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South Gate Youth McCurdy Mission Trip
July 8 - 17, 2000

Page Last Update July 17, 9:40 p.m.

To Trip Itinerary and Trip Participants List below

We assembled at the South Gate Church parking lot around 8:00 a.m. and this picture is the group photo of the trip participants shortly before the 8:30 a.m. departure.

During mid-morning we approached the "Great Platte River Road Archway" near Kearney, where we took the opportunity to make an unscheduled stop and tour the museum. Back on the road we continued on to Ogallala for lunch and then on to Denver where we arrived at approximately 5:30 p.m. We stayed at the Downtown La Quinta Inn which is within walking distance of the baseball park. Supper was enjoyed at the Hard Rock Cafe.

	We left Denver at 7:30 a.m. and made a short stop at the Air Force Academy, just a few miles north of Colorado Springs. This picture is of their familiar landmark chapel.
	Also in the Colorado Springs area we drove through the Garden of the Gods, where we stopped for an outdoor worship service shown here. Just behind this group is Pikes Peak. We stopped in Pueblo for lunch. As we crossed into New Mexico we encountered an afternoon thunderstorm with considerable lighting. Some miles later we came across an area with a small forest fire above us burning in several areas, which looked likely to have been started by lighting strikes.
	We ate supper in Taos, New Mexico and afterwards drove for several miles through the Rio Grande River Valley (shown here). We arrived at McCurdy School in Espanola at 8:00 and after getting moved into our dorm rooms, met at 9:00 with the camp director. Our specific job assignments will be handed out in the morning. In addition to assisting with a Vacation Bible School Program, the projects are likely to include: inside building cleaning, outside building painting and cleaning up weeds along the street bordering the campus.

Our first day at work camp with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. After each meal several members will assist with dishes and dining room cleanup. At 8:00 the Vacation Bible School team was headed to Velarde, while the rest of us had a 20 minute orientation & brief history of the McCurdy School. Then we headed to the maintenance shed for work project assignments along with the members of the work camp team from Indiana. The projects were varied including: laundry duty, cleaning bathrooms, putting up sheet rock, clerical office duties, lawn mowing and triming, clearing the bordering road ditch of weeds and shrubs, and more.

After completing the work day activities, at 4:00 p.m we drove just a few miles to Chimayo where our first stop was at a shop that weaves many of their own rugs. Here the youth have a chance to ask questions as they see a rug in progress on a loom. Then we stopped at the El Sanctuario de Chimayo Church, before returning to campus for supper at 6:00 p.m. The campus gift shop and small museum were open for a short time this evening for the work camp members and then there was some free time before the 9:15 p.m. evening meeting which includes devotions and sharing time about today's and tomorrow's activities.

	Some work projects were completed the first day, while others were not, such as for the crew shown here clearing the ditch of shrubs and trimming grass and weeds. Even though some tasks continued on, some of the people traded work assignments. For all, today was a short work day, as we worked only to noon.
	At lunch over 50 people were there to help Tyler celebrate his 14th birthday. As soon as we finished with lunch, we got on the bus and headed out for an afternoon of site seeing. Our first stop was at the Bradbury Science Museum in Los Alamos, which centers on the early years of atomic weapons. While in Los Alamos, we could look across to the mountain sides and see the results of the forest fire that threatened the community earlier this year.
	Our next stop was at Bandelier National Monument, here you see into the canyon as we enter the visitors area. We had the chance to walk a trail and explore first hand a few of the ancient cliff dwellings, while viewing from a short distance many others. We also had a picnic supper in the park, before heading back to McCurdy. We moved the evening meeting up to 8:30 to allow time for some games. Then time for lights out, before another full day tomorrow.

	On Wednesday it was back to a full work day and here you see a couple of the mop crew taking a breather only long enough for a picture. With 37 people on task, there are numerous jobs being completed.
	Myron and Marilyn have been able to point out several projects completed by previous South Gate Work Camp Crews. This photo of the driveway cement median presents evidence of South Gaters being here in 1988.
	Here is the fence crew with their "nose to the grindstone" as they remove a wire fence to make way for a wood panel fence. After the work day today, many of the group went to the municipal pool to cool off. There was also time for a softball (wiffle ball) game after supper.

	One of the work camp projects is assisting with Vacation Bible School that is being held Monday through Friday at Velarde UMC approimately 12 miles from McCurdy. This picture is of one of the classes. The South Gate Youth provide a skit each morning during the opening session that the kids just love.
	Thursday was another short work day with work stopping at noon. We then traveled to Santa Fe for the afternoon, where we got to see the State Capitol Building, the oldest active church in the U.S., and yet another church which includes a free standing wooden sprial staircase to the choir loft as shown here.
	After our tours, we spent some time shopping. One of the highlights of the shopping district we were in, was the Native American Market on the Plaza where they have laid out their wares on the sidewalk.
	We traveled back to McCurdy School stopping at an authentic Mexican restuarant in Chimayo for supper. The start of our evening meeting tonight was promptly interupted for a surprise recognition of Jason's Birthday today. Here he is cutting into his birthday cake.

