Tuesday, March 13, 2012

10,000 Miles in 19 days

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
(Psalm 8:3-4) - Photo by Keith Ramos
Bedded down dog teams in Galena - by Keith Ramos

Photo by Keith Ramos
Aliy Zirkle leading the pack into Galena - Photo by Keith Ramos...I'm not sure what I would do without him.

As Dorthy said in the Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.” We arrived safely back in Galena on Friday morning at 11am after leaving Lafayette, Louisiana on Wednesday at 8:30 am. We would have been home sooner, but we decided to schedule a dentist appointment in Fairbanks for Thursday. Nothing quite like flying all night and then getting a dental cleaning first thing after landing! We left Louisiana at a balmy 70F, and our first morning in Galena it was a cool -25F. No place like home.

We had such a blessed time visiting with biological family and faith family while we were in Texas and Louisiana. I was honored to get to preach at three different churches and meet up with two other churches for food or dessert. Shell and I are so thankful for the love and support that we receive from our ministry partners, and the excitement of everyone about what the Lord is doing in Galena and the Interior.

The Iditarod is coming through Galena this year. We made it home just in time to see the first team come into town.  Several of the SEND Missionaries and other church members are volunteering at the check station. Many of the mushers are waiting to run their dogs at night because it was below zero, and easier for their dogs to run!

Next week we begin a series at church I’m calling “Epic Grace”. When you think of an Epic story, they usually follow the same pattern: 1.Intrigue/Paradise, 2.Lose/tragedy/conflict, 3.Contending, 4. Restoration/Resolution.  This has been the story of our relationship with God up until today. It’s God’s epic story of grace. Be praying for us as we go through this study.

Things you can be praying for:
  • Brad Fox (SEND Missionary) and a couple of teens from church went to Nulato this weekend to help with a Kid’s Club meeting there. Pray that Brad was able to connect with the believers  that are there, and that we’ll see God’s will in starting a church in Nulato.
  • 10 people from The Gathering Place Church in Pineville Louisiana will be traveling to Galena on the 30th of March to serve on a mission trip. Pray for safety and effectiveness of their efforts to further the Kingdom.
  • Several leaders in the church have been holding a parenting workshop for the past couple of Thursdays. Pray that new community members would feel welcomed to come and that we would have success in helping parents love and nurture their kids.
  • Pray for spiritual protection for the men in the bush. Pray that suicide would be prevented and the Gospel would replace hopelessness.