Alaska?!?

 I still remember sitting cross legged on our bed for weeks and weeks counting up $20 bills.  We were fairly newlyweds, still in college, but we had decided that we would take off and 'see the world' when we had enough saved up.  

That was about 55 years ago and believe me, our definition of “the world” back then did NOT go beyond the borders of the United States. Our world was much smaller then, and so it wasn’t entirely unreasonable that we just might be able to pack up the car and see just a bit of it. 

And that’s what we did in the summer of 1971. We looked over our ’64 Ford convertible, took a deep breath and decided it could still handle the road. It had done okay for our honeymoon (Ask us about the bear in the tent that trip if you haven’t already heard it); it could do it again. 

Finally with a fist full of $20 bills, we packed up and headed for Vancouver, where we planned, if possible, to head in the direction of Alaska.  We had neither the time nor resources to go that far, but we reckoned we could hop off before we left Canada and head home from there.  

And so off we went into the vast unknown.  

I need to point out that we were both fully engaged in this adventure. It has been suggested by a few that I am the resident trip planner in this family and Tony is opposed, but actually, he’s totally excited. It’s just that he represents “The Buck Stops Here” man-thing, and prefers that I do the organizing.

However, we had an experience on this trip that caused to sit back and question whether he was REALLY on board or not.

We'd made it safely to California, saw some friends, helped out at a Christian camp, dropped in on my sister and family unannounced,  then turned the wheels north. 

We found a mail boat that offered cheap passenger fares for us and the car, so we loaded up and started through the Inland Passage for Alaska. Being a mail boat, it stopped at every port of call along the way. We watched as people, mail and freight would get on and off.

One evening an older couple came on board and sat near us. We  chuckled as the wife spread out a double handful of brochures and maps on the table.  The husband sat quietly, a blank expression on his face. We couldn’t hear all that was being said, but we did hear loud and clear when the husband suddenly sat up straight, looked at his wife and exclaimed, “ALASKA?”  

We have never forgotten that. To this day, it’s a phrase we often use when it’s become obvious that one or the other hasn’t fully understood. That’s usually Tony, by the way. When I’m planning a trip, you have to keep up

And now I find that I'm living with that man.

Don’t get me wrong; Tony knows about this upcoming trip. I think he just likes the sympathy he gets by acting clueless and saying I am making him do it. He changes his tune when he starts talking about the several ministry opportunities that are falling into place, from Africa to Armenia and beyond. He’s definitely with me in that as well as all the rest.

To that end, we have scrimped and saved and on April 28th, we are leaving Australia for FOUR MONTHS.  Before you start commenting on the length of the journey, keep in mind that what we could have accomplished in our twenties is going to take a bit longer now. Part of the trip includes cruising (slow boat), backpacking a bit (but with lighter packs and no sleeping on the ground), seeing some of you folks out there and just taking it slow and comfortable. That, along with the aforementioned chances for ministry here and there is going to make for an extended journey. 

The Lord willing, there'll be no surprises. You'll get your blog on time, (we hope) and occasionally, if we are near the internet, we'll add in some interesting things we come across. 

So we ask you to stay tuned and keep praying!

Marsha