Fun Facts about Alaska

It is estimated Alaska has six times as many pilots per capita and 16 times as many aircraft per capita as the rest of the nation.

Sarah Palin was right, Russia is visible from Alaska!  (copy & paste link below) http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/09/can_you_really_see_russia_from_alaska.html

Outsiders first discovered Alaska in 1741 when Danish explorer Vitus Jonassen Bering sighted it on a voyage from Siberia.

In 1867 United States Secretary of State William H. Seward offered Russia $7,200,000, or two cents per acre, for Alaska.

Joe Juneau’s 1880 discovery of gold ushered in the gold rush era.

Alaska officially became the 49th state on January 3, 1959.

In 1943 Japan invaded the Aleutian Islands, which started the One Thousand Mile War, the first battle fought on American soil since the Civil War.

Dog mushing is the official state sport. The Alaska Legislature adopted it in 1972.

In 1926 13-year-old Bennie Benson from Cognac, Alaska designed the state flag.

At 20,320 feet above sea level, Mt. McKinley, located in Alaska’s interior, is the highest point in North America.

The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States.

Alaska's largest city, Anchorage, covers 1,955 square miles (including the entire political municipal district).

The largest king salmon caught by rod and reel weighed over 100 pounds


Halibut live on the bottom of the ocean floor and can weigh over 400 pounds

Farmers in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (45 minutes north of Anchorage) produce giant cabbage weighing close to 100 pounds

Alaska doesn't have snakes or ticks!  (of all the facts about Alaska, this is my favorite part, cuz Ticks gives me the willys! :)

Observations of Alaska!

1.  People here were shorts, sandals, and short-sleeves in the 30s and 40s.

2.  Gotta stop laughing at grown men riding around on skateboards wearing a flashing helmet while being pulled by dogs. (getting ready for the world dog sled race called the "Iditarod")

3.  Reindeers here are pets.

4.  Lots of beautiful ethnic people that I've only seen in travel magazines, feels like we're in a different
      country.

5.  Lots of beautiful Russian style churches.

6.  Love the Native Americans here, so many of them, and they wear western clothes
    (I was hoping they still wear their native styles)

7.  Disappointed I haven't seen any igloos yet!  (nobody lives in those anymore)

8.  Earthquakes Galore, thank goodness we live in North America and buildings are better built!  2 in one week and stronger than the last!  We live in the ring of fire, for Floridians who are use to Hurricanes, it's a nice change, I think?!

9.  All those pretty mountains you see on our blog, are amazing sleeping Volcanoes!  Alaska is a hip-happening place for Natural Disasters.  Gotta love it!

10.  Foods here are huge servings, just like the huge state!

11.  Moose walking around the city of Anchorage of 300, 000 people is a no big deal for Alaskans!  But for out of towners & newbies it's a Fascinating Sight!  Just don't hit one, it'll dent up your car really bad!

ALASKA: SEEKING HOPE

Spiritual Needs:

1. The majority of church congregations average less then 75 in attendance on Sunday morning and that 75% of our congregations need a pastor that has outside income either by serving as a bi-vocational pastor, having some type of retirement or the spouse working outside of the home.

2. 95-97% of Alaskans are unchurched & that church has no relevance or meaning to the average Alaskan? In the Lower 48, often when people do not go to church on Sunday, the question is asked, “I wonder what is wrong with them today?” In Alaska, this question is often asked about those who go to church.

3. To reach the Native villages, you must minister cross-culturally and adapt to the culture of the village.

4. Number of Congregations that are currently without a pastor: 7

5. Number of Ethnic/Cultural Groups in Alaska: 120

6. Number of Communities Without an Evangelical Congregation: 100

7. Alaska has one of the highest suicide rate in the U.S. The Native Alaskans are experiencing a culture of sorrow, they have lost their sense of community, due to poverty, lost of culture, and unable to keep up with 21st century changes.

8. The suicide rate among Native Alaskans was three times that of nonnative Alaska residents and five times the national rate from 2003 to 2006, according to a study.

9. Suicide among natives is commonly linked with depression and mental illness, which often goes untreated in rural areas, as well as with alcoholism, and cultural and economic stress. Many native families are reluctant to discuss suicide, adding to the challenge.

10. "There's such a feeling of hopelessness, particularly for young men."

