Snow covered mountains in Kenai Fjord, Alaska

Quote of the week:

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.” — Colossians 2:1-2

Dear Prayer Partners

I was reminded this past week that many of you enjoy reading my updates on Sunday morning, and that some of you use them as a source of things to prayer for during Sunday School or personal worship Sunday morning. Since being in the US, I have been out of my normal routine, and so I haven’t been consistent in sending these out in order for you to have them by Sunday AM. I have now put it on my calendar, and will endeavor to have these to you Saturday evening. Thank you for the reminder.

We are so thankful for those who helped to make this trip possible. Thank you for your generous gift. Alaska has been wonderful so far. But, not just for it’s beauty. We have had wonderful fellowship with our friends who serve up here. They serve with Desert Streams Ministry. Check them out at https://www.desertstreamsministry.org/ We have been sharing stories of member care and resources ew have each found helpful. We have been able to learn a lot and glean some good things from them. And, we have been able to encourage them also. Well, before I get carried away let me give you some specific things you can be praying for us and our kids. Thanks for standing behind us in prayer.

Don’t miss some more Alaska pictures at the end.
David Watters

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for those who are suffering from Covid. It has hit my friend Charlie particularly hard. He has been in ICU most of the week. Pray he gains strength and is able to regain his health soon. There are a few others in our church, as well as the pastor of another of our supporting churches. It’s hitting much closer to “home” now. (the picture with Caleb and his 2 friends, Charlie is the one on the left)
Please pray for Caleb this week. He was back at school about 3 days, and was exposed to another case of Covid. Because we are not “home” the school allowed him to quarantine in his room. Which means for the next week (the 2nd week of 2) he will still be confined to his room. Nothing like being imprisoned in your own collage dorm room.
Please pray for the funds to pay for our repatriation flights.
Continue to pray that things will open up for alternate routes to get to PNG. We are hearing reports things are opening a little. We have seen posts from several friends that have been able to arrange flights in the last few weeks. Pray things continue to open up.

News

Our flight on Tuesday was very long. It almost felt like flying to PNG. Our day started around 8:00 AM when our son and daughter in-law picked us up and dropped us off at the airport in Grand Rapids. We finally arrived to our friends house about 4 AM Michigan time. Needless to say, we were exhausted.

The first couple days we spent just settling in. We have been able to learn a lot about their ministry and the opportunities God has opened up for them. Between the Salmon run during July where last year God provided over 800 pounds of Salmon for the various missionary families they support, to moose from the DNR, where they get anywhere from 100 pounds to 300 pounds of meet that again can be used for these families ministering in rural Alaska. It’s been really neat to hear how God is providing and using them.

Today was the first day we have been able to get out and have some fun. They took us out on the boat on a lake about 30 minutes away. The far end of the lake is fed by some glaciers that have ice on them year around. It was a first for us, to see a glacier in real life. It was neat to see snow peaked mountains too. I don’t think I have seen that before either. Then, on the way home, we got to see a few moose beside the road. It was a fund trip.

They said next week they want to take us up into the mountains. So, I should have more pictures to share next week.

Bible Study: Paul’s heart for God’s people

Paul had such a passion for God’s people to find the freedom and joy of Christ’s life in them. Here in Colossians 2:1-2 he tells them that he greatly struggled for them. He longed for them to experience all that God has for them. As I read these words this week, it put words to my prayer for the missionaries in PNG that we serve, as well as for you all who support us.

Paul says he struggled for that, desiring that:

Their hearts would be encouraged in Christ
That they would be knit together in love because of Christ
That they would come to a full understanding of what Christ in them means
That they would come to learn that in Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

In verses 8 and 9 Paul begs them to not be carried away by the philosophy of the world, following after human tradition and the elementary things. He longed for them to experience Christ’s life in them. Paul instructs them that all of God was in Christ (the fullness of God), and all of Christ is in us!

We have everything we need to live a life that is pleasing to God. That everything IS CHRIST. It has nothing to do with our ability to perform, or our knowledge of scripture, or education. What we need is Christ, His life, living through us, using our hands and feet, ears and mouth, to do the works of God. In order for us to do the works of God, it must be God Himself doing the work through us. All of Christ is in you, and Christ in you is going to do the works of God. As you have received him, that is how you should be walking. (Col 2:6) We need to die to ourselves, and just let Him do His work.

When we learn to live that way, we will find our hearts encouraged, we will be knit together in love for God, and we will begin to experience the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge because we will be growing toward the full understanding of Christ in us.

Quote of the week:

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