The Auldridges

Just Because I Can

2012-02-06T10:44:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure I have the cutest daughter in the world. This got me thinking. I am unbelievably in love with Ada. She is wonderful and perfect and sweet and special. She is mine. She could do nothing in the world to earn my favor any more because I am completely in love with her. The problem is I don't really believe God loves me like that. My insecurity causes me to spend a ton of time doing whatever I can to earn his favor. I'm sure many of you can relate to that feeling. It is so frustrating.
Kids are such a blessing. But, of course, mine is more than yours!
Wes
(This post featured some very cute pictures of Ada, why? Just Because I Can :)

We've Been Assigned!

2012-01-30T11:31:00.000-07:00

It is my pleasure to announce that The Auldridges have received word that our next assignment will be in Europe! This is very exciting for us because Europe is our first pick over the Asian and American fields. We have no firm assignment yet because we have a long road of support raising. Once we can estimate when we can depart, our leadership team will assess what is available. Thank you for all you prayers for us. We are really doing better on our road to rest and recovery.

In Christ,

Wes

Emulating Christ

2012-01-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Recently, I sat down on the couch and began working on a few things. Ada decided that the one thing in the room she couldn't live without was my computer. I sat there for a while, tried to fight her off and continue working. What I didn't factor in was her persistence. After a few minutes I realized this wasn't going to work.

At Christmas Ada received a toy laptop from my mother. It sings songs and makes noises and is exactly what she really wanted, although she didn't know it. I went and got it for her sat her next to me on the couch and we got right back to working.

There are so many lessons I can learn from this event. First, I, like Ada, want things I cannot have. I'm not content near enough with the things I have. Second, I don't really want what I ask for. And if I got it I wouldn't even know how to use it, which would make me discontent and lose interest. Lastly, what I want (what I really want deep inside) is be like my Father. I want to get up on the couch next to him, watch him and do what he is doing. Although my flesh dictates I do other things all the time deep down inside I just want to emulate him.

Hope everyone is well. I'm currently trying my best to reconnect with old friends and would love to hear from you if it has been a while. Send me a message and hopefully we can chat soon,

Wes

Enjoy the Silence

2012-01-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying this New Year. Elaine, Ada and I are getting rejuvenated here in Denver and are looking forward to hitting the support raising trail. We miss seeing our friends and hopefully we will be able to see you sometime this year. We recently sent out our newsletter and it can be found here. Lastly, we want to apologize for the silence our blog has taken over the last few months. To bring you up to speed we are resting well in Denver, Elaine did not have altitude sickness, Ada is as cute as ever and we appreciate all your prayers.

Wes

Sorry, Baby Boy A was not in the picture up top.

Moving Right Along

2011-08-30T11:59:00.000-06:00

This is what our house looks like. We will pack the U-Haul tomorrow and Elaine, Emily and Ada will hit the road Thursday morning fulfilling their dream of driving the ALCAN (Alaska-Canadian Highway). Please keep them in your prayers.

Leaving AK

2011-08-26T14:02:00.000-06:00

So the plan was to drive out on Monday. Emily, Elaine's twin sister, was going to fly from Philly to Anchorage to drive with her. (It has been a dream of both of theirs?!?!?) Anyway, old hurricane Irene is messing up the plans so leaving AK Monday is out the window. Hopefully, we will be on the road by Thursday. Maybe God want us to stay?

Wes

Packing Video

2011-08-19T17:45:00.000-06:00

Facebook: The love/hate relationship

2011-08-06T10:44:00.002-06:00

I'm sure that many of you out there are like me and have this love/hate relationship with Facebook. It can either reconnect you with dear friends and loved ones or it can suck your life away spending hours finding out the latest relationship status of people you barely know. It can reconcile broken relationships or break them up (seems like more of the latter). Anyway, I did something this week that will help close the gap between those who have not joined the 21st century (my mother) and those who are not really friends but would love to keep tabs on the ministry God has given us. I created a "Page." What is a "Page" you might ask? Well, it can be just about anything you want it to be. For us it will be another way to stay connected with Churches, acquaintances and those like my mom who want to see what is going on in our lives (mostly a few pictures of Ada here and there).

