So our interesting group of kids have now become a sweet family; working together, eating together, praying together, and sweating together!  There was joking and laughing but when it came time to be serious, the kids were focused.  The sweat lodge experience was extremely cleansing and spiritual.  Just ask one of us!  I can’t wait to go back again ~ Mrs. H

Lots of laughs and wonderful fellowship.  James was a wonderful addition to this trip and such a trooper for answering ALL of our crazy questions.

Strips of yellow, white, grey, and red show the age and beauty of this desolate place.  It was quiet and peaceful. A wonderful place to reflect and admire God’s creation.

In all honesty, I don’t think the Meonkopi Senior Center was what we were expecting. Nor the task at hand.  The students enthusiastically took on the daunting task of shoveling out the drainage ditch and pulling weeds.  It’s not the type of landscaping we are used to but we were there to serve and that is what they needed done.  The senior citizens were very appreciative.  I just wish we had time to do more.

Today, we are going to The Grand Canyon. I am so excited to see one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Yesterday my favorite place to visit was the Lowell Observatory because I learned so much about our universe. I saw a really cool telescope that is in a big building and when the top opens you can see everything, but unfortunately it was too windy so we were not allowed to open the roof. Yesterday was filled with many exciting adventures and I am very excited for the rest of this trip!  - KH

We had a few extra hours to spare after Tuzigoot…so we were able to take a side trip to Sedona …a hike up Bell Rock

Bell Rock. . . it is amazing how the terrain has changed.  We have gone from a cactus dessert to the Red Rock Mountains.  I guess this is what they meant by “purple mountains, majesty”. I am so thankful t be able to share this beautiful country with this group of students.

Quick facts about our first day:

Total miles traveled –  1162

Tuzigoot –  Is an ancient village or pueblo built by a culture known as the Sinagua

Bell Rock Trail –   .75 miles long…Many believe the rock energizes and calms those that are upon its slopes.   One student was able to scale the Bell Rock in flip flops…who knew…possibly a new line of climbing shoes?

Lowell Observatory – Lowell felt there was a planet (Pluto?) beyond Neptune and in 1905 began to search for it…

We are off to the Grand Canyon today!

Our tour guide/driver, Sara, met us at the airport to take us to Tuzigoot National Monument.

Here are a couple of photos from Tuzigoot…

Nestled between the mountains is the quaint little town of Cottonwood, full of history and art.  A winding drive leads us to Tuzigoot. It is like looking back in time.  The ruins are awesome and give us a glimpse of our ancestry.

We made our early flight this morning and left Houston around 9am and arrived in Phoenix at 9:30am (breakfast again?)….nothing like a 30 minute flight to start our day off….