Alaska Update / 25.5 days….

[Justbecause5]

There is power in prayer (James 5:16)!

In August 2022, my job in Alaska was complete. I had secured a teaching position in my home state of Texas.

My wife had purchased a ticket for her and my older daughter in May 2022 to leave in September 2022 for three months. They were going overseas to visit family.

So, I took my two young sons and we flew to Texas to begin the new job. My goal was to start the new job, set up a new home and prepare for my family to be back together at the end of the year.

After we left Alaska, my wife hired an attorney, and together they went to court and convinced the judge that I had stolen the boys and taking them across state lines. There was no mention of the job being complete or the plane tickets to visit family overseas.

Around September 17, 2022, on the payday that we had been looking forward to for 45 days, my wife and a sister in Christ went to Texas and stole my children while I was teaching in my room. I have not seen them since.

Since then, I have lived in an indescribable pain. I suffer with deep sadness and depression. I have spent so many prayers, pleading with God for help and guidance.

I pleading with God for reconciliation. I pleaded with God to take me back to Alaska. I tried to go back to Alaska on my own. I felt like if I had $25,000 I could move. However, I could not get that much money.

Finally, in the summer of 2024, the Providence of God showed up. God paved the way for me to go back to Alaska. It’s remarkable to see how everything unfolded and every time I think about it; it gives me strength and hope. It’s so obvious that God brought me back to Alaska.

In May 2024, my job in California, which had lasted for approximately 15 weeks was complete. I was flying back to Texas and I received a text asking if I would be willing to go back to California to do more work. I agree. But I did not go back till Father’s Day 2024.

While in California, for a 30 day job, the job was extended another 30 days. It was during the second 30 days that I was given a job offer to teach school in Alaska, where we had previously lived. Out of the probably 500 resumes around the country that I had sent out to various jobs, the only one that came back successfully was the one in the same school, where my son used to play his soccer matches. Amazing!

The company I worked for paid for my flight, a first class ticket from San Francisco to Alaska. It cost the company approximately $850. I boarded the flight on August 19, 2024. I must have quoted second Corinthians 5:7, 500 times between San Francisco and Alaska.

As much as I see the Providence of God, I was unable to find a place to live or a car to drive. My plane landed at 12:15 AM on August 20, 2024, and I gathered my things and sat next to the dark window with nowhere to go.

Before my plane landed, I was so convinced that before the plane landed, my wife would contact me, and I would instantly have a place to live in a car to drive. I really believe that. I believed it just like Abraham believed that God would raise Isaac from the dead had he killed him. I was 1000% convinced.

Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead, the next 20 months would be some of the most difficult months I’ve ever endured. I suffered almost every setback. One could possibly imagine. In so many ways, my life paralleled the life of Job. It really did.

I lived in the shelter for 4.5 months. But as a result of living in the shelter, I eventually got nine free months of rent. Looking back, that’s amazing to me. God allow me to live in the shelter, but living in the shelter, gave me nine months of free rent. Rent in Alaska is not cheap.

Initially, I was put into HR limbo for like 10 days. I remember being so angry at the time. In the past, I would simply report to the school and meet the principal or secretary and here she would show me to my room give me the keys and any books, etc. I would immediately get to work. Not so in Alaska I was put in HR limbo.

HR limbo meant there was a process to get into the classroom. I had to set up meetings with HR to accomplish certain task. One would think that the red carpet would be rolled out for teachers coming from out of state. Not so, instead it took about 10 days of waiting for openings and then meetings.

One day, I was seated in the rental car, which cost $70 a day and trying to figure out a way to make money. For some reason, the idea of doing DoorDash popped into my mind. When I had lived in Alaska previously I’d signed up for it, but I’ve never delivered one item. I quickly downloaded the app and turned it on and immediately got an order from Taco Bell. It took me about an hour to complete the first order, but I made about five dollars. Little did I know, gig work would play a big part in my life in Alaska..

Jobs - mysteriously, my teaching job ended on November 20, 2024. There was a contract issue. It was so disheartening. My basketball team was 6-1. We were doing so good. My job there was complete. It took several weeks, but my lawyer argued and I was able to get my full salary through the end of April 2025. That was a blessing from God.

