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The only Source of true Rest

This is a good one after today’s tumultuous events.
 
After a pretty good night’s rest, I woke up at 8:15! Guess I needed the sleep. But my initial reaction was unhappiness because I don’t like to get up late. I don’t like to have my worship, quiet time and prayer later in the day.
But I praise you, Lord, because, right in the midst of my unhappiness, your Spirit brought to my mind that fact that I can let go of my desires and preferences, hold on to the truth that you have my day in hand, and rise above my unhappiness, eagerly letting you guide, rejoicing in a different kind of day.
This I did and am walking now in the freedom and the light of your goodness and presence. Thank you, Lord Jesus, my good Shepherd, that you are leading me well and that I can trust you to carry me in the right direction for your name’s sake. Praise be to you.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation,” so of whom or what should I be afraid? Certainly not of having my plans be disrupted or of being disappointed. No, In you I can rest.
Thank you for the great freedom you have brought to us, Lord Jesus. Help me to walk in it daily by surrender, praise and obedience to what we know to be true, and thereby continually bring you honor. May glory to you radiate from my life today.
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preparation for Hunting Walrus

The weeks went by and the weather grew warmer, moving up to zero degrees, while the nights grew shorter and Okfagit finished the frame of his new boat.

The walrus skin covering his wife had split and hung out to dry was also ready and one morning he told his sons and daughters that they would cover the boat the next day.

The assembling of this boat took only one day, but the preparations for this act had gone on for months. First shooting and skinning the female walrus (the skin of a male is too thick and heavy to use) and scraping the hide clean of fat. Then the hide was soaked in water for a long time until it was soft. At the right time they took it out, folded it up and put it in the relatively warm tent in their house. There it remained for many days while the hair on the hide rotted away. Only then was it ready for splitting and finally for sewing onto the boat frame.

Then there was the long, arduous task of constructing the frame. First, they had to search the shoreline for suitable driftwood, pieces large enough and long enough to cut into long, supple ribs. And, of course one especially long piece to make the keel. After months of sawing by hand, the boat builder would assemble the frame, lashing all together with hide thongs.

Such an undertaking was not only a significant engineering feat, but also a work of art. These patient people were willing to go to all this trouble because such a boat was the only means by which they could hunt walrus and whales. Without a boat, stranded on the land, they could only hunt seals that came near, which was not that common in the summer when the seals could surface to breathe anywhere they wanted, uninhibited by ice flows; and they seldom surfaced near the shore.

After breakfast, Okfagit and the boys took the heavy skin off the drying rack and dragged it to the boat frame. Nisana and the girls prepared the whale sinew for stitching the hide in place on the boat. This sewing was a difficult task as the skin was thick and hard. They would use a curved needle carved from ivory.

Okfagit and his sons took the split hide and draped it over the frame of the boat. Then Okfagit cut it to fit the boat’s shape, and Nisana stitched the front and rear seams to give it the proper fit. Then the boat was turned over and after cutting slits all around the edge, the skin was lashed to the boat’s ribs. It was an all-day job of heavy labor, but they were a strong people and did it well.

When all was completed, they lifted the boat up and put it on a rack. They didn’t want the dogs chewing on that tasty walrus skin while it dried in place!

Okfagit’s boat was 18 feet long, and 8 feet wide in the center. From gunwale to keel it was 3 feet high.

It could hold an amazing amount of weight for its size, and maneuver in very rough water. Even though it had no keel, it was still used as a sailboat when the wind was right.

Each boat had a captain and a crew—often from more than one family—who worked together in the contest of life and death, survival and loss. The boat captain was a man of very high standing in the village, as he was responsible for providing food and protection, not only for his immediate family, but for his extended family and the families of those in his boat crew.

In order to ensure a successful walrus hunt, Okfagit spent ten days performing certain ceremonies designed to call the female walrus towards the shore. It was important for him to use all the powers available to provide the food they needed.

Picture: finished boat being launched for a hunt

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More California Events

More California events.
 
