Ghost Ranch Pilgrimage 2019!!

Here are a few pics of Day 2 @ Ghost Ranch! We got to kayak and canoe on the Abiquiu Reservoir. Who goes boating in the desert?? Here are some fun photos of our adventure. Discovery of the day: taking your camera on a canoe ride is not as easy as it might seem...        This is the shelter/kayak waiting area whose roof we thatched when the youth came in 2014!! Just like Elton John, it's still standing!!! Back to work tomorrow...

On Monday, we FINALLY got to do the thing we love the most... WORK! Everywhere we go- from urban Knoxville, to Appalachia, to Ghost Ranch- people are surprised by the massive amount of work (and the excellent quality of work, our Westminster youth are willing to do. (Thank you, everyone who has mentored and guided our work every summer. You teach us well!!!) Our job at the Northern Youth Project, in Abiquiu, was to do the "heavy lifting" so the youth and Abiquiu community could reclaim beds, facilitate efficient irrigation, and tear down and recycle a retaining wall. We also relocated a pollinator hotel to make room for a memorial tree. Disassembling the retaining wall seemed like a fun job, until the drill quit working! Maggie + 9 more strong youth and adults = almost 500 square feet of new garden space! Lots of smiles!! Expert, meticulous weeding! Rerouting an irrigation ditch! More smiles... And... everyone knows singing classic r...

Saturday, June 29th Today we began with a private tour of the Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the country. The Taos Pueblo, the northern-most of New Mexico’s 19 Pueblos, sits at an elevation of 7200 feet, and was built roughly 1000 years ago. The Taos Indians live without running water and electricity, relying on natural sunlight and kerosene lamps for light.  The youth asked our tour guide a lot of pertinent questions, eager to learn. After touring the Pueblo, we ate lunch at the Rio Grande Gorge. We then traveled to an aquatic center to swim and use shower facilities. In the evening we ate dinner in the town at Old Martina’s. We closed out the evening back at our host church in Santa Fe with a love feast and a small group breakout session.

Day 3 began with a tram ride to the summit of Sandia peak. The top of the peak is 10,679 feet!! Here is a photo of the tram we passed on our way up. Look carefully, and you will see the crazy cable inspector that rides the complete round trip standing on the top of the tramway at the beginning of each day! Here are our 23 pilgrims at the stunning summit. We hiked a bit and found a wonderful spot for our opening devotion and agape feast. What a meaningful experience! We ate lunch at the famous Owl Cafe, then headed downtown. You can't leave Albuquerque without visiting Old Town. Annika, Bobby, and Katie are rocking their new head gear!  Day 3 fun fact- The scenery was breathtaking,  and so was the hike @ 10,679 feet!!! Stay tuned for Day 4: spiritual conversations at the Taos Pueblo, and the majesty of the Rio Grande Gorge. 

 Before we stopped for the night, we visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Seeing this "holy ground" at night time made a profound impact on all of us. The city was quiet, the reflecting pool like glass, and the gentle breeze cooled us as we wandered among the beautiful tributes to those who lost their lives, as well as those who rescued, survived, and continue to stand for peace. We then left our own messages of love and hope from all of us and all of Westminster.

Our Westminster pilgrims are on their way! Parents and pilgrims began the adventure with a prayer.  (Thank you, Buran!!) We were surrounded by loved ones, and are strengthened, knowing you are holding us in prayer!! 860 miles, and 5 movies later... we are in Oklahoma City (our first stop!) Tomorrow, we'll give you some reflections on our midnight visit to the Oklahoma City Memorial. Until then... have a good night!! Love, Your WPC Pilgrims!! P.S. the Goody Bags are AWESOME!! Thank you, everyone!! Day 1 discovery: Pizza tastes better in a parking lot!!