Day 22 – Finding Treasure Where God Leads

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” — Matthew 13:44

Today marks Day 22 of our 66-day motorcycle adventure to Alaska, and we officially reached the one-third mark of our journey. Looking back over these first twenty-two days, we’re reminded that this trip has never been just about the miles we’ve traveled. It’s been about the people God has placed in our path, the lessons He’s been teaching us, and the countless reminders that He is faithfully guiding every turn of the road.

Our day began much earlier than expected with a 5:00 a.m. phone call from a friend back home in New York. Sometimes we forget there’s a four-hour time difference between Alaska and home! We tried to drift back to sleep, but with Alaska’s never-ending summer daylight pouring through the windows, that wasn’t happening. So I brewed a fresh cup of coffee, made some toast, and spent the quiet morning finishing another video while enjoying the peaceful start to the day.

A little while later, Melvin joined me for coffee, toast, and oatmeal before another phone call came in—this time from my dad. He told us he had fallen through the back deck at home. Our hearts immediately sank, but praise God, he was doing much better than it could have been. Once again we were reminded how precious life is and how quickly our plans can change. We thanked the Lord for His protection.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” — Psalm 46:1

After breakfast we packed up Gracie, my faithful BMW, while Freedom, Melvin’s bike, remained behind waiting for its new rear sprocket. It was just the two of us riding into Fairbanks together on one motorcycle, grateful that God had provided a reliable way to continue the adventure.

The ride from North Pole to Fairbanks only took about thirty minutes. The roads were still damp from yesterday’s rain, temperatures hovered around sixty degrees, and thick gray clouds covered the sky. Still, the forecast looked promising, and our excitement grew as we met up with our new friend, Ken, who had generously offered to take us gold panning on his property.

Before heading into the wilderness, Ken showed us a unique Airbnb called The Wilding along Chena Hot Springs Road. The modern tiny homes featured mirrored glass walls, black metal siding, beautiful cedar decks, cozy fire pits with Adirondack chairs, and even private outdoor saunas. The employee there shared that people often pay $600 to $800 a night just for the opportunity to experience Alaska and possibly witness the Northern Lights. It was certainly unlike anything we’d ever seen.

From there we continued north along the Steese Highway, stopping at several historic mining areas and scenic overlooks. Heavy fog hid much of the mountain scenery, but it gave everything a peaceful, almost mysterious beauty. We even passed the Poker Flat Research Range, where the large research dome could be seen in the distance.

Eventually we reached Ken’s property after making one stop at Upper Chatanika Recreation Area to fill our water bottles from an old hand-pump well. Before venturing out, Ken treated us to an amazing lunch of turkey and cheese sandwiches on multigrain bread, fresh plums, and cold seltzer water. His generosity reminded us once again how God continually provides through the kindness of others.

“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” — Hebrews 13:2

After lunch we strapped on our gear, clipped bear spray to our belts, grabbed our gold pans, and started hiking up Ken’s service road toward the creek.

The first ten minutes weren’t too bad.

Then the real Alaska began.

The road disappeared into muskeg—marshy, boggy ground that swallowed our shoes with every step. My feet quickly became soaked as I searched for solid ground. Every step demanded my full attention. The mosquitoes seemed absolutely thrilled we had arrived and quickly made us their afternoon buffet.

Despite the difficult terrain, God’s creation surrounded us in every direction. Towering spruce and aspen trees stretched across the landscape while rugged mountains framed the horizon. As the gray clouds slowly drifted away, brilliant blue skies emerged overhead. The sun warmed everything around us until temperatures climbed into the mid-70s. Sweat rolled down my forehead, and before long I think even the mosquitoes decided I wasn’t worth chasing anymore!

As we hiked, Melvin pointed out fresh moose tracks, bear prints, and signs of wildlife all around us. We were truly walking through God’s untouched creation.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” — Psalm 19:1

Eventually I reached my limit.

Hot.

Tired.

Soaking wet.

Exhausted.

Looking ahead at the remaining distance to the creek, I honestly wasn’t sure I could go another step.

