As the closing days are before me, I am hurried to sell my possessions, pack, and say goodbye to Alaska. I depart the state I love this Saturday as I head south for the winter. I had plans last week and this week to pick up a little side work but God and nature had different plans. Autumn in Alaska is wet. When the work calls for exterior painting you are very dependent on the weather. Late August and all of September are not always good outdoor days. Nonetheless, I have found myself more bored than I wanted. My wife is in Africa helping a close friend move to be a nurse in an orphanage and I am stuck in Alaska to wrap up the remaining items.
I have found myself unmotivated and lacking self desire to do pretty much anything. I go to bed at night not tired and feeling guilty. Then again, my mind tells me it is time to leave Alaska. The rest of the month will be filled with events and activity as we journey from Alaska to Texas. I often find my heart and mind in PNG. I know there is a need and I am wanted there to help but I am here in a basement in Alaska. I am trying to relish the memories of Alaska as I know over the next three years my heart will yearn for this home.
In the past when I have noticed these feelings, I have learned it is time to enjoy nature once again. On Saturday when the rain broke, my aunt and I went for a short hike to Grayling Lake. A 3 mile roundtrip hike to a small lake in the Alaskan wilderness. It was a rewarding hike and a spot that I found peace as I sat on the lake shore. Please pray for me this week as I pack and prepare to leave Alaska.
Tyler and Emily in PNG 
I will be lifting you up in prayer Tyler as you say good bye for now to Alaska. I am sure it will be bittersweet. May God give you a new excitement for the work head…..God less you Tyler.
See you soon….
Lisa
Remember “this world is not our home” but having been and experienced Alaska the “new earth” God has promised at the restoration of heaven and earth in the end times may well resemble Alaska! We too felt close to God there in the wilderness of that beautiful place. PNG also is a very beautiful place – just the other end of the spectrum. God will reconstruct His creation for all of us to enjoy for eternity without those pesky mosquitoes =) in either place! Prayers for you as you wrap up things there. We’ve been praying for Emily as we knew she was doing this for Heidi. Thanksgivings too for all the two of you have given and will be giving to so many soon. -Ruth (for both of us)
942 good number. we use a similar configuration for Purchase order # s at work. So you can pin it to a date. You don’t look too far down the road so that you have to have 100 years in the plan, so the numbers up to 9 will probably cover it. and leave out the zeros. anyway i feel a connection to your way of doing things and have a heart for missions that your remind me to pray for you often.