Chapter 4
The Rescue and Evacuation Part 2
Winter-December……50 months of Tribulation
Alaska……………………………………that night
Once November arrived in the north, winter came in with a vengeance. By December first, the Anderson, Alaska area had ten feet of snow on the ground and still falling.
The Northern Force were acclimating themselves to their temporary new home. One-hundred and four believers were doing the best they could to survive until the Lord back came in his glory. The Force members were counting the days, even though they were thousands of miles away from where Jesus would put his feet again on the earth’s soil.
Since the day that Chris Senior and Junior were arrested by the UW officials in Nenana, Delores’ physical and mental health had deteriorate. This snowy day in December, Chris Senior was discussing her condition with the Northern Force Doctor Silva.
Chris asked, “So, doc, what can I praise the Lord for and what can I pray for?”
“Chris, can I be honest with you? I believe God can heal Delores….but….I don’t think she wants to be healed. It’s a tough call because my minor wasn’t Psychology or Psychiatry. Believe it or not….it was Biblical Studies….back when the class was about the Bible in name only. She wants to die. And I hate to say this…but she wants to die, now!”
“Is there anything the kids or I can do to encourage or change…..Anything we can do…..but pray?”
“Well, that’s a pretty good thing to do…but I believe the only thing I can do for her….and you and your children can do for her is pray. She won’t eat and will barely drink anything. She won’t even hold the baby. She sleeps all the time.”
Chris senior covered his face with his hands and sighed deeply. The doctor walked over to him and laid his hand on Chris’ back and prayed, “Dear, God, touch my brother…Give him courage tonight. Show him what the next move might be according to your plan. If it be your will, touch my sister and heal her, but not our will but yours be done.”
Chris took a napkin from the middle of the table and wiped the tears from his eyes. He stood up and hugged the doctor and said, “Perfect words, Doc. I have a team to lead since Geo isn’t here right now. God has a plan in all of this…A perfect plan. I need to talk to Chris and the rest of the children.”
Chris and the doctor shook hands and departed company in opposite directions. Chris Senior’s mission, now, was to find Junior.
While Chris Senior was looking for his son, Junior and Jose were out in the weather collecting water from the snow to put in storage. The two friends were unaware of the crisis going on back at Anderson School.
“Junior, it’s going to take a lot of this wet snow to fill the 1000 gal tank.”
“I know, Jose, but we have no choice at the moment. It’s not going to melt very fast unless we get it inside the school.”
“We can do that….Wait, Chris, do you hear? Just south of us…. sounds like a group of people. Hide the shovels in the snow and we’ll leave the truck here for now.”
Chris Junior whispered, “Jose, It’s dad, walking just east of us. We need to warn him…..You wait here.”
Jose ran into the cluster of trees near their location and did the best he could to shuffle his feet to hide his footprints. Chris did the same as he headed toward his dad.
Chris Junior called out in a loud whisper, “Dad, stop right there. A group of people…don’t know who…are walking this direction. I think they heard us in our operation of collecting snow.”
Junior grabbed his dad and rushed toward the snow covered brush. They fell to the ground just as nine locals walked into the clearing where the truck full of snow was parked.
One of the strangers said, “It looks like someone has a truck. We could use this baby to do what they were planning to do. Can one of you guys drive this thing?”
Another short stocky local answered, “I can…Did that for the UW a few months ago.”
The short gentleman jumped into the truck. He called out, “No keys!! Don’t know how to start it.”
The proxy leader of the nine refugees yelled out a curse word and kicked the trucks huge front wheel. The other seven did their best to hold back the laughter. Then the leader said, “One of you guys try to hot wire this monster. We need some clean water back at the camp.”
Chris and Junior waited quietly in the bushes almost covered with snow. Even with winter gear on they were beginning to get chilled. Jose watched from the other side of the truck with his pistol ready.
The locals worked on the truck for an hour and finally gave up. They decided as a unit to head back to their camp before it got dark. Jose felt relieved because he didn’t want to have to use his gun.
After the locals left the area, Jose found Chris and Junior and helped uncover his friends. The team quickly jumped into the truck and drove away. They parked the truck a few miles down the road in a secret location, and then they walked back to the school where the rest of the Force was waiting for them.
Shortly after returning to the school, Chris Senior gathered his older children and explained to them the physical and mental condition of their mother. They all decided to spend some time in fasting and prayer for her. They knew God could heal her.
Israel………………………………….the same time
“Geo, come up here just for a moment. I have something to show you. You won’t believe it.”
Geo carefully climbed up the gradual slope to the look-out point where Joseph stared into the distance. When he reached the top he was out of breath. The old trapper looked into the distance and his mouth dropped wide open.
“Joseph, what in the world? They are all looking for us? And they can’t see us?”
“The Holy Scriptures foretold this would happen. His people would disappear into the rocks, and be protected until His glorious appearing.”
