Our Trip to Canyon de Chelly

We were up at 6:30 to eat breakfast and receive communion and then on the road to Canyon de Chelly by 8:15. On our way, we saw stunning views of monoliths rising from the red desert floor. Hues of orange, brown, pink, and copper made us whip out our cameras for lasting memories. Black streaks down the canyon walls making shapes that one could guess they resembled this or that. In actuality, they were water seeping down the cliffs.

We met our guide, Eleanor, who had us climb into her Chevy Suburban and 9 people had close community, but only for short periods as we were all jumping out looking at the petrographs on the rock face and listening to Eleanor give the history of each one we saw. Caves high up in the steep walls were home to Anastazi, Hopi, and then Navajo in different time periods. In 1854, the Navajo were rounded up and made to walk what is known as “the Long Walk”. It was one of the saddest times in their long history and remembered by all.





We were surprised to see the greenery on the desert floor. Many shrubs and plants and cacti and Russian Olive, Tamarisk, and Cottonwood trees dotted the canyon floor. The Park Rangers plan to cut down many of the non-native trees (Russian Olive and Tamarisk) because they take so much water out of the ground. It does rain and flood in the Canyon, but there has to be more water to sustain the natives who live there in the summer. If any one doubts the existence of our Creator, they need to view the grandeur of his work in Canyon de Chelly.









We stopped at a local grocery store in Chinle on the way home from a wonderful day of sightseeing. This store is about 35 minutes drive from our Mission and serves the people in our community. Kathy and Susie are teaching a nutrition class involving healthy snacks tomorrow. They spent time price shopping and choosing ingredients that are reasonably priced and readily accessible. Basha’s, the store is a regional chain. High on the near the front are Navajo words. We weren’t sure what they said but we surmised they were words of welcome. The aisles were crowded with Navajo people of all ages. There were mommas with children, grandmothers with adult children and grandchildren, and some business men holding a few items.
Kathy and Susie were grateful for the opportunity to experience local shopping trip. This will be helpful tomorrow when they teach the class. They bought food items at the store to use in the demonstration and they will be able to discuss substitutions to healthy recipes based on available food items and prices. It was really fun to gain insight into a piece of Navajo everyday life.

Conversations on the Road to Canyon de Chelly

“There’s a prairie dog to the left…
Now look to the right! There’s another!”
“Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”

“There are horses trotting right beside the highway! Use your brakes!”
“Which pedal is that? Ha. Ha. Just kidding.”

“There are Indians in the car!”
“Where? Wait it is just a CD of traditional Navajo chanting.
Oh! Did I wake you up? Sorry, I will turn it down.”

“Here is Hubbell’s Authentic Trading Post. They say really, really great things in here. Hum, I see high end rugs and jewelry. There goes some petrified wood. The colors, Whow!!

We’re driving again. The road is looking narrow. Look how close we are to that. It goes down, down, down; get over to the right more. Whow. What a drop! Pastor keep your eyes on the road!”

Contributors: Betty Ann, Susie, and Shirley