There was also a very nice girl in our class: slim, shy, tall and blond. I asked her if she’d like to go for a motorcycle ride and found she knew how to ride—she didn’t try to steer me as we went around the corners.
 
We became good friends–some thought us boyfriend and girlfriend as we were pretty much inseparable, but it was more a pure and positive friendship.
 
Although she never told me, from different clues I gathered that she had been taken advantage of by someone on the reservation where she taught and was suffering from the pain of it. Our positive, Christ-centered friendship seemed to be healing to her. It was also good for me to have such a healthy relationship after living in the Eskimo culture where I had no interaction with women my age the last nine months.
 
On most days after class we would hop on my motorcycle and go to the beach. One weekend we took a trip to Tijuana, Mexico and had a close call on the way.
 
It started to rain shortly after we got on the freeway, an unusual event in LA in the summer. I was driving in the left lane and wanted to pull off so we could put our ponchos on. There was a wide shoulder between my lane and the guard rail, so I leaned left to get up on it, not realizing there was quite a high curb. By the Lord’s grace when I hit the curb we didn’t fall over in front of the traffic behind us. Instead we bounced up in the air and landed safely on the shoulder. I was very, very thankful.
 
When we arrived at the border, we parked my motorcycle on the US side and walked through the border check. As we crossed the bridge into the city, we were met by a wizened little man. Rubbing his hands together he squinted at us, looking us up and down.
“Come for an abortion?” he asked.
“No,” we answered.
“Come to get married?”
“No.”.
“Come for some drugs?”
“No!”
“Then why’d you come?” he asked in amazement. We were just as amazed at his questions and attitude.
 
Later we were approached by a woman carrying a baby which she held out to us. She spoke only Spanish, so I couldn’t tell what she was saying, but it looked to me like she wanted to sell her baby. Later I realized that she was begging, using the baby as bait. Another world.
My blond friend and I also had an interesting accident on Hollywood Boulevard late one afternoon. As we approached a stop light on my motorcycle, an old set of trolley tracks on the street veered to the left. The front tire of my cycle dropped into the groove and we both went right over the handlebars.
I landed first on my head, then came down on my hands and knees. My friend landed astride my back, holding a can of oil we had just bought in one hand and her camera in the other!
 
All the traffic stopped and as we got up people called to us asking if we were ok. Other than ripping the knees of my jeans and skinning my hands a bit, we were fine. Good thing I had a helmet on or my head would have had a different shape! Another God sighting!
 
Our classes were helpful, giving a lot of new ideas for teaching English as a second language in a multiclass, village situation. In one way, I was sorry to have the experience end, but at the same time was looking forward to making a quick trip to Connecticut before going back to Alaska for my second year of teaching.
 
However, there was one more important event the Lord had in store for me here in L.A. In fact, it was the most important aspect of the summer.
 
Jewell and her husband invited me to go with them to a course on Christian living, and I invited my blond friend to come, too.
This event was Bill Gotthard’s first experiment with larger Basic Youth Conflicts Seminars, having seventy-five attenders. It was very personal with chances to chat with Bill in between sessions. He gave us more information than he did in his later much bigger seminars, often attended by crowds of 3,000 to 5,000 or more.
 
In this seminar, the Lord brought two significant things to my attention. First was Bill’s high regard for Scripture. He took what it said very seriously; he didn’t try to explain away things that were difficult or uncomfortable or out of our culture. Instead he explained how to live them.
 
I had always been told WHAT to do as a believer, but no one had really explained HOW to do these things, such as how to ask forgiveness, how to resolve conflict, how to turn humiliation into humility, how to deal with anger, jealousy and depression. I was hungry for this kind of input.
 
The second and greater gift was Bill’s teaching on meditation. This has turned out to be the most powerful and prolific source of spiritual growth in my life. The Lord has used it to equip me for ministry, give wisdom for living, free me from depression, from self-pity and from natural thinking.
 
The Lord has used meditation to bring continual, powerful, fundamental transformation, bringing freedom from one trap after another. It has and continues to be a rich spring of blessing and growth.
 
