Leaving Tuesday

Well I'm leaving out Tuesday night. I'm flying positive space (secured seat but we pay the taxes. Gift from AK Airlines to employees). I'm hoping to upgrade to first class if a seat is available so I can sleep. I fly to Chicago on the red eye flight, land in Chicago at 8:05 am, leave out at 10 am on US Airways to DC and then DC to Chattanooga to be picked up by the Williams and Sister Debra Perkins will be with them. I'm so ready in spirit to go but I haven't started packing and I'm so physically tired. Brother Nowling leaves out on the red eye on Wednesday red eye (positive space) to Chicago, from Chicago to Charlotte and Charlotte to Chattanooga. Arriving 1/2 hour after Levi and Jessa. They'll drive over to IYC together.

In other news, the bank returned the money to our account that was taken fraudulantly. I don't know what the next step is, we just notice it was returned to our bank account.

Well, I better get packing and I want to try to get to bed early...yeah right.

Sick, long week, check book stolen

Yeah the title sums it up. I have been having terrible headaches and tightness in my chest. My blood pressure's been up and I've been stressed and drowning at work. But today I feel the best I have all week.

I know that's not the part you're wondering about. On Thursdays Brother Nowling does our bills and he called me at working saying I forgot to leave the checkbook for him. I told him I didn't have it. He said he put it in my purse Wednesday night as he was leaving for work so I could have money for the offering. I knew nothing about it and it wasn't in my purse. Levi remembered him doing it too. So we back tracked over all my steps Wednesday night. Going to the church twice, ransacking Jenna's car (I rode home with her) and mine and nothing. So he went to the bank and two checks had been cashed with an individual's name and business on it that we had never heard of. The checks equalled up to over $200. We flagged all the number sequenced checks in that book and put a flag on our account so no checks can go through without us being called and proving ID. He then proceeded to go file a police report, actually two. One for fraud and one for forgery. Had to go back to the bank (after paying $12 for the police reports ~ how wrong is that) and was sent to the fraud department. Then everything started really coming together. The first check was actually cashed Tuesday and the second Thursday at the AK USA bank right across from the church. It wasn't Wednesday night that he put it in my purse it was Sunday. I did take it out and write a check for the offering and as it was VLB service I was at the pulpit and I left it and all my notes on the pulpit. If you remember it was our 1 year anniversary in the building so we took church pictures before church. Jessa had to work late so Jenna took her picture afterward and was going to photoshop her into the picture. I was in the way at the pulpit so I moved leaving everything there and forgetting everything (not even thinking about the checkbook). I received a call Monday from the property manager of the building the church was in asking if we had blocked the door open, let anybody in that we didn't know, or knew if someone had followed us in. After declaring no she told three of the suites had been broken into Sunday night. On Wednesday night Brother Tim mentioned that he had gone over to the Church to pray on Monday and the door was unlocked. Jeremy had locked the door Sunday night, I was standing next to him, he went on a head and I double checked the door just to be safe so I KNOW it had been locked. The property manager told me today when they got the break in call early Monday morning and they checked all the suites ours wasn't locked but didn't show any forced entry like the others. But apparently they got in and took the check book. As far as we know that's all that's missing but we really weren't looking for anything so we'll have to check things out thoroughly this weekend.

So back to the bank, because the person that cashed the checks didn't have an account with AK USA they had to show ID and the bank has driver's license number, name, address and phone number. They're from Wassila (if their ID isn't fake). The bank is confident that they'll be able to re-coup our money and with the police's help catch the woman. Tomorrow morning I have to go to the bank to sign papers as it's my name they forged AND I believe the checks were time stamped so they can pull the surveillance camera's and get a visual as well. So wow...too many thing happening to us that you never thing will happen to you but only on tv or to someone else. In the end though maybe we'll also be able to catch who's been breaking into the building. This is actually the second time in a couple of months.

So it's been a long, sickly and wild week. I need to go return some things to JC Penney, and get some groceries. Tomorrow is a pot luck at our place as it's the Mack's last weekend with us before they head back, hopefully they'll be able to come along with Heather and Jeremy if Heather's feeling up to. I hope every one's praying for precious Heather. She needs a miracle.

Have a great weekend.

Reminiscing

I've been helping my husband clean out the garage and while he laid down for a nap. It dawned on me had been about a year ago that my mom passed away so I decided to look back at my blog and it was a year ago last Sunday. I began to read over the posts from then forward.

