Surrounded by Faithful People Serving a Faithful God

We were so blessed to be at two retreats back to back where we left knowing God's goodness.  The trip to Seattle and then to Victoria, BC was an awesome time to connect.  Connecting with longtime friends, Crossroads Bible Church, and Julie and I together.  

Crossroads invests a huge part of their resources and influence into missions.  On Sunday they announced all of their missionaries and had us stand up front with flags representing the countries that each missionary is in.  The humbling part to us was the reception we received with people applauding.  I felt like shouting out "its not us!" but I know, or hope, they were not applauding us but the King whom we all get to serve.  Monday morning after the service we boarded a passenger ferry and spent 5 very relaxing and filling days in Victoria, BC.  Great time to be with other missionaries from around the globe; life giving to be surrounded by faithful people serving a faithful God. 

Coming back to Anchorage we had a couple of days getting supplies and food for the next four months or so then met the kids coming off the plane from Port Alsworth.  Some of you have asked and yes, its normal to fly; almost like getting in a shuttle van, well its way cooler than a van...but it is normal for life out here.   

We drove 2+ hours to a camp East of Anchorage where an awesome ministry called Artic Barnabas hosted a retreat for missionary families working in Alaska.  It was a key time for us to connect with people from bush communities across Alaska.  Its amazing what the Lord is doing in drawing people to himself but also a reminder of the hard work it is to reach villages off the road system with the Gospel.  Many families have invested decades and are still waiting for the Lord to move.  Faithfulness and perseverance, with great joy.

I'm making an effort to get across the lake on Tuesdays to work at what we call "the house across the lake" which is where I am at now.  The quiet is good for my soul...it also allows me to make coaching calls to our ministry leaders with fewer distractions.  As I meet with men on the phone some 6,000 miles away I am in awe of God's great power.  This morning the sun streams over the mountains into the windows and we are a part of His work!

 Life in the bush is becoming normal.  There are still times when it is surreal; like yesterday.  Julie and I have enjoyed time together working on firewood. The whole experience of using the boat to get wood is different...  Its hard work to get firewood anyway, but having to move it into and out of the boat adds some sort of strange workout to the woodcutting.  Someone somewhere could make a million on a "P-90X Alaska Wood" workout video.  Last night I took 800mg of ibuprofen...bush candy.  

Please be praying for us as we continue to learn how we can best minister to our community and the others around us.  We love it here and we love being in Port Alsworth...the spiritual battles are real. 

back, like an old friend...

Its been a long time since I have written and as the time gets longer it honestly has gotten harder to write.  How do I fill in the gaps of what we have done and experienced; the emotions that we have felt; the miles we traveled...

I was told by a close friend this week to let it go and just start again...like an old friend.  So, here you go...and yes, I do plan to keep up.   We actually feel the difference when people are praying for us...I am looking forward to sharing what The Lord is doing and how we need you to stand with us.

Last week I got a call early in the morning from a buddy of mine asking if I had time to help him skin out his

one less bear wandering around
the village

brown bear.  Funny thing is that the evening before Jesse was over for dinner and we prayed that he would be able to shoot a bear.  I had been planning to spend the day getting firewood but hey skinning a bear is good too...Not sure if it is the same bear that ran out in front of Josh a few nights before as he was coming home from school after open gym night but either way, one less bear around the village is good with me.

hauling firewood

I did get the firewood done later that day too.  Felt like a good man-day; skinning out a brown bear and moving a couple cord of wood with the boat.  Recharged my soul after being "locked" in the house for a few days doing admin work.

This past week has been the other spectrum on things.  Julie and I have been in Victoria, BC at a retreat that our church in the Seattle area put on for thier missionaries.  It was awesome; staying in a very nice hotel, eating food beyond good, spoiled really.  Sunday we were part of some 40+ missionaries that Crossroads Bible supports, most of whom where there with us for the retreat.  As a group we were highly honored by this church.  Very moving.  One of our friends made a great point that by us just standing up, there could be people there moved to follow the call to make disciples.

We head home this evening after being gone for a week.  I miss Alaska.  I am ready to be back.  I've been reading Timothy & Titus in the slowness of this week; digesting the challenge to lead is re-enerigizing.  I'm ready to go home but only because I'm filled from being away.

Julie and had part of our honeymoon in Victoria.  We hadn't been back so that was special to be there again and to have time to just be together.

18 years ago on our honeymoon we were introduced to the real difference of halibut
 at "Barb's"...somethings stand the test of time!

The whole family will be at a missions conference this next week outside of Anchorage.  MFR is a great time for us to connect with others who are serving in the bush.  We are going ready to learn from them...