8 years ago when I started working at Kanakuk, Spike White, Darnell's husband and Joe's dad, was still loving on the place and the people that make up Kanakuk Kamps. He was such a great encouragement to me for those first few years of working here. He more than anyone helped me understand the past and to see the threads that have run constant through Kanakuk over time. I took some time the other day to write these remembrances down. I didn't want them to be lost. He was a great man and a great example to all of us.
Spike and lifelong friend Jack Herschend, kayaking.Spike would come to my office early in the morning, telling me stories, praising me and encouraging me in my work in a special way that no one had ever done or has done since. He had a special “guy” way of making you feel important, but not too important for your own britches! A fine line that few master, but he did. I called those 6:00 am moments with him my "Spike Time" and I had far to few of them before he passed away.
I cherish the fact that I was among some of the last employees hired to get the “Spike” tour of the grounds. Hearing on the trip the little nuggets about who built what and what used to be from one of the "engineers" of this place. Nuggets that I was too naive then to file away as important. I think of him every time I walk across the red walk way bridge and think about how it took someone with his personality and skills to get this place on it's feet again in the 50's.
I think my favorite thing he used to do was arrive through the mailroom door, full mail tub in hand and announce “The
MAIL is here. That’s M-A-I-L!” He would spell the last slowly so that you didn’t miss it:-) He would go to the mail annex in Hollister everyday to get the mail so we would have it just a few hours earlier. He would take things to the employees at the annex and no doubt his encouraging spirit was felt there too.
His truck, as well, was a testament to his frugality and “get the job done” way he lived his life. It had things in it that he had rescued, things that others had tossed out as waste, he saw something valuable in them. That red truck was covered with bumps and bruises from his travels around Kamp and the whole community, to encourage all those he came in contact with. It communicated so much about what Kanakuk is about.
In the Spring Spike would ask me, and I’m sure many others, if I was ready for summer. I’d always respond “no” to which he would say “Well the kids are coming!” and off he’d go like there was no point in worrying about it, that God would take care of it, because the kids were coming whether we were ready or not! That lesson has served me well.
Spike and Darnell WhiteI know many who read this blog have been associated with Kanakuk long enough that you too have stories about Spike. Share them with us all by leaving a comment.
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