Geo’s eyes scanned the horizon for miles in every direction and then he observed, “I have read those very same Scriptures many times and I did not envision this. This is how God does things…far beyond our comprehension.”
Alaska……………………………….five days later
Sadness permeated the small school in Anderson on a sunny winter day. Everyone was in prayer all over the school. Some bowed in a corner and others walked around petitioning God. A few knelt crying out for mercy. One hundred and three friends were praying for one, who was deathly ill.
The doctor and Chris Senior prayed standing near the bed of Delores. Her older children, Chris Junior, Jason and Christina waited and prayed outside her small room near the kitchen at Anderson School. Izzy was with little Elizabeth and her own daughter nearby. Delores, in earthly terms, was at the end of her life.
Chris Senior addressed the Doctor, “Doc, what do we do, now? I wish Geo was here. He would give me good advice…not that you won’t.”
“Chris, she has only a few moments left. I believe the Lord has shown me something…maybe straight from Geo’s faith…I don’t know…but here goes. Let’s gather everyone out here in the hallway…the cafeteria area. Let’s begin singing the songs of faith that most of us learned when we were children. Those same songs we neglected just before the Lord appeared in the sky. That’s why we are all here today and not with the Lord. Let’s sing those songs as a group…..I was once a worship leader…when I was young. I could lead us.”
“Doc, I will make that happen right now. You prepare the songs we will sing and I will gather our friends. I’ll meet you out in the cafeteria. Shall we move Delores’ bed out there with us?”
“I will move her out there. Meet you in a few minutes,” the Doctor answered.
Within twenty minutes all one hundred and four Northern Force Members, including small children, were gathered together in one large room. The doctor stood in front of the team and told them that Delores had only a few minutes left. He quickly handed out song-sheets to the songs that the group was going to sing.
Delores was still breathing when Doctor Silva and the rest began singing hymns and choruses of faith. They continued to worship for fifteen or twenty minutes when the doc abruptly stopped and invited the Meyers family, including Izzy, to the front.
“Chris and family, your beloved wife and mother is with the Lord….Everyone, it’s time not to grieve but to rejoice. She is with the Lord…..Thank you, Jesus…Thank you…Amen.”
Israel………………………………....moments later
Geo, tugged on Joseph’s clothing and spoke, “Something is happening in….Alaska…I’m not sure what….Can we stop and pray?”
“I feel the same, Geo. It’s Delores….She’s gone ….Let’s pray…..God Jehovah be with the family of Delores…Chris and Junior and the children…give then supernatural strength….Now!! Lord. Thank you.”
Geo responded, “I feel a peace…Have faith, my brother, have faith.”
Near Fairbanks, Alaska……………..two hours later
“Well, Margaret, this is our new home. This will be our headquarters for our ministry to the many who still haven’t taken the mark…..Is this acceptable to you? Are you happy?”
“Nick, wherever you are happy I am…I’m just concerned about Penelope….. She’s up in the loft and not speaking to me at all. She won’t pray with me when you are gone. It’s a constant battle….We need to really pray.”
“I have been, dear….I could see this coming….she gravitates to those who…have questionable character ……Jason wouldn’t pay attention to her so…she rebelled and went the opposite direction. Do you want me not to go tonight…to the service up the river?”
“It’s OK, Nick…..I’ll be alright.” Margaret walked slowly away from Nick and then turned around and continued, “You have to do God’s business…Just pray for me tonight.”
The trouble wife continued out the front door of the cabin and into the cold and snow without winter gear.
Nick hollered, “Margaret, why are you going out there without………..?”
Margaret screamed, “AHHHHH!!!” And fell to the ground face first into the snow in front of their cabin.
Nick rushed outside and drug Margaret back into the warmth, he laid her on a cot, and then he covered her with a large heavy quilt.
“What were you thinking, my dear wife? What were you thinking?"
Anderson, Alaska……………….a few minutes later
The Alaskan winter had not gotten any better in Anderson. The Force leaders had a tough time making ends meet with food supplies to keep everyone fed and fuel for the warmth of over one hundred survivors.
The Meyer’s family had little time to grieve. Junior and Jose were on the hunt for food and Chris Senior and several men were gathering fire wood and snow to melt for water. At least when it snowed every day, the temperature wasn’t below zero.
It was nearing Christmas, but everyone was so busy with their day to day task the subject never came up. From time to time questions came up on how Geo was doing in the holy land, as well has the fate of Nick and Margaret. After leaving Clear, there was very little equipment for communication, even for short distances.
Jose and Junior discussed this on their walk back to the Anderson School. “Chris, we’ve got to get back to Clear as soon as possible and retrieve our electronics before others do…..You know who.”
“I was thinking about that….I think we have enough food for a few weeks…At least till after Christmas…. Wow, haven’t said that word in a while…Maybe tomorrow we should…I’ll check with dad and see if he’s got something else he needs us to do…then we’ll head over there…We still need to watch out for refugees and UW…They may have the place stacked out looking for us. So far God has protected us.”
