During this time I would be serving as "Interim Pastor" while the Soldotna Church of the Nazarene awaited the arrival of their new pastor. Basically it meant starting with a Sunday over Wednesday Revival, preaching for the next four Sundays, Wednesday night Prayer Meetings, and being available should there be any emergency situations. This church, which runs around 110 on a Sunday morning, is filled with wonderful believers who are anxiously looking forward to a new parsonage family. They treated us with an amazing hospitality that included; cook outs, camp fires, beach parties, and home visits for dinner. Both Sherry and I felt loved and blessed to have had this chance to serve them.
Located on the Kenai Peninsula, this area of Alaska is filled with natural beauty and abundant wild life. During our 35 day stay we watched fall arrive as the Aspens, Birch, Cottonwood, and Willow trees turned from green to various shades of yellow adding a contrast to the multitude of ever green Spruce trees. Leaves began to carpet the ground and temperatures dropped at night into the 30s.
Sitting next to the 2,000,000 acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuse and with the beautiful Kenai River (#7 on CNN Travel's list of "The World's Best Rivers For Travelers") winding through the area, it is not a surprise that we saw Caribou, Moose, Mink, Beaver, Seals, Eagles, and a lot of other critters. The Kenai River is acknowledged as the best river in Alaska for Salmon fishing and the Silver Salmon (Coho) were making their way up the river while we were there.
This was our longest continuous stay in one state during the past year and one of the most enjoyable. It is, with a sense of sadness that we will leave the 49th state in a few days.
REFLECTIONS
I fell in love with Alaska and the Yukon as a boy. Jack London's, "The Call Of The Wild", left images of a rough yet beautiful land. As Alaska became the 49th state in 1959 (I was ten years old) it became a dream to someday visit the last frontier. Now we are completing our fourth trip to the "Last Frontier" and it has not disappointed. Sometimes we build things up so high that reality becomes a let down but Alaska has met every expectation.
The people are amazing and the scenery spectacular. It has been, for me, a dream come true.
There is another place that became an anticipated destination when I was about the same age. It was then that I gave my life over to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and set my feet on a journey to the Heavenly Kingdom. What that place will be like cannot even be imagined. I have built up pretty high expectations about what I'll find there. I am certain that it will meet all expectations and go beyond my wildest dreams. I will not be disappointed. When I will make that journey is an unknown but when I do, just know this, that for me, "The Best Is Yet To Come". Until then, I plan to continue to enjoy my journey here on planet Earth. BLESSINGS.
