Alaska Update / Thursday, August 10…

[Justbecause5]

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

If you have been praying for me, I am truly grateful. I am so thankful for each time. We have brought my name in my situation before God’s throne of Grace and Mercy!

Background:

In 2022, my contract in Alaska was complete. I had secured a new job in Texas. My two young sons and I flew to Texas to set up our new home and start a new job. My wife and older daughter were preparing to leave to go overseas to visit family.

After leaving Alaska, my wife hired an attorney and they went to court. They made it seem like I stole the boys and took them across state lines. I was 5000 miles away and knew nothing about what was going on. The judge gave permission to my wife to go get the boys. She did.

So, I have not seen my children since September 2022. Somehow, I have survived and stayed alive. I have lived in deep deep pain and anguish as I tried to navigate each day.

I prayed fervently every day many times a day that God would reconcile my family back together. I pleaded with God to take me back to Alaska, hoping the closer proximity would eventually lead to reconciliation.

God took care of me. He gave me the strength to finish out the school year in 22-23. I’m not sure how I made it. He then took me back to my dad’s house, who is a recent widower. God then gave me a job with a company that took me to California and gave me a nice hotel and paycheck to work.

I continue to plead with God to take me back to Alaska. I pleaded with him to do for me that which I could not do for myself. My faith was 1000% in God in Christ and the spirit.

In the summer of 2024, God took me back to California for a 30 day job. The 30 day job turned into 60 days. It was during that second 30 days that I was offered a teaching position in Alaska. It was a teaching and coaching position. I would be coaching basketball, which I love. So, on August 19, 2024, first class from California to Alaska. Courtesy of my previous company.

I moved to Alaska with no place to live and no car to drive. I was seriously walking by faith and not by sight. I must have quoted that passage 500 times on the plane ride to Alaska.

Honestly, I was confident that somewhere during the flight, my wife would contact me and arrange for me to have a place to stay in a vehicle to use. I was reminded of Abraham, who was confident that God would raise Isaac from the dead had he actually killed him.

My plane landed at 12:15 AM on August 20, 2024, and I had received no phone call or message from my wife. I remember how depressed I felt as I walked around the baggage carousel very tired from travel and needing to report to work in a few hours.

A lady on the plane, she and her husband took me to the shelter. I lived in the shelter for 4.5 months. I rented a car and walked back-and-forth to school. I finally was able to purchase an old 2006 van from a guy that had bought my other van when I lived in Alaska before I still think it’s amazing how that happened; it’s almost like God had prepared him for when I would come back.

However, the next year would be incredibly tough. I had a lot of ups and downs, mainly downs. I kept asking myself how much further down can I possibly go? I felt so much like Job who had suffered tremendously by losing everything. I had lost everything, again.

From August 2024 to the present day I have suffered tremendously. I lost my teaching job on November 20, 2024, due to no fault of my own. I had previously started gig work and I have been doing that often on since then. On May 21, 2025, I was given a laboratory manager position. However, on June 16, 2025, that job was suddenly taken away out of nowhere due to no fault of my own.

So, today is December 11. I’ve been unemployed since June 16. However, God has helped me through gig work and I have learned how to use it to make a full-time salary.

My living conditions have also been up and down. I lived in the shelter for 4.5 months. God then gave me a nice one bedroom apartment outside town and a $1 million house. I love living there. It was so pretty. It was a perfect accommodations. However, on May 19, I had to move out because she used the house for Airbnb.

I lived in my van for 28 nights. On the same day that I lost my job, June 16, 2025, the owner of the $1 million house allowed me to move into her primitive basement with no toilet. It has a shower but an outhouse for a toilet I live there for 4.5 months. She finally got angry at me and I did nothing wrong. So, I had to move out even though she had promised that I could live there through the winter.

However, God stepped in again. The VA offered me four months free rent since I was unemployed. So, I found a studio apartment for $1500 a month and have lived there for a little over a month now. It’s nothing special but it does have a kitchen and a working toilet unlike the primitive basement.

So, my life is difficult and has been difficult for some time, but I am truly grateful to God for the good things he has brought into my life along the way that have caused me to pause and thank God for his presence.

I am so confident that this is just the season that I’m walking through and that eventually the season will change. That is my hope and it keeps me going.

I have seen some incredible things being back in Alaska. Just a few days ago, I saw some incredible northern lights. I love seeing moose; it’s my favorite thing about Alaska. I have seen over 50 moose since I’ve been back just a few days ago, I was driving doing gig work and on the right side of my road. There was a nice size bull moose I stopped and talk to it and it just stood there looking at me while he ate a branch.

I often feel like Job. I’m not suicidal, but I have asked God to take me many many times. I’ve beg God to kill me in my sleep so that I can go home to be with him. In this world is just so painful.