ALASKA BASIC FACTS

1. There are 3,000 rivers; 3 million lakes; 5,000 glaciers; 70 active volcanoes (more than any other state); and 17 of the 20 highest mountains in North America are in Alaska.

2. There are 3 major native cultures: Eskimo, Indian and Aleut, with numerous sub-cultures.

3. Wildlife abounds with deer, elk, moose, caribou, musk ox, grizzly bear (black, brown and polar), wolf, mountain goat, dall sheep, fox, mink, martins, walrus, sea lions, 2 species of dolphins, 2 species of porpoises, 15 species of baleen and toothed whales, seals, eagles, falcons, geese, ducks, swans , beaver, otters and innumerable species of fish, just to name a few.

4. Total state population is around 600,000 people with the 3 largest cities being Anchorage with 300,000 people, Fairbanks with 75,000 people and Juneau (the capital) with 30,000 people.  It is the least populated state compared to it's size, at 1.0 person per square mile.

5. The majority of communities are small with no roads leading to them. Transportation in and out of them is by airplane, boat, train, snow machine or ATV. Many communities do not, yet, have electricity, indoor plumbing or running water.  Juneau the capital is not accessible by road.

6. Alaska has a unique climate. Some communities can get up to 300 inches of rain and 30 feet of snow a year. In Barrow, there are 3 months of 24 hours a day sunlight and 3 months of 24 hours a day darkness. Temperatures can range from -100 F to 100 F.

7. It is the Largest State of America. (sorry Texas and California),  Double the size of the state of Texas.

8.  It is referred to as "The Land of the Midnight Sun", and "The Last Frontier" for obvious reasons.

9.  Tourism, Fishing, and Oil are the largest industry in Alaska. (an estimate of 3 million tourist pass thru every year)

10.  Alaska has an abundance of seafood and seafood is one of the few food items that is often cheaper within the state than outside it.

11. An example of a traditional native food is Akutaq, the Eskimo ice cream, which can consist of reindeer fat, seal oil, dried fish meat and local berries.

12. Most food in Alaska is transported into the state from "outside". In rural areas, subsistence hunting and gathering is an essential activity because imported food is prohibitively expensive. The cost of importing food to villages begins at 7¢ per pound and rises rapidly to 50¢ per pound. The cost of delivering a seven-pound gallon of milk is about $3.50 in many villages. Fuel for snow machines and boats that consume a couple of gallons per hour can exceed $8.00 per gallon.

13.  The climate of Anchorage and south central Alaska is mild by Alaskan standards due to the region's proximity to the seacoast. While the area gets less rain than southeast Alaska, it gets more snow, and days tend to be clearer. On average, Anchorage receives 16 inches of precipitation a year, with around 75 inches of snow.

14. Alaska has no state sales tax and no states income tax.

15. Like in Australia, "The Bush" is a term for the portion of Alaska that are not connected by North America's interconnected system of roadways. The Bush is where the majority of Alaska's native populations live, living off the land like their ancestors

16. Snow will often start in October & stay on the ground through April. Above the Arctic Circle, it is even longer.

17. Daylight hours are very short in the winter, 5 hours or less, with mid December being the least amount of daylight.

18. Your vehicle must be equipped for Alaska winter.

19. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very serious problem in Alaska.  Common among the remote villages.

ALASKA, Comes A Calling!

Well, we have gotten lots of questions of how Alaska came about.  It all started as we were waiting, praying, and searching for an open door to Asia that Alaska came up on our radar.  A friend encouraged us in  December to look into Alaska.  So out of curiosity, in January, we contacted the Alaska SBC and they sent us loads of information.  After reading the long attachments, we freaked out!!  Everything just seemed more extreme and intimidating than Asia.  Also, at the time we were not totally sold out for Alaska yet, we were still in love with Asia (and always will be).  So basically we replied back to the Alaska Director - Mike and here is our actual respond via email:

"Thank you so much for all the information. It certainly made the decision easier. 
We pray that God will provide the workers best fitted for the needs of Alaska."