This has been a year of loss (my mom) and gains (a son-in-law). It's been a year of heartaches, trials and tests but it's also been a year of triumph and celebration. I looked back on my mom's passing, funeral and then on to the church moving into it's own building (space) On August 24th the church finally had it's only building. It was great step of faith as we took on rent of $1073/month. I was a nervous wreck as to whether we could do this, but knew we needed to and knowing also that God had provided the space. Our people, 95% young adults, have been awesome in their giving. We had a few months that some struggled making their pledges, and though we got behind (the car wash almost got us out of the red). God has helped us. God honors faithfulness.

Then as I continued moving through my blog, on to ministers convention and revival with Byers. I still remember the strong preaching on love. As I moved on I was reminded of the changes at work and then went on through Thanksgiving and Christmas. The new year brought a lot of sharing about Mt Redoubt with March being eruption after eruption to the point that youth convention in Bethel had to be cancelled. Then April brought a once in a life time mission trip to England (I am really looking forward to seeing some of the dear brothers and sisters at the assembly). May brought looking for a place to live and then June actually moving, camp and Jessa wedding.

As I read through my blog though I saw I shared some of the heartaches, I read many posts of how good God was. How God had blessed in our services. How He proved His faithfulness. Even now I have Christian music playing and Pam Thum's song "Life Is Hard (God is Good)" is playing and it really summed up the last 12 months from August 2008 to now.

Lot's of changes still ahead for us. Lot's of trials, tests, joys and triumphs but I'm not in any of it alone. My God is there with me. He truly proves He never leaves us, nor forsakes us.

By the way bloggers, don't forget to blog. It truly becomes a diary of memories of our lives and those we care about. It helps to remind us of the victories along this pilgrimage.

Well I need to go get my husband up from his nap. We're headed to Popeyes for dinner (not my favorite place due to the spiciness but he has been wanting it) and then going to JC Penneys to get a few things we need for IYC and the assembly. Oh, oh, I don't think I told anyone my husband actually gets to go not only to the assembly by IYC. It's really a miracle. We were flying on positive space (secured seats at n/c due to his working at the airlines) but he couldn't find a flight open for the dates for the assembly. His supervisor was helping him look one night and Thursday, Sept. 3rd had one positive space seat open in the early morning but he works Wednesday nights. His supervisor said she would work for him and listed him. He has Thursday and Friday off so it worked perfect. So I fly in Wednesday and the Williams and Sister Perkins will pick me up and we'll be spending Wednesday evening together and head to IYC Thursday morning (I'm taking the red eye flight Tuesday night so I'm trying to get first class so I can sleep.) Jessa and Levi will fly in at 5 pm Thursday night, Jody and 5:30 pm so they'll drive over to IYC together in time for that evenings service. How cool is that. Then Jenna will fly in on Sunday. (Joleesa won't be going this year. Please pray for her. God knows what all she needs.) I'm so looking forward to IYC and the assembly.

Well off to Popeyes. Have a great Sunday everyone.

A Quiet Strength

Our revival is over and Brother Keven Lewis has made it home. We switched flight to an earlier flight as he would have stuck in Portland as the plane was over booked. Flying standby is always a "hold your breath" experience. There were 9 seats open and he got the 9th seat and it was aisle seat at that.

It was so good to have Keven in our home. He is so like family to us as we pastored him when he was in his early teens. He has become a brother to us and an uncle to our girls. When you watch a young person grow up and become an adult and go into the ministry and raise a family in the love of the Lord, you stand in awe at God.

The revival was not a victory shouting revival, but a quiet strength was bestowed by the Word and His Spirit. Our little group here in Anchorage are experiencing trials and tests on all fronts. We needed words of encouragement and strength and that's what was preached and shared. Megan declared that it was like standing out in a gentle rain and allowing it to wash over you, refreshing and cleansing you as it came down. Jessa sang a song Sunday night that added to that refreshment for me, Holy, Holy Holy (by Hillsong). It talked about praising and "adoring" Him. I so want to ADORE Him every day of my life. I want that power of "first love" partnered with "mature love" in my life.

Brother Keven made it obvious he was here for "us" the Anchorage church. His first time in Alaska and time was short. We usually try to do as much sightseeing as possible when we have visitors. Though we did go Beluga Point and Portage Glacier (where he didn't get to see any ice bergs as they were all melted to the point that the water was over the side walk)Sunday we took as a day of rest at home. He did get to see moose, not just one but six when Micah, along with Nathan took him to Flat Top yesterday.

I feel bad that not everyone was blessed as they could've been because they didn't come out. We have had very few revivals here, and this was just a 3 day revival and I wanted to gain from every moment of it. Life gets tough, we need times of revival to see us through. This was revival for US. We now need to move out and with a revival for the community but Lord prepare our people to move beyond and reach out to the world.

