Crazy Wildlife

The Ranch is turning yellow slowly and it is officially Fall in Alaska. A week ago we woke up to snow on the top of the mountains which the Alaskans call termination dust which means that the summer is coming to an end. Once we get back to HOT Texas it will be true summer.

Daniel and I went to Kenai last week to visit Joe and Loretta Hammond. We had such a great visit. We went to the beach and took pictures of the inlet; while we were there I collected cool rocks. The beach was sandy and rocky with these huge rocks and tons of tiny ones all along the beach. Joe and Loretta are really good friends of ours from our church in Longview. They are like another set of parents because they look after us. We had some smoked salmon egg salad that they had made-MAN it was amazing! The place that they were visiting was set alongside a lake. Daniel and I went out on a paddle boat and hung out on the lake for a bit. What a workout paddle boating is! We went on a moose run, and saw a HUGE grizzly bear and about 10 moose (2 babies, and the rest older cows). All in all it was a wonderful time of relaxation and fun with the Hammond's. We flew back from Kenai and it was beautiful. We saw about 85 goat, and 5 moose on our flight back. Sometimes it is nice to get away with one another and have a change of scenery.

Here at the ranch yesterday Daniel was flying and I decided to walk down to the camper. As I walked to the camper I came in contact with a moose and her baby. We both did not know the other was there and startled one another. She saw me as a threat and ran after me, thankfully I made it into the bathroom nearby before she reached me. Wow that was scary! I have never encountered a moose like that before. Later on last evening I went outside the camper, still shaken up, to go to the bathroom and turn the corner to the same moose right there about 4 feet away from me. Ah! Thankfully she ran away from me that time instead of toward me! What an experience huh. Now it is just a funny story to tell people.

The days have slowed down here and the night sky is longer. We have had a good time here at Kingdom Air Corps, but we still have about 8 more days here. We are ready to go home, but also really soaking in the last few days and taking all the opportunities that we can get.

Here are some pictures for your pleasure of our flights, trips, and fun:

Flight back from Kenai 

Cook Inlet 

Captain Cook Beach in Kenai 

Along the Nikiski Road 

Loretta, Joe, and Daniel 

Loretta, Kathryn, and Joe 

Can't see it in this picture but a volcano mountain is off the left

CONQUER! 

beautiful beautiful!! 

Moose and her baby on moose run. The baby was sticking right beside her. :)

Termination Dust and cloud blanket. It made the mountains look like they were floating! 

Kathryn and LeReina 

Baby moose and Mama on Ranch. Momma moose was down in the ditch. If you look closely you can see her ear. 

Plane N12714 that plans to fly to Russia 

Thank you for ALL the support and prayers that you have backed us up with. We were talking yesterday (Daniel and I) on our date and we stated that we have endured a lot up here but we feel as though the Almighty Potter is really shaping and molding us into His faithful servants that he has called us to be. Going through tough, confusing times brings wisdom and faithfulness to the Lord. I finished reading the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Pastor Cymbala in New York and wow it really encouraged and stuck with me. He stated in his book that the more we realize that we need God the more we will want him. He also stated, "Anytime people get hungry to truly know the Lord, the Holy Spirit puts a shovel and broom into their hands." The more we know we need to God, the more we realize that this broken vessel needs healing, cleaning, and refining. He said so many other things in his book that will stay with me for a long time! This is exactly what I can resonate with at this point and time. The Lord is refining us- what a long process it always feels like and we are stubborn and full of flesh sometimes, but as long as we continually realize we need to seek His face.

"A hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. He said, 'Daniel, you who are highly esteemed..." 

"Draw us to You Lord, and begin a new work of grace in all of us. Make us the people you want us to be. Fill our churches with your fresh wind, and fresh fire. Break our pride, soften our hearts, and fill us to overflowing with your Holy Spirit. O God, do all of this so that the name of Jesus will be exalted throughout the earth. Amen." (Quote from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire) 

Over and Out~ 

Daniel and Kathryn 

Where in the World....

God seems to always have us waiting. Someone once told me, "God shines a lantern where you can only see the next step you are about to take." As we our on our mission trip we look forward, anticipating the next step of what God has for us. We get anxious, resteless, and uncertain. The calling that God puts on our lives as Christians is clear, yet fuzzy all at the same time. Doubt and the nature of man tend to get in the way of what we are so passionate about. When all the passion, motivation, and drive is gone, are we still willing? Right now in this moment the sense of where, when, how for our future is cloudy. Everything is clear until you get to the pass and Oops not ready yet so we have to just wait. Waiting for what God's plan is for us is always the hardest part. Missions is a state of being. A missionary lives to invest into people's lives no matter where God has called them to or wherever to stay. Daniel and I have had the oppurtunity to get to know individuals, couples, and experienced people. Life on the Ranch is amazing when it comes to the array of people that come through here. We have had so many random, different, new people here. Some are from the highway that drop in because they see the sign and get curious such as: a canadian couple that only spoke french (we just so happened to have a volunteer here at the time from canada that speaks french :0), a missionary couple, etc. People that come to work on the ranch come from all over the state and the world. A few examples--russia, japan, switzerland, north carolina, texas, new york, new hampshire, michigan, etc etc.  The Lord has brought us here for the summer and even though we don't understand all that he is trying to teach us we know that he is near. A daily reminder, an hourly reminder at that, is to be still and know that he is God.

As for what is happening here on the ranch now that we are back is Daniel has been flying a lot and helping with sightseerers and then I was asked to put together a video of camp. Last sunday we had a service for the camp to give testimonies and tell stories. We had a rocking worship band, an awesome video, and a few testimonies/ stories from camp. We also did the memory verse with ALL the motions in front of a bunch of adults; what a way to set the stage. Daniel did a testimony about camp and really shared his heart for what the kids go through and what we have to send them back to. He is a great speaker; I told him he should be a pastor! Today we were supposed to leave for Port Alswourth to visit some friends that we just met while helping direct camp, and well we have to wait till tomorrow. The weather was fogged in, so to be safe we are waiting till morning. After we visit Port Alswourth we are going to visit some friends that came up from Longview,TX to visit a friend in Kenai. We have a busy week of traveling ahead of us, well really only a few days. Daniel and I only have about 2 1/2 weeks left here in Alaska so it is slowly closing up on us.
Well the night is dawning-NOT :)- and it is almost time to settle down.

By the way thank you for all the birthday and anniversery wishes! The day was a great one, and we had lots of fun! Thank you for all of your support and prayers for our lives.

Hope all is well across the states, the country, and the world with you guys as well! We look forward to sending a video of our time here and tell you all about it, and post pictures!

Over and out~