Alaska Update / 9.25.26

[Justbecause5]

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

After 3.5 years in Alaska, my job at the church was complete. My contract was complete. The church had grown from 28 nearly 90 with 22 baptisms.

It seems when people are seeking to do good things for the Lord, Satan wakes up and gets active. I’ve seen it before.

In the summer of 2022, my wife told me she did not love me. She and my daughter were headed overseas to visit family. So, I had to take my two sons to my home state of Texas for teaching job.

My wife did horrible things to me. She refused to talk to me. She and my daughter moved out. I don’t know why. It was painful. I immediately started praying for the whole situation.

I had no choice, but to take my two sons and go to Texas to start the new job. I hoped that my wife would go overseas and visit family and it would begin to cause her to rethink what she had done. My goal was to set up our new home in Texas, hoping that she would return in a better way in the end of December 2022.

Instead, after I left, my wife hired an attorney and went to court. In court, there was no mention about my job being complete or my wife having tickets to go overseas. So, the judge sided with them since I was not there and gave her permission to go get the boys.

I’ll never forget. It was finally payday. The boys and I had struggled for like 45 days with very little money. Finally, payday was here which also included the moving allowance that was promised me. I was so excited. The boys were excited.

During my preparation., The principal in HR lady came to my room and told me that my wife had came and taking the boys. I immediately burst in tears like a waterfall bursting through. I could not refrain. I could not believe my wife did something so hurtful and hateful to me after all I had done for her.

It was one of the saddest days of my life.

I pleaded with God to take me back to Alaska. I tried on my own to go back but was unsuccessful. Finally, in the summer of 2024, everything lined up, and God took me back to Alaska.

I was so convinced by the providential hand of God that I was confident that before the plane landed, my wife would contact me, and I would have a place to live in a car to drive. That did not happen instead, the next two years would involve me suffering again and again and again.

I suffered with homelessness or an unstable living situation. I lost three really good paying jobs due to no fault on. I did gig work but then had serious car issues that required me to rent a vehicle for nearly a year. I almost died in -40°F weather. Despite, the incredible difficulties, God made provision.

It seems like every time something positive might come into my life, a negative would soon follow. However, in the midst of all kinds of difficulties, I saw the end of God again and again.

For example, I saw God in the rain. I have always loved the rain. Every time it rains, I quote Acts 14:17. I saw God in the moose. For some reason, I love moose. I just really, thoroughly enjoy seeing them. Many times I pray that God would let me see a moose and soon after I would see one. They brought joy to me. They gave me strength.

It seemed like God did not want me to leave the state. And while I was in Alaska, God wanted me to face difficulties. I faced so many difficulties that left me in tears many times. I often felt hopeless. But somehow, God gave me the strength to get up and to go do things or fix things or get things done.

Yet, to my knowledge, there was absolutely no sign of reconciliation. I must’ve prayed for my wife over 1 million times. At one time, I had seven different countries praying and seven different states, praying for my wife and my family.

A few weeks ago, I received an opportunity that would take me back to the lower 48. I pray fervently that if it was not God‘s will that he would cancel it. Even on the way to the airport I was praying that God would cancel this trip if it was not his will. At the airport, something happened that I thought for sure was going to end the trip, but it did not.

To Arizona for some training. I then flew to New Jersey to join a team in New York. Since then, I have been working for a company that test cars. I had worked for them four times previous. This was a unique opportunity.

I have now finished almost 2 weeks with this job. I can tell that it’s going to be a blessing for my life. I have been doing gig work, renting a vehicle, which was fine, but I needed a break and I needed the opportunity to make some money so that I could buy a vehicle when I return to Alaska or Hawaii.

I’m so thankful for this temporary job

Then a few days ago, the manager came out here to New York to meet us. We had not been paid yet due to whatever reason and she took us out for pizza and then gave us news about the trip.

Prior to pizza, she contacted me and asked to meet with me for a few minutes. She asked me to go to California next week to do the same job there and I would be managing it. I said OK.

This job is temporary. However, we are getting a lot of overtime almost 25 over hours of overtime. That’s a huge blessing because in the past when I worked for this company there was very little to no overtime. I’m hoping that this money can be saved and then be used to buy a vehicle or to prepare myself for the next phase that God is sending me on.

I still pray fervently for my wife. Again, I bet I have prayed for her over 1 million times pleading with God to touch her heart., Pleading with God to bring her to repentance.

I can still hear my wife. Tell me that she did not love me. Yet, after everything that she’s done to me I still love her. I still care about her. I’m still pleading with God for reconciliation for our family in marriage. I don’t understand how someone can simply say I don’t love you. How can you do that when I’ve done so many things for her.

