Moose Quest Completed

Moose quest completed. On the 11 hour Denali National Park tour yesterday the entire team finally saw a moose. Look closely at the photograph below. The dark spot is the moose. It was confirmed through the binoculars of our tour guide.

I almost had the chance for a better shot. But you know how the big ones always get away.

At least the entire team got to see a moose.

We also saw a golden eagle, snowshoe rabbits, grizzlies, a swan and duck, caribou, wolves eating (it was a bad day for the caribou) more moose and a toad. Not bad for a day's drive through the park.

The team has now split up to go in different directions. Three of us are staying to enjoy Denali another day. Some are going to Fairbanks. Others are going back to Tennessee. The missions portion of the trip is officially completed.

Keep viewing this blog for updates on planning other mission trips. To view my blog and follow my family through other Alaska experiences before heading home click this link.

Saying Goodbye

The team said goodbye to Willow United Methodist Church today. For the past week we have called their fellowship hall home. Our part of the homebuilding has been completed on schedule. This is an accomplishment of which we are all proud.

The next leg of our adventure happens at Denali National Park. On Sunday, the team will take a bus tour of the park before splitting up to head our separate ways.

Very well organized and put together the mission trip has been a good experience.

3.2 Alaska Earthquake Not Felt by Team

A 3.2 magnitude earthquake struck Alaska today. The epicenter was 50 miles from the team. None of the team members reported feeling the ground shake. Everyone is safe. There were no injuries and no damage.

Read more on the USGS website.

It's the First Mission Trip for This Team Member

It's the first mission trip for this team member. Hear her talk about it by clicking the link above.

LaFollette Team Says Alaska Mission Accomplished!

Today the Lafollette United Methodist Church declared "mission accomplished". The last of the windows and doors were installed, the vapor proof barrier is in place and the insulation is ready to go.

Another mission team is coming to hang dry wall. The Willow United Methodist Church hopes to have the parsonage ready in time for their new pastor to arrive in June of 2010.

Many mission team members are calling the experience and once in a lifetime event. More photos are available on the Picasa album online. Some are shown here.

After the final day the team is relaxing with a barbeque dinner of pork chops, chicken and Alaska salmon.

LaFollette Team Says Alaska Mission Accomplished!

The LaFollette United Methodist Church team says "mission accomplished". In

Visitng Talkeetna, Alaska

The team took a side trip after work today. They paid a visit to the town of Talkeenta, Alaska to do some tourist shopping. Some team members took an airplane ride around Denali to visit Mt. McKinley and landed on a glacier.

Talkeenta, Alaska is a small town which offered a lot of charm. It made a good place to relax.

Visitng Talkeenta, Alaska

The team took a side trip after work today. They paid a visit to the town of Talkeenta, Alaska to do some tourist shopping. Some team members took an airplane ride around Denali to visit Mt. McKinley and landed on a glacier.

Talkeenta, Alaska is a small town which offered a lot of charm. It made a good place to relax.

Team members still hope to see a live moose. Some of them are despairing that seeing this wooden moose is as close as they are going to get.

Moose Quest Completed! (For Some!)

The Moose quest has been completed! For some team members anyway... For others the quest continues. A few team members ventured out after 10:00 pm last night. They came back with the photos you see here.

Willow Alaska Church Hosts Mission Team Dinner

Tonight we were treated to a potluck dinner. Were we ever impressed! The dishes featured Alaskan favorites. Everything was delicious. There was moose meatloaf and meatballs, halibut pie, two different kinds of reindeer sausage (caribou), a salad featuring lettuce plucked from the parishoner's garden and lots more.

After the dinner, the missions leader and missionary presented the team with gifts. These included a pen and a lapel pin to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood and a t-shirt from the Willow Winter Festival here in Willow, Alaska.

We appreciated the gifts and truly enjoyed meeting the parishioners. Everyone here has gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. It has been a wonderful experience!