Thursday, December 14, 2006

Carolyn James' Call for Prayer

Carolyn James, wife of Frank James and Kelly's sister-in-law, has posted a plea for prayer on her website, WhitbyForum.com. The text of the message is:

This past Sunday, (Dec. 10), Frank and I received one of those dreaded midnight phone calls. Frank’s mom was on the line telling us his brother Kelly and two climbing partners, Brian Hall and Jerry “Nikko” Cooke are lost on Mt. Hood in Oregon.

Frank left Monday for Portland and has been there all week with my sister-in-law, Karen, and Kelly’s four kids, Jason, Ford, Katie and Jack. If you’ve been following the news, you will know that Kelly is in a snow cave near the summit. The three climbers expected to complete their climb of Mt. Hood by Saturday. But something went wrong (we’re not sure exactly what), so they dug a snow cave to keep Kelly safe, while Brian and Jerry went down the mountain for help.

On Sunday, Kelly contacted his wife on his cell phone and received a second call from his son Jason. These calls were brief and didn’t provide much detail. But at least we knew he was alive. T-Mobile and other organizations are using cell phone signals to pinpoint Kelly’s location. There is no news at all about Brian and Nikko. All three men are believers. All three are expert, highly experienced climbers.

The three families are together, supporting each other, praying and waiting. Brian’s parents, Dwight and Clara Hall, his sister, Angela, and Nikko's wife Michaela are also there. Frank's mother, LouAnn Cameron, and his sister, Traci Hale, are en route. As you can imagine this is an unbearably difficult time for all of them.

The weather has been about as bad as possible—blizzard conditions with hurricane force winds—so rescue workers haven’t been able to climb high enough to get to Kelly. If the weather follows the current forecast, there’s no possibility of reaching him until Friday or Saturday, and time is of the essence.

Please join me in praying for all of them—the three climbers, the rescue teams, the technical experts, the worried family members. I ask you to pray especially for Frank as he supports and cares for family members, works with the media, and waits anxiously for his brother’s safe return. He has had interviews with MSNBC, ABC, The Today Show, Nancy Grace, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, and others. These are extraordinary opportunities to focus attention on rescue efforts for Kelly, Brian and Nikko, but a grueling schedule for Frank.

To stay informed, go to "Local & Regional News" at: http://www.katu.com.

We believe God is in this. It is a painful, heart wrenching ordeal for everyone involved. But He loves us and knows what He is doing with us. He knows exactly where all three men are and He can still the storm. Our hope is in Him.

Thank you for your prayers.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

carolyn, andy and i have been following the news and are praying for kelly and his friends...we are also praying for frank and for you...really can't begin to imagine...i just know that his mercy reaches to the bottom, down where we have no desire to go...love, love, love...jorja

Anonymous said...

carolyn, thank you for your newsletter updated. i am praying for your brother in law, kelly & his friends. for Christ's mercy and for His comfort for you & your husband. peace. arlene

Anonymous said...

Frank--your friends at Prison Fellowship are all holding this situation and your entire family up in prayer. Dave Conn

Anonymous said...

You are exhibiting what the prophet Isaiah wrote in chapter 50, "...let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." Grace and peace to all of you.

Anonymous said...

Romans 8:26-28. My prayers are that all 3 men will be rescued safely, miraculously, and to the glory of God.

Anonymous said...

Carolyn and Frank (plus others),
Kendall and I are praying for your strength and hope that all three will be rescued soon. We care deeply for you. Elizabeth

D-B-Lab Notes said...

Karen, Frank, Jason, Ford, Katy, Jack and all the others in prayer... my heart is on the mountain with all of you. Kelly is one of the greatest, most generous and kind friends I have ever known. You all have been an inspiration to me and my family and to the whole world through this ordeal. Gods peace to you and our love. Dave Stewart