December 2007
Dear Praying Friends,
It has been a while since we’ve corresponded due to
an extremely busy summer. We had five or six work
teams up here during the summer to build a log cabin
next to the hangar. God provided the funds to
purchase a log package from a local company through
a Lutheran church in Northeast Montana that went
belly up due to not enough older people and the
younger generation of farmers leaving. They didn’t
know what to do with it until they ran across my
uncle, who farms next to them, who said, “Why don’t
you give the church to Les—he’ll figure out
something to do with it.” So they gave it to the
“Caravan Connection.” Two weeks later, it was sold
to a gun stock manufacturer who makes expensive gun
stocks there. Over time, this will pay for the cabin
materials which in the end means I won’t lose the
hangar or the guest house to the tax man on property
taxes due. All is well that ends well. I don’t know
any of the Lutherans that did this for us, and I’ve
never been to their church, but I’m grateful to them
for helping us out. Big thanks to all the work
teams.
Somewhere in Alaska while you read these lines,
there is a child, a young person, mostly young girls
from eleven years old to eighteen, that are being
raped and abused in tiny Native villages. The
village people, for the most part, know about this
and silently condone it. As the pilot for our
missionaries up here, I have heard from them
first-hand, seen cigarette burns on the chest of one
young man about twelve years old, and heard of the
rape regularly of the youngest teens in their youth
groups. I feel compelled to say and try to do
something!
We have the highest abuse, rape, drug, and suicide
rates among our young people than anywhere in the
United States of America and, for that matter, most
of the world. We have these long, cold, and harsh
winters that are so conducive to depression,
drinking, and drugs. Our native people in Alaska,
especially in villages that have voted to go “dry,”
get their alcohol from any source of RSD40 alcohol
such as perfumes, colognes, hand lotion, Listerine,
Scope, home brew, Lysol, which they freeze and then
separate the alcohol from the rest. Cough syrup and
hair spray have a high content of alcohol as well.
They drain the can of butane, put the contents in a
glass, mix the contents with water, filter the
contents through bread, and drink the alcohol. When
one of them gets a case of hair spray, their friends
come over for a “Hair Spray Party.”
Young people
come to our missionaries’ churches, to our Christian
summer camps, and then are faced with going back to
the village life. Not long ago we had fifteen teens
stay with us for a couple of days in the guest house
due to weather that was too bad to fly them back to
their villages. Of course, we loved them, fed them,
took them shopping, and just got to know them while
weather kept us grounded. When it was time to go
several were begging us to adopt them, and several
refused to get in the van to go to the plane. We had
to pull them by the hands to the van, while they
were shaking their heads and protesting mournfully,
“No, no.”
What situations did these young people face that
caused such grief? In the village of Selawik, there
are five hundred people and eight reported rapes
each month. Most of these offenses, however, go
unreported, uninvestigated, and unpunished. Then,
too, is the cigarette burn method of child rearing.
Many years ago, I had a small part in working with
Brother Lester Roloff in his homes for young people.
I helped out with a boys' home in Fredericksburg,
Oklahoma. Later, I used my new pilot’s license to
fly plane loads of preachers to Corpus Christi to
file complaints to the judicial review board and
demonstrate outside the jail to help get Bro. Roloff
out of jail to and help with the Lighthouse Home for
boys. A friend and I were able to get a large
furniture store to donate more than a semi-truck
load of furniture to the Rebekah Home for girls. I
rented a 53 foot Ryder semi-truck and delivered the
furniture. Then I was sent back with a load of
grapefruit to distribute at church.
Dear praying friends, we badly need a home for
Eskimo and Indian teens up here. Would you pray and
have a part? Some of our missionaries are
recommending their young people leave the village as
soon as they can. The State of Alaska is advertising
for foster parents and even discussing the need for
orphanages, but as you know, anything the state or
federal government touches turns rapidly into a pile
of manure. I have talked to almost all of the
missionaries and pastors I know up here, and all
agree that young people need a place of refuge – a
Christian home and school with love and care all
around.
Presently, we are working with the camp ministry to
reach the native young people of Alaska. Several of
our partners have sponsored the plane flights to get
their young people to camp. The camp ministry has
been perhaps the most fruitful part of the ministry
up here among all the missionaries. One of our
missionaries worked very hard for about 30 years in
one village, had a Christian school grades 1-12 and
tried to raise a whole generation of young Christian
leaders, hoping to find one of them to take over the
church. While many have been saved, none has as yet
become a Baptist pastor among his own people.
The problem is this: these Christian young people
still have to go back to the abuse and bad influence
of village life. Teaching important principles of
the Bible—such as how to stand alone when others do
not--is very difficult in the village setting.
However, if I had twenty-four hours a day, I believe
I could teach them and show them by example how to
be like young David and how to go in the direction
of their fears, another principle every Christian
must learn in order to live by faith. At some point
in raising up a whole generation, we may see them
come to Christ and become future leaders of their
own people. Yes, I believe that a home for unwed
mothers, a boarding school for abused children, and
troubled young people is sorely needed in Alaska.
