The e-Journey Continues

So as we look at the (approximately) three weeks left in AK, lots of thoughts run through our minds. Will we get good goodbyes with all our dear friends? What do we keep? What do we let go of? These are all life questions but not (e)ternal in our journey. I think the real question is, "Lord, what are you doing?"

Do you remember that time in your life when you were super close to God in your walk. You were constantly talking to him and you just really felt his presence? If you have never had an experience like that before, I pray you do. I (Wes) am really being stretched right now by God and it hurts. Not just emotional pain but physical as well. There are times when I physically ache for the eternal. Let me tell you that this is not what I imagined when asked God to be my savior. (Puppies, roller coasters and bacon for every meal!)

Please allow me to share a video a really good friend sent me yesterday. I think it sums up really well where and what God is doing with me. Click Here

Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

Pain "For His Glory,"

Wes (along with his girls Elaine and Ada)

Aloha!

Many of you knew that we just took a weeks vacation to Hawaii last week. As much fun as it was, the vacation was planned before we knew we would be leaving in less than two months. So relaxing and stressing don't go very well together. I (Wes) am having some real struggles with anxiety right now and so I thought this would help out a ton.
Many of you know I am a big fan of Twitter and a day or so after we arrived Pastor Rick Warren Tweeted this, "You cant escape problems thru a vacation because you take YOU with you." Ouch. But I definitely saw his point.
Needless to say it was fun and there were relaxing moments. We saw beauty at it's finest and had some wonderful hosts, the Cassidys. Now we move our focus to the move to Denver. Pray we, "cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us."
-Wes

Like a Band of Gypsies

Wes, Elaine & Ada Easter 2011

Ladies and Gentleman in the words of Willie Nelson, it's time to be "on the road again." After conversations with Cadence Headquarters, prayer and consideration our leadership has decided that our service in Alaska is finished.

Three years ago this month we (the two of us) arrived here for a one-year internship. It has been a long, challenging, unexpected, exciting and rewarding road. Most of you have followed us through this journey. We are incredibly grateful that God placed us here for this time, and we're excited about his plans for our future.

The time frame is short. We (the three of us) plan to be leaving Alaska by 1 September. From here we will drive (!) to Denver, Colorado where Cadence HQ is located. The plan is that we will spend the next 6-12 months (per Cadence Home Assignment policy) resting, being renewed, and preparing for our next ministry assignment. Pray for this time, as we use it to grow closer to God, refresh our marriage, and recover from the weight we have carried here.

If you support us financially, please continue to. Relocating is expensive, and we will need to save in order to begin at our next location.
If you don't already support us but you've been thinking about it, this would be a great time to join the team! See the EFT Form download to the right, visit Cadence.org, or chat with us for more info.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the love and support you've shown us in so many ways on our great Alaska adventure as we've shared the Gospel and our lives with the soldiers and airmen here.

That's the basic info. We will keep you posted. Please feel free to write or call with any questions, or just say hi! :)

Many blessings to you,
Wes, Elaine & Ada

Elaine & Ada hiking with our dear friends Anna & Jenna in Eagle River

And Sew it Goes

Lindsay came for a little sewing lesson

This is my pregnant friend Lindsay (I have a lot of pregnant friends). And if she's not careful I'm going to steal her sewing box!
I was surprised when she showed up with a sewing kit of her own. She told me she needed to take up some curtains, and since she was asking me for help, I figured she had no sewing experience. Turns out she has sewn before, but like most people I find, has little confidence in her ability to remember what she learned so many years ago. Like sewing is rocket science or something.
I taught her the step by step sewing method learned decades ago, and enjoyed passing on my knowledge. We chatted a bit about life and babies and grandmas. These are the little moments I want my ministry to be made up of. Just "life" things.
I used to explain to people that life is what happens in the times when you're not saving the world. Ministry is then assumed to be the "saving the world" moments. They are both pretty connected though. Jesus' ministry included long sermons and fishing trips. Both life and both ministry. Sometimes I save my schedule for someone that really needs me, responding to some spiritual crisis- since 'that's ministry'. But I know (and need to remember) that these little interactions are just as important...and quite a bit of fun!

Thanks for stopping by to read our blog. Hopefully you're new around here, and will come back for more in the future.

Elaine