RV'n 4 Jesus: Flagstaff, Sedona and the Grand Canyon

Our trip to Flagstaff from Tucson took a little longer than expected but less time than planned. Being my first time driving the RV after my hysterectomy, we scheduled in lots of extra stops, but PRAISE GOD, we didn't need them. We did however stop for an hour at lunch, but kept on trucking right on through without any problem. I will admit I was pretty wiped out after we got there but absolutely no pain.

WOW what a great stop this ended up being. God has been all over this one as well. Isn't it awesome always knowing He is so intimately involved in every detail of our lives?!?!?! Our plan was to only be here two nights, but God saw differently. Our stay has been 5 nights and we have loved every minute of it. Our beautiful campground is an AFB recreation facility with only 26 slips, cabins and yurts. Being off season, it has been very quiet. It is nestled in a forest of pine trees on top of a mountain, 7000 ft above sea level to be exact. Yes, it is still really chilly at nights dropping down into the 20's but as soon as the sun comes up, it is just beautiful in the 70's.

Our first outing was over to Sedona. Our campground is at the top of the Oak Creek Canyon road. We just got right on that road and took off. With so many beautiful pull outs to see the red rocks and canyons,it was just breathtaking. Let me just tell you about the road....the very very windy road, max speed at times of 15mph on the curves. Poor Daddy, if Momma and I said it one we said it 1000 times, OHH, OOOO, LOOK AT THAT ONE, OHHH, STOP LET ME GET A PICTURE. By the end he just knew to pull over so we could get our pictures.

We were able to go to Slide Rock State Park and do a little hiking, which was the beginning

of the end for us, ok ok ok, for me. The rents were doing great, it was me that was fading and fading fast. Not sure if it was that 3 miles was too much after the surgery or if it was just too much after a 6 hour drive the day before or if it was the altitude or all three. I just know, I was done at this point. I hated that for them, so we just decided to drive through Sedona instead of getting out and walking around. Funny part about the town, is that my first thought was, Hmm, looks like Gatlinburg, same concept, and just as packed with people. I still think it would have been a fun stop if I had any energy left in me. We did a loop through the town and back home we went. I crashed for a nice 3 hour nap and was much better the next day.

Oh, how wonderful it was that we found a little church in Flagstaff to worship with on Sunday morning. Mom found it online through their website. So grateful she did. What a blessing it was to hear the Word of God proclaimed, to hear Truth coming forth. Today on this blog post I want to thank Pastor Mel Brewster and Bethel Community Church for being a light. We walked in the door and immediately was greeted with a very warm and welcoming Hello. Before service even started, four different people came up to us and introduced themselves and asked about us. Being my introverted self, this is hard for me, but on this day, it was literally like family right out the shoot. Another thing about this faith family, at the close of service, we all joined hands in a circle and whoever felt led to pray, prayed. This is the first time I have ever experienced this, let me just tell you, it was absolutely beautiful! Prayers and hearts joining in praise, in intercession and in petitions. It was one of the most amazing prayers I have ever been a part of. So thank you Bethel for your commitment to being a faith family that prays together, it was a beautiful sight to see and was a sweet aroma to our Lord I'm sure.

Following service, they were having an April birthday's celebration with hot dogs, desserts and pinatas. We were loved on and we loved on them. It was a wonderful time of fellowship with our faith family at Bethel.

While we were there, we not only met a gentleman that lived 19 years in Alaska (HA! How cool is that? God is putting so many folks from Alaska in our path) who also is a passionate creationist. They are in the process of setting up an entire room with information to help others understand what and how it all comes together. It was absolutely fascinating to hear him talk about the Grand Canyon, how it was made from the flooding that God sent back to destroy the earth. To hear that in some points that the water was 10,000 ft deep and that the water came from the earth and was actually warm and threw off the whole climate system. How the Grand Canyon was formed pretty quickly from water and weight splitting the ground wide open. Just fascinating. OK OK OK, so I don't remember all of the details that were said and the whys, but it was really cool and something I need to read up on.

Another couple we met were Archie and Bettie MacArthur. What a great couple. They opened Somebody Cares Thrift Store as a way to support their ministry to help children in need on the Indian Reservation. They have helped tirelessly and have gone above and beyond to help the children. If you would like more information their website is www.somebodycaresoutreach.org or find them on Facebook, take a minute to check them out, great ministry for sure. To date the Lord has used them to distribute 25,000 lbs of food and 25 tons of miscellaneous clothing, furniture, toys, appliances and household needs to help the needy on the Navajo Reservation. They are always looking for donations. Of course, as in any ministry, they covet your prayers so please pray for them as they minister to the children. If you find yourself in Flagstaff, stop by and buy some stuff, all the proceeds go to their ministry.

Now, the Grand Canyon.....WOW OH WOW OH WOW!!!!

I was not prepared for this, but then again, how on earth can you prepare yourself for something so amazing. I shared with a friend, that aside from the birth of my son, that the Grand Canyon was one of the most amazing things I have ever had to try to take in, to comprehend to stand in the presence of. I found that my eyes were literally just jumping from sight to sight, from side to side, up and down, every where I looked it was something so different. The layers, the levels, the rocks, the depth, the birds, the water, the color - it was all just so mind blowing. You literally just had to stand in it's presence to feel the magnitude of it all. It was so cool, at each stop we got out of the car together, but we all went off in our own direction and was in silence with what we saw, then of course take our pictures, get back in the car and just share with each other the beauty and excitement we felt. We stopped at probably 10 different pull outs and it was the same each time. It was really cool for my parents, because they were getting to see it again, but through my eyes at times, and really cool for me, to think they haven't seen it for like 50 years and we were getting to see it together. How awesome is that?

After 5 miles of walking/hiking throughout the day, we saw it all and headed back to camp. We were all so excited about our day. It was a great day! Nothing like basking in our Father's presence all day, praising Him at each stop, being in a constant state of prayer the whole day. How could you not be with what we saw? As I was shutting down for the night, it hit me, to think the Grand Canyon was created by God during His destruction of the earth the first time. The two words that come to mind when I think about the Grand Canyon... MAJESTIC GLORY! Which immediately makes me think of that song, "Oh Lord our Lord how majestic is your name." I thank God for His creations and allowing us to see them on this trip.

Oh, I forgot to explain why we ended up staying in Flagstaff and just driving up to the Grand Canyon in our car....We called up to make the reservations for the 367 site campground, it was completely booked, we called the only other 167 site campground in the park and it was booked....WOW - ok - we will stay in our little 26 site nestled in the pine trees with full hookup, THANKS GOD!

Now,to say the least, we have a few pictures to share. I hope you enjoy them, and I pray that you will be in a state of praise and worship to our Lord, Our GOD as you see pictures of His handiwork!

Loving God and loving others ~

Kristi

Bob and Carol

Galatians 6:9-10

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CAMPGROUND