North to Alaska

Thank you for praying for us…I can honestly tell the difference.   I have had a couple of people tell me this week that they have been praying for us and I can say with all sincerity that “I know.”   Have you ever had a time when the Scriptures, the sermons, the words spoken in passing seem to all kind of say the same things?  It has only happened a few times to me…but it has happened to me this week. 

Faith

Answers…I want answers!  This journey is a journey of faith, when I get ahead of where we are at I feel anxiety.  BUT, when I rest in God’s provision and in His goodness and in His blessings through Christ and in the indwelling of the Spirit there is the real answer.  I love being in a place where I can hear God, I honestly just wish it weren’t so uncomfortable!!!!  A good friend of Julie who spent a number of years in a very difficult country in Africa told her this week “the harder it is, the more glory God gets.”  Wisdom.    

Tomorrow I get to go to Alaska!  I am going to get things ready for our summer leadership trips and work on details for our move.   I know so many people who have wanted their whole lives to go to Alaska…don’t want to rub it in, but at 3:57 CST tomorrow afternoon I will be on my way to Alaska!  Pretty stinking cool!  I’m excited to see good friends, mountains, cold weather…and Kodiak, our dog. 

Pray that I will have discernment in finding a home for us to live during the time that it is not safe to cross Lake Clark to Port Alsworth; our property is 2 ½-3 miles across the Lake from Port Alsworth.   We want a place to rent for a few months early in the winter as I will need to travel some still during the academic year as I will be continuing to do staff development with our teams working at military schools.  Long term our heart is to have a part in helping to see the Gospel go out from our village throughout SW Alaska and being a part of the community throughout the winter seems pretty valuable.  There are a few other options that we are open to but from what we know today, which I’m sure is just a fraction of the big picture, we would love to rent a place in Port Alsworth during the freeze up time.  There is a ton we don’t know yet and will learn over the next few years for sure…

The kids are doing well.  This is Sam reciting his poetry this morning in school.  He did a great job, as usual.    Kaitlyn got a 103 on her spelling test which means she gets to go out with me for frozen yogurt this afternoon.  Not a bad deal, she has motivation to work at spelling and I get to have a date with my daughter—maybe I should get her a flower and make it a valentine…

Thank you for praying for us. We are so blessed to have so many who care and encourage and pray for our family!  Pray for us this week that the Lord will clearly lead and that I will clearly listen!