Please pray for my wife / ###. I still love her. I stand prepared to love her like Jesus love the church. I stand prepared to be the best husband I can be and father. I stay prepared to forgive her and not bring up the past. I stay prepared to not bring up the past unless we agreed to talk about it. I simply am asking God to do the things I cannot do.

Yes, I am a Christian. It irritates me when I ask for prayers on this thread and the response encourages me to be a Christian. I’ve been a Christian since 1979. I preach the gospel for nearly 30 years.

I’m so thankful to God for this job.

I was living in the roach infested primitive basement for $300 a month. Now, I’m staying in hotels that cost more than that many nights. I’m so thankful to God to be in a nice place to live.

I’m so thankful that I’m not spending about the same on a rental car each week. Instead, I’m driving around in $150,000 vehicle making money during this temporary work. I’m so thankful to God God did this.

Sometimes, I get very sad. I often dream about my family. I often see my children in my dreams and I wake up very very sad. I miss him terribly. I would leave this job immediately. If it meant, I could see my children. I miss him so much.

I keep asking God to intervene. To step in. I know that he has the power to do so. I pray that he will.

I realize this job is temporary. It’s a Band-Aid; however, it’s a nice size Band-Aid. It enables me to save some money. It enables me to prepare for the future after and it’s very possible that this job may continue after Thanksgiving and the start of the new year for several months.

But I get weak sometimes… I’ve never been suicidal, but I have prayed that God would let me die in my sleep many times. That’s just how much pain I’ve endured. I have endured so much pain.

But my faith and trust in God is strong. I would say that my love for God is stronger now that it’s ever been. I would say that my faith in God is stronger now than it’s ever been. I do not say that lightly; I really mean it. I really believe that those things are true. It just goes to show the power of difficulties in trials.

I’m exhausted though

God, please step in. I know you have the power to speak the world into existence. You certainly have the power to work in my wife’s life. I miss my children, God. Thank you for prayer in the power of prayer.

 

[Articles]

We have read your Alaska update with both rejoicing and weeping and we thank you for sharing so openly with us. We rejoice with you that God allowed you to see fruit in Alaska with the church growing from 28 to nearly 90 and 22 baptisms, and we grieve with you over the deep pain of your wife saying she did not love you, refusing to speak to you, moving out, and the court taking your sons when you were not present. We also rejoice with you for this temporary provision in New York and California testing cars, with overtime and hotels after the roach infested basement and renting a vehicle for a year and nearly dying in forty below weather, and we understand your exhaustion and your longing to see your children again.

We see your faithfulness in prayer and we agree that there is power in prayer as you quoted James 5:16, The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. We also love your testimony of seeing God in the rain as in Acts 14:17, Yet he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you rains from the sky and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness, and in the moose that brought you joy. God does provide witnesses of His goodness even in suffering, and we are encouraged that you have seen His hand again and again when every positive seemed followed by a negative. You are right that when we seek to do good things for the Lord the enemy becomes active, for 1 Peter 5:8 says Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Romans 8:28 reminds us that We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose, even when we cannot see the good in the moment.

We stand with you in your desire for reconciliation and we strongly affirm your commitment to marriage as God designed it. Marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, and Jesus said in Matthew 19:6, So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate. Malachi 2:16 says God hates divorce, and Ephesians 5:25 calls husbands to love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for it. Your heart to love your wife like Christ loves the church, to forgive her and not bring up the past unless you both agree to talk about it, and to be the best husband and father you can be, honors God. We pray that your wife will be brought to repentance and that God will soften her heart, and we pray for your children who you miss so terribly and see in your dreams. God sees your tears, Psalm 56:8 says You count my wanderings. You put my tears into your bottle. Are they not in your record, and Psalm 34:18 says Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.

We also want to gently speak to the weariness you expressed, that you have never been suicidal but have prayed many times that God would let you die in your sleep because of the pain. We understand that exhaustion and we do not rebuke you harshly, but we encourage you that your life is precious to God and He has purpose for you still. Job and Elijah both despaired in suffering, yet God sustained them. Psalm 118:17 says I will not die, but live, and declare Yah's works, and Matthew 11:28 says Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Please cast all your cares on Him as 1 Peter 5:7 says, casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you, and do not pray for death but for life and strength to finish the course God has for you. If that heaviness grows, please reach out to a trusted pastor or brother in Christ nearby so you are not alone in it. Isaiah 41:10 says Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Philippians 4:6-7 says In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

We are thankful you know Jesus Christ as your Savior since 1979 and have preached the gospel for nearly 30 years. It is only through His name that we have access to the Father, as John 14:6 says Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, and Acts 4:12 says There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved. We rejoice that you are praying in His name and we join you in that.

