Saturday, October 27, 2012

Update From Akutan!

Hello Everyone!
I am truly sorry I have not posted and update sooner. Things have been quite hectic around here since our arrival home about a week ago. We have also been without internet service for some time due to the limited bandwidth issue on our account. I will try to give you a run-down on all that has happened.
We had a wonderful time at the ministry retreat in Port Alsworth, AK sponsored by Arctic Barnabas Ministries. Although the weather was not very good, we had a great time of fellowship with fellow missionaries from the bush here in Alaska. We then spent a few days with Vince and Marylil Spady (Kelly’s Aunt and Uncle) in Soldotna, AK. It was here that Kelly had her surgery to remove a lump from her abdominal area. Upon further contact with Kelly’s surgeon, we received a good report that there was no sign of cancer or anything else negative! Praise the Lord! Kelly is subsequently doing very well and has been recovering well here at home now.
We did have to spend an extra week in Dutch Harbor on our return trip. This proved to be an excellent time of getting to see friends from Akutan who are now in Dutch Harbor and I (Peter) got to spend some wonderful time with Pastor John Honan of Unalaska Christian Fellowship Church. We eventually caught the Goose back to Akutan. Unbeknownst to us, we ended up catching one of the last few flights the Goose will ever take! Shortly after our arrival we received word that the Goose/PenAir would no longer be flying into Akutan! Praise the Lord for His wonderful timing!
As of October 25, we saw this article:
Needless to say, we were not real excited to not be able to receive any mail. In fact, there has been a growing concern on the part of many here about receiving mail since the school could not receive their supplies and several people could not receive needed medication. Well, something happened yesterday and a shipment of mail arrived by the new hovercraft! Everyone was in shock! Not even the folks in the post office were expecting that! When we asked our postal people what had happened and if the mail delivery had been sorted out…no one knows! Anyway, we still do not have any reliable mail service yet, but perhaps the Lord has a reason for all this. Please keep praying for us in this regard.
On a more positive note:
Margo Posenjak and Kitty Sorenson have done an outstanding job once again with the Quilting Camp/Club. I don’t have the final numbers in front of me, but we had many ladies, and a few gentleman as well, that attended and learned how to make a quilt. The time spent in ministry was wonderful. Many opportunities to grow relationships and share the Gospel were had. As I write this, Kitty and Margo are on a boat back to Dutch Harbor and on their way home to family.
The other day we received a new sound system for the church! Praise the Lord! We had an opportunity to use it last night for the first time during our “Movie night”. This new system is just what we needed! We no longer have to compete with sounds from the gym while holding other services in the sanctuary! It will also be a great help with Sunday worship in our times of singing. Thank you to one and all!
As we continue to settle back in and gear-up for the next season here in Akutan, please be in prayer for all the folks leaving and the new ones coming. We will greatly miss several of our regular attenders as the Lord moves them on to other things. I am continually amazed at the people the Lord brings here. It is reassuring to us in ministry here that the Lord brings such great brothers and sisters to us to help in the ministry. We will miss those leaving, but look forward with great expectation to whom else God will be bringing next!
Our children are doing well. David has made several friends here and seems to be fitting in rather well. This year is the first time in many years that he has attended public school. The new teachers here are wonderful people. Please be in prayer for them as well, as they face many challenges in teaching here. I guess you can also pray for Kelly and I as well. We are continually reevaluating how our children are doing and whether or not to homeschool. Please pray for wisdom for us and that God would make it clear to us what the right thing for us to do will be. James is doing well. He has been evaluated by several special needs folks, one being an autism specialist. The challenge remains getting supplies and resources here in a timely manner.
Over all, things are going well. Services are generally well attended. I have started a sermon series on Creation that has proven to be very well received. In fact, several people are upset that they have to leave and won’t be able to hear the whole series! I was even asked by several folks to preach longer! Now THAT is something I don’t hear very often! LOL!
Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. As we enter into another season here in Akutan pray that we glorify God in everything that we do and that He grows this ministry here in Akutan! God bless each of you!
Till His Nets Are Full, 
Peter

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