Alaska - our new home

We've only been here a week, so there are times when I look around and tell myself, "I can't believe this is where I live!" I'm sure the novelty will wear off sooner or later, but for now everything feels very new to us.

One thing that reminds me that Alaska is a unique place is the fact that in one week's time we haven't seen darkness yet. It is light when we go to bed (even as late as midnight), it is light when we wake up. If it is getting dark sometime in the night, we haven't been awake to see it. Thankfully, it hasn't disturbed our sleep at all!

We are learning a little bit about what it means to be a pilgrim people, as we are planning to live in three different houses over the next few months. First, we are staying in a beautiful house in a secluded setting in nearby Palmer. The family who owns this home is away on vacation and kindly offered us to house sit for them. Not only is the house comfortable, but we have had a couple of fun moose sightings while we've been here (this definitely makes us newbies to Alaska - people who have lived here a while don't get excited about seeing moose).

Next, we are going to house sit for another family who lives in Eagle River, which is actually closer to Anchorage than it is to Wasilla. It will make for long commutes to the church, but should be a good arrangement for both us and the family that owns the house. Then, a woman who lives near the church has offered to have us stay with her for a time. Again, a very gracious offer for which we are thankful. She has two young children so the kids will love it. Her husband is in the military and currently serving in Iraq.

We are now looking for a house to buy so we can quit our nomadic lifestyle. It is a good time to purchase a home here in Alaska, since supply seems to be greater than demand.

I've unpacked my boxes for my office at church and have officially "moved in". I have met with some folks in the church and have cracked open a few books for study. It feels good to be engaged in ministry again after a month or so of being in transition.