Wonder Voyage 2009 Summer Blog

Today started with a long drive down and through a pass through the Rocky Mountains. As we drove, the questions mounted. What would we find when we got there? Would the drive be worth it? Would we even be able to get there? After a little over two hours, we turned down what looked like an abandoned road to find the Great Sand Dune National Monument (near Alamosa, Colorado).

The dunes there are impressive: hulking piles of hot brown sand which seem to hide between the arms of the nearby mountains. We explored for a little while before lunch, and afterward a few more motivated members of the group decided to ascend the most imposing dune. It was hot (the sand can get up to nearly 140 degrees during the afternoon) and at times felt like we were slipping backwards in the soft ground as we tried to climb. As we neared the top of the gigantic dune, the wind tore at our clothes and faces, blowing gritty sand in our eyes and our mouths. The final view however, was well worth the effort: from the summit of the hill we could see for miles and miles, the high place affording us a view of unparalleled beauty and clarity. The climb seemed to mirror our struggles with our faith: difficult, yet ultimately rewarding.

Today our team served at Pueblo Mountain Park Environmental Center,  a few miles down the road from EZ Yoke. Our mission today was to eliminate invasive non-native plant species, a fancy phrase for weeding. In spite of the unglamorous nature of our job, our team worked energetically to cut down all the nasty thistles we could find.

Later in the day, we experienced the wonder of God’s creation as we hiked into the former site of the Mason Gulch Fire. We saw all the signs of the inferno: the burnt husks of trees and bare patches of ground that had once been covered in grass. Even though the fire destroyed everything in those hills a few years back, however, new life bloomed everywhere. We found signs of elk and bear and other animals returning to the newborn forest. The new plants and creatures were actually using the burnt out life to grow and thrive. Even the weeds were there: as Jessie noted- it was hard not to stop by every thistle and try to pull it out. It continually reminds us that Christ gives us new life, even through death.

Today our group observed a very restful Sabbath We first drove into Pueblo, where we were heartily welcomed by the congregation at Church of the Ascension. After our morning at church, we drove back into the mountains for some relaxation, exploration and a game of frisbee golf. I can’t say that it was a proper game of frisbee golf. We could only find four of the holes through the dense overgrowth and the friendly dogs at EZ Yoke liked to be overly helpful by retrieving our discs. Still- we are all thankful for the opportunity to play and explore under the shadows the impressive Rocky Mountains.

After a meal cooked by three of our very own team members (which was incredibly healthy and delicious), we ended our Sunday thankful for community and thankful for day of rest.

Today was a day full of the strange and wonderful.

Christ Church J2A landed in Colorado today! Our first stop after the team’s arrival and short lunch was the Garden of the Gods. I have personally seen the monuments four or five times, and I am always amazed by the massive red rocks as they suddenly jut into view. [I think one of our team members was especially glad that the Garden wasn't a literal garden.] The massive outcroppings are impressive and, well, odd. Our team took photos and scrambled around the rocks for a bit before we left for EZ Yoke ranch.

A good portion of our day was spent driving farther and farther into the mountains where we are staying. As we neared our destination, our van turned a corner to find two horses running towards us. No riders or saddles or (can you have leashes on horses?) anything- just two horses running past us the opposite way. We stopped, and they galloped past, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Our last encounter with the unusual came from one of our own team members, Adam. Apparently his packing included essentials for the week, three pounds of candy, and a spice shaker full of his favorite brand of allspice. Wow. We pray that we find more of the strange and wonderful here in Colorado. We’ve had just a taste today of we anticipate lots more to come.