All you have to do is go to our Page and "Like" it if you have a Facebook account and you will start seeing our updates in your daily feed. If you don't have an account just check out the site facebook.com/theauldridges and you will can see all the same things.

Hope this is a useful resource to stay connected.

Wes

The e-Journey Continues

2011-08-02T09:38:00.000-06:00

So as we look at the (approximately) three weeks left in AK, lots of thoughts run through our minds. Will we get good goodbyes with all our dear friends? What do we keep? What do we let go of? These are all life questions but not (e)ternal in our journey. I think the real question is, "Lord, what are you doing?"

Do you remember that time in your life when you were super close to God in your walk. You were constantly talking to him and you just really felt his presence? If you have never had an experience like that before, I pray you do. I (Wes) am really being stretched right now by God and it hurts. Not just emotional pain but physical as well. There are times when I physically ache for the eternal. Let me tell you that this is not what I imagined when asked God to be my savior. (Puppies, roller coasters and bacon for every meal!)

Please allow me to share a video a really good friend sent me yesterday. I think it sums up really well where and what God is doing with me. Click Here

Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, LORD, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand.

Pain "For His Glory,"

Wes (along with his girls Elaine and Ada)

Aloha!

2011-07-11T23:04:00.001-06:00

Many of you knew that we just took a weeks vacation to Hawaii last week. As much fun as it was, the vacation was planned before we knew we would be leaving in less than two months. So relaxing and stressing don't go very well together. I (Wes) am having some real struggles with anxiety right now and so I thought this would help out a ton.
Many of you know I am a big fan of Twitter and a day or so after we arrived Pastor Rick Warren Tweeted this, "You cant escape problems thru a vacation because you take YOU with you." Ouch. But I definitely saw his point.
Needless to say it was fun and there were relaxing moments. We saw beauty at it's finest and had some wonderful hosts, the Cassidys. Now we move our focus to the move to Denver. Pray we, "cast all our anxieties on him because he cares for us."
-Wes

Like a Band of Gypsies

2011-07-01T20:12:00.004-06:00

Wes, Elaine & Ada Easter 2011

Ladies and Gentleman in the words of Willie Nelson, it's time to be "on the road again." After conversations with Cadence Headquarters, prayer and consideration our leadership has decided that our service in Alaska is finished.

Three years ago this month we (the two of us) arrived here for a one-year internship. It has been a long, challenging, unexpected, exciting and rewarding road. Most of you have followed us through this journey. We are incredibly grateful that God placed us here for this time, and we're excited about his plans for our future.

The time frame is short. We (the three of us) plan to be leaving Alaska by 1 September. From here we will drive (!) to Denver, Colorado where Cadence HQ is located. The plan is that we will spend the next 6-12 months (per Cadence Home Assignment policy) resting, being renewed, and preparing for our next ministry assignment. Pray for this time, as we use it to grow closer to God, refresh our marriage, and recover from the weight we have carried here.

If you support us financially, please continue to. Relocating is expensive, and we will need to save in order to begin at our next location.
If you don't already support us but you've been thinking about it, this would be a great time to join the team! See the EFT Form download to the right, visit Cadence.org, or chat with us for more info.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the love and support you've shown us in so many ways on our great Alaska adventure as we've shared the Gospel and our lives with the soldiers and airmen here.

That's the basic info. We will keep you posted. Please feel free to write or call with any questions, or just say hi! :)

Many blessings to you,
Wes, Elaine & Ada

Elaine & Ada hiking with our dear friends Anna & Jenna in Eagle River

And Sew it Goes

2011-05-17T17:13:00.003-06:00

Lindsay came for a little sewing lesson

This is my pregnant friend Lindsay (I have a lot of pregnant friends). And if she's not careful I'm going to steal her sewing box!
I was surprised when she showed up with a sewing kit of her own. She told me she needed to take up some curtains, and since she was asking me for help, I figured she had no sewing experience. Turns out she has sewn before, but like most people I find, has little confidence in her ability to remember what she learned so many years ago. Like sewing is rocket science or something.
I taught her the step by step sewing method learned decades ago, and enjoyed passing on my knowledge. We chatted a bit about life and babies and grandmas. These are the little moments I want my ministry to be made up of. Just "life" things.
I used to explain to people that life is what happens in the times when you're not saving the world. Ministry is then assumed to be the "saving the world" moments. They are both pretty connected though. Jesus' ministry included long sermons and fishing trips. Both life and both ministry. Sometimes I save my schedule for someone that really needs me, responding to some spiritual crisis- since 'that's ministry'. But I know (and need to remember) that these little interactions are just as important...and quite a bit of fun!

