The Weekend of Boating...& my first catch...

Well, I had a crazy, exciting, adventurous weekend, the 7th-9th. Friday night was a trip to Clear Water, a place where the river branches off, pretty windy & narrower. My friends Sarah & Matt took us out & 2 of their kids were enjoying trying to shoot at the beavers we saw & birds.

Matt & Sarah

Saturday afternoon we left for Kotlik, stopped a few times looking for moose/shooting at birds. It's about a 3 hr boat ride. It was my first time being to another village in the district so that was really exciting. After seeing Kotlik, I'm pretty glad I live in Mountain. Mountain Village just feels a lot bigger.  I got to have a tour of the school & village. The next day's plan was take a boat ride out to the coast-Bearing Sea, come back eat, warm up & leave. Instead we headed towards the coast, but the tide was up so we needed to maneuver around the sand bars...& we got stuck on one & we all got to push.  Apparently, there's a lot of them & you need someone along who can steer you through the channels, Pius-Sarah's brother was our guide, but we still seemed to be running into them. So, we had decided to head back w/o going all the way out to the coast.

We then headed back to Kotlik, but spotted something on the beach-it ended up being a decaying walrus carcass-the guys wanted to explore, but then heard a growl & tree branches shaking & Pius ran back to the boat, Matt said he saw the head of the bear. I just saw the branches moving. I wish I would have seen it but at the same time not...  We left Kotlik about 4:30 and at about 7:30 spotted 2 bull moose. I shot, but should've waited till we got closer cuz I missed.  Then Sarah said we were headed into Blacky Slough & last year they saw about 20 moose there. First we saw a cow & calf, then my cow.

Sunday night we got back at 11 after quartering the moose & the hour boat ride back.  Monday & Tuesday night were busy, just with taking care of the moose-cutting it up, delivering it to elders in the community, grinding meat & then just doing my regularly scheduled activities-women’s bible study. Then Wednesday, I led my high school girls’ bible study.  After that, I felt like I could finally relax for a moment.

One more thing added into the week was Thursday night bonfire with 4 auditors who were in town checking out things at the District Office.  It was a fun time to get to meet a few new people.  One girl was from Russia-it was great learning a few things, I may plan a trip to St. Petersburg someday  :)

I'm really enjoying Mountain this year. It has definitely been better this second time around so far.  I'm going to try to take advantage of all the adventures I can this year. School is going well. I started out feeling very hopeful with my kids & I still am. One of my kids is like a whole new little girl this year, and I've had some good successes with a student staying full days too. Figuring out scheduling in the beginning of the year is always a challenge, but I think it is good for a while now. I'm really excited for this school year. God is very good & when I do have the rough times-eh hem this past week with little lower amounts of sleep-I know I can still make it through.

 

Prayer Requests

-Wisdom again for the church board/church in choosing a pastor.

-Continued prayers for me are welcomed, if you are willing, in thinking of building new relationships with people here, showing grace, mercy, love, speaking truth, being content, boldness, & encouraging other believers here with the Word.  

Sunday Stroll...

8/27/12

Yesterday was a wonderful day, besides cleaning my house for about 3 hrs-which was actually quite enjoyable-got to listen to sermons & music, I also ventured out on a walk by myself.  The day had so far consisted of cloudiness, sprinklings, pouring rain, sunshine, and again cloudiness.  I took my chances and went for a solo walk.  It was great to get the fresh air & enjoyed taking my time soaking it up. I first headed down by the river and walked along the shore for a while, then decided to hike Cupcake-the hill.  Along the path, I realized I maybe shouldn’t have went alone, but I was most the way up already and I decided to press on.  When just then I heard the sound of an animal pushing air hard out through his nostrils, then I turned…  

 

And there was NOTHING THERE!!!!!   Okay, I joke.  The main noises that God used to catch my attention was the sound of a bird’s wings in the breeze.  Amazingly awesome, so thankful for the quietness of those moments.  Then the rustling, brushing, crinkling of the leaves against each other on the bushes/mini-trees.  My favorite sounds are leaves when pushed into movement.  Such an absolutely wonderful sound to my ears.  I couldn’t help but think of the song:

 

Let everything that,

Let everything that,

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Yes, I know trees do not technically breathe, but still-let all creation praise the Lord!  When finally on top of the mountain, I went to side so I could see the view of the river as it wrapped around.  It’s so crazy to look out and just see forever (well not really forever…).  I think I could sit forever and gaze out at the scene.

When I decided I should head back down before a bear or moose found me, I thought it best to sing, once past the steeper inclines.  To my knowledge no one could hear me…  Sometimes it is just so great an experience to separate yourself to a place where you cannot be seen, heard, or found even; to be alone, collect your thoughts, praise the Lord, sing, pray, and maybe even dance (didn’t do that on this day  :P)  Yes, it could be done in a home I suppose-but nature just charges me.  It is a huge blessing and gift from God that I am able to take such delight in it.