Day Trip To Nondalton

I woke up this morning to friends in our house wanting to go for a "walk." Well, our "walk" turned into a flying trip to Nondalton. It was about a 15 minute flight and it was an absolutely gorgeous day to go flying. After a long and stressful week, this was a much needed trip. We also stopped to visit Levi who is a teacher at the Nondalton school. Thankful for friends who go out of their way for you. 

The Beautiful Alaska

Information taken from http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Communities/Port%20Alsworth.aspx

"The spectacular scenery surrounding Port Alsworth is quintessential Alaska: tundra-covered hills, an array of mountains, glaciers, coastline, the largest lakes in the state and two active volcanoes.

About Port Alsworth

Port Alsworth is community of 125 residents, located on the east shore of Lake Clark about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage. It is the only community within the vast wilderness of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, which makes Port Alsworth a major gateway for adventurous souls seeking a wilderness experience in the national park.

The centerpiece of the area is spectacular Lake Clark, a 42-mile-long turquoise body of water hemmed in by mountains. But the national park is also where the Alaska Range merges into the Aleutian Range to form the Chigmit Mountains and is home to Mount Iliamna, at 10,016 feet, and Mount Redoubt, at 10,197 feet.

Things to do

Visitors who head into the vast wilderness of the national park are often a mix of anglers, river runners and experienced backpackers. There are no roads and few trails in the park but there are three federally designated National Wild and Scenic Rivers, which are popular with rafters and paddlers in inflatable canoes and kayaks. The park's watershed is one of the world's most important producers of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon, contributing a third of the annual harvest, and anglers arrive from around the world to hook a hard-fighting sockeye. Lake Clark also has a scattering of remote, isolated lodges, most accessible from Port Alsworth, where you can truly escape into a pristine wilderness for a few days without having to sleep on the ground.

Port Alsworth has lodging, raft rentals and other visitor services as well as a National Park Ranger Station with displays and videos on the park and a limited selection of maps and books for sale. A foot trail, one of the few maintained trails in the park, heads 2.5 miles from the village to serene Tanalian Falls."

New Perspective

I know you are all looking for pictures and Alaska updates. However, i felt I needed to share this instead.

I feel accomplished after reading a book in the course of 3 flights. When I was younger I used to hate reading and I wanted to be that person who looked more intelligent becuase they had their nose in a book. I can say that I have come to that place in my life where I only wished to be. I find reading enjoyable and I have learned a lot from the books I have read. Here are a few things the Lord has laid on my heart.

The book I finished reading was called, "God has a wonderful plan for your life." A friend of mine sent me this book and I am happy they did. This book brought to light a different way of presenting the gospel message to people. We might tend to tell people that God loves them and has the best plan for their lives when presenting the salvation message to people. What happens when trials, tribulations, struggles, or death come along? Where is God's love for them now? Why is His plan not so easy anymore? Honestly, we are not promised an easy life when it comes to following Christ. Many men and woman have suffered for proclaiming the name of Christ. Perhsps that was Biblical times and we exempt from that now?

The simplest answer is no. John 16:33 "These things have I spoken unto you, that in me ye may have peace. In the world ye have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Might we change the message we present and share the truth? We will have tough times, that we are told in John. We cannot do anything on our own to earn favor with God or work our way into heaven. We must realize the people we truly are and take a look at the 10 commandments.

Exodus 20:3-4, 7-8, 12-17

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image
3. Thou shalt not take the name of Jehovah thy God in vain
4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet.

"Good people" might think they are not in need of a saving. Rather they believe that being a "good person" is the ticket into heaven. Well, if we have a God that judges justly then why would he overlook our sins just because we are "good people?" Take another look at the 10 commandments and see if you have broken any. I have and will unfortunately break them again. Breaking these commandments makes me: a liar, murderer, thief, and a covetous person. A sinner deserving death. I find peace though
knowing that my heavenly father wants a realtionship with me, a sinner. I don't know who will read this but I hope it penitrates your heart.