Thanks for stopping by to read our blog. Hopefully you're new around here, and will come back for more in the future.

Elaine

Wes' Sister Nicole

2011-03-29T00:28:00.001-06:00

3 Weeks ago Wes' older sister Nicole was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. This was the day that Barb passed away. Sometimes it feels like a relay race with cancer, passing the baton.

Bill, Nicole and two of their four children came to visit us last month. We had a fantastic week showing them Alaska and enjoying our kids. It has been a long time since Wes has spent that much time with Nicole, and a first for Elaine. While they were here Nicole gave us a heads-up that she was getting a lump check out after their visit. After a series of tests and doctor's visits they have decided on surgery to remove both of her breasts. Today (Tuesday) is her surgery. During the surgery they will check her lymph nodes to see if the cancer has spread. She'll spend a couple days in the hospital then be home with her family.

Please pray for the surgery, the doctors, her family, and us so far away. I have hope that medicine related to Breast Cancer is really sophisticated, and God will use it. We praise him for the testimony of faithfulness he has already given to Bill and Nicole. I know he will continue to use this for His glory!

Thanks for your prayers,
Wes & Elaine

Barbara Jean Evans ~ Feb 13, 1969 - Mar 7, 2011

2011-03-08T20:24:00.004-07:00

Yesterday our dear friend and co-worker ended her year and half long struggle with Brain Cancer. Her family and our community are in the middle of the grieving process. We will honor her life and ministry with a memorial service Thursday at our base Chapel.
Please continue to be in prayer for her husband, Dan and their children Caleb & Audrey. They will travel to Chicago for another memorial this weekend at the church where Barb grew up, was married, and her parents still attend.
Pray for those in our community who have known Barb for either 5 years or 5 months. Everyone deals with loss and death differently and we want to be able to help each of them in this process.
Pray for Wes and I as this is a challenging journey. We are glad to know that Barb is in Glory with Jesus, in a body that will never know cancer. We are relieved that her suffering is done. Wes is being a strong support for Dan in this time, and needs continued physical and emotional strength.

The Lord's timing is good. I (Elaine w/ Ada) will travel to PA Thursday after the memorial service to begin the festivities for my sister's wedding. Wes will join us next week. I am beyond thankful that God allowed me to remain in Alaska for this time with the Evans'.

Death is swallowed up in victory!
Elaine (& Wes)

No more excuses...

2011-03-01T18:25:00.006-07:00

Ada bundled up for her first outdoor outing, the "Outhouse Races" at Fur Rondy,
the festival leading up to the Iditarod.

Hello friends! The past two months have flown by! Things are busy in absolutely every category of life. So, I'll try to do a quick overview:

Family: Sweet Ada is 8 weeks old now. She's of course growing like a weed. She loves to wiggle, smile, and cuddle. She enjoys having her diaper changed, and loves the bath! She checked in this morining at 10 pounds 10 ounces and 22.5 inches!
Wes and I are enjoying parenthood, and our little family. We've escaped for a couple dates, and plan on continuing our weekly "date night".

Ministry: We are once again hosting Hospitality House in our home, after a "maternity leave" break. Our Married group is large. They love and serve one another so well. There are some marriages going through some dark and hurting times, that would greatly benefit from your prayers. Our singles group is small, and going through a transition. We are in need of leaders to come from within the group, and we have none right now. I'm praying for a soldier or airman with a heart for his or her peers to join us!

