What It’s Like to Live in Bush Alaska
6.
When going swimming, remember a gun.
This one always makes me think of the line from The Godfather: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli." Except here in bush Alaska, it's the opposite. Take the gun. You can leave the food if you want, but what's swimming without a little picnic too. Towels: check, Sunscreen: check, snacks and water: check, revolver: check. Ready to swim!
7. You can go outside and keep an eye out for that moose that's wandering around. Animals in your yard are a part of rural life in Alaska. Moose are often in town and could be about anywhere. It is amazing how such big animals could be so stealthy, but they can. We always tell our kids to be aware of their surroundings and watch for moose. One of my scariest moments was when a calf moose came speeding through my yard three feet from my kids. Thankfully, mama wasn't right behind him!
8. No, they can't go out now; a bear was spotted, and they are chasing it around. Bears are not tolerated in town. We will put up with moose but not bear. So, if there is a bear, it will be chased until it is caught or disappears. It is usually chased by many men with guns on 4-wheelers or snow machines. It is best to stay out of the way and let them do their job!
9. Wear a hat. It's fifty below. This is such a common thing to tell my kids. I don't know why it is so hard. They have lovely fur hats. It's -50 degrees, but they insist on wearing nothing or almost nothing. I am sure some other parents out there can relate.
10. No, you can't run outside barefoot because it warmed up to -30 degrees F. Here, -20 degrees is almost t-shirt temps, but -30 is still cold for bare feet... I have to remind one of my children of this. For some reason, she thinks it is summer just because it's not -60 to -40 anymore.
We have been living and serving in bush Alaska for about nine years now, and so many things seem so ordinary that I forget they aren't typical in other places. When we travel back to city life, sometimes what used to be normal now seems odd. In conclusion, things are different out here. There are so many more stories and adventures to be told about living in rural Alaska. Maybe someday I can tell you more. Come and explore the North with us!
7. You can go outside and keep an eye out for that moose that's wandering around. Animals in your yard are a part of rural life in Alaska. Moose are often in town and could be about anywhere. It is amazing how such big animals could be so stealthy, but they can. We always tell our kids to be aware of their surroundings and watch for moose. One of my scariest moments was when a calf moose came speeding through my yard three feet from my kids. Thankfully, mama wasn't right behind him!
8. No, they can't go out now; a bear was spotted, and they are chasing it around. Bears are not tolerated in town. We will put up with moose but not bear. So, if there is a bear, it will be chased until it is caught or disappears. It is usually chased by many men with guns on 4-wheelers or snow machines. It is best to stay out of the way and let them do their job!
9. Wear a hat. It's fifty below. This is such a common thing to tell my kids. I don't know why it is so hard. They have lovely fur hats. It's -50 degrees, but they insist on wearing nothing or almost nothing. I am sure some other parents out there can relate.
10. No, you can't run outside barefoot because it warmed up to -30 degrees F. Here, -20 degrees is almost t-shirt temps, but -30 is still cold for bare feet... I have to remind one of my children of this. For some reason, she thinks it is summer just because it's not -60 to -40 anymore.
We have been living and serving in bush Alaska for about nine years now, and so many things seem so ordinary that I forget they aren't typical in other places. When we travel back to city life, sometimes what used to be normal now seems odd. In conclusion, things are different out here. There are so many more stories and adventures to be told about living in rural Alaska. Maybe someday I can tell you more. Come and explore the North with us!
Additional Posts

Choosing a Missions Organization: Why SEND International Stands Out “Why should I be a missionary through SEND International?” Jenna, a new missionary in Eastern Europe, shared with us what she appreciates about working with SEND. The highlights for her are: - Devotion to prayer - Diligence in communication - Commitment to development - Intentionality in accountability Prayer “Back in September of 2022, the Lord reconnected me with SEND after I had met them a year prior at the Moody Bible Institute. However, before he would sign me up for anything, my Missions Coach encouraged me to pray. He said something to the effect of, "I know that you've been praying on your own for a long time. But as the Church, we are not called to walk alone. So, you and I won't talk for about a month unless you have questions. I want you to go pray with 5 or 6 others from your church about where God is calling you." That October, more than 10 friends prayed with me and we saw God answer as He directed me to Romania. From February 2024 to November 2025, I had the pleasure of being a part of team meetings in Romania with my SEND colleagues. Our meetings were four hours long, two for prayer and two for business. This has been the minimum for our team. There are also prayer meetings with the local churches we partner with, among smaller groups within our team, of course prayer with many of you across the pond, including those at our US office. The organization was built, has been sustained, and continues to run on prayer. This is my favorite thing about SEND. Communication As I mentioned above, we have a two hour block for business / ministry details in each of our meetings. This provides consistency across our team which works alongside three different churches and in a variety of ministries. It also helps us to communicate about the need for change or growth, alongside what is working well. In addition, my team director also meets with each of us, allowing us to communicate needs, considerations, and prayer requests. I've also enjoyed getting to work with SEND workers outside of my immediate region . We receive emails with the minutes from the Europe leadership team, Friday communications from our international director, and information regarding projects that affect our work among the unreached. In December of 2024, our international director at the time wrote a note to my parents for the first Christmas that I was gone. If nothing else had convinced my mom yet, this did. He took the time to care for me, but also to care well for the parents that were sending me (What it meant to my dad and mom for him to do this well has been one of the greatest ways I've been supported.). I also have some pretty wonderful regional directors. These people have prayed alongside us (while also serving in their own countries of service), they have taken time to come visit and encourage our team, and they have also taken the time to encourage the people in our churches. Development SEND has provided much in the area of development and care (spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally). At our regional conference (every three years), there have been medical check ups available, counseling options, and time for connecting with others on the field with similar experience. At our conference last October, I connected with a missionary who served overseas for many years, and is now serving on the administrative side of SEND. She has met with me since then for mentorship and has also invested much of her time recently in preparing a retreat for the singles across Europe. Accountability Over the years I have read and heard amazing stories of how God has worked through missionaries. God has done great things and great things He is still doing! However, people who have committed their lives to the Lord in this way are not “super Christians”. We are still humans with the same struggle against flesh that others have . A major challenge is in being isolated -- living in areas with little to no presence of other believers to sharpen them can cause many difficulties. SEND has been a great resource in this area too. Through my team, I have an accountability partner that I meet with monthly. When my regional director came to visit, he and his wife spent a day with me and asked intentional questions about how I lead, handle conflict, and how I am growing in general as a Christian. In addition, my teammates share their wisdom with me on a regular basis. These things and more have assured me that SEND International is a highly valuable organization and I'm excited to partner with them in service to, for, and with our great God! Interested in being sent by SEND?




