Posted in Mission Trip to Alaska

The city of Whittier is probably one of the most fascinating places I have ever been! It is a tiny little place nestled in the mountains a little past Portage Valley. What makes this place interesting is that the ONLY way to get to Whittier is to go through a 2 mile tunnel THROUGH the entire mountain. This tunnel was made back in the WW2 time period for trains to go through. Well, 1 train at a time, that is. So, it is very  narrow! Only 1 way of cars can go through at a time! And so there is a schedule of when the tunnel is open for going IN or coming OUT. You have to wait on an appointed time each day to go in or out. And at some times the tunnel closes for a train to pass through. And even yet still, if the weather is too bad, the tunnel might close for that as well! Needless to say, it can be very difficult to get in and out of this place!

There are less than 150 people living in Whittier, maybe around 125 or so. Another odd thing about this place...most of the town - including residents AND businesses - reside in 1 tall building! There are apartment type condos in this building, city hall, a small grocery store (SMALL), post office, a laundromat, and their small one room church. When we arrived at the church room on Sunday, there were 4 members of the congregation there. They might have anywhere from 2-10 people there on Sundays. They are a sweet and faithful people. But also discouraged! Pray for the Christians in Whittier if you think of them. They said a lot of the people there just stay in their apartments all the time. They come to Whittier for the seclusion.

There is a school out there...36 students this year! And, there is an underground tunnel or hallway that takes them from the 1 building with most of the housing into the school building! (Did you believe me when I said this place was fascinating?) The tunnel was built so that the kids wouldn't have to get out in treacherous weather to go to school, they could just go underground and get there! And we noticed that Whittier is MUCH windier, more blustery, a LOT more snow than Anchorage, which is around 65 or so miles away.

Please pray for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that live in Whittier. Theirs is truly a very difficult job! The people may live in one building...but their lives are so very separate and secluded. Many of them do not wish to be told about Christ. Many of them do not wish to be reached out to. Many of them just do not even want to get out of their apartment. But they need the Lord desperately. Please be praying with me for more Christians to rise up from this small place...and that the hearts of those there would be open to Jesus.