Please pray for me today as I am so very tired as I took Keven to airport and didn't get home until after midnight and then had a rough time sleeping. I was already tired and had a hard time staying awake yesterday and today is going to be tougher yet. But I truly can say my Spirit is refreshed.

Revival in the Land of Anchorage Alaska

We're excited for revival. No one realizes how difficult it is to get evangelists to Alaska. When you consider just the travel time let alone the cost, it's not an easy thing. PTL! There has been someone that we have been trying to get to come since we came to Alaska and God has worked it out. It'll only be three nights, but we have a people that don't waste time. They are hungry and ready. The devil's already been fighting so it is just proof that God is going to really move.

Oh I suppose you'd like to know who's coming. Our brother (who is like an uncle to our girls) Keven Lewis. We are so excited. We wish his wife and family could come but they're not able to, but that means he'll have to come again ~ smile.

Please pray that NO ONE is hinder from coming out and that God is allowed the liberty to move. The revival is Saturday, August 15 - Monday, August 17th. So we covet your prayers. He's flying standby so please pray everything goes smoothly with the flights as well.

The Church of God Pirates Out Did Themselves

I know you're saying "huh". We had a car wash today. We asked Matthew Peter to take charge of it for us and he came up with a brilliant (and I mean that seriously) idea to have a theme and have it be pirates. I know, how does pirates fit with church, God, etc. Who cares. It was fun. A couple of weeks a go several of the youth came over and we did homemade pizza for them while they made some pretty cool posters with the "pirate" theme. Then today was the day. We were all praying hard for good weather as this is our raining season and that's about all it's done for a couple of weeks. We woke up to a gray day that quickly turned into a beautiful summer day. We were going to have the car wash in the back parking lot of the building the church is in, which is the door we go in for church BUT the picket there didn't work. Brother Nowling called the maintenance man and he told us we could use any of the spigots and there was up at the front right hand side. This was perfect. We set up our hot dog stand and money booth at the front off a busy road, Northern Lights and washed cars along the side of the building. The plan was to go from 10 am to 2 pm. We were asked to dress up as pirates which all the Peters did an awesome job of (pictures to come probably on Jenna's blog and facebook). Matthew sent pirates Micah and Megan, and then our beloved Timothy Osborne (aka our marketing tool) to the streets with signs. Micah and Megan in their costumes and Tim's non-stop crazy jig (Matthew, Nathan and Jenna also took a turn; even Matt's dog Kershaw was out there with a sign; but the pros were Micah and Tim) they brought the cars in. The goal of the car wash to get our rent fund out of the hole. I didn't remember what that amount needed to be but I had a goal of a profit of a minimum of $200. PTL. 28 cars in 4 hours, hot dogs, chips and soda (one of the businesses came out and bought $20 worth of food for their employees for lunch) brought in $325. After deducting the $58 for the hot dogs, buns and chips (everything else was donated with everyone giving something) we cleared....drum roll please, $267. 21 cars from the street, 7 of our cars and food. It was pretty cool as they washed some pretty nice cars. We charged $5 for the car wash and $4 for the dog/chips/soda. Only 4 of the people actually paid $5 the rest were $7 or more. We had some give $20 and $15. It was funny as the couple with a Corvette gives only $5, but after talking to me and asking what it was going for, he gave another $5.

Without a doubt God is good. Several people told me God had to be in this because of the beautiful weather we had after several days of rain. We were able to share about TCOG quite a bit. Matthew even met TCOGOP man (may have been a minister, I can't remember) that knew him in Bethel.

We had comments about it being a great idea to have a theme, about our "marketing" people on the streets doing such a great job, about loving the hot dogs, it just went really well.

I can't thank our youth enough. We had about 75% participation in the car wash. They sacrifice so much. They donated the stuff for the car wash, their time PLUS most of them pay pledges to make the rent. God has blessed us with great youth and I KNOW God will return back to them ten fold.

Every third Saturday of the month we have a youth activity and a different youth is in charge. August Levi is stepping in for Jeremy as he'll be out of town. He said he would like us to do one more car wash before winter sets in. So Lord willing we'll try it again. What will we do different...our signs will be on cardboard and sticks (as life was tough for them to hold the flimsy poster board), we will get a longer hose and another hose with a splitter, we will bring old towels for drying (they seemed to work best) and I'm not sure what else.

Oh, oh, oh...also the lady that came out to buy for their business said we should something like this more often and I mentioned a bake sale and she LOVED that idea. The doors are opening and I thank God for it.

I need to finish getting ready for youth Bible Study tonight. Yeah, car wash and then several are helping Micah and Megan move, then youth Bible study. A very fulfilling day.

Everyone have a great day in the Lord tomorrow.