If you look on
a good map, you will find Arctic Circle Hot Springs
in northeast Alaska, accessible by a
state-maintained road from Fairbanks. A large
state-maintained runway borders the Springs. It’s a
privately owned hot springs that cannot be taken
over by the state or the Feds. It’s been developed
since the early 1900’s and, until recently, has been
open to the public. The man who now owns it is Bobby
Miller, a true Alaskan sourdough, who founded two
airlines here years ago and brought to Alaska the
first pure jet airliners. He closed the hot springs
two years ago due to his age of 90 years. He wanted
to “put things in order” and put it up for sale to
the public for 7.25 million dollars, but he might
sell it to me for less —perhaps for one million. He
is 100% behind the vision of the orphanage and
school for Eskimo and Indian young people.
We have been dreaming of taking on this project for
several years and of purchasing the hot springs. The
natural hot water would heat all the buildings,
saving the cost of buying heating oil or cutting
firewood for our long Alaskan winters. Year around
greenhouses heated by the water would produce fresh
food.
Hot water could be used to generate all electricity
needed for the facility with a geothermal power
system. The State of Alaska and US Department of
Energy have provided funding for a geothermal power
plant at another hot springs. I believe they would
do the same for us because we could supply power to
two nearby villages that now have state subsidized
diesel generators.
Arctic Circle Hot Springs Lodge
Millions of
salmon go up the Yukon River 20 miles away which
would provide good meals for the orphanage-school,
and the young people could show tourists how they
catch salmon and smoke it. They would then sell it
to the tourists, and they would keep the profits
from the fish project. The springs would also have
swimming (soaking), dog sled rides, four wheeler
rides, hikes, cross country skiing, down hill
skiing, a tourist gift shop, a coffee house,
Northern Lights watching, wild life viewing, etc.
The Native teens would benefit in several ways.
Remember, in all the years of missionary work here
among all the missionaries, not one native young man
or couple has been raised up to start a church and
stick with it among their own people.
1. There would not be any more abuse. There
would be discipline, but not abuse.
2. They would
learn what an alarm clock is and how to use it.
3. They would
have to be at breakfast.
4. Would have
to do chores.
5. Go to
school.
6. Learn the
Bible and hear good teaching and preaching.
7. Eat
well—play hard.
8. Interact
with the tourists and each other as well as the
staff.
9. Learn how to
please the customer.
10. Learn how
to please God and to experience Him as their best
friend.
11. In their
four years of high school, I would invite retired
men and women to come for the summer, stay in a
cabin, eat in the chow hall, be grandpa and grandma
to the kids, and teach them all different trades for
each of the four years.
When they get
their high school diploma, they will not only have
been raised by loving Christian people and have
experienced none of the pressures of village life,
but they will also know how to be a mechanic, plumb
a house, build a house, weld, learn to fly, (plane
and hangar provided by the State of Alaska.) learn
electricity, the culinary arts, sewing, etc. etc.
They will be the most balanced, hard working
responsible young people in America. There will be
people standing in line wanting to give them
scholarships to a good Christian college somewhere.
After that, we have done our part, and it’s up to
God to direct them, and for them to respond.
The young
people we raise at the Springs will not even know
what the welfare mentality is. I would take certain
ones of them to Juneau, our capital, to meet some of
our Christian legislators there and get them to run
for public office as a Christian Native.
Occasionally, they would ride a bus three hours into
Fairbanks and have pizza, go shopping at Wal-Mart,
and sing and give testimonies at churches throughout
Alaska. Instead of these young people being consumed
and abused mercilessly in the villages, they would
end up being the greatest blessing the villages and
Alaska has ever seen.
Now let me say something about the personnel for
this needed work. I haven’t found one pastor or
missionary up here who doesn’t think this is a good
idea and the hot springs the perfect place. There
are several missionary families already supported
who will come on board immediately to help. Another
family is already here in Fairbanks. He is a house
builder, a former assistant pastor, and now is a
Fairbanks police officer until the hot springs is
ours to develop. Another house builder by profession
was just with us for six weeks. We flew the 45
minutes to the springs, and he is raising his
support to come help with the project. Many builders
from the various work teams in the past will come
again, and many retired men and women will come in
the summer, stay in a cabin for six weeks or more,
and teach the vocational skills.
Now, read on carefully. This project will take some
serious funding until the tourists start coming and
paying for it all. That will probably take two
years. Approximately two years ago, we made contact
with some men who have a charitable foundation. We
applied for a grant from them to purchase the 54
acre Hot Springs property, which includes a number
of older buildings; to put up a school building,
chow hall, dormitories, chapel, staff housing, new
lodge and Olympic size swimming pool; and fund staff
salaries for several years. The plan would keep the
springs open to the public which would help fund the
project in the long term. We would seek a contract
with tour companies to ensure full beds to help
support the school in an ongoing way and provide
part time jobs for older youth. Our application was
approved and put in line for funding after several
others. However, the foundation was not able to make
good its promise, and it looks like the grant will
not go through.