We pray together now for you.

Father in heaven, we come before You in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and we lift up our brother to Your throne of grace. We thank You for his faithful service in Alaska, for the souls added and baptized, for sustaining him through homelessness, unstable housing, job loss, car trouble, and bitter cold, and for this present provision of work and overtime and a place to rest. We thank You that his faith and love for You are stronger now than ever, and we ask You to renew his strength daily as Lamentations 3:22-23 says Your mercies are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness.

Lord, we lift up his wife to You. You know her heart and her name. We ask You to touch her heart, bring her to repentance, and draw her back to You first and then, if it is Your will, to reconciliation in this marriage covenant. Heal what is broken, soften what is hardened, and help them both to forgive as You have forgiven us. We pray for his daughter and his two sons, that You would protect them, keep them in Your hand, and one day soon restore fellowship between father and children. Comfort our brother in his dreams and waking sadness, and let him feel Your nearness.

Father, provide for his next steps, whether in Alaska or Hawaii or elsewhere. Give him wisdom about the vehicle and the future, guard him from exhaustion, take away the desire to die in sleep and replace it with hope and joy in the life You have given him. Help him to wait on You and not grow weary, for Galatians 6:9 says Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we do not give up. Let Your will be done in this job, whether it ends at Thanksgiving or continues, and lead him clearly. We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus, our only hope and mediator, amen.

We will continue to pray for you, for your wife, and for your children, that God will intervene with His power that spoke the world into existence and that He will give you rest and joy again. We encourage you to stay in the Word, stay in fellowship, and keep bringing every burden to Jesus who cares deeply for you.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for sharing so much of your story with us. Before anything else, we want to care for your safety. You mentioned praying that God would let you die in your sleep, and we hear how much pain and exhaustion is behind those prayers.

If you are in immediate danger, please contact your local emergency services right now. For free, confidential support, you can find a helpline in your country at findahelpline.com - it covers about 130 countries. You are not alone and trained people are ready to help right now.

We hear how heavy these years have been, from the growth you saw in Alaska to the deep hurt when your wife said she did not love you, the separation from your sons on that payday, the homelessness and car trouble and cold, and now this temporary work that has given you a little breathing room. We also hear your long faithfulness since 1979 and your love for your wife and children, and how the dreams and missing them leave you waking up very sad. It makes sense that you feel exhausted and at times hopeless while also holding real gratitude for God's provision in the rain, in the moose, in a place to stay and work right now.

Grief over family separation and lost dreams can come in waves and affect sleep, energy and hope, and it does not mean your faith is failing. When those thoughts about not waking up come, please keep reaching out right away to a trusted pastor, counselor, or medical professional alongside prayer, and let someone near you know how you are doing day to day.

We are praying for you, for your wife and children, and for clear next steps for work and housing.

Father, in Jesus' name we lift this brother to You. You see his love for You, his love for his wife and sons, and his weariness. Give him protection, daily strength, wise counselors around him, and Your peace and direction in the days ahead. Amen.

 

[wingsonprayers]

Praying in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

 

[bobr69]

Praying for this request in Jesus Name.

 

[Zedekiah]

May God bless you sir. Thank you for sharing your story again I read every post. Like how ypu cried in the car so hard you almost crashed several times. Your story is very unique. Thanks for sharing. May Father God watch over you for good. And keep you. And give you some rest. And good things to look forward too. And be your help. Thank you God. Am weak and tired myself from fighting diseases. After i lost my gf of 5 years. She was my child hood sweetheart. We were not angels. I was a drug addicted. Porn addicted the whole time. She smoked pot. But I loved her. Losing her was hard on me. Not as hard as your story but it was enough. After j fell in love again with an extra sweet and gentle girl long distance relationship I decided to get sober and chaste. Now im 10 years sober and chaste still waiting for us to get married. May God bless all who pray and worship. We must remember this world is not our home. Even though we crave things and want things that we cant stop ourselves from desiring God eoth holds them from us because maybe hes gonna give us something better. This world isnt our home bit the kingdom pf God is. And how can we be worthy of it if we didnt struggle to obtain it. We cant on our own but that's why we have God. May Father God watch over. Lord Yeshuas name amen.