On December 29, 2024, almost died on a mountain. I was all alone. It was a Sunday. I went there to worship God and take the Lord supper. It was a beautiful day and I knew that the sunset was going to be perfect right behind Mount Denali. It was -23°F. I got locked out of my van and could not get back in. I ran down to the bottom of the hill and I found two incredibly beautiful women probably in their late 20s or early 30s just sitting in an old truck talking to each other. Long story short, they ended up coming up to help me get into my van they were not worried or stressed or anything. Unlike me. I was stressed because I could not feel my ears my finger as my face was numb and I probably would’ve been dead within an hour or so. I’ve often wondered if they were angels that God sent to help me get back in my van.

So, I have had a lot of difficulty. It’s been very very painful this last year. It’s so weird to think that when I flew out of San Francisco to Alaska, I was so convinced that my wife would contact me in travel. I had no reason to believe so except for my faith in God, trust him that he had orchestrated everything Here I am over a year later still barely floating above water. My feet can’t grasp the bottom very well I’m drowning, but God has kept me afloat.

The Christmas holidays are upon us. I was the kind of father that always went overboard to make the holidays or birthday special. It’s painful to see so many children, laughing and giggling and having fun in the holiday season. It’s painful to see families as they shop and prepare their trees and prepare for the day coming up. It’s paying for for me as I sit in the studio apartment drinking coffee all alone.

I have begged God…. “ God, if you are not going to reconcile my marriage, and my family, would you please take me far away from Alaska and give me a good job so that I can move on with my life”

so far, God has not moved me from Alaska. I have had strong possible job opportunities that appeared and then suddenly disappeared; it’s like God was shutting the door for some reason it’s almost like God wants me to stay here in Alaska. Is it for more suffering? Is it for more pain? I hope not.

I was recently offered a temporary job of 8 to 10 weeks driving $50,000 vehicles. I have done this a few times before and that’s one reason I was in California. I was debating taking this job because I felt like I could make more money during gig work than driving across Alaska.

I pray, fervently for it. The job offer, dollar wise was the same as last year. The pay was not the incentive, but the overtime was there and the opportunity to drive across Alaska for free was there. I also had some good coworkers last year that added something to my life in a positive way. I actually enjoyed working with them and seeing them every day.

I finally decided to accept the offer for $20 an hour. I went to click the link to sign the contract and it said the click the link did not work. I was sure that God had close that opportunity because it was not his will and I was OK with that. I was a little sad but OK let God’s will be done. I emailed the company and let them know that the link no longer worked because the email had said I had five days to make a decision.

The next day I received a text in an email that a new contract has been sent to me and I was going to be getting paid nearly $5.50 more than the previous contract per hour. To me, that was a no-brainer and I immediately accepted the offer. That’s like an extra $300 a week. I took it.

I say all these things not to brag in anyway, but to thank God. I’ve seen God shut down opportunities when I thought for sure he would want me to travel down that road.

Since I’ve been going through all this stuff, I have went to Washington State to try out for a preaching position. I went to Utah and spent a week trying out for a preaching position. I went to East Texas three times trying out for a preaching position. I preached twice in Northern California and they needed a preacher and I strongly consider them, but was never offered it.

A few months ago, I was in talks to move back to Texas to take a preaching position in a small church that could only pay about half or 2/3 of salary. I thought it was a done deal and it was close to the beach and I’m like I’m gonna go But then God shut the door. It’s like God didn’t want me go in there or any of the other places.

Of course, my mind plays tricks on me and I think to myself God doesn’t want me preaching anymore. God’s mad at me or God hates me or something like that. It’s amazing the power that the mind can play on an individual.

I come to this thread from time of time, requesting prayers because I believe in the power of prayer. My prayer request is in no way to brag on myself or to elevate myself in any way; brother, it’s my desire to ask others for prayers because I know that I have suffered and I deal with deep depression and sadness and I know there’s power in prayer

Dear friends in prayer warriors. Thank you for reading about my story again and again I am confident in God and I love him very much. When I say, God, I’m talking about the Godhead bodily.

I feel that my love for God is stronger now that it’s ever been. I feel like my love for God and my faith and God is stronger than it’s ever been. It seems so weird to have one’s life completely upside down and yet I say that I love God more now than ever before I’m guessing, that’s part of the purpose of all these difficulties is to trust God more.

It’s so easy to trust in God or at least say it when everything in life is perfect. It’s harder to say when your life is upside down like those people hanging upside down in a roller coaster. I have felt like my hands have been hanging up upside down for the last three years..

I miss my wife deeply and dearly, and I pray for reconciliation I stand prepared to forgive her for what she’s done to me. She’s done some awful things to me. I stay prepared to love her, like Christ of the church. I stand prepared to go forward and not backwards. Please God, bring my wife back to me

I miss my children deeply and dearly. I’m the kind of father that loves to be with his kids and spend time with them. I love to see them happy and smiling and having a good life and I hate that they’ve been without their father all this time.

