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January, 2003 Greetings Once Again! It has been a couple of months since I last wrote to you. The holiday season is generally pretty slow for missionaries doing pre-field work. Churches’ calendars are full, and it’s tough to schedule meetings. Consequently, there was not much happening for me to relate to you. Even in the “slow season,” however, the Lord was busy preparing us for the work to come. The following account will serve to demonstrate that truth— maybe. One aspect of our work in Alaska about which I have been relatively silent is the hunting part. The kids and I will provide the bulk of our meat the old fashioned way— or, if you prefer, the biblical way (Gen. 27:1-4). Hunting and fishing are a big part of life in Alaska, especially if you live in the bush, many miles from the nearest settlement. One reason that I have been rather low key about it, is that I fear some people might question our motives for going to Alaska. After all, everyone knows that you can’t be a good missionary if you like where the Lord sends you (a good missionary has to suffer), and I certainly don’t want to end up like the guy who spent forty-three years trying to raise his support to go to Hawaii. He retired the same day that his support reached 100%! (That’s just a rumor that I heard; I can’t vouch for its verity.) Anyway, I had the opportunity to brush up on my hunting skills a bit these past couple of months. Naturally, I looked upon this opportunity not only as a means of putting food on the table, but also as a means of further equipping myself for life in Alaska. (Memo to those who are not very “keen” on hunting: no animals were harmed in the events that I am about to relate). My alarm went off at 5:00 AM. My hunting spot is only a couple of miles from the house, so I don’t have to get up especially early when I go hunting, but still, I stayed in bed a few moments longer, pondering the sanity of one who would leave a warm bed in order to hike through the woods and climb a tree in the pitch dark and freezing cold. Realizing that my condition was hopeless, I rolled out of bed, and went to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. I had been battling a cold for several days, and since it is a well known fact that most deer react negatively to a hunter suddenly going into paroxysms of coughing, I paused at the medicine cabinet for a shot of Robitussin. I then finished getting dressed and staggered out the door, heavily laden with hunting gear. By 5:40, I was in the tree, on my stand, strapped in, and ready for action, or, perhaps, ready for a nap. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. I had not even been on the stand long enough for the first indications of hypothermia to set in, when a deer approached my bait pile (baiting is legal in New Jersey), and began feeding. It was still too dark to see the deer clearly, much less to see the sights on my shotgun, so I sat back and relaxed, waiting for the dawn. As I sat listening to the sounds of the forest, watching the shadow below me that I knew was a deer, an uneasy feeling began to form within me— specifically, in the pit of my stomach. I tried to ignore the sensation, but it was becoming more intense at an alarming rate. The deer continued munching contentedly, blissfully ignorant of the drama that was being played out over his head. I thought, “This can’t be happening,” but alas, there was no denying the obvious. My meager breakfast was giving me every indication that it was about to re-enter society at any moment. If we were to make up a list of the top ten things that a person can do to frighten deer, I’m not sure exactly where “launching your breakfast in the deer’s general direction” would fall, but judging from the size of the furrow that was dug in the frozen earth by flailing hooves, I’d say that it must rank near the top. (Memo to self: If you want to feed your family in Alaska, avoid the above activity while hunting. P.S. to self: Also avoid Robitussin on a mostly empty stomach.) Now for some more serious matters: we have meetings coming up in Florida, Indiana and Iowa in the next two months. Please pray that the Lord will work through us as we minister in these churches, and that our support will continue to increase. We are also scheduled to be in Canada the last three weeks of April to work with the folks at Camp of the Woods. That is the ministry after which we are patterning our Alaska work. I am looking forward to spending some time in the villages, working with the Canadian Indians up there. We have also booked a fun-filled week this August on Mt. Hood, Oregon, where we sill spend six glorious days and nights with the staff of the Northwest School of Survival, learning how to build emergency shelters, start fires without matches, use a topographical map and compass at night, etc. Andrew and I are excited. Heidi is less enthusiastic. I believe her exact words were, “A log cabin is one thing; a lean-to is something else.” I am also scheduled to take my check-ride for my instrument rating next week (so I can fly in the clouds when necessary). That will leave me with two ratings to pursue, both of which are relatively easy (and relatively inexpensive). I should be able to have every phase of my flight training completed before the end of this summer. Please pray that all will go well with these endeavors. While we’re on the subject of flying, please keep our search for an airplane on your prayer list. Our work would be almost impossible without it, or at least severely limited. We are confident that the Lord will meet this need, and we are looking forward to finding out how He will provide. Thanks again to all of you who have already had such a large part in our ministry. This would be absolutely impossible without you. It really is thrilling to be used by the Lord isn’t it? Until next month, The Craig Family |
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