Teammates: Dan and Barb's road has turned from rough pavement to gravel. They are nearing the point where Dan says goodbye and Barb continues on through the gate that leads to streets of gold. We expect to give her to Jesus in the coming weeks. She is finally ready. Ready to get a new body where all of her limbs work and with her whole being she praises the Lord. Pray for Caleb and Audrey as they hurt, and grow through losing mom.

Plans: The Lord knows the plans he has made for us. He will direct our steps. If he wills it we will wake up in Alaska tomorrow. These are our plans.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Daddy & Ada taking care of business.

Mommy & Ada enjoying the sunshine.

Love,
Elaine (, Wes & Ada)

Our Daughter

2011-01-09T12:20:00.004-07:00

Please Welcome Adelaide "Ada" Jean Auldridge to the team!!

Just a quick post to let the world know that Ada was born on Jan 4th at 11:32 pm. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 19.5" long.
We are all home and doing well, getting adjusted to a new, wonderful life!
Elaine's mom was here for 10 days (waiting with us on the late arival of this precious girl) and left yesterday. Tonight Wes' mother arrives for a week, followed by visits from Elaine's sister, Wes' dad, and his sister & family.
Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. We are truly more thankful for Ada than we ever could have imagined.
We have started a new and amazing journey.

Praise God from whom All Blessings flow!
Wes, Elaine & Ada

Update on Life

2010-12-14T11:52:00.004-07:00

Last week, we enjoyed a visit from the Americas West Cadence Regional Directors, a couple whom we dearly love. They have been so good to us over the past two and a half years, taking time to call when they are not here, and making visits to serve us. Thursday evening Beryl kicked me out of the kitchen to enjoy dinner with those I feed weekly, as she kept an eye on the kitchen and the clean up. This allowed me to join in the group discussion upstairs, not just listening from downstairs. I am grateful to have such a caring support team.

Our Friday night singles group is going through some interesting changes. I believe some of the changes are due to the natural life cycles of a group like this-- especially in a transient community like ours. But it requires wisdom and discernment in decision making as we (Wes, Dan and I) try to lead this community. Our attendance is down to about 15-20 on Fridays. Pray that we would use the opportunity to minister to this smaller group, while also figuring out how to meet the needs of the larger community. The people are out there.

Finally, an update on the Evans family. Dan and Barb received sad news this week. After reading results from this months MRI and comparing them to last month's MRI they learned that the cancer has spread (and is spreading quickly) to four different areas of Barb's brain. They were told that there are no other medical options to consider. We may be looking at months now. Pray for this family, as they celebrate Christmas together, knowing that time may be short. Pray for Wes and I as we walk beside them, not knowing how to best support them. And pray for our community. Since Barb got sick she has been much less present in ministry, but there are still those here who spent the 3 years prior to the cancer in relationship with her, learning about life and the Lord through her. They fear the unknown as well. They ask questions like, "what will happen to the Hospitality House after Barb is gone?" and "will I see Barb after my 6 month deployment?". Pray for them that they would seek comfort and peace in Christ. And that we would do the same.

Thanks for your prayers. I promise a more encouraging note next week (unless of course I'm in labor- then Wes would provide the encouraging note!)

God bless,
Elaine (&Wes) for the Mountain Chapel Hospitality House community

Giving Thanks

2010-11-30T14:10:00.002-07:00

Our "banquet table" set up on Thanksgiving Eve

Last week we celebrated our third Thanksgiving in Alaska, our third with this loving family we call the Mountain Chapel Hospitality House. As is tradition we split our group into smaller groups for Thanksgiving, and and plan on a combined large dinner for Christmas. We hosted about 20 people here for dinner both families and single soldiers and airmen. It was actually somewhat of a light cooking week for me. I was only in charge of the turkey, stuffing, gravy, and some green beans! Among my cooking accomplishments for the day were my first successful homemade gravy, and my first stuffing completely from scratch- it was amazing (sausage, fresh herbs, apples, yum)! It was a great time to share about family traditions and reflect on what we're thankful for.

