We would like to invite you to join us on our adventure to paradise! Our intention was to add to our blog each night during our trip. Each day was filled to the brim with activities. When we returned to the hale (house) we would do our reading, write in our journals and fall fast asleep. Therefore the blog didn't go quite as we had planned. Nonetheless, here it is. Albeit a little late, but we wanted to share our dream come true adventure with all of you who helped make it happen. Naturally if you want to take the journey with us in the order it happened, you will have to start with the first entry way at the bottom. 

We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who came to our fundraising events. The countless movies, cake walks, bake sales, bingo games, carnivals, snow cones, and all of the other things we did - Thank you! We wanted to put a thank you add in the Nome Nugget, but it was a little expensive. There were over 240 people, businesses, sporting teams, and organizations that helped us reach our goal. We raised over $28,000 with all of your help. We could not have done it without each and every one of you. To our families - what can we say but Quyannukpuq a million times over. 

We hope that by accomplishing our goal and making this trip happen, it will inspire other children to believe in themselves and make their dreams come true. Every step of the way I told the students "God will reward you for the fruits of your labor." On the third day, McKenzie told me "Wow, God really is rewarding us for the fruits of our labor!" I told him "Remember, if you want it, and work hard enough for it, you can do anything you want in life." These ten children now believe and know that in their hearts. This was a life changing experience for us all. In the future, when life seems to be getting them down all they have to do is think back on this trip and know that if they did it once, they can do it again. Thank you every one. 

Lynda & Gary Bekoalok

(These two pictures are of us on Alaska Airlines on the way to Hawaii)

Back to the snow and cold of Alaska. It was good to be home, but we will miss our new friends and the warmth of Hawaii. Aloha!

We can never thank Jim and Ferno Tweeto enough for all they did to help us get to Anchorage on time to catch our flight to Hawaii. They even stored our winter gear in their hanger for us. Quyannukpuq!

 Are you ready to go home? "No way!" they said. It was Mother's Day and everyone was anxious to see their families. Each child had a fresh pineapple to take home to their family, but a big piece of their hearts were still in Hawaii.

Tired kids

We had some tired little kids by the time we loaded the plane to Unalakleet. I think most everyone slept. Well, almost everyone.

When we left 11 days earlier we only had small backpacks as luggage. When we returned we checked 22 bags at 408 pounds! Now that's shopping! We watched them load our luggage on the Era/Frontier plane headed to Unalakleet. 

We were able to spend the day with family or friends in Anchorage. Then we all met at Sour Dough Mining Company to eat supper. Jeri Geer, Paige Blake, and Kelly Daughtery (all former Shaktoolik teachers) also met us to eat. Cody Knoll also met us. It sure was fun seeing people.