ALASKA: PRECONCEIVED IDEAS

7 days ago 4 of us loaded up our little car and headed across the great plans bound for a mystical place called Alaska!  In my mind Alaska is only a place in stories and in pictures.  I have never experienced it and nobody in my immediate family has either.  I am sure I have many pre-conceived ideas, many of them incorrect and, hopefully, many of them correct.  So Here is how I would currently describe Alaska.  See how this sounds to you

ALASKA:
 - Huge Open Land
 - Isolated (Except for the big cities, Like Wasilla and Anchorage where I am headed)
 - Lonely (I will miss my family and so many of my good friends : (
 - Majestic
 - Opportunity to Learn
 - Opportunity to Serve, and Love People
 - Less regulations ( I hope my car doesn't have to pass emissions test to be registered)
 - Fun loving people (to live in Alaska, you have to have a pretty resilient attitude!)

Even though I will miss my family and friends I am excited to meet new friends in Alaska.  Out of all the expectations and hopes I have for Alaska it is that God will guide me to amazing friends just as he has in the past.

In addition to the people in Alaska I am looking forward to the Great Outdoors.  I brought my mountain bike, running shoes, backpacking equipment, and skis!  I hear that Alaska is one of the best places for trail running (lots of porcupines on the trails I hear)!  I am planning to get a season pass for an awesome ski resort and spend lots of time bombing powdery slopes (not to make any of you jealous or anything... ).  I can hardly wait to do some epic backpacking trips with new friends that I meet! Hopefully I can get involved in pathfinders too.

I hear that there is lots of fruit in the fall and I want to can or dry a lot of it for the winter.

Of course the main reason I am going to Alaska is to learn to work on airplanes and to fly them.  I expect this to be challenging but rewarding.  I have grown up working on things with my dad and fixing them, but I know there is much more involved in crafting an aircraft aileron than I know right now.  And what could be a better place to learn to fly than in Alaska where I expect to learn how to cope with all sorts of weather and terrain.

I am excited that God has led me to Alaska.  Time will tell if these pre-conceived ideas are accurate or not.  Keep reading my blog to find out.  Or just come up to Alaska and see for yourself!  Whatever you do, never be afraid to put yourself out on a limb when God calls you to do so, you will never regret His leading!

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

ROAD TRIP UPDATE:

Tuesday, June 4: West Virginia - Ohio - Indiana - Illinois

It all fits!

Wednesday, June 5: Illinois - Iowa - Minnesota

Lake in Minnesota

Thursday, June 6: Minnesota - Badlands National Park, South Dakota

Camping on "The Moon". (Saddle Pass, Badlands National Park)

Friday and Sabbath, June 7 & 8: Bighorn National Forest, Wyoming

10,031 Feet, Bald Mountain, Big Horn National Forest

Worship Sabbath Morning by Sibley Lake in Bighorn National Forest

Sunday, June 9: Grand Teton & Yellowstone National Parks, Wyoming

Kevin got this picture!

Took it several tries before it finally erupted!

 (Credits: All but 3 of these pictures are from Janelle's camera)

Monday, June 10: Columbia Falls, Montana with our cousins the Krums!