Our youth missions trip to Arizona has been full of blessings, breathtaking scenery, and bold opportunities to serve the Lord. Here’s a recap of Days 5 through 7, including gospel outreach, fellowship, and a few stunning hikes through some of God’s most majestic handiwork.
Friday: Wrapping Up Camp and Hiking Canyon de Chelly
Friday morning began with some final camp responsibilities — helping take down the dining tent and hauling trash to the dump. Once those were done, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
After lunch, we returned to the RV for a quick rest. (One of the churches had kindly loaned us a van for the week — such a blessing!) At 3:00 p.m., we headed to Canyon de Chelly National Monument for some outdoor exploring.
We visited a few lookout points before embarking on a three-mile downhill hike into the canyon, descending 600 feet — making the return trip quite the workout! At the base, we discovered an ancient set of Native American cliff dwellings tucked into the rock wall — a stunning glimpse into history and culture.
The hike back up tested our legs, but the views were completely worth it. After more scenic stops, we met up with Bro. AJ Nichols, who joined us at the final lookout. We set up camera gear in front of Spider Rock, which was glowing in the late afternoon sun. It was golden hour perfection — and we filmed three different videos against this breathtaking backdrop.
After sunset, we headed to Burger King and had supper with Bro. AJ, his wife, and son. We ended the night back at the RV, grateful for both physical and spiritual refreshment.
Saturday: Petrified Wood, Outreach, and RV Rest
Saturday felt more relaxed after a busy week. We started by cleaning up the fellowship hall and having lunch. That afternoon, one of the church men brought us to a field filled with thousands of pieces of petrified wood. We had fun collecting pieces and scrambling around the dunes.
Later, we drove to the nearest supermarket (the only supermarket for 100 miles) and distributed gospel tracts from BTI, alongside local church members. Afterward, we enjoyed a delicious dinner of pizza and wings, then returned to the RV to rest.
If you ever need a peaceful spot to recharge after missions, check out our basecamp at Bland Lake Hideaway. It’s the perfect East Texas retreat for reflection and fellowship.
Sunday: Church, Song, Amanda Ranch, and Star Photography
Sunday morning, we attended church with Pastor Mark Hanes in Arizona. Bro. Cameron and Bro. Micah sang, and I had the opportunity to record them — a huge blessing! Bro. Micah also delivered a heartfelt sermon.
After services, we drove a few hours to Bro. Henson’s place — affectionately called Amanda Ranch. You can learn more at The Amanda Ranch website. That evening, we joined the church service there, where Bro. Cameron and bro. Micah sang again. The congregation was incredibly welcoming.
Back at Amanda Ranch, we shared a lovely evening meal, watched a movie, and later I ventured outside to take some star photos — this time they turned out beautifully! I stayed up too late, though, and didn’t wake up until 9:28 the next morning 😆🤦♂️.
Monday: Voice‑Over Recording and Monument Valley Bound
Monday morning started with me helping Bro. Cameron record a voice‑over from Bro. Henson — a great hands‑on media experience. After that, we ate and hit the road for Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where we plan to explore and capture more stunning footage while sharing the gospel amid these iconic rock formations.
Learn More About Our Mission & Retreat
Our church, Central Baptist Church in Center, TX, is deeply committed to missions — both local and global. This youth missions trip to Arizona has opened our eyes to mission opportunities across the U.S., and we’re excited to continue sharing the gospel.
If you’re longing for a peaceful getaway or a place to recharge after a mission trip, come experience Bland Lake Hideaway in East Texas. We’d love to welcome you to our little slice of heaven.