July 2023
Dear Friends in Christ,
II Cor. 4:8b “…we are perplexed, but not in despair;” Paul wrote this but we can empathize with him.
In the middle of June, Sam was scheduled to take the ferry from Bellingham, WA to Ketchikan, AK. That was our plan-but God’s plan was not the same as ours! Early in the morning, Sam was packed and ready to go. We said “Good-by” and he left the house. Only minutes later, he came back inside and reported that we had a serious oil leak. We tried to get it fixed quickly so he could still make the ferry. However, no-one could fit us in for at least a week. The “Alaska Marine Highway” was contacted to see if we could change the reservation for a later spot. We were then informed that our scheduled sailing had been cancelled and the ship was in for repairs! If our plan had been followed, Sam would have driven 1400 miles and then have to return home! We have a God who knows the future and His plan is always the best. How thankful we are that He is the One in control!!
At present, (3 weeks later) Sam has sailed on the ferry (smooth sailing) and ready to board the ferry to the Prince of Wales Island later today. We have been truly blessed as our volunteer work crews have had safety as they have traveled and while doing the construction work over the past few years. Please thank God with us for this.
Thank you for praying with us during the Navajo family camp that we had a part in during June.
Another answer to prayer-Janet had a safe trip to Wasilla AK to visit Sam Jr.’s family. She was praying that God would allow her to talk to someone along the way about the Lord. (She was thinking- giving the Gospel message.) Again, God’s plan was different and she found herself surrounded by men. She doesn’t enter into deep conversation with strange men unless there is another woman present, so things were not quite what she expected. However, she found herself in Chicago for 9 hrs with a delayed flight and God opened a door to encourage a young Believer dealing with troublesome events. Though different than she had planned, God did open the door to “talk about the Lord” where it was needed! Another answer to prayer and once again-thankful for a God who is in control and knows all things!
Janet also teaches piano lessons in hopes of meeting the need of church pianists. It was a blessing to listen to one of her students play an offertory in church this week. Most of her students are from Christian homes, but that is no guarantee that they know Christ personally, so pray with her to be able to give the Gospel message. (Even when they don’t come from a Christian home-which is even trickier as you don’t want to encourage them to oppose their parents-yet they still need to hear the message.)
Please continue to pray with us for the needed electricity and for the man that the Lord wants to maintain the station and live in Thorne Bay. We are eager to see this station on the air and trying to be patient for the Lord’s timing.
We are very aware of your part in our ministry-both by prayer and financial gifts. Thank you to each of you! You are definitely fellow-laborers.
II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”
In Christ,
Sam & Janet Grammer