September | 2012 | Tyler and Emily in PNG

Archive for September, 2012

You Have Reached Your Destination

Posted in Newsletters on September 19, 2012| 1 Comment »

I apologize for leaving you faithful followers of our blog in the shadows over the past few weeks. A lot has taken place over the past three weeks. Emily came and went from Kenya, I left Alaska, then we started our long journey to Dallas via Denver for a 80th birthday celebration of Emily’s grandfather. So…we are in Dallas at last or as the GPS states, “You have reached your destination.”

This past week, we left Emily’s parents home on Thursday and drove to Billings to stay the night with Emily’s best friend. Back up a few days, on Monday I came down with a sore throat which I diagnosed as tonsillitis. I pushed fluids, rested, and took Advil. I was starting to feel a bit better by Thursday, however by the time we got to Billings my right ear was in pain. I went to the walk in clinic in Billings and told me I had a bad ear infection. They prescribed antibiotics and off I went. I am still fighting the ear infection and constant middle ear ringing. I am often tired and loud noises are disturbing to my ears. I have mild hearing loss in my right ear and tired of hearing myself talk inside my head. Nonetheless, the journey must move on towards our destination, Dallas.

Emily drove the whole way from Billings, MT to Denver, CO. I was in and out of consciousness most of the day. All I could do was fill the car with gas and make sure Emily knew the way to Denver. (We only missed our exit ramp once in Denver.)

We were blessed to stay with some supporters in Denver and close friends of Emily from her college days in Joplin. We were in Denver Friday through Sunday. We were there to attend her grandfathers 80th birthday explosion. With over 200 guests on Sunday afternoon, it was quite a party.

We left early Monday morning for Stillwater, OK. I was feeling better so I drove the first 340 miles (without stopping) then gave the wheel over to Emily for the next 300 miles (without stops). Yes, we drove from Denver to OK with only one 10 minute refueling stop. And yes, I am proud of that accomplishment.

We stayed with our PNG missionary friends home on furlough then left the next morning for a short 4.5 hour trip to Dallas. We arrived shortly after 1 pm to our new home for the next 6 weeks in Duncanville, TX.

Thank you for your prayers during our traveling journey of 1800 miles from MT to TX. Emily counted state license plates and we totaled 35 different states between Denver and Dallas.

Please continue to pray for these requests:

– Pray for healing of Tyler’s ear infection and constant ear ringing.
– Pray that Tyler’s Jeep will sell in Alaska.
– Pray for Emily’s name change on her PNG visa. (Praise God – Emily’s name change has been approved for her PNG work permit.)
– Pray for our transition into Dallas and open doors God will lead us through over the next 6 weeks.

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Mixed Emotions

Posted in Alaska, Newsletters on September 4, 2012| 3 Comments »

As the closing days are before me, I am hurried to sell my possessions, pack, and say goodbye to Alaska. I depart the state I love this Saturday as I head south for the winter. I had plans last week and this week to pick up a little side work but God and nature had different plans. Autumn in Alaska is wet. When the work calls for exterior painting you are very dependent on the weather. Late August and all of September are not always good outdoor days. Nonetheless, I have found myself more bored than I wanted. My wife is in Africa helping a close friend move to be a nurse in an orphanage and I am stuck in Alaska to wrap up the remaining items.

I have found myself unmotivated and lacking self desire to do pretty much anything. I go to bed at night not tired and feeling guilty. Then again, my mind tells me it is time to leave Alaska. The rest of the month will be filled with events and activity as we journey from Alaska to Texas. I often find my heart and mind in PNG. I know there is a need and I am wanted there to help but I am here in a basement in Alaska. I am trying to relish the memories of Alaska as I know over the next three years my heart will yearn for this home.

In the past when I have noticed these feelings, I have learned it is time to enjoy nature once again. On Saturday when the rain broke, my aunt and I went for a short hike to Grayling Lake. A 3 mile roundtrip hike to a small lake in the Alaskan wilderness. It was a rewarding hike and a spot that I found peace as I sat on the lake shore. Please pray for me this week as I pack and prepare to leave Alaska.