That evening everyone was invited over for dessert (and oh, how much dessert there was!). We set aside time to hear a report from the folks who have just returned from a short but life changing missions trip to the Dominican Republic. Their reports were encouraging and challenging. They spent most of their time building a school for poor children, and communicating through Spanish-English charades! It was great to have people from our community come home with first hand knowledge of the hardship and love present among that impoverished community. I'd even say that the majority of our community members are now financially sponsoring children through the ministry, Hands of Grace.

I could go on all day about the things we are thankful for. Our family has been so blessed by our Creator. I recognize that all good things do come from above, and I'm not deserving of any of them. Yet I sit here and enjoy them day in and day out. We are 3 weeks and 6 days away from our baby's due date. I'm excited and terrified, but the little soccer player and I are doing just fine.

Keep checking back (we're on a new streak of regular blog updates!).

Elaine (& Wes & baby)

VIDEO UPDATE! Life in Alaska

2010-11-16T17:12:00.003-07:00

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

2010-11-09T13:20:00.007-07:00

Last night I was on the blessed receiving end of our ministry. Everyone around here is quite excited about our little, "Lucy", "Beatrice", "Claudia", and otherwise "Secretly named girl". The ladies of the Hospitality House threw a wonderfully beautiful shower to celebrate Baby Auldridge.

My hostesses, Anna, Lacy, & Alicia

Anna is a such a gifted and detail oriented hostess, with every bit of heart to match the color coordinated favors, foods, and decor. We were in her home. Lacy is my best friend here in Alaska. She knows me and cares for me, and several times in the planning process added her most knowledgeable 2 cents to what was most "Elaine". Alicia is a passionate and energetic young woman, who appreciates me probably more than I deserve. She ran around ringing a little bell to signal the next event in the evenings festivities. :)

Evidence of the Tea Party theme and a
"Diaper Cake" made with cloth diapers and appropriate accouterments.

It was a completely perfect evening, with the exception of some missing guests, and I also wish you all could have been there to share it with me. I have decided that the addition of our first child to our family is probably the biggest change that will ever happen in my life. Her coming birth has been properly recognized and celebrated by those who love me in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Alaska. Thank you so much.

Our group of ladies.

If you are on Facebook, you really should go see all of the photos from the evening. Anna arranged for a professional photographer friend to document the evening, and she did a splendid job! (I think that I'll eventually have non-facebook access to the photos too).

God bless,
Elaine (& Wes & Baby A.)

Fair Weather

2010-10-26T17:05:00.010-06:00

On one of the flights, probably shortly before Elaine took advantage of the ability to curl up on 2 seats.

My husband is a fair weather fan. I know this about him. It apparently applies to entire sports, not just teams. over the past few weeks, many of you know the Texas Rangers (baseball team) have made history, winning their first American League Pennant, and a ticket to the World Series. My new baseball fan of a husband went to great lengths to keep up with the series-- I even thought he was going to opt for the eighth and ninth innings of the final game in the airport seating area instead of boarding our final flight home. He didn't. He did ask the flight attendant if the pilot would be willing to give in-air reports on the game. He did.

We met up with Wes' cousin Chris and heard his band play. Wes even got up on stage.

Wes and I enjoyed good visits with family, friends, and churches both in Texas and Pennsylvania over the past few weeks. We were able to share about the work we're doing here, and stories about the ways we see God working in the lives of the Soldiers, Airmen and families around us. We returned after a long three weeks to a still thriving ministry, a clean and slightly improved home, and a needy dog. It's good to be home, and I know that I'm incredibly thankful for the people in our community that keep things going and growing, even while we're away! This trip serves as an obvious seasonal transition for us, on with winter!

While in TX we met up with an old High School friend of Elaine's, Karen. It was great catching up and meeting her little family (and great that they live so close to Wes' family now)

In the up coming months we look forward to sending eight of our people on a 2 week mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Wes teaching a series through the book of Jonah, a final visit from our (beloved) retiring Cadence Regional directors, celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with our community, and the arrival of our baby!

At Hyner Lookout in Renovo, PA. We took a nice drive with Elaine's dad to check out the beautiful foliage!

Thanks for keeping up with us. I pray that you are all well too.

