Aki Yamada--Japanese cyclist–to realize that what she is missing is a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ

Funds for the John-Romans portions--$700 for 5000 copies

Campus Bible Ministry and Karl Sapp —for souls to be saved on campus

November to March on furlough, traveling mercies for Jane and I

Land for the hangar at Metro Field

Manley village ministry.

1206 Winfield Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
Phone 336-744-0767, cell 907-322-8807

Dear Friends,

A big thanks to all of you who have given special gifts for the hangar project. It looks like now I will not lease a lot at the big airport, but purchase a lot at a smaller gravel strip that is one mile further away. I can do an instrument approach (flying blind) to the big airport and then side-step over to the small one. It will mean I can’t fly in quite as nasty weather, but that’s wearisome at best anyway and scares some folks half to death. There’s more prayers offered up in missionary airplanes than many other places! I’m still negotiating buying land at the small airport, but it should work out. This will all help in getting the Gospel out to our village people.

Did you hear on the national news in October that Timothy Treadwell, the author of the book, Among Grizzlies: Living With Wild Bears in Alaska was killed and eaten by bears.

A self-taught bear expert who once called Alaska’s brown bears “harmless party animals” was one of two people fatally mauled in a bear attack in Katmai National Park and Preserve - the first known bear killings in the 4.7-million-acre park….

Treadwell was known for his brazen confidence around bears. He often got so close he could touch them. He gave them names. Once he was filmed crawling along the ground singing as he approached a sow and two cubs.

"At best he’s misguided," Deb Liggett, superintendent at Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks, told the Anchorage Daily News in 2001. "At worst he’s dangerous. If Timothy models unsafe behavior, that ultimately puts bears and other visitors at risk.” Ron Engstrom /Anchorage Daily News)

You can be sure that when I go out in the wilderness, I am fully equipped with the firepower to “tranquilize” any bears with lead for eternity!

Speaking of grizzlies, see the letter below from Aki Yamaha, a 36-year-old Japanese woman whose goal is to ride a bicycle around the world. She was riding a bicycle from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay and got as far north as our sheep hunting camp north of the Brooks Range. She didn’t even see the grizzly bear that was chasing and gaining on her on this desolate gravel road, until a semi truck driver chased the bear away by honking his air horn behind her. She came running into our camp and stayed one night, and then came to stay a week and a half with Jane and I at the guesthouse. We talked with Aki, a Buddhist by tradition, for days of Christ and salvation and so did Bro. Karl Sapp, who used to be a missionary in Japan. She is restless and lonely in Japan; something is missing. See her letter below:

Dear Les and Jane,

I got home 8th of Oct finally. After I left your home, I enjoyed back country in Denali NP for 5 days. There were still many tourists to see autumn color in Denali. It was not so good weather first 2 days, but it was getting clear and I could see perfect Mt. Denali for 3 days!! I saw many black bears and grizzry bears very close from shuttle bus too.

When I got back to Hostel in Fairbanks, there were job opportunity from Potato farm. I worked for 11 days on farm as potato picker. There were a lots of Fun. I did cranberry picking in the morning, went for walk to see moose and other animals. We did moose hunting on the farm and I helped to take meats off. I saw fantastic northern lights many times at nights!! I felt very sad the day when I had to leave Alaska was coming. I didn’t expect to have such great experiences in Alaska before I came here. I was so comfortable to be in Alaska. To be in nature is not special things but just natural for me. I realized we needed to live with nature. It makes harmony in our mind. Now I am in crowded, busy Japan. Every thing is so convenience and organized, but I am uncomfortable even I come home!

I am going to concentrate to finish my travel journal, and I would like to leave Japan soon.

It was great time for me to stay with you. Tourists just can see Denali NP and other few places and say "I saw Alaska. " But for me without meeting people, we can’t see that country. Thanks your GOD to let us meet. I will be back Alaska soon.

Les, when your book is published, please send me your book! I hope I can send my book to you too! Jane, I would like to cook more Japanese food, which I am proud of as our culture, next time.

Sincerely yours,

Aki Yamada

Pray for the Campus Bible Ministry that I started years ago at the University of Alaska and Brother Karl Sapp who heads it at this time, who has recently had a struggle with the administration trying to stifle the witness there. After several meetings and revising the club’s constitution to bring it up to date, the ministry is on going for this year, but always under pressure. The last complaint that was made were against Bro. Karl’s creative use of the backs of the chairs at his table to hang with posters of Scripture verses so that students relaxing behind him would receive a silent witness. Even an unsaved student, whom Karl had counseled concerning some family difficulties, went to the office to protest about the kind of treatment Karl was receiving. Karl also has a Creation Club to increase the witness on campus from a different perspective. In reaction to creationist meetings, some students have joined together to form the Darwin Club.

The Catholics have moved out of the village of Manley and have given the log church building to the village for use as a church. Since I am the only one holding services, it is mine to use now. Earl Malpass will be flying there to fill in for me while I am “Outside” on furlough.

With the help of Bearing Precious Seed printing ministry, we are putting together a special Bible portion of John and Romans to distribute during the annual 1000 mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race next March. Earl Malpass and I will act as chaplains, flying from village to village along the route from Anchorage to Nome passing out the Bible portions.

By Nov. 5th, Jane and I will be flying south in our Cessna 206 to visit some of our supporting churches and to see my mom who survived a serious heart attack last June. Please pray for our travel and for us to be a blessing..

Prayer Requests: