05. Aug

Everything is coming to a quick end. I just checked the Fishing Hotline and by the looks of things, my last days in Alaska will not be to enjoy this beautiful state, but instead to work. We got called in for 11 am tomorrow and will work until 11 pm Monday night. While the last days will be long, I did come here to work and will not regret it due to the fact I love my job!

This past Thursday we had a close call at our site. it was about 4 or so in the morning and we were getting the beach nets ready to go out and start fishing when suddenly there was a guy running to us. He told us that one of the crew on net 2 got taken out by an anchor. The rope snapped and flew back and hit him. It was a scary moment not knowing what was going to happen next. Thank the Lord we had a guy who is working for us who is a paramedic and he was able to look at him and assess the injury. The hurt crewmember suffered a bad rope burn across his stomach and a big cut across his arm, and the anchor caught him in the thigh area which actually was great - because any higher would have meant serious damage to the chest area.

I look back to that day and say, 'Thank you Jesus that was not me, because it should have been me'. You see, every day this season I worked on net number 2. That net was always worked by Teagun and me, but for some reason I went to net number 1 on this morning. I started walking there and I didn't know why. I realize now that God was protecting me because the guy who did get hit is much bigger than me and his size gave him more buffering to take that hit. If that 35 pound anchor would have flown back and hit me, all I know is I could have been in the hospital with some broken bones.

I will try to write one more time before I leave Alaska and head back down to the lower 48. But keep in prayer the guys I work with as well as me because you never know when a crazy situation can happen. This is a job where injuries occur and even deaths are possible. The season is almost over and we really would not like things to end that way because it's been such a great season and hopefully will hit 200,000 pounds very soon!

Until next time,
Edward

03. August

Oh, how I have been so busy lately in the Cook Inlet. The last couple of weeks have been super busy with 12 - 20 hour days about everyday of the week with commercial fishing. We are slowly approaching 170,000 pounds of fish but the sad part is that the fish count has slowed down a lot. We were bringing in at least 15,000 pound a day but now we will be lucky to get 8,000 pounds. My time up here is coming to a close very quickly and while this is my first time working commercial fishing I have a feeling it will not be my last. I have learned so much while up here and have to say this is by far my best summer ever!

The people I work for, the Coursen's, have been so kind and made me feel at home everytime I come to work for them. They are strong Christians and you can see evidence of that in how they talk and even the way they work. Days get so jammed together here that you work one day and forget what day of the week it is. We have had to deal lately with a couple of bad weather days where it rains all day and the waves, at times, roll into the boat. When we are on the go we work until we can have a break and that's when we either eat or take a cat nap or even mend some of the damaged nets.

While up here there are things I have picked up and then other things I've been reminded of...sayings my parents told me when growing up. One of those things was this, "Edward, you should always be the first person on the field and you should be the last one to leave the field." I remember being told this during my time playing sports and going to practices because my parents believed (and they were right) the way you determine someone's dedication to a sport is about who is consistently there. True leaders are the first one to show up and they will be the last one to leave.

While being up here I have taken the same principle my parents taught me I don't know how many years ago. I strive to be the first guy down at the fish site even if we have to be there for 3:45 am and I always try to be last one to leave the beach. This principle is not something you should just use for work or sports. And so far it has been a great little reminder to keep me going to give my all everyday I am out here. (If you double-click on the pics below, they will enlarge - see more of Alaska!)

On one of my days off I was able take an amazing hike up to the summit of Skyline Mountain. It was a very strenous hike that required a good bit of rock climbing too. Even though it was probably over a mile hike up to the top, it was an exhausting hike. My cousin, Tyler, and I had to stop a couple of times to let our legs rest due the steepness of some of the mountain. We would get some water into our system and then it was back to getting to the top of the mountain. As we would climb I would look back and see the scenery all around and just be in awe of the beauty that surrounded me.

During the hike Tyler and I both had our headphones on, not trying to ignore each other, but to get some motivation to keep pushing though. In my headphones I was bumping to Lecrae. His rapping was no other than inspiring and speaking truth in my life. It kept me going and my legs kept turning as we started to reach the top of the mountian. The feeling going up the mountain was exhausting and at times it felt like it would be impossible to make it. But once we reached the top, everything changed. The minute I hit the summit of the mountain all the pain and tiredness I felt went into the breeze. It was a great accomplishment in my life because I did something I had never done before. I then realized why individuals climb mountain - to see these types of views I saw while up there not to mention the sense of accomplishment.After taking in the views we headed down the mountain and God hit me with a thought that was just so great and I was able to relate to what He said due to what I had just experienced. In our walk with Christ we have to go up mountains. While going up these mountains we face trials of all sorts, sometimes resulting in pain or exhaustion. We sometimes have to take breaks but watch out - because during those breaks your mind starts thinking, 'I have had enough and climbing down will be better than continuing this climb up.'

As believers we must continue to climb up because through those trials, like Paul says in his letter, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Challenging times will give you a faith like you have never experienced before if you just push through because God sees the heart and judges by that.

During my hike I kept looking the peak of the mountain and said to myself, 'I can do this, I can do this'. Believers need to always be reminded of the overall goal they have set before them, but also not forget the small goals or accomplishments they went through to see the overall goal come to pass. Keep your eyes on the goal - on this hike, mine was the top of the mountain.

Your goal may be to see a co-worker reached or even see people on campus come to know God. Keep your eyes focused on those dreams. Once you reach the top/your goal, there is no feeling like it. Everything you felt - all the pain and struggle goes out the window because you achieved what you set out to do. Celebrate in the victory and give God praise because without His help and His walking you through each step, maybe you would have never reached the top/your goal. I pray that whatever kind of mountain you are facing today, your faith will strengthen and your eyes will stay focused on the overall goal and that you will never forget the small victories you experienced as you climbed to the top. Celebrate and give God the glory.

I hope that these words of Paul's about perseverance will inspire you like it did me. Sometimes our greatest victories are at the top of a mountain and perseverance will get us there. Do you have the guts to keep on pushing to receive the victory or will you back down?

Until next time,
Edward

22. July

It is what it is...

Work has been busy and the fish are still coming in. We are approaching 100,000 pounds of fish but now have been put to a limit due to the cannery and the lack of workers. Wednesday we were called out to go fishing and fish we did. What started out to be a great day with an average of about a tote and a half for each net, then all of a sudden we were told to pull our nets out the water because the cannery wasn't buying anymore fish.

So what was going to be great fishing with plans to fish through the night and all day Thursday came to a halt when those words were spoken. The crew was somewhat upset because this meant that fishing was stopping and we would rather keep fishing. The end of the day came to a screeching halt at around 11pm with our crew feeling discouraged. We were in a groove and pumped to go all night, picking and picking and picking fish. But it is what it is!

Earlier that morning we were out by 3am getting gear ready and set so when the opener came at 5am we'd be ready to go. In those early hours we got the nets set and had a little time to relax as the nets soaked so I decided to go into the open air and just spend time with God because in my crazy life as of now, those times get shorter and do not happen as much as I would like it to just because I am on the go all the time.

During that quiet, cool time before the day began I was reminded that when things come our way that we may not like - yes, we must conquer them but there are times when you can't do anything in your power to stop things when they aren't going the way you want. And rather than just throwing a fit or turning away from God, you can just say 'God, you did this for a reason and I will find out what the reason is.' At the times I sense this, it's just like, 'man, thanks God'- when this circumstance comes up I will remember what You told me. Funny thing yesterday was that I was able to go back to what He told me that morning and I just smiled and said...You knew this was going to happen!

So I have today off, which is nice, but it looks like we will fish through the weekend and part of the week. I am loving this job and learning so much each day from Mr. Terry and his son Teagun. I have never worked a job where by the end of the day my finger nails are sore and are now the bruises are showing. But, I just think I would have it no other way.

17. July

Man oh man yesterday was such a great day! I can't even describe the feeling we experienced yesterday by catching so many fish. On Friday there was an announced Emergency order for the Cook Inlet that there was an escapement of red salmon coming through the Inlet and set net fishing was opened for commercial fishermen to fish and DID WE EVER FISH! We were down on the beach by 6 am and ready for 7 am when the time came to put the nets out. Right when the nets landed the fish started hitting them and hitting them hard.


After the swing nets were set we looked over and the outers were getting bombarded with fish. We boated out and started picking through the nets. As we started picking the nets the weather and water got choppy. As the tide was going out we were picking fish and getting hit by waves. We would pick fish quickly and then when big waves would come we had to hold on to the line and try not to lose our spot in the line plus we had to be sure the line kept away from the prop.

There was so much fish coming in that when you would finish picking the net and would put it back down, the fish would start hitting it again. We were catching so many fish that we did not know what to do except to just keep picking fish. We picked fish constantly for 8 hours straight and still they were coming in faster than we could pick. Here's the boat as we are taking out the fish to put in the totes.
Once the tide turned, our entire fish effort changed too. We could not fish our outer nets and swing sets due to the rough waters which could swamp our boat's motor or even campsize it. A fishing site right next to us decided to fish during the rough weather and it did not turn out so good for them. Their boat flipped while they were trying to come in and the crew had to jump out their boat so the boat would not get on top of them.

We decided to pick a couple of more nets and there were so many fish on the line that it was tipping our boat in the water because of the weight. We fished until 10 o'clock in the evening and each net yielded about 2 totes of fish. Altogether we caught 30,000 pounds of fish. (22 totes full to the brim with red salmon). That is what I call a great fishing day.

I have to say this was the first big run of the season and there are still many more to come. It is definitely hard work and you feel all the effects of the work you put in the day before when you wake up the next morning. It was such a great day and I was happy to experience something like this and hope that many more fish find our nets for the rest of the month. As I get busier and busier it is easy to forget what day of the week it is and things like that. But I am still having a blast up here and trying my hand at being a commercial fisherman in Alaska. I finally discovered why I take pleasure in doing things that some people would consider crazy or say, "Why do you want to do that?". I have come to this conclusion: I love anything that gets my adrenaline pumping but also I want to say I have lived a fulfilled life and I do not regret one thing I have done because it is what I wanted out of life. That is why I am up here; well, heck the money is nice but to say I did something that very few people I know have never done sounds like something fun to hang your hat on. I believe this is not just the beginning or the end of my commercial fishing. I have been thinking maybe in a couple of years of trying my hand at king crab fishing. When the water was hitting me in my face and I was pulling so many fish in still, that was the moment I knew I loved this job. It is the thrill of danger that excites me to do these kind of things: jumping out a plane, bungee jumping, or even jumping off of campus property. Why live life if you will not live to your fullest?

I have one life and I want to not just do crazy things but also I want to be influential in my generation. I also want to let God's love show to the people around me on campus. I do not want to sit back and just say, 'Hey God, I'm going to just stay here and not be used by You.' Instead, 'Hey God, I am going to play the background and you take the main role and I will become an instrument for You.' I want Him to use me to make a difference to the people around me. I was meditating on this and I have this fascination of seeing things going from being really dirty to clean and I understand why: it's because I like seeing things go from bad to good. That is what I want to see; I want to experince people's lives from being without Christ to a life filled with Christ. I have seen that in my good friend, James Pickle. I have seen his life go from feeling 'Why should I follow Christ?' to a life where James' has realized that he cannot live without Him. That experience will always be the best adrenaline rush that can happen and I want to live my life to so that I am influential in others as they seek peace and watch God's will overtake their lives.

THE END OF A GREAT DAY OF FISHING



I have the day off today but we go back out at 6 am to fish a full day tomorrow. FISH ON!!

Until next time,
Edward

13. July

So the first day of fishing season went very good. I learned a lot while working out there. I now understand the process of how things roll and when Thursday comes around I will be able to help a lot more at my site. The first morning began with flaking the nets out and loading them into the boat to go out and then the lines were set. We setted (yea, that's the way you say it) three lines in a mid way section that are called swing sets. Then we came back to shore and left the nets soaking so the fish could run into the nets.

How the whole thing works is as you set your nets the fish are swimming around in the current and the current changes when the tide changes. So when the tide is going out we set the nets and when the tide and current change we go out and pick those nets and get the fish! There are three guys to a boat: one guy works the bow and he pulls up the nets at the beginning of the set line over the bow and onto the middle of the boat. He keeps the lead end (which is the bottom end) and my side takes the corks and we quickly start pulling through the the net until we get to the end of the line. As we are doing that we pick the fish out of the lines and toss them into the boat. Then they go into the totes, then the truck, then down the beach.

We are fishing eight lines that are about 75 yards long or maybe a little bit bigger. 3 are close to the beach, then there are 3 swing nets and 2 outer nets. This set up is giving us the greatest chances of catching as many fish as we can - it's all about numbers!

It has been a great two days off after that first day but I am constantly on call because you never know if Wildlife and Fisheries will all of a sudden let you commercial fish on the days you have off. This can happen if there is a high concentration of fish coming through Cook Inlet. Then I would have to be ready to go out and fish at a minute's notice.


During the last two days I've been reading the book, "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day". Even though I still haven't finished it, I can tell it's gonna be a good one. The first chapter introduces you to Benaiah who was a courageous man - this guy even chased down a lion and killed it. The author comments that most human beings would never chase a lion down but instead run away from it. Benaiah eventually becomes the head of King David's bodyguards. The writer then talks about opportunities - how you never know when an opportunity presented could end up leading to something bigger. We have opportunities that present themselves to us and it is up to us to take the moment - seize it and embrace it - or walk away. I feel like when it comes to things that are not of this earth, we need to definitely seize those opportunities - become like Benaiah and be a lion chaser and go after what God has laid before us because you never know where that opportunity will lead, maybe a new job or even a person coming to know Christ. I want to look at my opportunities and say, "Be a lion chaser" and take advantage of everything God has in store for my life. Ask yourself, do you want to be a lion chaser or just run away from the lions? I go back out tomorrow to fish and will look at this opportunity to grow, chase lions, and chase fish too!

Until next time,

Edward

10. July

I can not wait for tomorrow, it is like D-Day: the real beginning of the fishing season. The season opens up Monday at 6 am and we can fish every moment of the day until they say fishing is done for the day. Commercial fishermen are always guaranteed Mondays and Thursdays to fish and Wildlife and Fisheries will sometimes let us fish in between those days if the fish count is in our favor. I am really excited that it is almost here. All the nets are mended and the gear is down at the beach - the last thing we need is just some fish to come into our nets. Who knows what tomorrow will bring but the word is that the fish are coming and they will be coming in big numbers.

I am excited to work a job that I have never done before. It is something I will look back on and say "I commercial-fished in Alaska" and smile about it... but first I have to make it through this season.

Another great thing that happened today - besides the women soccer team beating Brazil, was my father's birthday. I am where I am today because of him: he is my best friend and I am happy to have him as my dad. I do not know of anyone who is cooler and I am growing to be a man because of the great example he has been in my life . He is always willing to teach and and to counsel me in everything I do. I love you Dad!

Well guys, wish me luck and I hope the fish find our nets and I will surely have stories to tell on the other side of this adventure!

Until next time,
Edward

7. July

Man it doesn't feel like it has been a week. I have been really busy just settling into my life up here in Alaska. I pretty much have been working every day preparing to get things ready for the official opening of commercial fishing season. So here are some things I have found out so far... We will be fishing for red salmon, which is really popular and they are going for $1.75 a pound, which is very good...but we still hope it goes up. I've also learned the back end of this industry: going out to set lines when it is a low tide since it is better to set your nets at that time...because you are able to get out and walk where there would normally be 20 or so feet of water. I am taking in so much information about commercial fishing and it is becoming something in which I am really interested.

Since being up here I have also had the chance to meet the people I will be working with. In the crew I am third to youngest and it is only 6 of us working for my employer. I have become very impressed with the crew's work ethics and how they are just willing to work and to do hard labor. One of the crew members I am working with is Teagan; he is a year older than me and has been commercial fishing for 11 years - that just shocked me at his willingness to labor this hard for so long. Alaskan people have a drive like not too many people I have met besides some people in the south who really want to work and are willing to work hard till the job is done.

So the season officially starts on July 11 but now it is non-stop - we are constantly going and working until they tell us to quit. The days are so long here that you really don't get a feeling for the real time of the day. One thing I have been learning how to do and have become fairly decent at is mending (yes, pretty much sewing). We are mending nets to put out next week when the season opens. What we do is find where there is a piece of string missing or the net pattern is messed up and just tie a knot and connect back into place so it all looks a flowing pattern. Not repairing a spot means fish can escape. If a fish escapes that means MONEY goes with it. Imagine losing a 1.75 a pound of that fish that got through. My pay will depend on how much we catch so I don't want ANY to get away.

Alaska has definitely been an adventure so far. I am pulling away a few things from this experience. I am living somewhat a life of a fisherman just like the disciples did. While they fished to eat, I am fishing for the adventure it will bring and the money. It is not all about the money but about the life lessons I am gleaning, including that I must rely on God everyday for daily bread. Each time I go out I need to read His word or else I will be dry and thirsty that entire day and how I present myself will reflect that. His word brings life to my spirit man which in turn brings His glory in my work ... and the guys I work with hopefully see a difference in me. God calls us to be a light in the darkness and that is what the disciples did - they brought the light to the darkness. We as belivers are a new set of disciples and should be evaluating our lives to see how we can bring our God in to light up the dark places, whether is it where we work, school, as well as our everyday ordinary lives. In the magnificent and quiet beauty of this place God has been speaking to me and moving in my life since there are so few distractions; it is like He awoke my soul like never before and is filling me up to pour out into the hopeless and help set those in bondage free. I am so thankful at where I am at and I miss all you guys back home.

Until next time,
Edward

30. June

So far so good on my trip here...there is a three hour time difference and sunshine nearly all the time. I had a great flights yesterday. LAX was cool (even tho I was just at the airport) because I had never been to Los Angeles before. I then hopped off and went to my next flight to take me to Anchorage. Both flights were smooth sailing - I slept a majority of the Anchorage flight comfortably because I had an empty seat beside me. After landing in Anchorage and grabbing my bags I met my Uncle and we jumped in his truck for a nice three hour drive into Kenai getting to see lots of mountains and the famous Cook Inlet. At 2 am it was dark outside but not so dark where you could not see anything. It was magnificent seeing how the mountains and the water together seem to run into each other. I can't think of anything greater that sort of just gels together like the mountains and oceans do. Driving through the pass, my Uncle (Buddy) and I caught up on our lives and compared stories of our recollections. Stopping to walk around and up to the Kenai River brought back memories of my past Alaskan summers of fishing and feeling the cool breeze in the air.

As I see, feel, and smell all of the nature surrounding me, I can't help but think of how great of a God I serve - He made the rivers, oceans, mountains, the cool air. Words cannot describe everything I am experiencing as I stand out in the chilly morning air. Mountains here in Alaska are just down-right huge. They have great definition and character and none of them look the same. Water in the rivers, creeks, and even ocean is so clean and fresh. It possesses great tenacity at times and yet at other times a quietness/calmness. O the air - it is crisp and calming. I wish I could just inhale it and never exhale it - that crisp smell it has is a unique experience.

Just being outdoors in this last frontier solidifies for me that there is no doubt in my heart that there is something much greater out there - God - and I am in awe of His creation and all that it possesses for us humans to experience. Psalm 148 - check it out - was written for a day like today: Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. WHOA!

Tomorrow we will be heading out to set lines in Cook Inlet so we can start fishing. It will be a full day of work and I am excited to begin this great opportunity. Who knows what God has in store but I pray I can reach out to the guys I fish with and that my work and what I put my hand to will reflect God's glory.

Until next time,

Edward

27. June

Last night I had a bar-b-que with some of my friends. It was definitely a great time of hanging out and just talking to some friends before I leave to take on an Alaskan adventure. I am heading up there for a month and a half to work on a commercial fish boat catching salmon. As the evening was winding it was a great feeling to have all these friends around me. I just began to think of everyone who showed up and recognized that I was surrounded by people who cared about my life and wanted to celebrate a last hang-out before I leave. I came the realization that I am in a great community of college believers - majoring in different areas and having different dreams in life, but all our end goals are the same in the light of eternity. It was a reminder as to why I need to be around a group of people like this - because communities share the same end goal. We need to be in a community where we are constantly learning and growing - not only in our physical lives but also in our spiritual lives.

I am going to try to keep the whole blogging thing up while in Alaska letting you know how I am doing and what is going on in the LIFE of Ecloue.

Until next time,

Edward

Check out the video @ http://vimeo.com/25935636