

Pictures have been added to many of the previous posts. Be sure to revisit some you've looked at before as there may be some new photos you haven't seen. You might see someone you recognize. Thank you again for following our adventure and for keeping us in your prayers. (And remember, you can enlarge any photo by merely clicking on the photo itself.)

Some Animals we have seen

Alaska is called 'the last frontier" and as such has an abundance of wildlife. In addition to seeing whales, we've seen sea lions, horses, pacific cod and pink, silver salmon (and this stuffed King Crab and stuffed King Salmon at the "fishery research center") and halibut. Jaxx the pooch is with us often. There are bald eagles and hawks flying overhead from time to time. Some in our group saw some of the 300 buffalo on the island. Magpies are seen flying about as are Puffins floating in the channel. The only bears we've seen are stuffed like this 7 year old mother brown bear and her two cubs. (We learned that the difference between the Kodiak Brown Bear and the Grizzley is location. Grizzlies are in the interior and the Brown Bear is on the coastal areas. (go figure) The alaskan king crab was in the acquarium at the research center. I'll add more photos of animals as I get them from the team.

Trip to Camp Woody on Woody Island

The boat ride to Camp Woody took about 45 minutes. Woody Island is the first location of the Kodiak Baptist Mission. The outline of the original building is still there. Today, KBM is on Kodiak Island and theWoody Island site is used as a summer camp for children (80-100 per week in the summer). We toured some of the island, two brave souls jumped out on the "big swing" and impressed us with their daredevil feat. (Jim and Trinka) You'll see the "ball kelp" pictured here - it's got to be the scariest looking stuff I've ever seen. The beautiful ride out and view back to Kodiak was breathtaking.

Monday's fish dinner and birthday Party

A wonderful Fish dinner of halibut and salmon prepared about 5 different ways along with fresh apple, peach, plum tarts made by Marianne provided the perfect setting to ceoebrate the birthdays of Jeff Mason and Bill Miltimore of our team. We're bringing the fish recipies home with us.

Dinner at the Road's End Restaurant

After a very long day of sightseeing we stopped at the Road's End Restaurant. A quaint place in a lovely spot along the shore about as far away from kodiak as you can get.

U. S. Coast Guard visit

We'd heard that the pizza shop at the U.S. Coast Guard station at Kodiak was the best in the area. While at the Coast Guard Base we took these pictures.
District 17 of the USCG is the largest Coast Gguard Base in the United States

Kodiak has lots of float planes and a 9 hole Golf Course!

Some of us hit the links in our free time. Spectacular sites. Very sunny and breezy.
Bear Run Golf Course is owned and run by the US Coast Guard

Dear Blog Reader,

Dear Blog Reader,

First of all, thank you for checking here to see what our mission team is up to while we're in Kodiak Alaska. Secondly, now that we've been here 10 days, you can imagine how many pictures we've taken. I estimate that by the end of the week we'll have over 10,000 pictures - whew! We've begun sharing pictures and seeing those that others of taken that we want to have. I'm starting to see more pictures from previous events I plan to put on this blog. So, be sure to revisit earlier pages as there will likely be some new pictures there as well as then new posts I may add each day. If you have trouble registering on the blog, you can write me at chapaiello@aol.com and I'll pass your words along to team members. Just be sure to identify the team member you want to write to by their name (not their nick name).

Saturday's trip across the length and width of Kodiak

On Saturday we traveled to the far tip of Kodiak Island. Along the way we saw red salmon, breathtaking scenery, a gorgeous sunset, stopped at fossil Beach, the missle launching site (star wars defense system) and had a picnic along the way.

Work on Ouzinkie island

Half our work crew traveled by boat for 75 minutes to Ouzinkie island to work on the home of Joyce Smith, an early missionary to Kodiak Baptist Mision. Ouzinkie Island has about 200 residents and is quite remote. We took the wood for a new deck and lots of paint with us. The project called for scraping old paint off, applying primer and a fresh coat of paint. Also, the old deck was removed and the new deck started. Everyone worked hard and even had some time to talk with the local children.

Three great meals daily in the pavillion

Each day we take a 5 minute walk down a steep hill to have breakfast ( 7 AM), lunch (Noon) and dinner (6 PM) in the pavillion (dining hall) . I've included a picture of the view from there and will add other photos over the next week. The guy in the cowboy hat is our chef "Lucien". His menu does not repeat any dinner while we are here and his homemade soups are fantastic!

Scenes from the group Bible Study sessions

Six times during our mission trip we'll have a time for reflection on biblical texts related to what we're experiencing on the trip. Our "mission prep study guide" gives us questions to explore that help us reflect intentionally on what we're experiencing physically, spiritually and emotionally. The scenes on this post will be added to after each study session. They are held in the building we live in during the mission.

Scenes from the 8:15 AM chapel service

Each day we gather for chapel where we sing hymns, give each other a blessing and light a candle to crowd out the darkness of life. Each day we are reminded visually that Jesus is the Light of the world and we too have this mission.

Night time activities

Each evening after work and dinner we have several activity options. Here are some of them: viewing the area from a mountain top, salmon fishing, whale watching or just sightseeing. We're doing them all.

On the Third Day God's People Worked

Some of our tasks included demolishing a set of stairs, and we began painting rooms, fiber-glassing the boat and of course we continued cleaning.

Second Day of Work

Today, tuesday began with a slight drissly mist in the air tha required a long sleeve shirt and or a sweater. However, by the end of the day today it was sunny and dry with a high near 70 degrees. These pictures are from our work areas, the pavillion chow hall as well as scenes from the mission site.

The First Day of our Work