One Friar's experience of living in Alaska in winter:

My experience among the Athabaskan people confirmed my calling to be a Friar Minor. So many of their values resonate with our basic values; namely, respect and reverence for all people, respect for creation, respect for diversity, working to meet one’s basic needs, simplicity of life (not possessed by money), importance of fostering and preserving a family spirit (communion of life), interdependence and collaboration, hospitality (a welcoming spirit), honesty in recognizing and embracing one’s woundedness and brokenness (ongoing conversion), humor and sharing one’s life and story which is the fruit of reflection on one’s own life experience, wasting time with each other (a ministry of presence), expressing gratitude (to recognize and to affirm people’s contributions).