Finally, the long-overdue second half of our time in Alaska! For this part of the trip we were mostly in the Anchorage area. There was so much we experienced…here come a lot of pictures!

We sang at a few churches where we met some neat people. It was kind of surprising how many of them weren’t originally from Alaska…we even met other Minnesotans who now live there!

We did a lot more sightseeing and such on this part of the trip.

One day we went down to Homer and also visited Whittier. The following pictures are of Homer…

Whittier was a neat little place as well, and only accessible through a one-way tunnel. The sea of boats tethered there was a colorful sight.

On our way back to Anchorage we pulled off to view a chunk of glacier that was actually floating in the water. And, of course, how often do you get to take a family picture with a floating glacier…?Back in the Anchorage area some new friends invited us to come over and celebrate Mother’s Day. It was a special time!We also have a friend from Minnesota who now lives in Alaska so it was fun to get a chance to visit with her before we headed for home.

And in case you haven’t seen enough pictures of the scenery we enjoyed, here are a few more!

It’s a bit mind-boggling to think that the amazing world we live in is just a microscopic part of God’s creation. Alaska is vast, but His universe is so much bigger!

Our time in Alaska was full of making memories for a lifetime. We had such a good time together…and we had to get one more picture in Alaska before we crossed the border towards home!On our way home we sang at a church in the Yukon, where we were blessed by their hospitality. A few other things we did…make a sign to add to the signpost forest, visit a hot springs, and finish driving the Alaska Highway.

And, of course, once we reached this point we still had many, many miles ahead until home. Fast forward a number of days, and we were at last driving down our road in the middle of the night and a song came on the radio called “Almost Home.” Perfect timing! We are so thankful for the opportunity God gave us to drive the whole way to Alaska and back, and everything in between. And thank you to everyone who was an encouragement to us along the way. What great memories we came home with!

Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalm 90:1-2 NKJV

It was so exciting to finally be in Alaska! After miles and miles of wilderness driving, we were here at last…with many more miles of wilderness ahead. We took the Alaska Highway all the way into Fairbanks, where the first part of our stay was scheduled. Dad and Mom knew some people who minister there, David and Marcy Joseph, and we were going to share music for their church celebration that Sunday.

But since we arrived a few days before that, there were places to explore! Our first day we loaded up and headed to North Pole. Now, this is not the north pole of the earth, but a town with that name. We stopped to visit a Christian radio station which airs the program we produce.  We found out that it actually reaches listeners in Europe. Dad went back a day or so later to do a live interview about the radio work.

After our visit there we went into the Christmas-themed town of North Pole and had fun going to different stores and seeing multiple “north poles” that have been erected there.Other places we visited in Fairbanks were Pioneer Park and the museum at the University of Alaska.

Also, world records can be interesting…note the sign just beneath the dog-sled.

The Sunday celebration at the church the Josephs serve at was a special time for the believers there, as they shared stories from the past, sang, and recounted God’s faithfulness over so many years.

Someone Dad had met at the radio station offered to take us on a rafting trip down the Chena River. “Captain Dave” had us laughing and rowing while we were making some great family memories.

What a fun, memorable family experience! It was a great way to just observe and enjoy God’s beautiful creation.

More to come on Alaska!

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11 NKJV

 

Since we were going to be so far north and west already because of our involvement with the BC Native conference in Kamloops, we thought that if we were ever to go to Alaska as a family, this would be it.  Besides a special family time, the trip would give us opportunities to visit several radio stations that air the radio program, connect with Native Christians, and renew old friendships with those involved in similar ministries.  We also would have opportunities to sing.  So, we ordered The Milepost Alaska Travel Planner and began to make plans for this epic journey.

And then it was time to go.  After the BC conference, instead of returning home, we headed north.  We have so many pictures from this trip, so selecting which ones to share can be difficult! But here they come…starting with the road sign that pointed us the right direction.We stayed in a number of interesting places along the way.  Below is from our time in Stewart, BC.  Stewart is a little village tucked away in the mountains and near the coast.  It borders the little town of Hyder, AK.  It almost felt like we were in another world.

It was so much fun to see wildlife along the road (or on the road) as we trekked northward up the Cassiar Highway and the Alaska Highway.

One night we stayed in a little town called Dease Lake—the experience was memorable.  We stayed at the Arctic Divide Lodge which was homey with a very personable host.  It was great. Through an interesting set of circumstances we ended up meeting some First Nation Christians who live in the area.  We had a great time of fellowship with them.  They invited us to sing at their Gospel festival sometime.

And finally we made it to the Yukon! If B.C. didn’t seem all that far from home, this sure did!The scenery was amazing.  We came across the enormous Kluane Lake that just begged us to stop and make some memories.It was fun to shout and hear the echo from the mountains all around. Scenes like this leave us in awe. We have a powerful and majestic God.

So after four nights on the road to the north…we arrived…at the last little town in Yukon! (Or the first, depending on which way you look at it.)

And then…

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? …To whom then will you liken God?  Isaiah 40:12, 18