Let me also emphasize—I’m not a fund raiser. My
personal reason for this is that I don’t find one
command or any example in the Bible of a New
Testament missionary going to any church to try and
raise funds for anything. I’m simply bringing this
to your attention because most of you have requested
that I let you know of the progress and needs of the
ministry. I would ask you that you pray and fast
over the desperate needs of the children of Alaska.
Then visit us if you would like, so I can show you
the problem and the Arctic Circle Hot Springs.
If you happen to run across Bill Gates, tell him of
the project. When the Israelites quit wandering in
the wilderness, they had complete instructions on
how much gold; silver, brass, etc. that was to go
into the tabernacle. God could have led them and
stopped them right by creeks or hills that had
precisely the right amount of minerals. Instead, He
used the Egyptians and their earrings, etc., to
build His tabernacle. So I’m not against using grant
funds from the Egyptians, but like Bro. Lester
Roloff, we will not tolerate state control. Let me
know if you have any leads. If you will donate the
funds to purchase the Springs or lead us to another
person who can, we’ll build you and that person a
log home on the property! Then you can come live
there for the summer to help teach the young people
or even year round.
Without a large
grant to purchase the Springs and to fund the
project, it will take the cooperation of many
people, each doing what God directs.
I’ve always
believed and practiced the principle of going in the
direction of the thing I fear. In the end, the hot
springs can become self supporting because of the
tourists and the hot water for heat, electricity,
and gardening year around. I only ask for the Lord’s
direction and provision for the children of Alaska.
It’s all in His hands.
Should any of you want a copy of the grant proposal,
call me at (907) 322-8807, and I’ll send you one. It
explains in detail the mission, methods, mission
statement, structure, etc. of the project.
Contributions towards this project may be sent to
The Caravan Connection or to World Wide New
Testament Baptist Mission. Please include a note
designating “for Hot Springs project.”
Thanks again for your faithfulness to us in prayer
and grace giving.
Faithfully yours,
Les Paul Zerbe
www.farnorthflyingchaplain.com
Prayer Post Script:
1. Our Native young people. One village I fly to in
air support for a missionary has a serious, known
abuse problem. In a youth group of almost 25 Eskimo
teens, there are four girls, the youngest, 11 years
old, who are raped each week by men in the village.
The village won’t prosecute. The missionary, who has
first hand knowledge, from a professional standpoint
should report the abuse. If he does, he will have to
testify, and he will either be killed, his wife or
daughters raped or house burned down, etc. He would
have to leave the village and abandon his ministry
to his 25 young people and church group. Another
fundamental Baptist missionary would not be allowed
in the village again. If he saves 4 lives, he loses
many others in the long term. Do you see the Catch
22? The only answer is something like Circle Hot
Springs to give them a home and a chance.
2. Thanks for
the log cabin being finished in one summer and for
the work teams that wore us out and worked so hard.
The rent will now pay the Tax Man.
3. For God’s
miraculous provision through the little Lutheran
church on the prairies of Montana.
4. Give thanks
for an airplane engine that just keeps running well.
I thought I might have to overhaul it this winter,
but I’m still waiting. Some of you have sent some
funds for its overhaul, but I am just sitting on it
till it’s needed.
5. Thanks for a
missionary filling in for me in Manley Hot Springs.
6. For
unfinished projects for work teams this summer:
-
Install a
sink, shower, and toilet in the hangar.
-
Install 8
florescent lights in the hangar.
-
Run air
lines in the hangar to a compressor.
-
Strip and
paint the airplane.
-
Landscape
around the new log house and hangar.
-
Overhaul
the engine of a 91 Pontiac Sunbird.
-
Overhaul
the engine of a Chevy V6 Van.
-
Go halibut
fishing for 3 days.
-
Fix the
rain gutter on the guest house.
-
Spray log
oil on the exterior of the log cabin.
-
Need to
fully service the Bobcat (i.e. oil change, check
chain tension, etc.)
-
ENOUGH! I
am a grease monkey, but there is not enough of
me to go around. While we are on this short
winter furlough until mid-March, please try to
avoid e-mail if you can, or if you do, always
include your phone number. My cell number is
907-322-8807.
7. *Pray for a place of refuge for the youth of
Alaska. God has worked so many miracles in the past,
let’s see what He can do again.
For a copy of the grant proposal, see
www.farnothflyingchaplain.comg
For color
pictures of Arctic Circle Hot Springs, see
http://home.gci.net/~jlister/circlehotsprings.html
For more
information, about ACHS see
http://php.indiana.edu/~kurichte/achshome.html
http://fairbanks-alaska.com/arctic-circle-hot-springs.htm
For information
about geothermal power generation, see
http://www.yourownpower.com/Power
www.farnorthflyingchaplain.com
zerbe@alaska.net
