WEAVER FAMILY: A Real Homestead!

June 23 (McQuesten, YT)

Things were a bit more laid back today and we only are flying about two hours. We ate breakfast at the ‘Airport Chalet’ across the road from the airport, and since they had wi-fi we did some computer work and charged up our phones, etc. The waitress wasn’t too happy about us doing that I don’t think, and then when we shared a breakfast and didn’t each get our own, she was quite unfriendly! Maybe she was just having a bad day. Anyway, we were going to walk into town, but weren’t sure how far away it was, and there was a hotel bus in front of the terminal so we asked about getting a ride into town, and he was very kind and gave us a ride, dropped us off in town where we wanted to be and told us where to meet him a few hours later and he would give us a ride back again. Now we are on the way to McQuesten which is just about two hours north of White Horse, to see Buerge’s - relatives of my niece Emily Hershberger’s husband, Isaac Hooley! We met them at Emily & Isaac’s wedding last summer and Roger talked to them about possibly doing this trip, and they were happy for us to stop in.

Mike Buerge had told us to buzz the farm when we got there, and then land and he would come pick us up. We weren’t sure how we were going to know which farm to buzz, thinking they were at a small town. Turns out, they were the ONLY farm, so it wasn’t too hard to figure out! There was no town at all. Mike’s parents – Del & Virginia – had moved to the area in 1986 and ‘homesteaded’ there with their five children. It was a just bush and they had to get rid of trees, etc, and start totally from scratch. They had a generator, but only six years ago got hooked up to the grid for electricity. It’s quite a story they tell, and the various things they have tried over the years. Del & Virginia’s two boys have stayed there also – both are married, four children each – but the 3 girls have gone elsewhere. Roger can write more about the projects they’ve done over the years trying to make a living.

They basically live off the land – have large gardens, a green house, raise their own animals for meat, milk a cow and have chickens for eggs. The nearest town they go to for things is four hours away (White Horse), and of course they homeschool their kids. They’ve built beautiful houses and seem quite happy there. The view they have is amazing, and they see moose and bear pretty regularly. We saw a porcupine when we went for a walk.

Basically they felt ‘called’ to this place and that is why they settled there. They are part of a fellowship called ‘The Move’ for short – meaning the move of the Spirit. We stayed for their service on Sunday. It was the families that lived there and two other older couples that live in the area (no idea how far they had to come). It was interesting, with lively singing, whoever felt ‘called’ to say something spoke, and then over an hour long ‘sermon’. They were going to have a meal together after the service, but we got a ride back to the airplane and took off.

It’s hard to go to bed when it never gets dark, and we’re missing a lot of sleep because of it – at least I am. Roger never needs much sleep, but I’m feeling the effects of not enough sleep! JOLENE