At just about that same moment, Ken wisely decided the terrain had become too dangerous to continue. Sometimes what feels like disappointment is actually God’s protection. We may not always understand why He changes our plans, but we can trust that He sees what we cannot.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

The hike back wasn’t any easier, but somehow it felt lighter because we knew every step was leading us back toward the van. Melvin couldn’t resist stopping along the way to pick a few wild blueberries, and I have a feeling he would have gladly continued hiking if Ken hadn’t called it.

Finally, after what felt much longer than twenty-five minutes, we spotted the van waiting at the end of the service road. We collapsed at the back of it with cold bottles of water, thankful simply to sit down and rest. My socks and sneakers were completely soaked, muddy, and uncomfortable, and I quickly realized I wasn’t exactly dressed for an Alaskan wilderness expedition!

Still, none of us wanted to give up on the idea of finding gold.

Sometimes persistence pays off.

As we drove to another location, we spotted the largest beaver dam I’ve ever seen, an enormous bald eagle’s nest perched high above the roadway, and the eagle itself quietly watching traffic pass below. We also stopped to photograph the old Chatanika Lodge and General Store. Though now closed, Ken shared stories of when it was once bustling with miners and travelers. Across the road sat an old mining dredge surrounded by endless tailing piles. It wasn’t difficult to imagine hundreds of hardworking miners finishing their shifts and gathering at the old Chatanika Saloon for a hot meal and fellowship.

History has a way of bringing places to life.

Our next stop was Felix Pedro’s public mining claim.

This time, we were finally going to pan for gold.

We carried buckets of gravel and sand from across the creek and began learning the process. Melvin went first while I filmed him. Then Ken offered to record as I tried my hand.

I gently swirled the first pan, letting the larger rocks wash away. Then I moved to the finishing pan, slowly working the sand back and forth.

Suddenly…

Something shiny caught my eye.

“Ken… is that gold?”

He smiled and calmly told me to swirl a little more water to see if it floated away.

It didn’t move.

“It sure is,” he said. “That’s gold!”

I couldn’t believe it.

On my very first attempt.

One tiny little gold flake.

None of us had really expected to find anything. We were simply there to enjoy the experience together. We didn’t even have a vial to keep it in, so we laughed and tucked my tiny treasure into a small zip-top sandwich bag from lunch.

After that, we all eagerly went back for more buckets of gravel. I never found another flake, but honestly, I didn’t need to. After standing in the icy creek for quite a while, my feet were freezing and my back reminded me I wasn’t twenty anymore!

That one tiny piece of gold became a beautiful reminder that God’s greatest treasures often come when we least expect them.

“You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13

Sometimes the greatest treasure isn’t what we find.

It’s the memories we make…

The friendships God gives us…

The beauty He allows us to experience…

And the reminder that perseverance often leads to unexpected blessings.

We sat quietly beside the creek for nearly twenty minutes, soaking in the warm sunshine and listening to the peaceful sound of water flowing over the rocks before heading back toward Fairbanks.

On our way home, Ken asked if we would mind stopping at the cemetery so he could water the flowers on his late wife’s grave.

It was a tender moment.

This journey has taken us to famous landmarks and breathtaking scenery, but some of the most meaningful places have been the quiet ones—the places where people share their stories, their hurts, their memories, and their lives. Those moments remind us that ministry often happens far away from church buildings. It happens through simply loving people and walking beside them.

Back in North Pole, Ken joined us at Mark’s place where I put together a simple dinner of rice, beans, and tortilla chips. We gathered around the campfire with coffee in hand, laughing and reflecting on everything God had done throughout the day.

Then Mark shared something that encouraged all of us.

A large commercial planer at his job had been overheating for nearly a week. When we visited earlier in the week, we had prayed over that machine, asking God to intervene. Mark smiled as he told us it had been running perfectly ever since.

Some may call it coincidence.

We call it another reminder that God cares about every detail of our lives.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7

As the evening came to a close, we continued talking around the fire about life, faith, and God’s goodness. Fellowship has become one of the greatest blessings of this entire adventure. Whether around a campfire, over coffee, or beside a mountain stream, God continues to remind us that some of life’s richest treasures cannot be bought or mined.

They are found in His presence…

In faithful friendships…

And in the countless ways He reveals Himself along the journey.

One-third of the trip may now be behind us, but we have no doubt that God still has many more treasures waiting to be discovered on the road ahead.