Cielo Vista Church turned out to be a very great place to worship. We felt right at home there; so much was like NHC. It's a church founded in 1954. The founding pastor, now retired, is still teaching a Sunday school class and was visionary enough to back away and let the next generation lead the church into the 21st century. And they've done so in a great way. Great worship, great message, great facilities. God has been so great to us in allowing us to worship with 3 different churches, all with hearts for mission in their communities. We haven't been disappointed, and frankly that's a pleasant surprise for me.
Before leaving El Paso Gail wanted to drive down to the Rio Grande and look across the river into Mexico. So we did. Not much to say about that.
The drive from El Paso to our present digs in Benson, AZ is just under 300 miles. So after church we drove west, stopping in Las Cruces, NM at Andele for a great Mexican meal. They have a salsa bar where you can pick your own degree of heat. Whenever Mexican food causes me to break out in a sweat it's a good thing.
Not far into NM all traffic is pulled over for a border inspection. We've seen lots of Border Patrol presence the last couple of days.
Once again God didn't disappoint with the scenery He created along I-10. The desert is really a beautiful place. We've seen snow-topped mountains and spent an hour before sunset driving through the Sagauro National Park. One of Gail's desires has been to see these iconic cacti that we think are typical of the Old West. But really they're only to be found here in the Sonoran Desert of AZ and Mexico and in a spot in CA.
Three weeks into the trip we're getting pretty good at finding motel deals. This one might be the best yet - a three diamond Best Western that is really nice for $50/night. Thanks Priceline!
Tomorrow we'll do some more sightseeing (more cacti to see) and go to Tombstone where the OK Corral and Boot Hill Cemetery await. Gail's finding more in the Sonoran area around Tucson she wants to see, so it looks like it will be Wednesday before we arrive in California.
And today we topped the 4000 mark on the odometer.
More pics will be up on FB shortly.
It sounds like your day was as swesome as ours at NHC. We added a coffee station upstairs for Kidmo and Lil K parents and staff so I worked both gatherings to see how we need to manage the Hospitality part of the addition. Incredible, Spirit-filled day: Steve was at his best, the music choices were fantastic and the new upstairs station ran smoothly. To top off the day, we had a VERY productive ministry team leader lunch meeting that included wonderful fellowship and much laughter. God is so good! We miss you but all is well here.
ReplyDeleteRick, where is your 10 gallon hat and cowboy boots? That's a great picture with the cactus!!
ReplyDeleteWe all know that noggin is big enough for a 10 gallon hat! Aren't there some picture somewhere of mom and dad posing by giant cacti? At first glance I thought "what is dad doing on the trip with Rick and Gail?"
ReplyDeleteLeft my boots at home. Want to buy a hat, however.
ReplyDeleteFunny, Andy. I knew we should have left you in Juarez on that striped donkey.
Tried on a bunch of cowboy hats today. I could become the next country superstar.
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