I would like to let you know that our church is bringing in enough money to take care of our electric bill but we are not able to meet the needs of our heating oil. We will need around 1500 gallons this winter, at six dollars a gallon. It would be a great blessing if the Lord leads you to help with this need.

On August 6 I received the news that my sister Jackie had gone to be with the Lord, she had been a great blessing to all of us for her strength and smile as she always had through the 11 years of fighting lymphoma cancer.  I thank you, now I praise you Lord for her testimony in life was so great.

On Saturday, August 8 the team from White's Memorial Baptist Church from North Carolina arrived in Kiana. We had a week of Christian oriented basketball camp for children, and youth VBS every evening. They stayed very busy, but we all have a great time. Thank you very much White's Memorial Baptist Church. (Hope to see you next summer)

On August 13 we started a new chapter in our lives as we were awarded foster care license from the state of Alaska.  As many of you know, we have been raising Alexis, now 13, for a year now, and the Lord has brought us Shianne, age 15. There has been some struggles and growing pains so keep us in prayer but I must say it's been a real blessing to be able to practice our parenting skills again, I think were better at it now.

God has enabled me to really enjoy living in a household of females even my dogs are females. Sometimes it is quite challenging to get bathroom time, especially when our girls have their girl friends over. I think there's been a 10 to 1 ratio at times.  LOL

Kim and I celebrated our anniversary on August 16. As I remember, I believe I cooked steaks on the grill, and I'm sure I did a lot of other sweet things, right dear.  LOL

Now this brings us to September, September brings about Caribou harvest season. I don't call it hunting because we really don't hunt. We go out in our boats until we see caribou crossing the river, and we harvest. It's all about getting meat put up for the winter.  Alexis, Zack and a couple of teachers and I went out one Saturday and harvested seven caribou. The Lord was good because the migration of the caribou had been slow and not everybody was getting all they needed.  Thank you Jesus.

On Monday September 21 we had our first snow and continued to have snow each day that week. The next week brought a little warmer weather and all the snow is gone, now we're back to mud.  Yeah, not. LOL

On Tuesday September 22 Alexis, Shianne and I went to Anchorage each of the girls had some medical issues to be taken care of and we were able to go to the Alaska Native Baptist Fellowship and the Alaska Baptist Convention annual meeting. While we were at the Alaska Native Baptist Fellowship, we elected new members to the ANBF board. I believe this was the first time for the board to be made up of totally native people, praise the Lord.  Please pray for the board, as it is the first time they have ever done something like this.

On Sunday, October 4, we had a wedding at our church. Johnny and Barbara were joined together in holy matrimony. After the ceremony, a meal was served and the wedding cake. Please pray for them that God will lead their marriage and they will continue to grow together as they grow in Christ.

I am asking for special prayer because on Tuesday, October 6, Selawik, Kotzebue and Kiana had a vote about whether to stay a dry village or not, Selawik voted to remain dry but Kotzebue and Kiana voted to become wet. That means there will be a liquor store and a place to sell drinks by the glass.  I know nothing happens out of the will of God but I find myself especially concerned for the young people within each family, this could not come back up for another vote for three years, please pray for us.

Sunday, October 11 Kim and I had our 10th year anniversary of being in Kiana with 20 people in worship service. We praise God for allowing us to serve Him here in Kiana. We now continue on as He directs our steps.

We have been averaging 10 to 15 and Sunday school and 10 to 15 our youth meeting which is led by Zack and Jennifer Greer. Kim and Jennifer have been having women on mission with about five in attendance each Tuesday night.  Praise the Lord.

Kim is doing pretty good with learning how to live with diabetes, she has been having a little trouble with getting her prescriptions filled correctly and them being delivered in a timely manner, but we hope to get all this worked out.

I believe that I am doing pretty good physically right now just don't ask my wife she might try to tell you a different story, LOL.

Continued prayer needs.

1.  For wisdom and guidance as we raise two teenage girls and for wisdom and guidance as we serve the Lord.

2.  Please pray for our health, that we both would stay healthy to continue serving the Lord here in Kiana.

3.  Please pray for all our financial needs to be met.

4.  Please pray for First Baptist Kotzebue and for each of their missions Kobuk, Shungnak, Ambler and Kiana. This is the first time since the missions were started 50 years ago that there has ever been a pastor and wife in each village, praise the Lord.

5.  Please pray that God will greatly bless each and every one that has helped Kiana Baptist in any way.

Love in Christ,
Pastor John and Kim Piepmeier
"Mission Service Corps Missionaries"
On Top Of The World In Kiana Alaska
Our Eskimo names: "Qayaaqpaq and Ayagiaq"
P.O. Box 145 Kiana Alaska 99749
(907) 475-2126