80% of divorces in this country are initiated by women. So many of them, are just tied the selfish reasons. I’m mad and to get back at my spouse. I’m going to leave him and divorce him. Of course, that attitude and mindset is contrary to the will of God.

I think a lot of women don’t think about the kids when they do those things. Those kids are suffering greatly because they don’t have a father in their lives. It’s destroying this country and the fabric of society.

I asked that you pray:

Marital reconciliation
Family together
A good solid position, care
A stable home place to call home
Strength

It’s not easy to get up every day and do gig work in the morning and then do gig work in the evening. I’m not a young man anymore, though I’m not an old old man either. But it’s not easy to work getting in and out of your car and today it was -31°F. It’s very cold here to be doing all that.

But I continue…

The same God that has made provision for me again and again will make provision for me now. The same guy that was there in the back of the van when I lived there for 28 nights is with me now the same God that allow me to stay in that primitive apartment with no toilet and no kitchen is here with me now.

The same God that spared my life on that mountain top all alone is here with me now. All of those moments and times have caused me to believe in trust in the god who said let there be light.

Thank you

 

[Articles]

We hear your heart, brother, and we lift you up before the throne of grace with deep compassion. Your story is one of profound suffering, yet also of unwavering faith in the God who sustains you. We see the pain of separation from your wife and children, the weight of financial instability, and the loneliness that presses in during this season. But we also see a man who clings to Christ even when the storm rages, and for that, we give thanks to God.

First, we must address the matter of your marriage. The Bible is clear that marriage is a sacred covenant, not to be broken lightly. Malachi 2:16 tells us, *"For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don’t deal treacherously."* Your wife’s actions in taking your sons and pursuing legal separation without your knowledge were unjust and contrary to God’s design for marriage. Yet, we also see your heart to forgive and reconcile, which aligns with Christ’s command in Matthew 6:14-15: *"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."*

We pray fervently for reconciliation, not just for your sake, but for the sake of your children, who are being deprived of their father’s love and guidance. The statistics you mentioned about divorce are sobering, and we grieve with you over the brokenness in families today. But we serve a God who heals and restores. Joel 2:25 declares, *"I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you."* We claim this promise over your family, believing that God can bring beauty from ashes.

Your faith in the midst of suffering is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life. You have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, yet you have not let go of God’s hand. This is the kind of faith that pleases Him, as Hebrews 11:6 reminds us: *"Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him."* Your love for God has grown deeper in the fire of affliction, and that is no small thing. The enemy would love to use this season to make you bitter, but you have chosen trust instead. We rejoice with you in that victory.

Yet, we must also speak truth into the darkness that seeks to overwhelm you. The thoughts of despair, the pleas for God to take your life—these are not from the Lord. Jesus came that you might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). When Elijah was in the wilderness, exhausted and asking God to let him die, the Lord did not grant his request. Instead, He sent an angel to strengthen him and reminded him that he was not alone (1 Kings 19). You are not alone, brother. The same God who sent those two women to help you on that mountain is with you now. He has not abandoned you, even when it feels like He has.

We also want to gently address the matter of your salvation. You speak of God, the Godhead, and your love for Him, but we must emphasize that it is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father. 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!"* If you have not already done so, we encourage you to surrender your life fully to Jesus, repenting of any sin and trusting in His finished work on the cross for your salvation. This is the foundation upon which all other hope is built.

Now, we lift you up in prayer:

Heavenly Father, we come before You in the mighty name of Jesus, interceding for our brother who is walking through the fire. Lord, we thank You for his faith, which has not wavered even when his world has been shaken. We ask that You would strengthen him in his inner man, that he would not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, he will reap if he does not faint (Galatians 6:9).

Father, we pray for his marriage. We ask that You would soften his wife’s heart and open her eyes to the truth of Your Word. Break the chains of bitterness, pride, and selfishness that have led her to seek separation. Restore her love for her husband and her children, and bring her back to the covenant she made before You. We declare that what the enemy meant for harm, You will turn for good (Genesis 50:20). Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Lord, we also pray for his children. Comfort them in their father’s absence. Let them know that You are their Father, and that You will never leave them nor forsake them (Hebrews 13:5). Protect them from the lies of the enemy and surround them with godly influences. We ask that You would reunite this family according to Your will and for Your glory.

Father, we ask for provision in every area of his life. You are Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Open doors for stable employment that will not only meet his financial needs but also allow him to use his gifts and talents for Your kingdom. Provide a home that is a sanctuary, a place of rest and refuge. We declare that the Lord is his shepherd, and he shall not want (Psalm 23:1).

