Sunday, August 31, 2014

Camping in Denali

After returning from Selawik and working feverishly for two days, I took time off to show my friends more of Alaska. I was extremely glad for some mornings to sleep in. We got a late start Thursday, but it was a nice day for a drive and we were just enjoying each other's company. Had intended to camp at Hatcher Pass, but we didn't make it that far. So we camped closer to home - in Denali! 

Road Trip!

For sixteen years, I had dreamed of eating at Lynx Creek Pizza in Denali. I had been there that long ago when my Grandma and two cousins visited. The memory of that delicious pizza stayed with me. Well, I visited again and was not disappointed! We were famished by the time we arrived in the Park, but even if we weren't it still would have been amazing! 
We joked about how no one in the Park is from Alaska. Even the majority of the workers are from out of state or out of country. We met people from Bulgaria, Serbia, Utah, Arizona, Maine, North Carolina, Louisiana and Michigan. And every once in a while you'd meet an Alaskan. 




We got our camp put it in a short amount of time. It was fun setting up the tents and getting all cozy. Tim made us a fire in no time and we cooked up some grub before hitting the sack. It was cold, but we were all toasty in our sleeping bags. The next morning was wet and drizzly, but we still had a grand time.

setting up camp

the Master Fire-Maker

I love cooking and even though over the campfire is a bit more challenging, it's still fun. Well, except for when the wind changes direction abruptly and sends smoke in my eyes. We had scrambled eggs, bacon, fried potatoes and coffee that morning. My sister told me an old cowboy trick about making the coffee and it worked. Thanks, Nan!

cooking

"washing" dishes

Our second night was supposed to get really cold and since Levi was developing a bit of a cold, it was decided it would be best if we got a hotel room for the night. No one likes being sick, but it's pretty miserable for a two month old. So, we had a good night's rest and then still cooked our breakfast over the fire the next morning. Steak with our eggs this time! Yum! 



Saturday morning was super clear. A bit windy and cool at first, but was a gorgeous day to continue our drive. We stopped several times to take pictures and just enjoy God's creation. I felt like a tourist at one point, when we saw two baby moose on the side of the road and the rest of the people in the van wanted to turn around and take pictures. They got their photos. 


in the Park

awesome travel companions

taking it all in

Since it was such a clear day, Mt. McKinley was clear as day. As we rounded one curve on the Parks Hwy, Bam! there it was. Standing tall and proud, miles above the surrounding mountains. Such a pretty mountain. We stopped a couple times to get pictures and just soak in the awesomeness. At one of our stops, Tim even got to meet an Alaskan State Trooper. 



I sure live in a beautiful state, don't I!?




Thursday, August 28, 2014

Weekend in Selawik

This past weekend, God worked it out that my friends visiting from the states, myself and two others from Fairbanks were all were able to fly up to Selawik for a few days. I've talked to our missionary there for the past couple years about coming up for a visit, but it's always so expensive to fly there commercially. But God worked it out that we were all able to go on a private plane for the price it would normally cost for one person commercially. 

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Only bit a little bit of cloud cover during the approach into Selawik. It was a lot warmer there than I had anticipated. We had a good couple days there, exploring the town, visiting with friends, making new friends, tramping all over the boardwalks, having church activities and fellowshipping late into the night. 



our littlest traveler, Levi


Welcome to Selawik! This a village located among the tundra, rivers and lakes. It's pretty much a swampland. There are no large vehicles there; everyone travels by 4x4s or boats in the summer and snowmachines in the winter. Their road system is made up of a series of boardwalks, complete even with Stop signs and Speed-limit signs. Flights come in a couple times a day from Kotzebue, that is when the weather is good. It's a small town, but still 3rd largest in the North Slope with a population of 1000. It boasts of one of the largest ATV bridge which spans across the Selawik River. 

The Rainbow Bridge

In the center of town stands a Beacon of Truth, the Selawik Baptist Church. Our missionaries the Comptons have been a witness in this village for 18 years! They know everyone in town and everyone knows them. While Satan does have a strong hold on this area, God is still at work. The Comptons have been faithful and have remained strong in the work of the Lord. It's a hard area. While English is the spoken language and all are Americans, it can feel like you are in a different country when you visit. Pray for strength and grace for the Comptons and those who are striving to fight against the peer/family pressure to live for Christ.