Bill’s description of meditation was preceded by the promise of what it would bring. He spoke from Psalm 1:2-3 which says, “Blessed is the man” whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.”
 
Bill said, “We could title this passage, ‘God’s way for success.’ Meditation is the way to get our roots down deep into the water of God’s Word. This allows us to bear fruit, stay fresh and grow strong spiritually no matter what our circumstances may be, and in the end be successful as God defines it.”
 
Bill gave examples from his own life, beginning with his being a poor student until he started meditating, which led him to became an A student.
 
“Meditation,” he explained, “is cooperating with God in the transformation of our souls. The soul is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions. When we memorize a passage, we learn to think God’s thoughts after him. This is cooperating with the Spirit in the transformation of our mind.
 
“Then as we personalize the passage—putting in personal pronouns where we can–we cooperate with the Spirit in the transformation of our emotions.
 
“Finally as we pray through the passage, asking God to make it true in our lives, we are cooperating with the Spirit in the transformation of our will.”
He gave us an example of how to do this using Psalm 1: “Lord, I want to delight in your word, to be one who loves and cherishes it. Give me such a love. I want to be a person who meditates on your word day and night. Help me to memorize it well and to follow through on meditation.
 
“Make me like a tree planted by the rivers of waters, getting my roots down deep into the water of your word. Bring forth my fruit in its season—whatever fruit you think I need for those around me, Lord, may it come.
 
“Keep me green and fresh, strong and fruitful in all circum-stances, in good times and dry times. And make me to prosper in what-ever I do.”
 
Bill gave us a list of ten different chapters to memorize and meditate on, giving each one a title.
 
Psalm 1 God’s way to success
Hebrews 12:1-17 Why difficulties come, what to do with them.
James 1 Benefiting from trials
Matthew 5-7 God’s Values
Romans 8 Victory in life
Romans 12 Guidance
Psalm 23 The all purpose passage
Psalm 37:1-28 Dealing with conflicts
Psalm 34 Purpose in life
Psalm 62 True rest in life
 
He offered us some books as a reward if we would memorize them, but the desire for growth with Jesus was much more of a motive for me! I immediately began the practice which I kept up all my life, and I’m very thankful for it.
Picture: Los Angeles smog when I was there.
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God’s awesome power

Time is going by so rapidly. Thank you, Lord, that our times are in your hands and that you move us along as is best, whether we feel good about it or not. Praise you that the measure is not our feelings but your perspective, which is Truth.
Praise you for your power with which you arrange and lead in our days. You are my light and my salvation, the stronghold of my life. Whatever comes is a gift from you, an opportunity to live by faith, to respond with trust, to dwell in truth, to walk in the light.
I give you praise and honor because you are a strong, wise, gracious God, firm and loving, One who would allow a test like Job’s so that he might become a beacon of hope and wisdom to many, giving glory to you.
Lord, help us, help me to remember that each incident, each happening, each chance to react is an opportunity to be a grace receiver and a glory giver–offering the sacrifice of thanksgiving so that I may give you honor. Help me to remember that each event is an opportunity to live in the unseen and eternal, rather than in just the tangible and temporary.
An example is the nearly disastrous happening a couple of years back when the brakes on my tractor gave way and it careened backwards over a bank, nearly tipping over, ending up at a dangerous tilt. You enabled me to just step off the tractor as it went over the bank and walk away, avoiding any harm. You kept it from turning over and pinning me under it. You displayed your power, your protection and your provision.
In the light of your goodness, thank you now for this new day, for what you will allow or bring, for the uncertainties before us, for the need to make difficult choices.
Help me, Lord, to do what is best in each situation. Help me to speak into messy relationships with grace and gentleness, with wisdom and wit, with truth and tolerance, that you may be honored before men and angels.
 
