Hiking Trip

We went up to Lower Dewie Lake last Sunday as a group of people. Once we were at the top we got to have a picnic lunch together. So I finally have pictures of myself thanks to Alexis! She is a photographer who loves to take pictures of very random things! She is very eccentric person. When she wakes up in the morning she asks herself, "What clothes do I have that do NOT match," and she will pick those clothes. We had a blast hiking up the trail.

Latest

I know it has been a long time sense the last post, sorry about that! Things have been crazy! I have finished all my training for both my jobs and am now flying solo! Tomorrow is the first day I will be going on the train by myself. No pressure!
On Saturday when the group came in from Whitehorse, there was a young man that I thought I recognized, but just put off the thought. When we got back to Skagway, he came to check in his group. I asked him where he was from and he said Florida. So I said, "You are from Orlando, aren't you?" To which he replied, with a puzzled look, "Yes, how did you know that?" So I asked if e had ever been to Metro. He is one of Rachael Brunson's friends, who has come to b-games and church on occasion! Go figure I would see someone like that even up in A-L-A-S-K-A!

First Ship Day

So what is ship day? Well, its the day the ships come in that we deal with. We have to go on the ship and shuffle the people to get them off in their correct groups. Or we go on the train (same on as I road the other day) and take payment for the tours they will be taking in town, so they can get on their tours right away! All went well today! There hasn't been much going on. It seems as if I have been here much longer then a week and a half.
The other day, we went into Whitehorse, Canada, so I can now say I have been out of the country twice! We had a great lunch at a Japanese Restaurant where we all had sushi. Then we went to a Canadian Superstore, which is the same as a Wal-Mart. The prices on everything is much higher then in Florida. A gallon of milk is almost $6 here, and a loaf of bread is $4.36! Being able to buy food at a lower price was a really the reason for the trip! There is not a lot of selection when it comes to fresh produce. Floridians are very lucky, because we get a lot of great produce. The idea of corn-on-the-cob is foreign here. I had to get a 'green' supplement because of the lack of produce.
On the way back from Whitehorse, we saw not one but two BEARS! The first one was a brown bear and he just walked across the street, looking at us. When I get the camera out I will post pictures of it. The other bear was a black bear! This one ran for the hills when he saw us! The black bears are much smaller. To be able to see two bears in one day was quit the treat.
More later...
Love you all,
Sarah

Train Ride and More!

Once a week I will be riding The White Pass Mountain Railroad. Yes, it is part of my job! What is amazing is that I get payed to look at a great view! My fellow workers and I rode the train so that we could see what the ride is like and sell the train experience to people. The ride was about three hours of the best scenery in the world. We started at sea level and claimed all the way to 2884 feet in the mountains. At the top, there was a lake that was stil frozen over and covered in snow. The snow gave off a beautiful blue glow.
Later, after dinner, Mrs. Leggett took me up to Diyea, which is a ghost town from back in 1890. After the Gold Rush this town went from 20,000 people to just 3 almost over night! There is second forest growth now. The locals go to this place to take their four-wheelers out. Latter in the summer, the black bears come out to play in the planes.
While I was riding the train and looking at the tall trees, I got to thinking about how tall they are even in one of the windiest towns in the USA. (NO, even Chigaco is not as windy. It just has a bigger population to complain about it the wind). These trees are, sometime, bigger then three story houses, yet even amongest the wind they stand firm. When the trees are little they have the houses and other trees to block the wind, but they get enough to build up a resistance. As the years go by they grow taller and get a little more wind. Their roots grow stronger and deeper as they receive a little more wind each year. God used this part of nature to show me something. When I was a child my parents took most of the "blunt force of the wind" and used that time to help me grow my "roots" in Christ strong. As I have grown "taller and stronger" in Christ, He has sent me trials and tribulations to prove that I am strong, but also to keep my roots firmly planted in his word. For all that read this post, this revilation is not simply a beautiful picture that came to me, but God showing his love in a "practical picture" during very challenging times. He is showing me more and more that the harder the wind the better I will be able to stand the wind. His grace is so much more evident when the wind is blowing harder. I love being covered in the Grace of God. During the trip, when I was tempted to fear, I could remember that God had promised me I would spend this time here to grow in Him and return home to my family. This ment that nothing could hinder me from reaching Skagway.
Love you all,
Sarah

Tour Day

Today I started my job at the Westmark Hotel and we did a tour of the town! We got to see the town with a towner's perspective! There was a short video that gave a brief description of the settling of the town. The town was not settled by natives because they knew the valley was not a good place to settle a town. There is not very much good fishing here and the moose and elk cannot make it down the steep mountains. But this man settle the town way before the gold rush and made a killing when the gold was found in Dawson city. We also went to the historical grave yard where Soapy Smith was buried. We do the tours in a yellow bus! The people dress in clothing that is from the time period.