Elaine (&Wes)

Great July

2010-08-03T18:14:00.005-06:00

Dip Netting on the Kenai Peninsula in July

Alaskans are pretty much always doing one of two things: preparing for snow or preparing for salmon. Upon our return from the Cadence Staff Conference (more on that in a minute), fishing and dip netting season were in full swing. Dan took a camper, four-wheeler, and about 6 large dip nets 3 hours south to the Kenai Peninsula- the salmon hot spot. He spent about 10 days down there fishing with family and acting as a "base camp" and guide for any of our ministry folks who wanted to fish. Quite a few small groups joined him over the 10 days, most of them learning to dip net for the first time. We spent 2 days there last week, and caught 4 salmon and 1 flounder (not an impressive number, but enough to make it fun for me).

At the beginning of July we went to Green Lake, WI for a week with all of the Cadence staff from abound the world. This conference is planned every 10 years and is quite a treat! It felt like the perfect cross between a great family reunion and summer camp. It was a very encouraging time as we saw old friends and met tons of other Cadence missionaries. One of the biggest things that I learned to appreciate about our mission over this week is the multi-generational aspect of Cadence. Every age group was represented there, every one. We are a young family expecting our first child, and we met a couple who run a Hospitality House in Hawaii who have been ministering with Cadence for 50 years! Can you believe that?!

I could go on and on about the conference, our time catching up with our mentors the Hawkins, visiting with mission leadership, or the perfect weather in Wisconsin. Thank you, as friends and supporters, for making that time possible this summer.

Our regular ministry is going well here. For the summer we joined our singles and married groups back up for joint meetings on Friday nights. That has been good, but this week we're back in our home and back to two nights a week.

Please be praying as we look at plans for the fall. It would be a good time for Wes to begin a longer teaching series, we also have the opportunity to lead Wednesday "sunday school" classes again this fall. Pray for direction in those.

Cadence Conference 2010
(L to R: Emma Hawkins, Me, Andrew Hawkins, Wes, Rebecca Hawkins, Tim Hawkins, Kathy Fischer, Steve Fischer)

-Elaine (& Wes)

p.s. We're at 19 weeks and 1 day in my pregnancy and doing well! We'll find out this Friday if it's a He or She! :)

Summer Solstice

2010-06-22T17:37:00.003-06:00

For the summer months our weekly bible studies have been combined to one meeting on Fridays, back at the Evans' house. For easy identification Wes made a sign. :)

Summer is a big deal in Alaska. And a pretty big deal is made about the beginning, sure there's lots of chatter about bear activity, fishing and hiking. But daylight is a good friend and everyone here knows the whens and wheres on how to enjoy the longest day of the year! Unfortunately June 21st fell on a Monday this year, so the MCHH community celebrated on Saturday. It rained, it was cold, and the clouds hung super low. But we all still knew the daylight was out there, and would continue to be! We had a great night filled with a bonfire, hiking, "ladder ball" (which is your typical "stand in the yard this far from something and toss another thing into it" kind of game.), music, and lots of pizza. I called it a night around 11, but I think a lot of guys and gals made it to breakfast downtown sunday morning! (such enthusiasm).

This coming weekend Wes and I will leave for a week in Wisconsin. We will be attending a once-in-ten-years Cadence all staff conference at Green Lake conference center. It promises to be an encouraging time with lots of fellowship, time in God's Word and relaxing (think cadence pep-rally, but a little deeper). The following week we'll spend in Pennsylvania with family. If you're around we'd love to catch up with anyone who has a free hour or so!

Take Care,
Elaine (& Wes)

Who We Serve (a video)

2010-06-03T13:24:00.004-06:00

One of our leaders here, Steven Adams, put together this video of testimonials for Dan and Barb Evans as they visit their home churches. It is a great look at who we serve. Please watch it and meet some of our family here in Alaska. Thanks Steven for a fantastic job.

-Wes

Summer has arrived

2010-05-20T17:28:00.002-06:00

Man, it is beautiful here. Psalm 36:6 says, "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains..." Let me tell you that if Alaska's mountains display a portion of God's righteousness, what a righteous God we serve. The days are getting a lot longer and we have sun past midnight now. The clear days are amazing and can refresh everyone's soul.

What a mighty God we serve!

Wes