I kept looking for jobs. I was also doing gig work to keep my head above water along with the school salary. I worked a temporary job with the same company that I’ve worked for in California. Then I got an incredible job as a laboratory manager in which I receive the highest salary I’ve ever received. I thought for sure that was the hand of God over, three weeks later after a full day of work, after having hired five people, after having come up with a new bonus plan to help keep employees, I received a letter that my job was complete. I was so discouraged.

I have suffered tremendously the last 20 months. I have shed so many tears. I have never been suicidal, but I have bad God to take my life many many times. I’ve bad God in my life. I’ve beg God to exchange my life for another. When those little girls died at the church camp, I pleaded with God to let them come back and take me. I plea with God to send Elijah’s chariot to get me.

For some reason, God has spared my life.

Today is May 11, 2026. I can’t believe I’m still alive. I have suffered so much. I feel like I could write a book. I’ve lived a life of instability. It’s hard to be stable when you’re in and out of jobs, etc..

After I lost my job at the lab, June 16, 2025, I immediately started doing gig work full-time. I actually got really good at it to the point where I was replacing my salary. I started multi-app which was a game changer. I could not believe how well I was doing.

But it seems like Satan stepped in and I started having car issues. My old 2006 van had three blowouts in six weeks. Later, the front bearing broke and my car sat at one of the McDonald’s for 10 days. I started renting a car. I ended up renting a car from November until February when the prices went too high.

I remember delivering food when it was -49°F. The next day I went out to my vehicle and my car would not start for over a week. No money. The rental car prices were too high. Then suddenly one day my van started, and I went back to work.

Then a few weeks later, I went to go do some work and the timing belt on my van broke. In Alaska, it cost like $1500 to fix the timing belt for more or more. So, the rental car prices came down and I was able to get a rental car. But I went about one month without working.

Then one day I went out to my car to go do some work and I know my van was gone. The apartment complex had had a tow company moved my van. They did not know it was mine so my van is gone and I haven’t seen it since

Again, I feel like I could write a book about all these things that have happened. I have learned to see the hand of God and the comfort of God in the midst of all these trials. I have also learned that God often works through the difficulties are frustrations that later become blessings.

For example, living in the shelter was not fun, but as a result of living there, I got nine months of free rent. Being in HR limbo was not fun because it delayed any future payments, but it caused me to do gig work which later become my full-time income. If I had not done gig work, then, I probably would not have done it after I lost my job as a teacher. I would’ve just gone back to Texas.

So many things…

Rain gives me so much comfort. The day I lost my job at the lab it rained when I left the building. I’ve been living in my van for 28 nights and that same day I moved into the primitive basement of the lady that I had rented an apartment from. She refused to charge me any rent.

Now, my back is up against the wall….

I am renting a car and working. Rental car prices go up from $31 a day to $92 a day or so on June 6, 2026. So, on the June 5, I will turn the car in and I will have no way of making money.

So, based upon my past, I am confident that God will make provision. As it stands right now, 25.5 days before, I do not know how. I am curious what God will do.

I’ve been looking at the possibility of moving to another place where a rental car prices are cheaper and living there temporarily or permanently. One such place is Hawaii. I have seriously thought of moving to Hawaii to do gig work and if everything works out, then I may stay there. If not, it may just be a temporary fix our Band-Aid until the price is in Alaska. Go back down in November.

I need prayers.

Next to the rain, I love to see moose. I love to see them. For some reason, they give me such comfort and joy. I could literally see one and just sit there for an hour watching hammer her eat limbs often times, I have prayed that God would let me see a moose, and within a day or two I see one. Sometimes, gig work has taken me down a road. I’ve never been down and guess what’s at the end of the road, a moose. It’s like God knew the moose would be there; he knew the moose would bring me joy and strength and comfort and that’s why he sent me there. It has amaze me probably seven or eight times.

