A Brotherhood

Brent & Wes preparing our wall of windows for imminent winter.

In February we bid farewell to about 10 guys and girls who were deploying for 7-12 months. We planned on being gone even before their mid-tour leaves. God knew we would be here when they come back...and so we are.

We had the great joy of welcoming Brent home two weeks ago. He had volunteered for an assignment with the Army, that didn't involve his pilot training in anyway, his was the only trip that was 7 months. Listening to his story is encouraging, challenging, and heartbreaking. God used his time there to reveal deep truths about Brent's life, his goals, and his gifts. He has shared with us the bond he built with soldiers "down range" and the scope of his responsibility while there. His conversation comes with such a weight of responsibility. He was able to help those who needed it, and saw the consequences of what happened without that help. I think that Brent is a great Soldier/Airman not because of his love of country, but because of his love for Jesus. He has a desire to see lives saved, hearts uncalloused, and people acting out of selfless motives.

Having Brent home now gives Wes and I a great picture of what to expect. Obviously no two experiences are the same, but it's a good alert to how to interact and deal with guys who have spent a year in Afghanistan. What to ask, what not to ask, and when to do it. I think it is safe to say we will now begin to prayerfully consider the homecoming of our friends. Brent isn't experiencing any Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) but some of our guys might, and if not this time around, possibly in the future. That is some thing we'll do some reading on before February.
Pray along with us for the spiritual implications of war in the lives of our soldiers.

We asked him what he missed most about home (aka, Anchorage) other than generalities like bread and milk, he missed "Moose's Tooth" a local restaurant with specialty pizza and a micro brewery. But he also told us that he'd promised the guys in Afghanistan to wait until they could join him to go there.

This is Home

It's Friday evening, there are about 20 soldiers and airmen upstairs reading through Galatians 2 with Wes. I was in the discussion last night at the married group, so I've sneaked downstairs to get dinner cleaned up, and dessert ready.

I figured this was a fun little sight, it made me feel like "home". Growing up there was always an uncontrollable mass of shoes on our back porch. Families pile their shoes together. I'm glad this is a family. :)

The first two weeks meeting in our home have gone well. More updates later, time for bed in Alaska!

God bless,
Elaine

Count your many blessings...

(Our new home at, 25822 Berryhill Rd)

Two green folding chairs, a stack of wood, a crackling fire, and a mountain of golden leaves. No, I'm not camping I'm sitting in our new home. It's 34 degrees outside and I'm trying to soak in all the warmth of our little green wood stove possible.
I could begin to list the things in the past month that seem like tragedies from where I sit. Friends it has not been an easy month for Wes and Elaine, as well as many others. But I am still here, God has not allowed me to be overtaken with troubles or sorrows. And I truly could list the blessings that have come from each of our struggles. I wish I could tell you each personally about it. Please don't hear lightheartedness in my voice. This hope has not come easy, I am learning to wake up every morning and choose to see the hope and the blessing in our situations. We can sing and read that God is the potter, and we are the clay; but clay does not have an easy go of things before it's a beautiful piece of pottery.

I would love to share with you the brighter side of things. Our new home is a blessing and a ministry in many ways. We are renting from a dear friend. He was the youth pastor on base (Working with MCYM/Young Life) and for family health reasons has had to leave "the field". They are moving back home to Minnesota (eh!) and had hoped for good renters in their lovely Alaskan house.
We hope to move the Singles dinner & Bible Study to this house this week. And soon to move the married group here as well. It is laid our very well for hosting groups of people, and making everyone feel at home.
We pretty much wake up every morning and think, "wow, how did we get here?". And we are truly thankful.

Please continue to pray for the growing ministry here. We still have lots of details to work out concerning how to move forward and in what ways Dan and Barb can and should be involved with the work we've all been doing over the past year(s).
Barb is doing well, but the chemo and radiation are beginning to get harder on her, pray for her children.

In all things I pray that Jesus is glorified. In our lives, and in the lives of those around us.
Have a great week,
Elaine (& Wes)

Visiting Home, Staying in Alaska

We got to Ft. Worth on a beautiful, sunny, 85 degree day. I basked in the sun, hoping to do the same for the next six days. Texas had other plans. It's been raining, sometimes torrential downpours, ever since. Nonetheless we are really enjoying our time visiting with Wes' family. We had a great time at church yesterday at Cleburne Bible Church, their new building is huge, but the people were still great and friendly, and David's sermon was a good one. Tonight we will attend the missions board meeting and fill them in on the past year.

We spent last week in Pennsylvania, also having a great visit with my family. It was great to be in PA at such a beautiful time of year. Grandma and most of my Aunts and their families were able to come up for Labor Day weekend, and that was a really fun family time. Then we spent Monday out on the mountain... making Reuben mountain pies mmmm :). It was great to visit Blanchard Church of Christ too. We were glad to check-in and see smiling faces! (Even if the fire alarm was pulled in the middle of our talk with the second service.)

Thursday of this week we will head back to Alaska (luckily on a direct flight). We have officially decided to stay in Alaska, for at least another year, really as long as we are needed for our community, and our friends. We will be moving into a new house this weekend. God has provided for that amazingly! We'll also need to re-accumulate some furniture and other things we sold in preparation to move to England.

Barb is doing well. She is at home working on gaining strength to begin chemo this week. I can't wait to get home and see her, with all the progress she has made! Please continue to pray for her and her family.

God bless,
Elaine (and Wes)