Fire!

So what does living 10 miles from a 200,000 acre wildfire look like? I took some photos of the big smoke clouds on Sunday and Tuesday. Some days the smoke blows over us and we can't see very much at all. We have had some ash fall, but not really very much. There are helicopters flying over all day long, delivering supplies and water to the firefighters. The fire is mostly being allowed to burn, and is not being put out. There are some places where the fire will not be allowed to go, and those small areas will be fought for.

The previous photos have been the fire west of Nenana. The following photo is of a fire east of Nenana.

We got to go on a short Alaska roadtrip and visit our supporters, and have some fun. These are some photos from July 2009.

Near Eureka, Alaska


Grizzley Lake, Mile 53 Tok Cutoff


Worthington Glacier near Valdez


Worthington Glacier near Valdez


Worthington Glacier near Valdez

We had some overnight visitors last week and they said some nice things about us. Check out their adventure and what they said about us!

AdventuresforAutism

Read journal entry for June 30th!

***Notice the smoke! There is a fire west of Nenana and we are getting alot of smoke and flying ash and ashy rain. It is very rough on those with breathing problems. It is getting worse every day.***



Bill was asked to preach a short sermon after a session of native drumming that has held after the local 4th of July activities.


As a token of appreciation from the native Christian community, Bill and Rebecca were presented with gifts. Bill received a spotted owl feather and Rebecca was given a kusbuk.


This is Ida, a native pastor, singing praise songs to native drumming.


The photos that Rebecca sent in to the Fairbanks paper were printed on Father's Day! There is Bill in the photo on the left and Aerin on the right.

Please pray that our car gets fixed. We are having a problem getting the parts to Fairbanks in order to have the CV joints fixed under warranty. We are wanting to travel this week and the car was supposed to be fixed last week. Also, Bill got a notice for jury duty. He is supposed to call in on Tuesday. This is the third time we have wanted to take a week away, and the third jury notice that he has received in the same week. We feel doomed. Please pray that we get some time away and time to rest.

***The car got fixed and we got to take some vacation time! Yea!***

Bill was asked to preach the sermon for the Tanana River Blessing on June 7. This is an annual event held during River Daze, the first weekend of June.


There were about 50 people in attendance.


After the River Daze parade, a group always gathers to say a prayer for Nenana. This is Rita on the left and Sue on the right.


We like to spend time on the river bank. The kids play in the muddy silt (it washes off, really!) The river is so silty, you can see your feet when you are only in up to your ankles.


Look what Rebecca did today! She put up a rope swing which included borrowing and CLIMBING a ladder! The kiddos are thrilled!

We have had a chance to rest so far in June. Bill and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on June 6th, and celebrated in part by going to Jester's, a local bar, for soda and to listen to a friend play live music.

We had a freecycle tonight, an everything is free yard sale, and there were about 30 in attendance. We grilled hot dogs, salmon and burgers. We had some great fellowship and made some new friends too. Today was Nenana River Daze, with a parade and everything.

The church is seeing some new attendees. We are now up to an average of about 35 on Sunday mornings and 20 or so on Sunday nights. This is really wonderful, but we are outgrowing our space. We would really like to build our own building here in Nenana, but we are short in the finance department. God knows our need and he will fill it in his time.

I am looking for someone to quilt some tops for me as a charity project. If there is anyone you know who can help me, please drop me an email.

This is Aerin, the tied for first place winner of the Nenana River Daze pie eating contest!

The Nenana Patchers made a quilt for a lady going through chemo and radiation, (I made the block in the upper right hand corner) and we presented it to her last Thursday at a lunch party.

We were able to go on a riverboat ride the day after school got out, 

and this is where Ethan spent most of the ride!  He was watching the paddle wheel.

Here is a current photo of our little family.  We had such a great time!

Aerin and I saw sandhill cranes yesterday at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks.