Good morning,
July 16, 1983 changed my life forever. God entrusted me with one of His children in marriage. That’s right 38 years. Her name is Kathy.
It was not an easy task to get us together. Kathy was serving in the Army in Alaska and I was serving in a church ministry in California. My assignment ended. My intention was to stay in California. God’s intention was to move me to Alaska.
A pastor from Alaska was preaching at our church. My pastor explained the situation to him. He offered me a position to work in their single’s ministry. I prayed about it and accepted the position.
I went from 60 degrees to 0 degrees in just one plane ride.
My part of the single’s ministry was to visit the local military bases. I would talk to people and invite them to our single’s class. I also was tasked with visiting people already in the class.
Kathy was attending the single’s class. One of my visits was to her. It was not love at first sight. She was not very impressed with me.
At some point in time, her perspective began to change.
What attracted me to her, was that she got her prayers answered.
In September, 1982, my mother passed away. I intended to fly Space-A from Alaska to Illinois. Kathy said she would take me to the Military airport and wait to make sure I got a flight out. We talked all night. I got to know Kathy deeply that night. She shared her heart, testimony, and desire to serve the Lord. There were no Space A flights available. Kathy took me to the international airport and I got a commercial flight.
When I arrived, I told my brother I had met the girl I was going to marry.
In October, I set up a scavenger hunt, all across Anchorage. It ended at the Cattle Company. I proposed to her and she said ”No”. You might have guessed, she eventually said “Yes”.
We would have preferred a small wedding. It was not to be. The church went to great lengths to give us a good wedding.
We honeymooned in Portland, Oregon, at a Bill Gothard seminar.
Proverbs 18:22 says, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.” God has given me a wonderful wife and has favored us. My wife is loving, kind, patient, resourceful, generous, and cares about me and others.
She has put up with all my military assignments. My temperament. My shortcomings. She has prayed for me continually. She is constantly studying the Bible.
In each church we have been in she has ministered to the needs of others. From making clothes for children, teaching in a Christian school, learning native culture, making native jewelry, clothes, footwear, and then teaching these tasks to native children, teaching in VBS, Sunday School, children’s church, and the CDIC (Chief decorator in charge).
She manages our home, inside and out. We eat from the bounty she plants in her garden.
Over the years we have had the opportunity to share our home in celebrations for Christmas, Passover, and Hanukkah. She decorated, cooked, and is a great hostess.
I am so pleased that God allowed me the opportunity to meet, court, marry, and be blessed all these years with a person I dearly love.
Thank you, Lord Jesus!
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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