Tonight we had a company BBQ! There were people down from Dawson City and Whitehorse, so we had a big company dinner! We had the picnic on the Skagway River. The sun didn't set until around 9:30 and dark still has not fully come on and it is after 10pm!

Tomorrow, I will be going on a cruise ship to learn the disembarkation process for the ships. The Leggetts are having a bake sale for a young lady who is going to Africa for five weeks on a mission trip. They are trying to help her earn money toward the trip. The kitchen smells really good! They have made cake sticks, which are really good! There are also cookies and pear cake to sell tomorrow.

Timothy has become my little buddy. He is with all the time! Whenever I go to their house he comes up to me and want to to talk about everything! When he started poking me, I warned him I was coming after him and he didn't believe me. So I got up and chased him into the living room, where I threw him onto the couch and tickled him good. I was tickling his feet and he yelled, "No feet, no feet, no feet!" But when I asked him if he was ticklish on his feet he told me no, so I went for his feet and he said, "Ok, yes I am ticklish, don't tickle them!"

Love you all,

Sarah

Work Day

Today was my first day working at the Mercantile!

It is a great job! I have to make lots of different things from scratch. We make Lemon Pound Cake, oatmeal cookies, and sandwiches. Tomorrow I will start at the other job, which is the one I got at school. The last few days it has been raining and cold, but today it has been sunny and warm, well in the high 40's. The mountains still all have snow on top. So far I have walked the whole town and saw every store.

My room-mate doesn't show up until the middle of next month. There is only one grocery store in the whole town and it doesn't always have the things you need! But I love how small it is and there are not so many choices, so people don't take an hour to choose which brand they want.

All you southerners will be happy to know the Leggetts love Sweet Tea as much as you do! The Leggetts have two dogs, Harley, is a mix, but part husky! He doesn't know how big he is because he want to climb into my lap every time I sit down!

Well More Later!

First Full Day

Last night I got to have dinner with the Legget Family! Their whole family is very hospitable! Half the neighborhood was at their House awaiting my arrival! Nathaniel, who is 11, could give Logan a run for his money! He asked so many questions about so many things, I could hardly keep up. Their youngest, Timothy, is 5 and he gets into everything. They are going to be so much fun to hang out with! Mr. Legget has already agreed to teach me how to shoot a hand gun. So for everyone who was worried about my protection, I will soon be able to shoot!
Today, I have been to the grocery store, post office, and the library. Talk about getting around. It has been raining all day, but it is still beautiful! Now I have to dust my room, clean the bathroom, and cook some meals for later in the week!
Yes, there are pictures coming, but I had to find a place for wifi. Now that I have one you will have pictures very soon.
Love to All,
Sarah

First Flight Over

To start at the begining of today, my family went to the beach, so I could soak up some Florida sun before I left. The sun rise was beautiful, but the wind was cold! When we got home, I took a nap, and was therefore late starting my packing. Thankfully, Amber and Heather Sutter helped me get my stuff all together. For a late lunch or early dinner we had Papa John's pizza (a fine home cooked meal)!
It took three cars to get everyone to the airport! Including my family, there was 7 other ladies that came to see me off!
Right now, I am sitting in my hotel room in Seattle, WA. My flight left Orlando at 6:20 and arrived in Seattle at 9:20 pm. This is the first time I have flown by myself and on a flight longer than 2 hours. So I must say that today, I do NOT like flying. Its not that I got motion sickness, its just that my head feels like it is about to explode!
Tomorrow is the big adventure! Two flights, both on smaller planes. My next post will be from A-L-A-S-K-A!!!!

Welcome!

I can't believe it! I'm leaving for Skagway, Alaska on Monday, May 10th for a three month adventure. If you would like to join me, pray for me, encourage me, enjoy the view with me or all of the above - then sign-up to receive my blog posts via e-mail. I will miss you all, but look forward to seeing what the Lord has for me through this time.

I'm excited to post about my trip on a regular basis, and this blog helps keep it all in one place for my convenience and yours as well. Be sure to bookmark it in your favorites!

Thank you!

Sarah