Dear Friends:

Oddest Winter

Well, I have to say that this has been one of the strangest winters I can remember in a long time. While we did have a stretch of below zero temperatures and then a few decent snowfalls, it seems so odd now to turn on the news and see that it is below zero with blizzard conditions in the Midwest and northeast when it is around fifty degrees ABOVE zero and raining here in Alaska. The Iditarod is due to start soon and it will be interesting to see if there is enough snow for the race to happen. No complaints though from me!

Washington Visit

Last week as Marveen was returning from Colorado after her usual month there helping her stepmom, we met in Seattle at the airport and then drove north to Everett where my sister, Glenice, lives to spend most of the week. Glenice’s husband, Dave, died three months ago and I was too sick with a gnarly cold to fly to his memorial service so we decided to make the trip a bit later. My sister, Judy, from Montana flew over for the week and my brother, Mark, his fiancee Melanie (and her three children) were able to join us along with several other relatives so I guess you’d say we had a “mini” family reunion. It is an understatement to say that it was a VERY special time for all of us.

The Museum

One of the highlights of the week in the northwest was a trip my siblings and I (along with Marveen) took an hour or so north of Everett to our home town of Lyman, Washington, where the population is 438…a veritable population boom from when I left there back in the sixties for college when there were 426 residents! We visited the gravesites of our parents and other relatives, drove around and shared memories embodied in the two houses where we grew up. I think for all of us, the most fascinating part was our visit the Lyman Museum, a fairly recent addition to the town, which exists now in an old house that we kids used to think was haunted back in our early years because of the big white columns in front and because it was so old. It also serves now as the town hall.

Once inside we were greeted by a royal treat as there on the mantle was a large photo of the town council back in the fifties or sixties when our dad was the mayor for a short time as well as a councilman for many years and mom was the town clerk. Back when we were kids I don’t think we had any idea what a wonderful contribution both of them made to the well-being of that little town. We all had a sense of pride as we saw the featured pictures that showed them volunteering their time in a way that really made a difference in their town. We all had a

laugh though when we came upon a display board that had MY picture in it…along with the rest of my sixth grade class! It does something to you when you find your picture IN A MUSEUM! My brother laughed, poked me, and quipped…”Hey bro, you are a relic!” I think I am still processing those feelings as the words relic and fossil take on a more personal connotation! It causes me to think again about my great grandpa who lived to be 114…and my hope is renewed that I still could have lots of good miles left on this body!

An Answered Prayer

While we were in Washington I got a call from my old friend, Clark, that I grew up with in Lyman. His younger brother, Alan, had recently passed away and Clark asked if I would be willing to officiate (preach) at Alan‘s memorial service that would be March 7th in Lyman. Since Clark and Alan were very close friends of our family back then, I said I’d be blessed and honored to preach at his service. What Clark did not know was that a recent prayer of mine has been that the Lord would open some doors for me to preach the Gospel (besides here in Nikiski) in other parts of the world. Shortly after I agreed to that assignment, I remembered that prayer and realized, “what better place to start than my old home town” where I am certain some of the guests present will be people that I grew up and attended school with. I am really excited about doing this. It will also be a blessing to hear stories about Alan’s life from friends and family who knew him more as an adult than I did.

CFM Stuff

While the winter may be milder than usual up here this year, the issues that folks are facing in their lives and families are not any milder. My days are filled with sessions with folks that are in a lot of pain. Also, while a lot of people around the country are rejoicing because of the lower fuel prices, they may not be aware of how that affects a place like Nikiski where most of the jobs are related to the oil industry. Someone told me the other day that around 400 jobs have been cut in the businesses between Kenai and Nikiski (about 15 miles). Not good. The ripple effect of those job losses will only increase the stress level in the folks that live here. I don’t believe the needs for counseling, support, and encouragement will be decreasing anytime soon. If the Lord puts it on your heart, any contributions to help keep my CFM office open and functioning will be greatly appreciated.

God bless you.

Wayne and Marveen Coggins