the Lighthouse of Truth

Saturday night we held a teen activity at the church. I was in charge of games, though some others also introduced other games as well. We had a good group of almost twenty teens, including those of us visiting and the missionaries, we had about 30 people in the building. It can get quite loud very fast when you play an animal matching game.... Also had fun with a new game called "Mingle." It could lend to some awkward moments if one doesn't pronounce words correctly. :)

playing Assassin

the Teen group (minus the photographer, me)

One of the things I love most about Alaska is it's beauty. It's not a refined or cultured beauty, but a raw, wild, rugged beauty. Probably because I'm an Alaskan/country girl at heart, I love the wilderness. We reached Selawik after two hours of flying over just a handful of villages and mile after mile of nothing but wilderness. Lakes, streams, mountains, rivers, gorges, tundra - it's all beautiful to me. Coupled with a blue sky dotted with big, fluffy white clouds, it's breath-taking. 






Sunday was a full day with morning services, Sunday School for the kids in the afternoon and then an evening service. I enjoyed seeing some of the teens that have come to camp during the weekend. Several came to the teen activity and/or church Sunday. A couple really have a heart for the Lord, but it's a challenging place to stay true and faithful to God's Word. If you would, please pray for the teens that want to live right in a world of evil and darkness. Several asked why I wasn't at camp this summer. Really going to try to go next summer. 


hanging out on the Big bridge

crossing the "scary bridge"

Even in remote Alaska, Everts has a junkyard. :) 

old Evert's plane

We had a blast with the Comptons; with Gayle's good cooking, Warren's crazy (long) stories, Bethany's sweet spirit and Caleb's goofiness. It's a blessing to see a family so committed to where God has called them and who have stayed faithful for so many years. And even with all the trials and struggles they've been through there, they still love the Lord, love the people and want to see them come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. We were on Village Time while there, so staying up late and sleeping in was the norm. I was just grateful for sleep. :) 



The Selawik Seven

our transportation

Goodbye Selawik! Until next time, which I hope won't be forever in the future. 

Selawik from the air

Monday, August 18, 2014

My Current Favorite Day of the Week

Thursdays have been good days for me lately. I have been working a lot, sometimes as much as 16 hours in one day. But Thursdays I get off about 2pm and don't have to work that night! So I have hours to do whatever I want! It's a wonderful thing. One week my sister, her friend and I went back to Angel Rocks. I think it was my first time there this year. It was a beautiful sunny day. Not too hot, with a little breeze. I was just glad to be outside with no time frame to worry about and could just enjoy the day. 

on the way up

tiny waterfall off the trail
Last Thursday my parents were just getting home from Valdez when my brother called and they decided to do an impromptu BBQ. The whole family was actually there. I'm usually at work, but since I don't work Thursday nights, I was even home. My nephew finally warmed up to us and we had a great time in the backyard, eating raspberries and jumping on the trampoline. Again, just a nice, relaxing evening with no time schedule.  

trampolines + curly hair = wild!


Legion and the girls

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Sunny August

Summer's not over yet! The past few days have been sunny and warm. And the forecast for the next week is looking good.... I'm really happy we will have a few more sunny, hot days before winter sets in. Especially since I have visitors coming up this month! and we I have BiG plans for them! :)

It's rare that I get visitors! I do see a lot of people here in Alaska, but usually they come up for something else and while here I get to enjoy a little of their time. For which I am grateful, but this time I get them all to myself. Okay, so maybe I'm a little selfish at times. 

In anticipation of these friends visiting, I bought a tent. I've never really camped out in Alaska before. I mean I've slept in tents and stuff. But for hunting or teen camp, not just to camp. I'm pretty stoked about using my tent for the first time. It's going to be an epic camping trip.... with all FIVE of us! (four adults and one baby)

testing out my new tent
So, funny story about my tent... 

I had bought it and then was so busy that it sat untouched in my room for about two weeks, before I even pulled it out of the bag. One night decided to set it up to see how easy to set up it was and how it looked. Cleared a space in our living room floor and up it went. I wanted to take a picture to send to my friends, so I pulled out my phone. My dad was on the couch watching me, so he suggested I get in the tent and he would take the picture so I could be in it. Good idea. I handed him my phone and told him to push the white circle button on the bottom of the screen to take the picture. I proceeded to get into my tent. Stuck my head out and smiled. And waited and waited. Finally, I asked if he was ever going to take the picture. He replied he didn't know if it worked or not. He slid my phone back over and I looked at my camera roll. 

"Dad, you took 32 pictures!" haha, he has no idea how to use my iphone. He still uses an old model, flip phone. But it does work. And he even texts now! 

happy August to you all. Hope you have some sunshine wherever you are.