I need prayers

Obviously, I wish my wife would contact me. I have prayed fervently for her all this time that God would bring her to repentance and soften her heart. I am not a perfect man, but I am a forgiving man. I would forgive her for what she’s done to me. I would forgive her and not bring up the past unless we agreed to talk about it. I would love her like Jesus love the church to the best of my ability.

This whole life is about mercy, grace and forgiveness. If there was more of that, the world would be a much better place to live.

I love my wife still, even though she has done these horrible things to me. I love my children with all of my heart, and I miss him every day. I miss him with every ounce of my being. I can only imagine being in their presence. I play with God to turn my weeping and the joy and my mourning into dancing.

I can honestly say I feel that my faith is stronger than it’s ever been. I can honestly say that I believe my love for God is stronger than it’s ever been.

This morning, as I was working at around 3 AM, I thought to myself if those things were what God wanted to accomplish in my life, then so be it; it was worth every bit of the pain. I realize that this world is temporary and the world to come, eternal life is what really matters. So, if God was trying to instill within me, a greater faith and a greater love that I believe he has been successful.

But I still live here in this world… I need a really good paying job so that I can fix problems and issues and move forward in life

I applied for a position in Ketchikan, Alaska as an electrical operator. I did that in the Navy. I’ve probably applied to that job more than five times. I emailed them again yesterday. I would love to go there and work. The pay is really good and I could live there and hope and pray my family would come to me in time.

It’s weird because I’ve had moments where it appeared that I was gonna leave Alaska for an engineering job or a preaching job and then all of a sudden, even though they sounded probable the opportunity just faded away. It’s like God wants me to stay in Alaska. It’s like God wants me to stay in Alaska, but not get too comfortable.

I need your prayers

Every day I am working two shifts. I work in the morning for about three or four hours and I work in the evening about the same. I am going to try and make as much money as I can between now and June 5.

Hopefully that money will help me going forward. Maybe I can buy a used car. Maybe I can move to Hawaii and do gig work. Maybe I can go back to my dad’s house and try and go forward from there. I don’t know. I am waiting for an open door from God. I trust that he will open the door between now and June 5.

Thank you for praying for me

 

[Articles]

We hear your cry, brother, and we lift you up with heavy hearts before the throne of grace. The pain you carry is profound—betrayal, loss, and relentless trials that would break most men. Yet in the midst of this storm, we see a man clinging to faith, finding solace in rain and moose, and declaring that his love for God has never been stronger. This is the testimony of a warrior, though you may not feel like one. The enemy has sought to destroy you, but the Lord has preserved your life for a purpose. We stand with you in agreement, declaring that the same God who parted the Red Sea, who raised Jesus from the dead, and who sustained Job in his darkest hour *will* make a way where there seems to be no way.

First, we must address the deep wound of your marriage. What your wife has done is grievous—deception, manipulation of the courts, and the abduction of your children are not merely personal offenses but violations of God’s design for family. The Bible is clear: *"Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church"* (Ephesians 5:22-23). This does not give husbands license to dominate, but it *does* establish order, love, and mutual respect. What she has done is rebellion against God’s order, and we must call it what it is. Yet even now, we pray for her repentance—not for your sake alone, but for hers, that she might be restored to right relationship with God. *"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"* (1 John 1:9). We pray that the Holy Spirit would convict her heart, that she would see the destruction she has wrought, and that she would turn back to God—and to you—with humility and sorrow.

We also rebuke the spirit of division that has torn your family apart. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and he has sought to do all three in your life. But Jesus came that you might have life, and have it abundantly. We declare that the enemy’s plans *will not stand*. The children God entrusted to you *will* know your love again. We pray for their protection, for their hearts to be softened toward you, and for the lies they have been told to be exposed. *"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit"* (Psalm 34:18). You are not forgotten. Your children are not lost to you forever.

Now, to the practical and spiritual battles before you: the looming deadline of June 5, the uncertainty of provision, the weariness of soul. We declare that God *is* your provider. *"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus"* (Philippians 4:19). The same God who fed Elijah by ravens, who multiplied the widow’s oil, and who opened the Red Sea *will* open a door for you. We pray for the job in Ketchikan—may the Lord move mightily on your behalf, may the hiring managers see your qualifications and your heart, and may the position be yours if it aligns with His will. But even if that door does not open, we declare that another *will*. The God who led you back to Alaska is not done leading you.

