Alaska Update / 9.15.25

[Justbecause5]

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

Thank you for praying for me. I am truly grateful for each and every person that has brought my name before the throne of Grace and Mercy.

3 years ago, my wife left me and then stole my children from me. She was in Alaska and I had moved to Texas to set up our new home.

I pleaded with God to take me back to Alaska and to reconcile my family back together. My wife did evil things to me, but I pleaded with God and promised that I would forgive her for the sake of reconciling our marriage and family.

Finally, on August 19, 2024, God provided a first class ticket for me to fly from California to Alaska. My prayers had been answered. I moved to Alaska walking by faith and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).

I had no place to live in no car to drive. I did have a job teaching school and coaching basketball. I lived at the shelter for 4.5 months. On November 20, 2024, I lost my job at the school due to no fault of my own. It was a very sad day, but I was confident God was working.

The last year has had a lot of ups and downs, mainly downs. I have suffered in so many different ways. I feel like Job. I lost three jobs. I lived in the shelter 4.5 months. I lived in the back of my van for 28 nights. I almost died on December 29, 2024, when I got locked out of my van and -23°F.

I suffer greatly by missing birthdays and holidays and anniversary…. The pain at times have almost been unbearable, but in the midst of so much stress and strain, I have seen the loving hand of God.

1. The family of one of my basketball players showed extreme kindness to me by bringing me a meal for Thanksgiving that lasted several days..

2. The guy who sold me my van helped me multiple times when the van would not start or there was an issue with winterization.

3. I started doing DoorDash and I learned how to do it well enough to replace any income.

4. Two beautiful women and they’re probably late 20s rescued me when I was locked out of my van; it was like they were angels. If they had not been there, I would’ve died.

5. The VA paid my rent for four or five months because I was in their special program as a veteran.

6. After I lost my second job, Ms L let me live in her basement at her $1 million home for free. No charge whatsoever. I am still here.

7. Due to my job at Volkswagen, which lasted about 10 weeks I was able to see incredible vistas, northern lights, mountains, moose, and Caribou free of charge because I was driving there $80,000 cars through the mountains.

8. I read the psalms each and every month. In fact, I have read the psalms over 30 times in the last 23 months. I love reading them so much. It’s like a B12 shot to me.


So, God has been ever present in the midst of great duress. I have spent many many hours in prayer and I have shed many many tears. The pain at times have been incredibly overwhelming.

I have tried to leave the state to get a job to no avail. I have tried to move to other places in Alaska to no avail. It’s almost like God wants me to stay right here where I’m at.

Honestly, I do not know.

Oh, I did not mention above that I have had three blowouts in the last two months or so. In those blowouts, I did not lose control of the car, which I am thankful.

About one hour ago, I picked up three tires from a guy that fit my van perfectly and have a lot of tread left for a total of $25. I’m hoping to get them on the van this week if I can get the money to do so.

Yes, I am counting my blessings and naming them one by one.

Dear friends… Thank you for praying for me. I have walked in the depths of darkness and despair. I feel like Jeremiah after he was thrown in the well and his feet sunk down in the mire. I feel like Psalm 69:1 & 130:1.

I feel sad a lot. I miss my children with every ounce of my being. I know I have missed a lot of their young lives and I may not even recognize them if I saw them.

I am a hands-on dad. I love to spend time with my kids, talking to them, hiking with them, etc. what my wife has done is pure evil. I pray for her every single day, hoping that God will touch her heart in such a way as to drive her into repentance.

I trust God. I believe he’s working even though I cannot see. Please continue to pray for me and ask God for the following:

Strength
Reconciliation
Job
Place to live

I hope and pray God will turn my mourning into dancing and my weeping to joy.

I am exhausted!!

 

[Articles]

We lift you up before the Father in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, with hearts full of gratitude for your unwavering faith amidst such profound suffering. Your testimony echoes the truth of Scripture: *"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing"* (James 1:2-4, WEB). You have endured trials that would break many, yet you cling to the Lord, and in that, we see His hand sustaining you. Your suffering is not unseen by Him—He collects every tear in His bottle (Psalm 56:8) and will one day turn your mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11).

We grieve with you over the evil done to you by your wife, who stole your children and shattered your family. The pain of a spouse’s betrayal and the loss of your children’s presence is a burden no parent should bear. Yet we are reminded that *"vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord"* (Romans 12:19, WEB). Your heart’s cry for reconciliation is noble, and we join you in praying for her repentance. However, we must also speak truth: reconciliation requires *her* surrender to God’s conviction. You cannot force her heart to turn, but you can continue to forgive as Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). Forgiveness does not excuse her sin—it releases the bitterness that would otherwise poison your soul. Keep praying for her salvation, for *"a wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. But in my opinion, she is happier if she stays as she is"* (1 Corinthians 7:39-40, WEB). If she remains hardened, trust that God’s justice will prevail, and He will restore what the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25).

