Unbelieveable!

It has been 4 1/2 years since I last posted in this blog. WOW! Time goes by much too quickly. The addition on our house has long been finished, well almost, and so many things have happened that I am going to have to take some time to get them all recorded along with some pictures. So this is to let you know that I am soon (before 4 more years go by) going to update this blog with lots of great news.

One of the greatest things that is happening in my life is the reality of surrender. We talk about it all the time as Christians, but live in a world we try desperately to control. More on that later. So keep an eye out for all the many ways God has been and is at work. He is good.

BETHEL MORAVIAN SEMINARY

What a privilege it was to stay at the Moravian Seminary in Bethel. These are the students along with a visiting professor. They were in the middle of a class on hermeneutics. How to study the Bible.

Grayling

Jim and Sue Manzella show the love of Christ over and over to these native kids in the village.

Kako Retreat Center

Three of the KAKO staff. KAKO brings in kids for summer camp as well as adults throughout the year for training, counseling and refuge. It takes some big machinery to keep the air strip open as well as the road to the river. Barges come down the river with supplies. I was there with a team who was cutting and piling up wood for the winter.

Kodiak

MarJean and I were privileged to fellowship with others in this evening service. Both native and non-native attend.

Pedro Bay

This is the upstairs in the new parsonage. Downstairs is where the church meets for services. Chris Sanner is on the far right and Ralph Nabinger is on the left who was a huge help in getting this project completed. MarJean and I are in the middle.

More wedding pictures

Here are a few more pictures from Joel and Amy's wedding. This one is of course after they are married. The more casual picture is at the rehearsal dinner. The two girls are Abby and Anna. Abby is Jonathan and Becky's first born and Anna is Jami and Kristy's first born.
The little guy who is in the picture with the two girls is Levi, Jami and Kristy's boy.

As you can see this has been a busy time of year. We were together for Christmas and then two days later Joel married Amy Underwood. Amy's parents, Perry and Sue are our Arctic Barnabas Ministry Ambassadors for Changepoint, (Our supporting church in Anchorage). We are mightily blessed to have them as our prayer partners as well as now family. The Lord is good. This picture shows both families.

Joel and Amy are now in Portland where Joel is attending Multnomah Seminary and Amy is looking for work. God has provided them with a great two bedroom apartment that is less expensive than married housing. Pray with us that Amy will be able to find just the job that will fit what is best for them.

More good news! Jonathan (our oldest son) and Becky begin their support discovery as Arctic Barnabas Ministries Staff Appointees. Jonathan will be Director of Aviation Maintenance, a position desperately needed to keep our airplanes functional and safe. Without an airplane we cannot visit our bush ministry families. Besides filling a necessary role with ABM, we rejoice that this means a move to Kenai! Yeah! We left Anchorage to follow the Lord, but sad to move farther from our children and grandchildren. Yet, God knew the future and His plan to bring them here. So... we look forward to the pitter patter of little feet through our home once again. Abigail LeAnn turns 6 this December, Seth Conrad is 4 1/2, and Alison MarJean will be 2 in January. God's grace to grant us the privilege to serve Him together with our children overflows in praise this Thanksgiving season.

The newest news is that Joel and Amy are engaged to be married in June of 2007. We are so thankful for God's design in bringing them together and are trusting Him to lead them every step of the way.

Amy is the daughter of Perry and Sue Underwood who are the ambassadors at Change-point for the Arctic Barnabas team. They lead our prayer team and stay in touch with what is happening as our team does ministry. We are mightily blessed by their love for us and the ministry of our team.

Amy is presently living in Anchorage, attending Wayland University and working part time at Changepoint. Joel is in Portland, Oregon attending Multnomah Seminary. We are so thankful that both Joel and Amy are seeking the Lord with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Pray for them as they seek God's direction for their future.

These windows were actually installed the same weekend Jonathan and Becky came down to frame it in. Work is being done on the inside. The walls and loft are almost done. Next comes the electrical. I need to some reading on how that works. We also need to get some of the gas pipe rerouted as there is a door in the far end of the addition. Maybe the next picture will be of the inside. We will keep you posted. This is also the first day of any real snow here in Kenai. It probably will not be around for too long.

MarJean's Birthday

In September some of the ladies from the Arctic Barnabas Prayer Team in Anchorage along with the gals on our ABM team came to Kenai to celebrate MarJean's birthday with a tea party. That is what our women's ministry does when they go to the bush to encourage pastor's and missionaries' wives. What a privilege to have these godly women come and encourage us. We are truly blessed!

100 hr inspection

Jonathan, Becky and family came down to Kenai to help the Arctic Barnabas guys on the team with the 100 hour inspection on our twin engine Seneca III. This is Matt Zeigler (on the right) one of our aviation team pastors.

It's going up fast!

It is amazing to me how fast you can get something done with someone who is highly motivated.

The addition has begun

Can you believe it? We are framing it in.