We're back from the mountains. What an amazing time. God's glory is definitely revealed in the scenery of Copper Canyon!
Everyone is still in one piece and coming home in pretty good shape. You've heard of our bumps, scrapes, and bruises along the way but God has truly kept us safe! I'll try and fill you in on the past couple days...
Friday morning we got an early start and left for the Sierra Madres around 8:30am. There is a neat German Mennonite store we always stop at along the way to buy Vanilla and snacks. (Their vanilla is really good) We got to a town called Creel to reserve our hotel around 1pm. This year the hotel was remodeling so they put us up in some rooms just a few blocks down main street. We entered through a non-descript door next to a shop and walked up three flights of stairs. Along a long plain hallway were our rooms where we stayed. All they had were rooms with double beds! It was kinda wierd, but it worked.
After getting checked in we went farther up the mountain to an area called Copper Canyon. It's a breathtaking canyon much like the Grand Canyon except greener. :) I've been to the Grand Canyon and I'd have to say Copper Canyon is more beautiful. There are some big rocks to climb and trails that take you by Tarahumara Indians that live in the caves. We were enjoying our hike and occasional souvenir shopping when our hair started to stand up straight. A storm was rolling in and the electricity from the nearby lightning was making the hair stand up. So, we got off the mountain! It was ok though, we still got some good climbing and picture taking in.
The hotel we stayed at serves dinner. It was an interesting meal and a few ate it. (Camacho loved it) Then we headed back to our rooms and sat in the hall for a team meeting and prayer time. Some students went out to visit the town and shop. Then a few of us played a rousing game of Apples to Apples. I won! Hehe. It made me happy to see how well I actually knew the students. :)
We left early again this morning and headed for more mountains and rocks! There are an abundance here. There is another place where the Tarahumara Indians live and it is sort of like a reservation, so you pay a bit to go in. We visited a few caves where people live and then had a blast rock climbing. We found a good rock to all sit down and share our experiences from the trip. We talked about the hard parts, the easy parts, the parts that we'll take home with us and what God taught us. It was an encouraging time to hear from each other and praise God for what he did. The weather was perfectly chilly and comfortable. God has given us some graciously cool weather the past 3 days. It's been in the 70's and low 80's with a cool breeze. We don't want to come home to icky hot Florida!!
After some lunch at Veronica's, a delicious Mexican restaurant, we finished our shopping and headed back to the Ranch. The missionaries got together with us tonight for a send-off and thank-yous. They gave us some token gifts and talked about reaching the world with the Gospel. We are so thankful for their hospitality and love towards us on this trip. They have been a blessing to us as much as we've helped them.
We had our final team meeting and worship and the kids were so ancy. They were easily distracted and couldn't wait to go dye their hair and play "bottle cap dodgeball". Oh well, I suppose you have to have some crazy fun now and then! They are also very tired and can't wait to come home and hug all of you!
It's bed time now, I'm here trying to fill you in on the details but don't take my word for it, ask each of them when they get back. Ask what God revealed to them. Ask for their crazy stories. Ask what was hard. Ask them what they will do next, and then listen. And, if you really listen and watch their face you might began to feel as though you were here with us. That is why we write this blog, it's to include you in God's amazing and gracious redemptive work in and through each of our lives as we live out our relationship with God here in Mexico.
I'm very proud of each of the students. I do love and even like them, sometimes. :)No, I wouldn't do this trip every year if I didn't believe in and love each of these students. I want them to see how big God is and his passionate love for all nations. I want them to stop thinking of church, missions, and God as an event but as a continuous love relationship lived out in every detail of life. I long for them to find the creative and unique purpose for each of their lives above the adequate lifestyle of home. I hope that they take each element, lesson, and revelation from this trip and let it change the way they live.
In a later post I'd like to take some time to compliment each of them. For now I'll tell you that non of them let me down. They all worked hard, loved authentically, and embraced God's direction.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Love,
Josh Harris