After deleting everything we thanked God that we were not going up there.  Well this was in January and as we looked out the front window at all the snow we were glad to erase any notions of Alaska.  We said to ourselves, "Whew that was close, glad it wasn't for us and it's over!" (little did we know, it was just the beginning)  Anyway, we had seven closed doors to Asia and three closed doors to stay in Virginia, and no leading to go back to Florida, or anywhere else.  We got to re-thinking maybe God has a different plan for us.  We were aware of a persistent quiet voice whispering to us to give it a chance.  With much prayer, we just couldn't ignore it anymore.  So, just two weeks ago, we recontacted the Convention.  They resent the info., we filled out the application, and this time we didn't freak out.  Then the convention forwarded our resume and application to the Association Director of Mission - David.  When we first skyped with him, he asked us if we were coming up to just look around and do a vision trip??  Our reply to him, was "No, we're coming up with one-way plane tickets." Of course he was speechless and said, "Well, I've never had anyone do that before?"  So on September 18, 2010 the five of us flew with our one way tickets and all we had was 10 huge trunks of our families belongings.   We realized we would serve The Sweet Lord anywhere even to the ends of the earth!  (which is practically Alaska, right ;) We are in Alaska to stay until God tells us otherwise! 

What are we gonna be doing??  We are not 100% sure, really!  No major experience,  but just a willing heart to be used by Him.  We are totally dependent on our Lord to guide us on His Gig. Accountability??  Yes, we will work together/team with Alaska Convention/Local Association.  Will we get paid??  We will be bivocational/tentmakers.  The association will help us to get on our feet and provide a temporary housing/van for the first few months.  Basically they will take us under their wing, more training, and mentoring.  Of course, we will find out more when we get there.  Winging it and trusting God to come true at the last minute seems to work for us, when we make plans it doesn't.
  

QUOTES to PONDER

We are suppose to have more Faith than what we showed up here with. (K said this a few days after we both found out of our dream job delay)

Christians are like manuer you leave them all in one pile and it stinks, but if you spread it out it makes things grow. (Francis Chan)

Holiness is not uncool- it is wild, courageous, and above average. (Jon Bruckert)

Grace is God's Passion! (F)

Things were going so good that it scared me, would Jesus be this popular?  The only person that can please everyone are the false teachers.  When I get some notes that are filled with venom, oh good, I'm not a false prophet, you do hate me. (Francis Chan)

The Call to follow Jesus is the call to give up everything, you give it all up and you have to be happy about your decision. (Francis Chan) 

It's all God's stuff after all. (F-concerning materialism & wealth)

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, cuz that is how their fathers' treated the false prophet.
(Luke 6:26)

Life is like a box of chocolate you never know whatcha gonna get! (Forest Gump)
Good Thing we have God who is in charge! (F)

When there's something you really want, fight for it, don't give up no matter how hopeless it seems. And when you've lost hope, ask yourself if 10 years from now... you're gonna wish you gave it just one more shot, because the best things in life, they don't come free. (H.J.)

Live Life Passionately, cuz Life is too short! (F)

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." (Henry David Thoreau)

“The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.” (Angus Buchan)

"God Honors Faith" (Angus Buchan)

"The Question is not how much Faith you have? But how far are ya willing to go in your Faith in Jesus?" (F)

How often we think when a prayer is unanswered that God has said NO. Many times He has simply said, "Wait". (Corrie ten Boom)

God will not permit any troubles to come upon us unless He has a specific plan by which great blessing can come out of the difficulty. (Peter Marshall)

A holy life will produce the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns,they only shine.
(D.L. Moody)

A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her. (unknown)

Be Crazy, Be Stupid, Be Wild, Be Silly, because life is too Short to be cool! (unknown)

You want to make God laugh, make plans. (Sandra F.-college pal)
We're experiencing alot of this lately, we must be cracking him up! (F)

A whole hearted commitment/submission to His will is what He wants. Half heartedness doesn't go far with Him. (F)

Below are some Encouraging Fortune Cookie Sayings:  We made a friend in Seward who owns a Chinese restaurant and he told us to add "In The Bathroom" at the end of each fortune cookie sayings. This makes it even more humorous!  We've decided to collect as many fortune cooking sayings for our family scrapbook and when in need of laughter...Lolz!  This shows God can use even a Chinese Fortune Cookie to encourage or make us laugh.

Relish the transitions in your life, they will happen regardless.

It may be those who do most, dream most.

Don't Stop Now!

A new venture will be a success.

You will overcome many obstacles.

A focused mind is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.

Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.

Smile, it'll make the world brighter.

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.