Trip to Glenallen and Longer Days

 

     We had another road trip this time east to Glenallen. Glenallen is about 10 miles south of Gulkana where a man was mauled by a bear the day after we were there. It is very rugged looking and remote. We took some summer tires to the Elders from Valdez to trade out their winter tires. Glenallen is 120 miles north of Valdez, but it is part of the same ward. The Elders showed us the ward building while the tires were being changed. They Zoom the meeting in Valdez to the ward building in Glenallen. 

     Elder Curtis who served as housing coordinator when we first came to Alaska loved traveling to Glenallen. He would go with his wife twice a month to attend Sunday meetings there. He was released as a missionary in November, but came back to Alaska last month to spend the summer at Tolsona Lake, outside of Glenallen. The scenery is so beautiful but I don't know if I could live so close to bears. 

     Coming home we had beautiful views of the Matanuska Glacier. Last month when we drove to Valdez there was still a lot of snow on the ground. It is a short spring but very beautiful. I hope we get a chance to hike on the glacier before we go home. It is harder to hike in the winter but you can go inside the snow caves in the winter. The glacier is more unstable in the summer so you stay on top. It still looks fun. I don't think there are many mosquitos on the glacier either. We bought head nets for hiking this summer though. It is an unusual look. Better with a hat. 

     Days are really feeling long. Sunrise is a little before 5 a.m. and sunset after 11 p.m. But it doesn't get very dark until about midnight. I can't imagine June 20, summer solstice. A lot of missionaries have requested blackout curtains and they work pretty good. They also use sleep masks. You usually get to sleep okay because you are tired. But the sun wakes you up pretty early!

     Now that everything is green, there is more wildlife and wildflowers. Even the dandelions are lush and beautiful. This moose was by our garbage bin. 

     Driving to Glenallen we saw moose, a porcupine, ducks, geese and a bald eagle on the water. We have not seen any ravens since the snow has melted. It is all seagulls now. I love hearing more birds and the smell of the trees. It is pleasant when the sun is out but gets cold when it's cloudy. I hope it will be nice for visitors coming. But be prepared.

     Some interesting Alaskan sights. There was a huge traffic jam for a giant neighborhood yard sale. Pres. King invited us to come to the mission home to park for the sale since it is in their neighborhood. It is the absolutely biggest yard sale I've seen. We didn't ever get into the neighborhood because traffic and parking was so bad. It looked like an outdoor rock concert was going on. Signs were posted for boats, camping gear, fishing gear and all kinds of yard sale things. Traffic was backed up for miles. I was surprised that people knew when and where to go because there was not really any advertising. You just followed the traffic.

     We saw this group of medieval re-creation participants in the park after church. They were really friendly and invited us to come watch. They have a whole social system of characters, make their own costumes, have different weapons and rules for fighting. They know a lot about medieval history. It is like the role playing games that Scott would do with painted figures but they do it in real life. It was interesting to watch. One of the participants that talked a lot to us knew about missionaries and said his mom in Kenai was a member. I really enjoy getting to talk to people and hear their stories. People are interesting. I appreciate that most of the people in Alaska are very friendly and like to talk. Now that things are opening up a bit from Covid it is good to see more people. 

     This week will be really busy again. It is transfers and we will meet with the new missionaries in person for the first time since March 2020. I get nervous to have to speak in a group, even if it is only 30-40 people. Hopefully we are learning, along with the missionaries how to feel more comfortable talking with people and in front of people. I like hearing the members of our ward speak. Many of them are new members, yet the things they share are heartfelt and have the spirit of truth. That is what makes the difference, not how talented, comfortable or practiced you are as a speaker.  So that is what we are hopefully learning, is how to follow the Spirit in the things we say and do. I am grateful for the chance we have to feel the Spirit each day as a missionary. I hope we can bring that home with us too. 

     I hope you are all doing well. This week is exciting for Ryann and Max who are graduating. It is David's birthday on May 27 and Dan on May 30. Dan is also celebrating qualifying to be in the National Pickleball Tournament in December. Yay for family! (If you were in Alaska I would treat you all to Halibut and Chips and loaded tater tots) Yum! 

Love,

Elder and Sister Robinson