Friends,

Here is the final "far north of Noble" blog.  We are no longer far north of Noble, the small village near Eicher Mennonite Church.  We are about a mile north of Pettisville, Ohio.  Pettisville is several times larger than Noble, but still small.

Our time in Fairbanks was a good year.  There were many new experiences.  We met many wonderful people.  Alaska is quite different from the lower 48 states.  Generally, Alaskans are more friendly.  I think there are two reasons for this.  There is a common question that people ask, "Where are you from."  Most people there were not born in Alaska.  We met many people from Iowa, Colorado, and the mid-west.  So it was easy to talk about places in the lower 48 that you both know.  The second reason is a frontier attitude, the feeling that everyone is in this place together and that to survive there must be some cooperation.  One or two generations back it was nearly impossible to survive alone.  People needed each other.

Being in the far north provided many different experiences.  Short sun-light in the winter was interesting, especially how the sun just got a few degrees above the  horizon.  Along with the short sun-light was extended twilight.  There were a couple hours of light at each end of the day.  Temperatures were certainly affected by the high latitude.  There is usually frost around the first of September.  We had snow the middle of September.  There is usually continual snow cover for about six months.  Normal snow for a season is around 60 inches.  But it is a dry snow.  Sixty inches of snow there is about three inches of precipitation.  We also saw the northern lights.  Last year was supposed to be a good year for northern lights but this year, so far, sounds better.

Here are some picture comparisons of our time in Alaska and our time so far here in Ohio.

Across the road in Ohio   ---

 Geese in the harvested corn field.

Across the road in Alaska.

 Looking down on ice in river from bridge.

 Ducks and ice on Chena River

Snow machine course on river in February.

 Youth dog mushers

 Taken from our apartment window, "Tired Iron Dog" racer.  This race was with snow machines older than 35 years.

The Chena River across the street from us was the center of much activity.

There are wild flowers in Alaska and Ohio.
Alaska  ---

And in Ohio

Even though there were many new experiences in Alaska, it was friendships that made the time there most enjoyable.

First Presbyterian Adult Sunday School class

 Choir (with Elva).  There were usually considerably more than this in the choir.

 Dave Moody, Associate Pastor, preaching.  He was also the Sunday School teacher and our small group leader.

 Daniel, friend from Church, in his kitchen.

 Glenn, friend from Church, he is a former Alaska Representative in Juneau.

Of course, there are people here in Ohio also.  We are getting to know people at Tedrow Mennonite Church.  We eat breakfast with my three brothers and two wives Melvin's wife died six years ago. Our daughter and her family live about five miles away.  (Trevor was not feeling well, he is usually much more perky.)

It appears that Elva and I will be spending November through January in southeast Colorado were I will be interim pastor of East Holbrook Mennonite Church. I grew up in that congregation.  It will be interesting to see how much one can "go back home."

God's creation is amazing.  No  place is without beauty.  No place I have been is without hundreds of wonderful people.  At the end of creation God pronounced it very good.  Since sin has marred creation it is still good, but fallen.  People, even at our best, are also fallen.  That certainly includes me.  But we have the opportunity to be redeemed.  God loves each of us immensely and longs to have each of us in heaven with Him for all eternity.  Be sure to take this wonderful opportunity for yourself.

Thanks for your interest in these blogs.  May God bless each of you.

Larry and Elva