Details are the things that bring a picture to life.  Without the details we are left with a picture that is blurry and undefined.  We are so blessed to be serving a God of details, and we have seen His hand work in the details of our lives this last year.

Way back in July, while the sun was shining 24 hours a day, I was out for my daily walk to the tundra.  I was contemplating the economy and the difficulties that may lay ahead for our little community.  Soon after I began to think upon these things, this verse came to mind:

 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into  barns ; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”  Matthew 6:26.  As I approached the tundra I could hear little birds chirping and singing as they went about their business.  I was able to see a few here and there hopping and flying about the small willows.  I knew God was speaking to me and I started to share some of my concerns with Him.  “But God, all of these birds will be gone soon.  They know winter will be setting in.  They aren’t stupid, they leave when it gets cold and hard.”  For some reason, I thought I had out-witted God and had an excuse to continue to worry.  When I returned from my walk I sat down to do my daily devotions.  My talk with God was still fresh on my mind.  I checked in my journal to see where I had left off the day before, and flipped through the pages of my Bible to Psalms 147.  Verses 7-9 leaped off the page:  “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;  Sing praises on the harp to our God,  Who covers the heavens with clouds,  Who prepares rain for the earth,  Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.  He gives to the beast its food,  And to the  young   ravens  that cry.” An interesting thing happens every winter.  All the birds leave….all but one.  The one type of bird that decides to winter out in the arctic is the raven.  I don’t know how these stout birds do it.  Apparently, God has designed them with endurance and determination.  These birds not only survive in extreme negative temperatures, they are huge!  They are not scraggly and scrawny…they are about twice the size of the crows found in Southern California.  I sat there staring at my Bible in awe.  “O.K.  Jesus.  You win.  I won’t be afraid.  I won’t leave.  I will sing with thanksgiving because You provide our every need.  You take care of the ravens in Kotzebue, and have even left them as a sign of your provision.  Now as winter has set in, I am aware of every raven I pass on my way about town.  I am thankful  for  their lesson of dependence upon God to take care of their every need.  I am thankful that we serve such an awesome God.  One who desires to have a personal relationship with us, and one who is concerned with the details of our lives.  If you are facing any hardship this winter I want to encourage you to look at the birds of the air and thank God for His provision and care.

After several months of negotiations with the National Guard, things weren’t moving and we decided to look for another building to meet in.  The first door we knocked on opened up to us with welcoming arms.  For the last couple months we have been having our Saturday night Bible study (Refuge) at the Boys and Girls club.  It has turned out to be a much better place for us to meet.  Cameron has been practicing the bass guitar and has joined us in leading worship.  Our neighbor and friend, Daniel, is a great drummer and has also been playing with us.   Keith is teaching through the book of Revelation right now.  Please pray that the Lord will draw people to hear the word and grow in Him.

Last year we had about 30 kids in our home for a Christmas party (fun but crazy) so this year we partnered with the First Baptist Church kids’ club for a Christmas party.   The Baptist church provided pizza, cake and shoe-boxes filled with presents.  We performed a puppet show (with the help of some Jr. High kids) and prepared some games.  We also gave each child gifts provided by Julian Calvary Chapel.  We asked the church in Julian if they could order and send up some children’s worship CDs (for girls) and some Bible Man DVDs (for boys).  They ordered the rest of what was in stock.  As I handed out each gift, I was wondering if there was going to be enough.  I had the exact amount of DVDs for the boys!  After every child in line had received their present there were two CDs left.  WOW!  That meant we had 69 children at the party and God took care of the details!

Keith has been working hard at the trooper station in the day and studying for Saturday night services in the evenings.  Please pray that he can be a light at work.  The troopers have had to deal with a rash of suicides in our region this last month.  It is good for Keith that he is able to dig into the word when he gets home and is able to give things over to the Lord to deal with.   Pleas pray that the troopers will come to know Christ and have that same release.   He has also been counseling some couples this year and it is a blessing to see the Lord work in peoples’ lives.   He hasn’t been able to get out and go hunting because his back is still bothering him.  Hopefully he will completely recover soon, and we can enjoy some caribou burgers!  The radio station is still up and running and ministering to people.

Cameron is plugging away in school and doing well.  He is preparing for the SAT  in March and looking forward to being a senior next year.  I honestly don’t know what we would do without Cameron helping out in ministry here.  He is always serving and tying up loose ends in so many areas.  He has grown into a fine young man and is a great encourager.    He got his driver’s permit this year and happened to have blue hair the day he took his test.  The DMV here didn’t care, so his permit picture is pretty unique.  We are wondering how he will get his driver’s license since we don’t own a car for him to practice with.  I guess that is a detail we will have to let the Lord figure out.  Until then, Cameron is totally content riding the snow machine and ATV around town.

I have been busy keeping up on laundry, dishes, children’s ministry, and temporary library work.  A couple months ago we filled out paper work to become foster parents because the need for foster and adoptive families is so great in this region and the Lord has been gently tapping at our hearts.  The loose ends of our paperwork are being tied together this week.  We could possibly have a child in our home in the next couple days.   Please pray for the Lord’s timing and for all the details to be worked out as we step forward in this area.

Love, Keith, Kelly, and Cameron Kendall…

                 In Kotzebue 

Horizon International Ministries P.O. Box 178894 San Diego, CA 92177 Email: k-kendall@otz.net

Horizon Christian Fellowship PO Box 17480 San Diego, CA 92177-7480 Write in the memo Keith Kendall (Please make checks payable to Horizon Christian Fellowship)