We also speak to the weariness in your bones. The nights in the shelter, the car troubles, the financial strain—these are not punishments from God but refining fires. *"For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory"* (2 Corinthians 4:17). You have said yourself that your faith and love for God are stronger than ever. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in you, preparing you for something greater. Do not despise the trials, for they are producing in you an eternal weight of glory.

Yet we must also address the temptation to despair. You have prayed for death, for your life to be taken in exchange for others. This is not the heart of God for you. *"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly"* (John 10:10). Your life has purpose, even now. The same God who sustained Paul in prison, who strengthened David in the wilderness, and who carried Joseph through betrayal and slavery *is carrying you*. You are not alone. You are seen. You are loved. And your story is not over.

We pray now, lifting you up before the Father:

*"Heavenly Father, we come before You with heavy hearts, interceding for our brother who has endured so much. Lord, You see his pain, his loneliness, his longing for his children. You see the betrayal, the injustice, the weariness. And You, O God, are near to the brokenhearted. We ask that You would draw near to him now. Comfort him with Your presence. Remind him that You are his Father, his Provider, his Shield. Lord, we pray for his wife—that You would soften her heart, convict her of sin, and lead her to repentance. Restore what has been broken, Father. Bring reconciliation to this family, not by human strength, but by Your mighty hand. We pray for his children—that You would protect their hearts, guard their minds, and draw them back to their father. Lord, we ask for provision. Open the door to the job in Ketchikan or another opportunity that will sustain him and allow him to rebuild. Provide a reliable vehicle, a place to call home, and the resources he needs to move forward. But more than that, Lord, provide *peace*. The peace that surpasses understanding, that guards his heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Strengthen his faith, deepen his trust in You, and remind him that You are working all things together for his good. We rebuke the spirit of despair, the lies of the enemy that tell him he is forgotten or forsaken. We declare that You are his Deliverer, his Strong Tower, his Ever-Present Help in trouble. Lord, we ask that You would give him joy in the midst of sorrow, hope in the midst of despair, and strength in the midst of weakness. Let him see Your hand at work, even in the smallest details—like the moose You send to comfort him. And Lord, if it is Your will, restore his family. But if not, give him the grace to trust You still. We ask all these things in the mighty, matchless name of Jesus, the name above every name, the name by which we are saved and set free. Amen."*

Brother, we want to leave you with this: You are not forgotten. The God who has sustained you through 20 months of trials is the same God who will carry you through the next 25 days—and beyond. Keep your eyes on Him. Keep working, keep praying, keep trusting. The same God who led you back to Alaska *will* lead you forward. And when the enemy whispers that you are alone, remember: *"I will never leave you, nor forsake you"* (Hebrews 13:5). You are loved. You are seen. And your story is far from over.

We will continue to stand in the gap for you. Keep us updated, and know that we are praying without ceasing. The battle is fierce, but the victory is already won. In Jesus’ name.

 

[hostadmin]

Here's a new reply, focusing on encouragement and hope:

Dear [###],

We want to encourage you today with these words from Psalm 147:3:

"The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
He is my joy and my praise;
he even makes me glad.
His love towards me is wonderful;
I am confident in him."

You have been through so much, but remember that God is always with you, strengthening you, and singing over you. He is your salvation, your joy, and your praise. His love for you is wonderful, and you can be confident in Him.

In the face of trials and tribulations, remember that God is working all things together for your good (Romans 8:28). He is using everything that has happened to you to produce an eternal weight of glory in you (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Trust in Him, and keep working, praying, and trusting.

Remember, you are not alone. God is near to the brokenhearted, and He saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18). You are not forgotten. Your children are not lost to you forever.

We will continue to stand in the gap for you, praying without ceasing. The battle is fierce, but the victory is already won in Jesus' name.

Keep us updated, and know that we are praying for you. We believe in the power of prayer, and we trust that God will answer according to His will.

Stay strong, brother. You got this!