When Max Torkelsen, North Pacific Union Conference president, arrived in Anchorage, Alaska, on a warm spring weekend recently, his first comments were "this beauty is amazing. I want to see a moose!"
After preaching at the Northside Church, Torkelsen talked with conference leaders about the challenges and needs of Alaska. Unfortunately, his quest to see a moose was fruitless.
On Sunday he met with the Alaska Conference executive committee. Accompanied by Ken Crawford, Alaska Conference president, and his wife Colleen, Torkelsen's next stop was the front line of the Iditarod in Willow where 67 dog teams began the 10-day, 1,050-mile journey to Nome. Melissa Owens, a young Adventist girl from Nome, ran her second race.
From there, the group landed on the Susitna River and spent a few moments at a local lodge on the trail. Then it was back to Anchorage to catch a flight home.
Oh, and yes, Torkelsen saw more than 20 moose from the air.
Max Torkelsen, NPUC president, (right) checks out the local color at the start of the 2009 Iditarod dog sled race.
Max Torkelsen, NPUC president, pauses with pilot Steve Libby (left) and Colleen Crawford during his flying tour of a small slice of Alaskan beauty.
