Alaska Mission

                                 Cleaning the car off with a snow shovel.  Crazy weather this week.

                                                         Making a pathway around the car.                                                      

                                                                  It's pretty deep today.

                                                A mountain of snow from plowing the parking lot. 
                                                          It would make a great snow cave.

                                        Last night the snowplow made a walkway to the Institute.

This week was a week of crazy weather.  Last Sunday night it snowed and snowed.  By morning, there was about 16 inches of snow in the parking lot to plow through to get inside.  Then, to top it off, the wind started to blow.  Many people here couldn't remember when Fairbanks had had such a big snowstorm.  Then, they couldn't remember it ever blowing like it did or maybe it was 11 years ago or longer.  Because the snow is powder, the wind creates a "white out" condition.  You can't see very far in front of you.  If that wasn't enough, it did a repeat performance on Thursday night but not quite as much snow.   Tuesday when we arrived, the doors were frozen shut.  Luckily we had a key to the back door and the wind had blown all the snow away from that door.  The doors froze again on Friday.  Alaska is always interesting.

Attendance for classes was on the light side because of the weather, but the young people can't be stopped.  We had a great night Thursday.  On Thursday, Hannah and Mallory (holding the quilt we tied for Melanie and Travis who are getting married) came to learn to cook and help me with refreshments.  We baked Almond Torte and 60 biscuits and made 6 quarts of sausage & gravy.  I am just learning about biscuits and gravy but it turned out very well.  It was definitely a big hit the the young adults here. 

It's great to be able to study and prepare lessons.  We are always learning and enjoying our classes.  The teacher always learns more than the student.  Another couple in the branch announced their engagement and requested a temple preparation class, so we will be adding a class for them and anyone else that wants to come. 

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."  Proverbs 3: 5-6

JoAnn and Jim