Our Trip Up NORTH

We are home from our jam packed three day/two night courtship in North Dakota. We arrived in Minot around 10:30 a.m. on Monday and we went non-stop till we got on the plane at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday. I had no idea how mentally, emotionally, and physically tiring and stressful this trip would be for me. I can't even imagine how taxing it was for Jay since he was the one being interviewed and trying to interview each congregation.

There was a wealth of information shared with us. We met some wonderful people that were very hospitable and shared their day and evening with us. We saw so many beautiful things and learned some of the history in that area.

We spent Monday in Minot. First, we were given a quick little tour on our way to the bed and breakfast. Then after we were settled at the bnb, a gentleman picked us up for lunch and then more touring of the local area. We did go back to the bnb for some much needed rest . . . a pick me up power nap to zap an oncoming headache. Then we got a tour of the church and while Jay interviewed for about an hour and a half I got to have a wonderful conversation with a member of the church. We enjoyed an evening of fellowship before calling it a night.

We got up early Tuesday morning to a wonderful breakfast and great conversation with the bnb hosts. Then a gentleman picked us up to drive us two hours to Williston. We made a brief stop at the bishop's home to met and talk with him for about an hour. Once we arrived in Williston we got a tour of the parsonage and then a couple from one of the congregations there came and took us all around the area of Williston.

It is amazing all the oil pumps working out there. They have a huge pipeline in ND that I've never heard about. We even saw an oil rig in a field drilling. Evidently there is more oil there than in Saudi Arabia, if I understood correctly, but there's just not a way to get it out (refining it). If I understood correctly, they pump it into tankers, trucks transport it and then it is shipped to refineries. The wind . . . it is so windy, we inquired about wind farming, but again they don't have a way to get it out. I guess there would need to be another power grid to get the energy out. North Dakota seems to be a very big energy state.

The landscape and wildlife are amazing. Minot is located in a valley and the area between Minot and Williston reminds us a lot of the Rocky Mountain foothills. Williston is actually on the prarie, but still very unique. We saw deer, rabbits (cottontails), antelope, pheasants, ducks, geese, and pelicans. Hunting and fishing are big in the area and one of the fish they fish is the paddlefish.

Below are some pictures of the area . . .



This is a train tressel heading west out of Minot to Williston. There are two railroad companies that pass through the area, and Amtrak has a station too.

YES . . . that is still snow on the ground!! There were patches of snow still on the ground. Evidently the air temps haven't warmed up enough to melt it all. However, the days we were there were beautiful.