Your suffering has been intense—homelessness, near-death in the cold, job losses, and the relentless ache of missing your children. Yet even in this, you testify to God’s provision: the family who fed you, the stranger who rescued you from the cold, the VA’s support, the free place to stay, and the miraculous tires for your van. These are not coincidences; they are the fingerprints of a Father who has not abandoned you. *"The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh will not lack any good thing"* (Psalm 34:10, WEB). He has sustained you in ways both seen and unseen, and He will continue to do so.

We must address your weariness, brother. You are exhausted—spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It is right to pour out your heart to God, as the psalmists did, but do not neglect to *rest* in Him. Jesus Himself said, *"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest"* (Matthew 11:28, WEB). You have been fighting this battle for years; it is time to let the Lord fight for you. Stop striving to "make things happen" and instead abide in His presence. Your strength is not in your own resilience but in His might (2 Corinthians 12:9). If God has closed doors to leaving Alaska, then trust that He has a purpose for you *there*. Perhaps He is preparing you for a ministry to others who suffer as you have. Perhaps He is refining you for a reconciliation only He can orchestrate. Whatever His plan, surrender your timeline to His.

As for your practical needs—**strength, reconciliation, a job, and a place to live**—we declare over you the promise of Philippians 4:19: *"My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."* We pray that the Lord would open doors for stable employment, one that not only provides for your needs but also aligns with His calling on your life. We ask for a permanent, safe place to live, where you can find peace and restoration. Most of all, we pray for supernatural strength—*"that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man"* (Ephesians 3:16, WEB).

We also urge you to seek godly community. You have been isolated too long. *"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn’t have another to lift him up"* (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, WEB). Find a Bible-believing church in Alaska where you can be discipled, encouraged, and held accountable. Share your burdens with mature believers who can pray over you and speak truth into your life. You were not meant to walk this path alone.

Finally, we must address the silence in your request regarding the name of Jesus. You speak of God’s grace and mercy—*and we rejoice in that*—but it is only through Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father (John 14:6). There is no other name by which we are saved (Acts 4:12). If you have not already, we implore you to place your full trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Confess with your mouth that He is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you *will* be saved (Romans 10:9). If you have already done this, then cling to Him all the more tightly in this storm. He is your anchor.

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**Our Prayer for You:**

Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, lifting up our brother who has endured such deep suffering. Lord, You see his pain—the betrayal of his wife, the theft of his children, the loneliness, the near-death in the cold, the instability of jobs and housing. Yet even in this, he has testified to Your faithfulness. We ask that You would meet him now in ways he has never experienced.

Father, we pray for **supernatural strength**—not just to endure, but to *thrive* in You. Renew his mind with Your Word (Romans 12:2) and fill him with Your peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7). Lord, he is exhausted; be his rest. He is grieving; be his comfort (Matthew 5:4).

We cry out for **reconciliation**, Lord. Soften his wife’s heart. Convict her of her sin and draw her to repentance. If it is Your will, restore this marriage and family in a way that brings You glory. But if she remains hardened, we pray You would give our brother the grace to release this burden into Your hands and trust Your justice. Reunite him with his children, Lord. Let him see them again, speak to them, and be the father You called him to be.

Provide for his **practical needs**, Father. Open doors for a **stable job** that honors You and meets his needs. Give him a **permanent, safe place to live** where he can find rest and restoration. Protect him from further harm—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Lord, surround him with **godly community**. Lead him to a church where he can be discipled, encouraged, and loved. Break the isolation that has weighed on him for so long.

Finally, Father, we pray that You would **turn his mourning into dancing** (Psalm 30:11). Let him see Your hand move in ways that leave no doubt of Your love for him. Restore the years the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25). Give him joy in the morning after this long night of weeping.

We declare that **no weapon formed against him will prosper** (Isaiah 54:17) and that You, Lord, will complete the good work You began in him (Philippians 1:6). May he emerge from this trial with a testimony that points others to Your faithfulness.

In the mighty and matchless name of **Jesus Christ**, our Lord and Savior, we pray. **Amen.**

 

[hostadmin]

Dear Friend,

We hear your heart's cry and we're here for you. Your journey has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, but through it all, your faith in God has remained unshaken. That's a testament to God's grace and your resilience.

We want to encourage you with these words from Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." God sees your pain, your loneliness, your longing for your children. He is close to you, even in the darkest moments.

We join you in praying for your wife's heart to soften and for your family to be reunited. We also pray for God's provision in your life - a stable job, a safe place to live, and the strength to endure. Remember, even in the wilderness, God provides manna daily (Exodus 16:1-36).

Lastly, we want to remind you that God has a purpose for you staying in ###. Trust that He is working behind the scenes, even when you can't see it. As it says in Romans 5:3-4, "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Keep trusting, keep hoping, and keep praying. You're not alone. We're with you, and so is God.

 

[Elizabeth F]

Praying in Jesus Name.

 

[Naliogate]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.