“Sounds like a plan big guy….Hey, can you help me pray for Janise? She is having a hard time physically, right now…She’s so big…I think she might be having twins.”
“Will do, partner….See you at supper.”
The two went separate directions as they entered Anderson School. Junior was greeted by Izzy pushing a stroller with Julie and carrying Elizabeth.
“If it's not the two little cuties and their mom.... Hi, my sweet, Izzy, busy day?”
“I’m, OK, I guess…I just came from Janise…. I prayed for her but she’s not in good spirits. The doctor was in with her.”
I’ll go look on her later. Jose and I were talking. Let’s go get some dinner…I can smell that moose cooking. I’m soooo hungry. I’ll carry little Lizzie.”
The baby whined as Junior reached for her. She pulled away from his big hands, but finally after a little convincing the little one reached out her little hands to her big brother. He held her tight for a second and then swung her around in a circle. She giggled as little Julie watched and pointed toward Junior.
Junior knelt over the stroller with Elizabeth in hand. He kissed Julie and asked, “You two want some grub. I bet mommy is starving. Let’s go”
Izzy inserted, “Yea, let’s go before daddy makes two little girls sick.”
The talk at dinner was about the nearly twenty feet of snow that covered some areas of the Clear Creek Valley. The leaders of the Force, Chris Senior, Chris Junior and Jose sat together talking about rescuing the electronic equipment that they had left at the Clear Facility.
Chris Senior began, “That’s a great idea, Junior…but we need to be thinking about getting out of Anderson. We are strained here….No room for exercise…and people are really getting restless.”
Jose inserted, “I really noticed that…And our communication stinks…All our stuff is there…I bet we can get a satellite…connection…We need our generators….and fuel.... We need to talk with Geo and Nick and find out how they are doing.”
Junior chimed in, “Dad, do you have anyone you can trust to take a little scouting trip with you down to the Tanana Valley? I remember exploring down there a few years back on the ATV’s and we saw some really large caves that could easily house one hundred people with a little work. They are way out of the way…No one would find us out there. We just have a few more months to endure this Tribulation stuff…..that sounds really cool…just a few more months…Sure was a long six plus years so far.”
Chris Senior thought for a second and answered, “You two are going to Clear? And you want a team for the Valley? We can do that. Let’s get this all started in the morning…..We are going to have a munity if not careful.”
“OK, Jose and I will spend some time with our families tonight and leave first thing in the morning.”
Izzy overheard the part about spending time with his family and she inserted, “Let’s go, right now…we can’t watch a movie, but we could play checkers or Scrabble. Jose, bring Janise over and we will play a game or two.”
“I’ll see what she says…She was really tired earlier….but I’ll be there.”
Clear, Alaska………………………the next morning
“Chris, she didn’t want me to go with you…I think she’s getting scared about the baby…or babies. The Doc said he thought he heard two heart beats….I’ll keep whispering a pray for her….She’ll be, OK.”
The two young men had just hiked to within a couple hundred feet of the old Clear Station when they spotted a stranger walking nearby. He was tall and lanky and neither friend recognized him as one of the local refugees. They carefully circled the man and headed a different direction into the complex.
Today they didn’t have a vehicle. With all the snow it was impractical to drive the truck they had stashed in the woods further north, and there ATV’s would get stuck as well. Consequently any equipment they brought back to Anderson would be on their backs.
The stranger in the vicinity changed their strategy. They needed to be really careful not to bring attention to themselves or their new home in the school, so they decided to confront the wandering gentleman.
Jose walked from behind the building with his hand on his pistol in a holster. Chris waited in the shadows behind a big snow bank.
Jose called out, “Hey, stranger, you lost. You looking for something…or someone?”
The stranger looked frightened and started to run and Jose said, “Don’t be afraid….I won’t hurt you..the gun is only for my protection…..Can I help you find something or someone?”
“A…A…Was looking for a girl…that’s all… Haven’t seen her in a long time….thought she might be here…in this place.”
Jose looked over to Junior hidden around the corner. He motioned him to come and began, “You’re looking for someone here….It’s vacant…No one is ….”
Chris walked into the open and asked, “What’s up, Jose?....Who is this guy?”
“He says he’s looking for someone who was here at one time…….Who told you this person would be here?”
“A…A….guy up north…..A preacher…told me there was some folks that took refuge here……Looking for a bunch of Christians…maybe…here.”
Chris Junior looked at Jose and Jose looked back with a questioning look on their face. Then he quipped, “Someone we might know? You think?”
Chris walked closer to the gentleman and looked at him really closely then he asked, “Do we know you?…I’m, I’m Chris Meyers…Junior they call me. Who are you looking for, again?”
“A girl, maybe twenty now or twenty-one….From California.”
Jose and Junior again looked at each other in bewilderment. When they turned back to the man he was gone.
