Our Daughter

Please Welcome Adelaide "Ada" Jean Auldridge to the team!!

Just a quick post to let the world know that Ada was born on Jan 4th at 11:32 pm. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 19.5" long.
We are all home and doing well, getting adjusted to a new, wonderful life!
Elaine's mom was here for 10 days (waiting with us on the late arival of this precious girl) and left yesterday. Tonight Wes' mother arrives for a week, followed by visits from Elaine's sister, Wes' dad, and his sister & family.
Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. We are truly more thankful for Ada than we ever could have imagined.
We have started a new and amazing journey.

Praise God from whom All Blessings flow!
Wes, Elaine & Ada

Update on Life

Last week, we enjoyed a visit from the Americas West Cadence Regional Directors, a couple whom we dearly love. They have been so good to us over the past two and a half years, taking time to call when they are not here, and making visits to serve us. Thursday evening Beryl kicked me out of the kitchen to enjoy dinner with those I feed weekly, as she kept an eye on the kitchen and the clean up. This allowed me to join in the group discussion upstairs, not just listening from downstairs. I am grateful to have such a caring support team.

Our Friday night singles group is going through some interesting changes. I believe some of the changes are due to the natural life cycles of a group like this-- especially in a transient community like ours. But it requires wisdom and discernment in decision making as we (Wes, Dan and I) try to lead this community. Our attendance is down to about 15-20 on Fridays. Pray that we would use the opportunity to minister to this smaller group, while also figuring out how to meet the needs of the larger community. The people are out there.

Finally, an update on the Evans family. Dan and Barb received sad news this week. After reading results from this months MRI and comparing them to last month's MRI they learned that the cancer has spread (and is spreading quickly) to four different areas of Barb's brain. They were told that there are no other medical options to consider. We may be looking at months now. Pray for this family, as they celebrate Christmas together, knowing that time may be short. Pray for Wes and I as we walk beside them, not knowing how to best support them. And pray for our community. Since Barb got sick she has been much less present in ministry, but there are still those here who spent the 3 years prior to the cancer in relationship with her, learning about life and the Lord through her. They fear the unknown as well. They ask questions like, "what will happen to the Hospitality House after Barb is gone?" and "will I see Barb after my 6 month deployment?". Pray for them that they would seek comfort and peace in Christ. And that we would do the same.

Thanks for your prayers. I promise a more encouraging note next week (unless of course I'm in labor- then Wes would provide the encouraging note!)

God bless,
Elaine (&Wes) for the Mountain Chapel Hospitality House community

Giving Thanks

Our "banquet table" set up on Thanksgiving Eve

Last week we celebrated our third Thanksgiving in Alaska, our third with this loving family we call the Mountain Chapel Hospitality House. As is tradition we split our group into smaller groups for Thanksgiving, and and plan on a combined large dinner for Christmas. We hosted about 20 people here for dinner both families and single soldiers and airmen. It was actually somewhat of a light cooking week for me. I was only in charge of the turkey, stuffing, gravy, and some green beans! Among my cooking accomplishments for the day were my first successful homemade gravy, and my first stuffing completely from scratch- it was amazing (sausage, fresh herbs, apples, yum)! It was a great time to share about family traditions and reflect on what we're thankful for.

That evening everyone was invited over for dessert (and oh, how much dessert there was!). We set aside time to hear a report from the folks who have just returned from a short but life changing missions trip to the Dominican Republic. Their reports were encouraging and challenging. They spent most of their time building a school for poor children, and communicating through Spanish-English charades! It was great to have people from our community come home with first hand knowledge of the hardship and love present among that impoverished community. I'd even say that the majority of our community members are now financially sponsoring children through the ministry, Hands of Grace.

I could go on all day about the things we are thankful for. Our family has been so blessed by our Creator. I recognize that all good things do come from above, and I'm not deserving of any of them. Yet I sit here and enjoy them day in and day out. We are 3 weeks and 6 days away from our baby's due date. I'm excited and terrified, but the little soccer player and I are doing just fine.

Keep checking back (we're on a new streak of regular blog updates!).

Elaine (& Wes & baby)

VIDEO UPDATE! Life in Alaska