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Psalm 28:7b

Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy”
[To trust you, Lord Jesus, and thereby see you in your grandness, power, glory and wisdom, to understand your carefulness and consistency, your cherishing and constant care in our lives—this leads us to respond with joy.
Your rich love and warm acceptance, granting us honor and security, significance and protection in your Kingdom—these are just what we desire, they are exactly what we were made for in having such a relationship with you! To know you is certainly enough for joy, period!]
“and I will give thanks to him in song.”
[Deep, full, genuine trust leads to rejoicing, to thanksgiving and praise with songs. You, Lord God, are the source of joy, of song, of music, of gladness–so you have planted in us this response of love to your poured-out grace.]
I praise you now, Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for the day you have prepared before us, for the things you are going to do and bring, for the activities, the failures, the weakness and difficulties, the joys and pleasures that will come–each an opportunity to live for you, to give you glory, to rest in you.
I praise you, Lord Jesus, for the wonder of knowing you, of living with you, of being called to join you in what you are doing, of being equipped, empowered and protected by you, of being useful for you, an effective instrument in your hand.
May you be pleased and honored today by my trust and obedience. May your name be lifted up and exalted as your Spirit works in and through me, O Lord God, King of Glory, Ruler of all, Shepherd of the weak. Amen.
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Good words to start the new year!

Psalm 28:7b “…my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.”
[Without trust, much good is forfeited as we hold back and live in anxiety, fear, worry and fretting. With trust, we can praise our mighty and sovereign God in faith before we understand what He’s doing with the difficulties in our lives, before we get an answer, before relief comes.
Trust comes from being in the Word, and trust is strengthened as we offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving, giving thanks for what we would normally complain about (Ps. 50:23).
We can rest in you, Lord God, because we know that you are the good One who is committed to our good and are certain to guide and protect us through any unwanted circumstance that comes from the world, our flesh or the devil.
As we trust, you give us peace, wisdom, guidance and provision. And in trusting you, we give you glory and honor before all, both the seen and unseen.
As we trust we open the way so that your deliverance for this moment may come through. Paul declared this in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “…I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses SO THAT the power of Christ may rest on me.”
As we trust we are changed, you, Lord, are lifted up, others are blessed and unbelieving sinners see your glory.
As I trust in you, I can reject impatience, worry, fear, anxiety, greed and over eagerness; therefore, instead of being caught up in the tyranny of the urgent and the power of fretting, I can rest in you in peace and joy and confidence.
Praise you that in trust, I can take up your patience, your grace, your wisdom, your strength, your calmness, and your light so that I can live today in your power, protection and peace. Truly, knowing Jesus is enough for joy.]
Below is a Picture of trust: Nat with childhood friends.
 
Help me, Lord, to so trust you today that you will be honored before all around me for your marvelous character, for your mighty strength, magnificent goodness, majestic greatness and magnanimous graciousness.
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Psalm 28:7

Psalm 28:7 “The LORD is my strength and my shield;”
[Lord, I am so weak, so vulnerable, naturally so easily defeated by the devil’s deceit and demons, as well as the people they use.
 
But you, Lord Jesus, as the Victor, the Most High, the Almighty, the undefeatable Defeater, you tower over time and eternity, giving your strength to your children, making yourself our Rock, our Fortress, our Defender, our Stronghold.
You give us your shield of victory, you support us with your right hand. You stoop down to make us great. You reach down from on high and draw us out of deep waters, you rescue us from our powerful enemies, from our foes too strong for us, you save us because you delight in us and bring us into a spacious place (Ps. 18:16-19).
I give you praise and honor, glory and exaltation for the daily demonstration and revelation of your great goodness, Lord Jesus, as you work powerfully and personally in my life. Like yesterday you prevented an accident I almost caused. Thank you so much!
Forgive me for taking so much of your goodness for granted. Every time I arrive home safely, have enough to eat, experience peaceful sleep and awake to safety and beauty, I have experienced your mercy and kindness. Help me to note these God sightings every day and thereby grow in faith and praise so I can give you more honor. Amen.]
Picture: our granddaughter, Anna
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Who am I listening to?