	This has been a week full of work projects and today being the last day we were looking to complete all of the ongoing projects. Here some of the crew take a short breather, while dicussing what to do next.
	I don't know where they are going, but this sure is a pickup load of help.
	Yet another group doing some tail end clean up work. A great deal of effort was put into cleaning up many rooms, including moving furniture, stripping and waxing the floors, scrubbing lockers and bathrooms and more as school starts here in a little over 3 weeks.
	The gift shop opened once again early this afternoon for those contemplating purchasing some special gifts and souvenirs. Some of the items available in the McCurdy Gift Shop are made by local craft people and all items sold benefit the school. After work today, there was a let down feeling for many, but some still had enough energy for a softball game.
	Right after supper we boarded the bus for the Velarde UMC Bible School Program, which was a mixture of skit and music. To be sure, these little ones nearly raised the roof off the church. After the program, we headed back to McCurdy for the evening meeting. The meeting ended this evening with a darkened room and a single candle. As the candle was passed around to everyone, we each took a moment to tell of something special that this work camp trip has met to us.

	This morning we said goodbye to the McCurdy Staff at breakfast and headed down the road. Our first stop was at the Taos Pueblo Village where we took a self guided walk. Then, just a few miles from Taos was a bridge that stands 600 feet above the Rio Grande Gorge. We got to walk across it and this picture is from the bridge.
	Our next stop was at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, just outside of Alamosa, Colorado. Here is some of the group walking across a ridge, while others are attempting to slide down the slopes. A few even made it to the top.
	Our drive today took us across varied landscapes and all were beautiful, as evidenced by this picture of the Monarch Moutain Lodge, where we had supper and will stay this evening. This is located between Salida and Gunnison.

	This morning we arose to 48 degree temperature reading, which was much different than what we found at McCurdy. Then we proceeded to the Royal Gorge Bridge shown here from the cable car ride across the canyon. Many of the group walked across bridge, rode the cable car and the inclined railway to the bottom of the canyon. We also ate lunch here.
	Our aftrnoon stop was at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. We visited the Visitors Center and a took a short self-guided tour of the complex.
	Early this evening, we arrived in Denver and went to the Casa Bonita Restuarant for supper. At Casa Bonita's they have live entertainment and customers are encouraged to walk around taking in the atomsphere.

	After a night of heavy rains in the Denver area, we left the Downtown La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. for Lincoln. We kept rolling right along and stopped in North Platte for lunch.
	We saw sunshine for the first time today in the Grand Island area, but found even sunnier faces, both outside and inside the bus, as we pulled into the South Gate parking lot at 5:18 p.m. There were lots of hellos and hugs exchanged and even some tears as the group broke up, heading to their own homes for some storytelling and a great night's sleep.

This trip would not have happened without their involvement and organizational efforts. Also, while all trip participants and many South Gate Members not on the trip contributed, not nearly so much would have been accomplished, without their leadership.

Saturday, July 8
We will leave South Gate Church at 8:00 a.m. Travel will be by Good Life chartered bus. We should arrive in Denver at about 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, July 9
We will leave Denver by 7:30 a.m. making a "drive through" stop at the Air Force Academy and then make a short stop and have our worship service in the Garden of the Gods before we continue our trip to Taos, NM where we will visit the Taos Indian Pueblo. We should arrive at McCurdy School around 6:00 p.m. to get settled in our dorm rooms. We will have an orientation session concering the work camp week at 7:00 p.m.

Monday - Friday, July 10-14
McCurdy School Work Camp Schedule
6:30 a.m. - Get up and get ready for breakfast
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast (dining room chores)
8:00 a.m. - Project work
10:00 a.m. - Snack break at Student Center Cafeteria
Noon - Lunch (dining room chores)
1:00 p.m. - Project work
3:30 p.m. - Free time and visit nearby sites (weaving shop, healing church, etc.)
6:00 p.m. - Supper (dining room chores)
7:00 p.m. - Evening aciviies as planned by the McCurdy staff and SGY Leaders
9:00 p.m. - South Gate Yourth sharing time and snacks
9:30 p.m. - To bed, lights out, Quiet

NOTE: At least one half day will be spent visiting Los Alamos, Santa Fe (Oldest Capital and Indian Market) and the cliff dwellings at Bandelier National Monument

Saturday, July 15
We will leave McCurdy School at 8:00 a.m. and travel to our evening stop at Monarch Lodge near Salida, CO. On the way we will stop at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument spending some time walking up the dunes and visiting the information center. A heated swimming pool, hot tub and other possible activities are available for us during the evening hours.

Sunday, July 16
We will travel to Royal Gorge for a walk over the suspension bridge that spans the gorge 1053 feet above the Arkansas Rver. Other stops we can make on our way back to Denver could be Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and a guided tour of the U.S. Olympic Training Center, both in the Colorado Springs area. We will leave for Denver at about 4:00 p.m. for our overnight stay there and will go to Casa Bonita's for eveing of fun and food. (Cliff divers, 30 ft water fall, puppet shows, etc.)

Monday, July 17
We will get up early and be on our way back to Lincoln and should arrive at South Gate about 7:00 p.m.

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