The US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 or $7.2MM (or 2 cents per acre). Many thought it was a mistake to buy it, but that was before they found the incredibly valuable natural resources like gold and oil here. It became the 49th US State in 1959 and it is by far the largest covering over 600,000 square miles with more coastline than all the other 49 states combined (more than twice the size of Texas!!)
It has 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States. It produces more than half of all the wild seafood harvested in the US. Alaska has more glaciers than roads. And there are two glaciers that are growing: Dawes and Hubbard (which we will see tomorrow).
During the summer, some parts of Alaska experience the Midnight Sun where the sun barely sets. One day, sunrise was 3:50am and sunset was 10:07pm. It was wild to be looking outside at 9pm and it was still light outside.
One of our brothers made solo trips from Seattle every summer for 12+ years to preach. A sister found copies of Studies in the Scriptures in a house she purchased in 1930 proving that he covered a territory of over 1200 miles by himself with an artificial leg. During his last trip in 1942, he arrived at this sister’s home after his canoe capsized with soaking wet literature and no doubt a smile on his face. In 1944, Gilead grads started to arrive.
Just as the sun never quite sets during the summer, it never quite rises during the winter. But while this was an adjustment for the friends - they found that “night” witnessing during the day was the best time to catch people at home. Especially since secular work in those days almost came to a standstill and the locals welcomed any visitors who were brave enough to come out in the cold. Bonus: it also helped our friends avoid cabin fever.
Weather: They carried their book bags upside down so the heavy rains wouldn’t soak their literature. It was so cold at times that the friends would reach in the closet for another layer of clothes only to find it frozen to the wall.
Comments
Post a Comment