Our trip begin rather hectically when, upon check-in at the Abilene airport we were informed that we did not actually have seats on the plane. The plane was simply too heavy and we were put on standby. In the end, Mom and Dad drove to Dallas while us kids flew with the bags and the rest of the group.
We proceeded to Dallas where we had the roughest landing I've ever experienced. Our group of thirty staked out a spot in which we could wait out our seven-hour layover. Eventually we boarded the plane and landed in Anchorage seven hours later.
Sunday morning we drove from Anchorage to Kenai for church. The Seward Highway (our road for the day) has been voted one of the most scenic drives in America. The mountains rise out of the sea and kiss the sky, filling the horizon.
Our group stayed with host families and we stayed with the wonderful Neil family. Sunday evening they took us four-wheeling. I had never done that before and it was a great experience, even if I did somehow manage to inexplicably break through a bright orange barrier. We drove through the woods, over hills, through creeks, into the mud and all the while we were looking ahead at the mountains.
We learned quickly that our slogan, "Nine days, no nights", was perfect. The sun set around 1 am and then rose again around 4 am. The three hours of "night" were more like dusk. In fact during the summer you can never see the stars because it doesn't get dark enough. By the end of the week we were all exhausted.
On Monday we began our work. A group of ten of us focused on clearing a prayer path. We cleared a quarter-mile trail, laid typar, and dumped 3 inches of gravel over the entire thing. Kudos to those people who pushed those 900 wheelbarrows full of gravel. I shoveled gravel and raked it out which was not a very physically demanding task, but one which took careful precision. One of my key objectives of this trip was accomplished during this time; I wanted to build relationships. I worked side-by-side with people from Highland as I shoveled gravel. But as I was smoothing and packing down the path, I bonded with a couple of the Kenai youth. Briana and Brittany are awesome and I loved our fun and deep conversations.
Also amazing was the food we ate. I can now say that I have eaten moose, caribou, Dall sheep and bear. We also enjoyed large quantities of salmon and halibut. One evening we went to a family's house and had shrimp, caught by them that morning. Talk about fresh seafood! Anyone who has been on a labour-intensive mission trip knows that the people who prepare food for the team are the some of the most important and most adored people around.
We continued working on the prayer path throughout the week while the rest of the group tackled various other projects. These included picnic tables, a fire pit, and a gazebo (fondly referred to as a gazilion as it was really more like a pavilion). Moose were everywhere - along the road, in the flats, in backyard - and one day we had a moose and her two calves walk through our site along the prayer path.
Wednesday evening we began our VBS - Arctic Edge. Those three evenings wore me out! We had eight preschoolers, three of which were special-needs kids. I had so much fun with these children but it certainly was exhausting. The other adults in my room were amazing and handled the children beautifully. The children kept coming each night, so I suppose we did a good job. By the time Sunday morning rolled around, the kids were clinging to us. When I asked a little girl where she wanted to sit during church she announced, "With you, by Trevor". What a wonderful thing to hear.
Saturday, we all went our separate ways to have fun (although I thought the entire week and even the work was fun). Our extremely generous host family took us halibut fishing. We fished out of Homer, stopping our boat about an hour from the harbor. Although we ended up with six halibut, I didn't catch a single one. However, I did pull up a giant cod. Reeling in 150 ft. of line with a 30 lb. fish struggling on the hook, while standing on a boat rocking on the ocean - well, let's just say I had a hard time with that. However, it sure was beautiful. Mountains and glaciers loomed on the horizon. Bald eagles soared overhead and sea otters floated beside us.
Sunday morning we said our goodbyes and our family headed to Seward. In Seward we saw bears - brownies as the locals call the Grizzlies - and more eagles. We hiked up to Exit Glacier, which is part of the Harding Icefield. Close your eyes and you are transported to a time of ice long gone. I could feel the chilled air off of the glacier's face, hear the melting water trickle down, and listen to the ice creak and groan.
Monday consisted of sea kayaking and a wildlife cruise. We kayaked around Fox Island in the cold ocean water. I have to admit I was a bit nervous but of course it was an experience a lifetime. A bald eagle flew by us almost close enough to touch. Starfish lined the rocks along the shore and puffins zoomed around us. Adorable and funny, puffins are my new favourite bird. One little puffin had eaten so much that he couldn't quite take off and fly, but instead bounced across the surface of the water. Our kayaking experience concluded with a delicious salmon bake on the island.
We then boarded a boat for a tour of Resurrection Bay. Dall porpoises escorted our boat, putting on a show as they swam under us and leapt into the air. Sea lions fought on the rocks and bellowed out warnings. By far the most stirring experience that day was the moment when the humpback whales surfaced. A mother, her calf and an "escort" were slowly traveling across the bay. Sleek grey bodies rose from the depths and jets of water shot through blow holes. What a mighty God we serve!
After our humbling experiences on the Kenai Peninsula, we drove to Anchorage on Tuesday and began our journey home. I was not ready to leave but I am ready to go back. Going from the upper 50's to 99 degrees was not pleasant. We went from saying "look, humpback whales" to "look, grackles". The mountains flattened out to plains and the ocean disappeared completely.
The beauty and love that I witnessed on this trip were truly awe-inspiring. Our God is awesome and powerful. He worked in spectacular ways this past week and I think it's safe to say that none of us are the same anymore.
In the words of the Blind Boys of Alabama (Everyone should go out and watch Brother Bear):
There's a bond between usNobody can explainIt's a celebration of lifeAnd seeing friends againI'd be there for youI know you'd be there for me tooSo welcome to our family time
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family spread out across the globe. This week I saw the love of Christ embodied in the welcoming hearts of the Kenai church and the serving hands of the Highland campaigners. Expedition Kenai was a roaring success.
