Harvester Island, Alaska. September 4-11, 2021.

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen”

The Doxology bookended our time in Alaska. Its message never more meaningful. My eyes moist once again remembering.

My home in Black Forest to Denver to Anchorage to Kodiak Island – would we make it to Harvester Island on that bush plane? A real question.

Kodiak, sunny and blue didn’t tell the story of the heavy fog shrouding the rugged terrain between us and Harvester Island in the Alaska wilderness. Yes, I was nervous.

The morning before leaving, I sat and watched the birds at my feeders. A Eurasian-collared Dove came for breakfast. A Dove – God whispered, “Peace I leave with you; … let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27. A timely, needed message, a prelude of Wilderness Worship.

Sitting in Leslie’s great room overlooking the bay, Kent ministered to us with his by-memory playing of the great hymns of our faith on Leslie’s 1906 Steinway. John 14:27 came to mind; I remembered.

Wilderness Worship.

The fog grounded the bush planes, the Cessna and the Piper Cubs; flying over this piece of Alaska wilderness impossible that day.

Plan B. Leslie made a Walmart run cleaning them out of blow up mattresses and purchasing lunch for her unplanned-for-guests. We were readying for a big slumber party.

We circled, held hands and for the first time that week and sang The Doxology, our faith declaration of the blessings anticipated during the next seven days.

Wilderness Worship.

Plan C. Before even choosing sleeping spots, the phone rang. The bush planes might not be able to fly but float planes could. God’s provision, an answer to prayer I didn’t think to pray. Humbled.

Wilderness Worship.

Quickly we pulled our knee boots (an important accessory) from our luggage, re-zipped, and piled into pick-ups with our 50 pound suitcases stacked precariously (to my lower 48 eyes) in the bed of the truck.

A brief drive to the float planes. Soon, not only our luggage, we too stepped on a large scale. Our weight recorded in ink determining who flies with whom. Jennifer, Janet, Joan, and Karen were my flying partners.

Flying high over this gentler swath of Alaska wilderness in our Beaver Float plane, the beauty kept us wide-eyed and snapping pictures. A highlight … a momma bear and her two cubs searching the Alpine carpet, foraging for dinner. The bears heading my list of the wild and wonderful creatures God gifted us with in their own habitat.

Wilderness Worship.

Soon, too soon, we were landing in Uyak Bay, the home of Harvester Island. Harvester Island is a working fish camp; the Field’s family pull salmon from their nets three times each day; also our home for a week.

The pontoon floats of the Beaver cushioned our landing. Grabbing the hand of our pilot, we carefully walked down the float stepping into the shallow waters thankful for knee boots. Our luggage followed delivered by a Kubota tractor.

Myra, my roommate and I unpacked in our spacious barn dorm room complete with a view of Uyak Bay. Each morning gifted us with beautiful yellow and orange sunrises painted by the original artist, his color choices exquisite. And in the dark of night, the bright stars another gift. Joan and her husband on one side, Donna and Anne Marie on the other became more than new friends, they became encouragers. We partied every night talking far later than maybe was wise – balanced by sleeping in till eight (class didn’t start until nine).

Wilderness Worship.

Sunday morning began with communion. Tyler, the pastor among us, reminded us of Jesus inviting his disciples after a long night on the water to a breakfast of fish. John 21:9-14. So appropriate. Smoked salmon was added to our Pilot bread with its long shelf life, and Wine made from grapes and honey, the grapes local to Harvester Island. We feasted on the dried smoked salmon, a similar fish to what Jesus offered his disciples, as well as the bread and wine. We remembered.

Wilderness Worship.

For the continuing story …
Wilderness Worship – Holy Ground, Thursday, September 23.
Wilderness Worship on the Island of Grace – Thursday, September 30.

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2021