From Barrow to Sudan,Operation Cold Windsis blowing news of hope

Casey Ressler, Frontiersman Valley Life editor

WASILLA — Walking through the frigid Arctic in the dead of winter carrying a 10-foot wooden cross may seem a little crazy to most, but to Chris Raymond, it sounds like a better future for millions of people.

Raymond and several other people are organizing Operation Cold Winds, which is set to kick off in early February. Approximately 10 people will take turns carrying the cross from Nuiqsut Village on the North Slope to Deadhorse, and then south through Fairbanks and on to Anchorage to raise money for a Sudan outreach program.

In Sudan, people are being killed because of their religious beliefs. Last year, Raymond and another Alaskan traveled to Sudan with cards and letters offering encouragement. Operation Cold Winds is the next step.

"The basic theory is that any words of encouragement to them mean so much, and coming from Alaska, the meaning is amplified," Raymond said. "Operation Cold Winds is a way of taking that Alaska factor and making it even bigger."

On Feb. 5 or Feb. 6, the cross will leave Barrow by snowmachine. The team of snowmachiners will make the 170-mile trip to Nuiqsut, where the walk will officially begin Feb. 19.

On Feb. 11, the group is hoping to arrive in Deadhorse, and from there, they will head south at a 50-mile-per-day clip.

"We wanted to start in Barrow, but logistically, Nuiqsut was more feasible," Raymond said. "There is an ice road between Nuiqsut and Deadhorse, and we wanted to make sure to get it all completed in February. It would have taken longer going from Barrow."

The team will travel around 2 miles per hour, Raymond said. That speed is a comfortable walk, but slower than a jog. It also works out to about 50 miles a day, if the group travels around the clock.

"There will be two support trucks creeping along with us, with campers on them," Raymond said. "People will be sleeping while others are walking to keep us going 24 hours a day."

Along the way, the group will be stopping in communities and talking to churches about the situation in southern Sudan and other areas of the world where people are being killed because of their religious beliefs. Then it is back on the road to keep on schedule.

"We won't be staying in any communities because we have to stay on course," Raymond said.

The group plans to arrive in Coldfoot on Feb. 16, Fairbanks on Feb. 20 and in Anchorage on Feb. 27.

The entire trek will cover about 900 miles through the North Slope and Interior Alaska, which can be unforgiving with weather conditions in the middle of February.

"We are prepared for the conditions as much as we can be," Raymond said. "That's why we figured a pace of about 2 mph. If we are forced to slow down because of weather and get behind schedule, we can still get back on the schedule by picking up the pace one or two days."

The group is hoping to raise money through a pledge system.

Churches and individuals can donate per mile, or in one lump donation.

Every penny earned will go to the outreach programs in Sudan and other parts of the world, such as Indonesia.

"I think that's very important to mention," Raymond said. "There won't be a cent going to personal expenses or to cover costs of Operation Cold Winds. All the money goes to relief aid."

Operation Cold Winds is not affiliated with any single church or denomination. Because of that, the Valley Pastor's Prayer Network (VPPN) has been solicited to serve as the "keeper of the purse" for the operation. Donations may be sent to VPPN, 1100 Hay St., Wasilla, 99654.

There are four confirmed walkers from the Valley — Raymond, Dick Stoffel, Kirk Sanderson and Darwin Jacobs. A fifth Valley walker, Lavon Barve, has expressed interest, Raymond said.

Operation Cold Winds is still looking for more walkers, he said, and people can volunteer by e-mailing Raymond at goodworksrus@gci.net.

So far, six walkers have confirmed their participation, and several others are trying to participate.

A Web site has been set up, detailing the conditions in Sudan.

Updates of the mission will also be posted to the Web site, which is located at www.goodworksrus.org.