Strengthen him, Lord, for the daily battle. The cold, the exhaustion, the loneliness—these are heavy burdens. But You promise that Your grace is sufficient, and Your power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Fill him with Your joy, which is his strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Remind him that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in him (Romans 8:18).

We rebuke the spirit of despair and depression that seeks to steal his hope. We declare that he is more than a conqueror through Christ who loves him (Romans 8:37). We speak life over him, for the tongue has the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21). Let him rise each day with renewed hope, knowing that You are working all things together for his good (Romans 8:28).

Finally, Lord, we ask that You would use his story to bring glory to Your name. Let others see Your faithfulness through his life. Use him mightily in ministry, whether through preaching, teaching, or simply being a light in the darkness. Let his testimony be a beacon of hope to those who are suffering.

We pray all these things in the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Brother, we want to encourage you with the words of Psalm 34:18-19: *"Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all."* You are not forgotten. You are not abandoned. The same God who has sustained you through every trial is with you now, and He is working even when you cannot see it.

Keep pressing into Him. Keep trusting. Keep praying. The season will change, and when it does, you will look back and see the faithfulness of God in ways you cannot imagine now. Until then, we stand with you, lifting you up in prayer and believing with you for the breakthrough that is coming.

 

[hostadmin]

Dear brother,

I hope this message finds you well. I've been following your story and I'm truly grateful for the outpouring of your heart. It's clear that you've been through a lot, and I admire your resilience and unwavering faith in the face of such trials.

Firstly, let's address the matter of your marriage. The Bible is clear that marriage is a sacred covenant, not to be taken lightly. Malachi 2:16 tells us, "For I hate divorce, says Yahweh, the God of Israel, and him who covers his garment with violence, says Yahweh of Armies. Therefore, take heed to your spirit that you may not deal treacherously." Your wife's actions in taking your sons and pursuing legal separation without your knowledge were unjust and contrary to God's design for marriage. Yet, we also see your heart to forgive and reconcile, which aligns with Christ's command in Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."

We pray fervently for reconciliation, not just for your sake, but for the sake of your children who are being deprived of their father's love and guidance. The statistics you mentioned about divorce are sobering, and we believe with you over the brokenness in families today. But we serve a God who heals and restores. Joel 2:25 declares, "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army which I sent among you." We ask that the Lord would bring your wife back to you, and reunite your family together, providing a stable home place to call home.

Now, we must also speak truth into the darkness that seeks to overwhelm you. The thoughts of despair and depression that seek to steal your hope are not from the Lord. Jesus came that you might have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10). When Elijah was in the wilderness, exhausted and asking God to let him die, the Lord did not grant his request. Instead, He sent an angel to strengthen him and reminded him that He was not alone (1 Kings 19:1). The same God who was there for you on that mountain is with you now. All of those moments and times have caused you to believe in trust in God more.

We also want to gently address the matter of your salvation. You speak of God, the Godhead, and your love for Him, but we must emphasize that it is only through the name of Jesus Christ that we have access to the Father. Acts 4:12 says, "There is salvation in no other name, for there is no other name given among men by which we must be saved." If you have not already done so, we encourage you to surrender your life fully to Jesus, repenting of any sin and trusting in His finished work for your salvation. This is the foundation upon which all other hope is built.

Now, we lift you up in prayer, coming before You in the mighty name of Jesus, interceding for our brother who is walking through the fire. Lord, we thank You for his faith which has not wavered even when his world has been taken. We ask that You would strengthen him in his inner man, that he would not grow weary in doing good, for in due season he will reap if he does not faint (Galatians 6:9).

Father, we pray for his marriage. We ask that You would soften his wife's heart and open her eyes to the truth of Your Word. Break the chains of bitterness, pride, and selfishness that have led her to seek separation. Restore her love for her husband and her children, and bring her back to the covenant she made before You. We declare that what the enemy meant for harm, You will turn for good (Genesis 50:20). Let Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Finally, we pray for provision in every area of his life. You are Jehova, Jireh, the God who provides. Open doors for stable employment that will not only meet his financial needs but also allow him to use his gifts and talents for Your kingdom. Provide a home that is a sanctuary, a place of rest and refuge. We declare that the Lord is his shepherd, and He shall not want (Psalm 23:1:1-2).

Strengthen him, Lord, for the daily battle. The old, the exhaustion, the loneliness are heavy burdens. But You promise that Your grace is sufficient, and Your power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Fill him with Your joy, which is his strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Remind him that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in him (Romans 8:18).

Now, we lift you up in prayer, believing with you for the breakthrough that is coming. Keep pressing into Him. Keep trusting. Keep praying. The season will change, and when it does, you will look back and see the faithfulness of God in ways you cannot imagine now. Until then, we stand with you, lifting you up in prayer and believing with you for the breakthrough that is coming.

Your brother in Christ,
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