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
John 8:31b,32
 
Years ago as we watched my mother-in-law struggle with old age, it is painful to see her fight for her significance. All her life she has been strong, talented and successful: a professional cook and seamstress, an avid and productive gardener, a wonderful housekeeper and hostess. These abilities and the resulting achievements made her feel significant and satisfied.
 
But then they were all gone and she had only an inner, undefined emptiness, which she didn’t know how to deal with. She was unhappy, sad and angry.
 
Recently I heard of one practice that can prevent all of us from falling into this trap of self-pity and living in such frustration: we should stop just listening to ourselves and start talking to ourselves. The difference is huge.
 
Only listening to ourselves is a trap: “What a terrible day with all this rain” “No one loves me” “Nothing ever goes right” “I can never get ahead” “No luck for me today!”
 
It is good instead to recognize these thoughts and then evaluate them according to God’s Word. After that we can speak truth to ourselves, which is the way out of this swamp of sadness.
For example, we should say such things as,
“Well, I had hoped for a sunny day, but praise God He knows that we need this rain!”
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
“Praise you that you bring to me what I need, Lord, both what is pleasant and what is not!”
“Thank you for the lack of progress, as this reminds me that my times are in your hands.”
“Thank you that you the one who arranges my days.”
 
David practiced this in Psalm 43. First he listened to himself: “Why have you rejected me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” (Ps. 43:2). This is how David felt, but his statements were not true: God had not rejected him, and he didn’t need to go about mourning. And worse, David was blaming God for this, implying that, “If you are my stronghold, why are you failing to protect me??!”
 
However, David went on to process his own thoughts by speaking truth to himself. At the end of the Psalm, David said, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (Ps. 43:5). He was moving out of the swamp of despair onto the firm ground of God’s Word.
 
Listen to the inner monologue going on in your heart; break in and speak truth to yourself. This is one step towards the joy that Jesus has for us. Then we can say with Asaph, “Whom have I in heaven but you, and earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Ps. 73:25).
 
Prayer: “Lord, help me to be aware of what I am saying to myself, to evaluate it according to your Word, and choose to think Truth, so that you may be glorified and I may walk in the freedom you have bought for your children. Amen.”
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Thinking Truth

 
In these days of impending doom, I was very encouraged by the following devotional in EDIFIED! Hopefully you will, too.
 
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
Psalm 50:14,15
 
The last few days of my time in the States in June (2002) brought one disaster after another. The almost new starter in my van went bad and the replacement one I had installed in PA cost twice what one did in CT. I got a sore throat the last night there, the beginning of a cold—and I didn’t have time to get sick.
 
My plans to return to CT on the 17th were foiled by the decisions of others, making me wait until the 18th, so I lost one day of work in CT. My computer seized up and wouldn’t allow me to send email.
 
When I finally did leave on Friday for CT, I realized I’d forgotten to give an important item to someone and had to return to do that. On the way home the traffic was the worst I’ve ever seen, with numerous slowdowns, including going 10 miles an hour for 24 miles!
 
At the one gas station stop I made, someone was in the single bathroom for a long, long time. Then I locked myself out of the van by accident, with the keys inside. I was late in getting home, losing three hours of good work time. And the materials I’d ordered two weeks ago hadn’t been delivered yet! Then when we brought the pickup truck over to unload the roofing I’d brought, it ran out of gas halfway there. Then I realized that I’d forgotten the charger for my computer in PA, and since I was leaving for Germany Monday morning, there probably wouldn’t be time to get it.
 
In each of these happenings, I was weak: things certainly were beyond my power to control. And in each of these happenings the Holy Spirit said to me quietly, “Don’t complain; this is an opportunity to praise!” He had to remind me because I’m a slow learner–and with His help in each instance I did praise, for our God is Sovereign and Good, Wise and Strong. Everything that happens comes with His full knowledge as well as His purpose and grace. The chance to be weak, to appear foolish or to have plans foiled, are opportunities to give Him glory and to honor Him through the praise of faith.
 