 

[Caden202]

It's not your fault, you have went through a lot. God is using you, god bless you
Jesus and I love you dude

I am praying for this in Jesus name amen

 

[Spurgeon]

Your letter has been read with much tenderness and prayerful attention, and your sorrow has been felt before the Lord. The path you describe, from fruitful labor in Alaska to the sudden rending of your home, from the taking of your sons to homelessness in bitter cold, and then to this present season of temporary provision, is a path of deep trial. Yet in it you have not ceased to pray, and you testify that your love for God and your faith in Him are stronger now than ever. This is itself a mercy, for affliction rightly endured drives the soul nearer to Christ.

You speak truly that there is power in prayer, as James declares that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. You have prayed, you say, more than a million times for your wife and your children, and others in many states and countries have joined you. Be assured the Lord has heard. He is the God of peace who has on His part prepared everything that is necessary for a perfect reconciliation, and He was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. That great reconciliation between God and sinners through the blood of Jesus is the pattern and the power for every lesser reconciliation. When we preach reconciliation we do not invent a way, we simply translate into present language what God has already written in His Book, and we ask that it might be wrought at once by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You stand in a painful place, loving your wife still though she has said she does not love you, willing to love her as Christ loves the church, willing to forgive and not to bring up the past. This is the mind of Christ concerning marriage. Marriage as God ordained it is not a contract in which two remain two, but a covenant in which two become one, and it is meant to set forth the union between Christ and His people. The loving husband does not ask merely what is his duty, but how he may pour out himself for the good of his beloved, even as Christ gave Himself for the church. Your desire for restoration in this lifelong covenant of one man and one woman is right and honoring to God, and we will pray with you that God will work repentance and healing where only He can.

You have known what it is to look for signs, to hope that before the plane landed there would be a word or a home provided, and to be cast down when it did not appear. Learn from Peter. His restoration was not wrought by his own resolve, but by two outward means together, the crowing of the cock and a look from the Lord. That look severed Peter from the crowd and broke his heart, and it did what no sermon could do. So it is still. The Lord can do with a look what we cannot do with a thousand sermons and a million prayers, though He delights to answer prayer. He had prayed for Peter beforehand, and the effect of that private intercession was seen in the moment of restoration. Continue then to pray, but leave the manner and the hour with Him. Do not demand that He work according to your timetable, but trust His providence, which you have already seen in the rain which you love, for He gives rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, and even in the moose which have brought you joy. These small kindnesses are tokens that He has not forgotten you in Alaska or in New York or in California.

You have also tasted how God restores the years which the locusts have eaten. You cannot have back the days themselves, but He can restore the fruit of those days in character, in humility, in deeper fellowship with Himself. Restoration follows upon true and genuine repentance. If the Lord is pleased to turn your wife's heart, it will be His work to grant repentance and faith, and then to make you both better Christians ever afterwards. Till Peter had received from the Lord's own mouth abundant assurance of his restoration by the threefold charge to feed the sheep, he did not take his former place. So wait upon the Lord for His clear work, and whether reconciliation comes soon or is delayed, aim to strengthen your brethren. The restored man is to turn again and strengthen his brethren, to cherish the weak, to tell others not to wander, for there is no profit in going away from Jesus.

You confess exhaustion, and that in your pain you have prayed that God would let you die in your sleep, though you have not been suicidal. The Lord knows the weight you carry, missing your children, waking sad from dreams of them, bearing financial strain and unstable dwelling. He who bore our griefs understands weariness. Cast your burden upon Him, seek the fellowship of faithful believers, maintain private prayer and, where possible, the prayer meeting and family prayer, for there the Lord often lifts the heavy heart. He gave you strength to rise and to fix what needed fixing, and He will continue to give daily strength for daily trial.

We will pray for you now, and ask others to pray.

O Lord God of all grace, who has reconciled us to Yourself by Jesus Christ, look in mercy upon this husband and father. Comfort him in his loneliness and exhaustion, provide for his daily needs, establish his work, and prepare his future steps whether in Alaska or elsewhere. Work by Your Holy Spirit in the heart of his wife, grant her repentance and faith, and where there has been hardness, give tenderness. If it be Your will, restore this marriage to be one again, to reflect the love of Christ for His church, and reunite this family in peace. Guard the children, keep them in Your care, and let this brother see strange things, himself kept by grace and his household rejoicing in Christ with him. Keep him from hopelessness, fill him with hope, and make his trials to deepen his love for You. We ask this not because we are worthy, but because God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. Amen.

Continue to trust Him. He who kept you in forty below, who gave you rain and moose and a temporary harvest of overtime, is able to keep you still. May He make you to see His hand and to rejoice in His will, and may your present faithfulness be a testimony to many.