Yukon Ho, part 1!

The trek to Mendenhall YT, was beautiful, long, nerve wracking, at times heavy hearted, and often wonder-filled.

We joined the scenic Alaska Highway at "Mile 0" in Dawson Creek where we stopped to see a photography exhibit highlighting words of Wisdom from current B.C. elders of different First Nations. Once again, I was struck by how much has been lost and taken, and the struggle to preserve the wisdom of this beautiful culture.

In the morning we continued our trek northwest along the Alaska highway. We drove through the town of Chetwynd where the townsfolk have unbelievable chainsaw carvings on display, from their years of annual competitions.

Afterward we took a side route to see the W.A.C. Bennett dam. An engineering marvel I knew nothing about. In fact it is one of two hydro electric dams in the area, and a third is under construction. It's hard to know how to feel about these things as we see and read about the tension between enjoying hydro, and what the construction of these dams does to change the landscape, migration paths, and especially how the use of the land impacts our Indigenous Peoples. We met a lady further along on our adventure who said that in order to start the construction of the third dam, they had to dig up the graves of her ancestors (among others) which were along the banks of the river. It's remarkable to me that such a disrespectful act would be carried out. How is it that we can talk a good talk in big rooms, classrooms, and on public platforms about respect and reconciliation, yet big companies with big money can refuse to alter their plans by one metre to respect the dead, and the rights of a culture?

At the same time, the journey along the Alaska highway has been filled with natural wonders. We've witnessed juvenile bald eagles mantelling the carrion at the side of the road, a lone timber wolf waiting to cross the highway, a night view of stars and the milky way that silenced everything, as well as fox, caribou, grouse, bison and deer practically at our doorstep. Two of our nights were spent under the spell of the Northern Lights dancing across the sky. It was mesmerizing.

The WHOLE earth is filled with God's glory! Isaiah 6:3

As we continued our drive and the snow fell silently down, a lone bison grazed in the distance. Nearby we noticed a monument with an American and Australian flag. My heart instantly sank as I realized this was the site of the recent senseless murders of the young couple intending to be on "the adventure of a lifetime" this past summer.

As we turned around to stop and pay our respects, our hearts broke all over again for all of the families involved. The memorial and the magnificence of the Northern Rockies stood in such offensive contrast to each other. The splendor of God's beauty and creative goodness, against the utter brokenness of humanity. Life taken away against the backdrop of the Author of Life's artistry. With the weight of such a contast present, we were grateful for the hope of redemption and life after this life, offered through the Creator of the Mountains Himself.

"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life... nor things present, nor

things to come...shall be

able to separate us from

the love of God, which is in

Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38,39