As these burdens came one after another, with His help I carefully lowered each one before Him in praise, and was able to stand upright, unencumbered by self-pity, anger, frustration, disappointment, or complaining. Each event then became a step up in my walk with Him, an opportunity to take up His grace, to rest in trust and to rejoice. What a privilege to walk with such a God! What a privilege to go through difficulties so we can honor Him with praise.
 
And as I praised, He worked all out, true to Psalm 50:23, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”
 
I never really got sick. At the gas station I could get back into the locked van because the back door was not latched but tied shut to accommodate the roofing I was carrying. The building materials arrived early the next day and were exactly enough for the job. God sent people to help. All the work got done. The computer straightened out with a restart. The charger arrived an hour before I left for the airport, and He enabled me to be completely ready for the trip.
 
What a God we have! Even if things don’t work out as we desire, we can still praise Him for His wisdom and for how He will use this. Truly, Knowing Jesus is Enough for Joy.
 
Prayer: “Lord, help me to always think in terms of Psalm 50:23, praising you in and for all things, knowing that you do what is best and I can trust you. Amen.”
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Arrival of the teachers

Arrival of a new wonder: school
 
In the summer of 1894, a ship arrived off the coast Sivukuk, but this time it did not bring any trading goods for the Eskimos. Instead it brought them a gift: two teachers to set up a school.
Vern Gambell and his wife came, ready to teach the Eskimos reading and writing in English to prepare them for the modern world that would soon invade their island and culture.
 
As the boat brought the teachers to shore, Woolunga stepped forward. “Welcome,” he said and reached out his hand. Vern was relieved that someone spoke English and grasped his hand with enthusiasm.
 
“Thank you,” he said, “We have come to set up a school.”
 
“What is a school?” asked Woolunga.
 
“It’s a place where the children can learn to read and write, to learn about the wider world.” Behind them, the sailors unloaded a large pile of baggage and supplies belonging to the teachers. Woolunga nodded like he understood, which he didn’t.
 
“We will help you carry this to the village,” Woolunga said, and gave instructions in Yupik to his people. They gathered around and each took a box or bag or keg.
 
“It is good for our children to know English,” commented Woolunga. “I will help you. Come to my house.” As they walked up towards the village, the other Eskimos crowed about and welcomed them by using the few English words they’d learned from the sailors, none of which were printable! Vern and his wife were shocked by this flood of profanity and quickly turned to follow Woolunga into the village.
 
“Why did your people use all those bad words in talking to us?” Vern asked when they’d gotten into the house.
 
“Those are the only words many know, they learned from the sailors. Some we may use, but don’t know the meaning,” Woolunga replied sheepishly. “This was their way of welcoming you, using your language.”
 
Vern shook his head. He could see that he had a long road ahead of him, and he thanked God for Woolunga, who was his window into the culture and language.
 
They stayed with him for a few days and then arranged to use an old abandoned house as their home and school. The Eskimos helped to fix it, repairing the roof and cleaning it out.
 
After they had settled in, setting up a pot-bellied stove and placing all their many boxes around the edge of the main room, they invited Woolunga to visit.
 
“We would like to begin teaching your people,” said Vern. “And this is the most important book we will use.” He held up a Bible.
 
“So that is a book,” exclaimed Woolunga. “I’d heard about books. May I look in it?” He took it in his hands and opened to the middle of the book, running his finger over the page. “What are these strange drawings?” he asked.
 
“It is language written down. These pictures tell us of a message from God.”
 
“God?” asked Woolunga. “Do you mean Apa and his helper? But they are distant and not helpful to us in our weakness. We cannot trust them and they have no interest in us. Instead we must deal with the spirits who surround us.”
 
Vern shook his head. “The God of the Bible is different. He loves us, wants a relationship with us and is trustable.”
 
Woolunga’s face lit up. “Ah, you mean that your Apa cares for his people! I have not heard of that before and want to hear more of this God!”
 
Picture: inside of an Eskimo house, the type the teachers used for their home and school
No photo description available.