Perhaps you’ve never thought of New Mexico as a pilgrimage destination. Perhaps it deserves a closer look. New Mexico is a place of beautiful barrenness, its desert landscape conjuring stories of the old Wild West, grisly battles between Mexico and the United States and the native people, and missions built by monks hoping to fulfill their calling. Throughout history, New Mexico has meant “desolate natural wonder, fraught with danger and hopes.”
For us, we don’t necessarily find too much danger in the New Mexican desert. What we do find, however, is a destination so different that it pushes outside of our normal lives to a place where we may better hear God’s voice. Besides the greatness of the natural beauty of the location, New Mexico is rich with stories, many from the Native American tribes still in the region. A missions trip or pilgrimage to New Mexico will change your heart.
Overview
- Worship in one of the monasteries that stand above the barren landscape.
- Delve into the fantastic Carlsbad Caverns that lay underneath the Chihuahuan desert.
- Take a detour through White Sands National monument for a day of exploration.
- Look for aliens near Roswell.
- Serve at an Indian reservation through cultural exchange.
Itinerary
Every Wonder Voyage itinerary (mission trip and/or pilgrimage) is personalized to the desires, direction and personality of each group. This itinerary is only a description of the kind of journey we can create for your unique team.
- Day 1 – Into the West
Your team has taken the long journey to the heart of native America. We travel to the northwest portion of New Mexico through some of the most dramatic terrain in the state, heading into a week filled with mission and exploration. We start the afternoon with a visit into Gallup where we will pick up some of our supplies for the week. We will head south, onto the reservation, where we will be living in a traditional Navajo home for the next few days. - Day 2 – 4 Hands the Heal
The next three days will be spent sharing hands of healing. The history of the native people is a sad tale. Through story, we will learn about the history of the native population: from their once vast reign across North America to being hunted down by the government. One of the reasons we visit this place is to bring a token of healing and love. For the next three days we will spend our mornings and afternoons engaged in a couple of service projects with the intention of reaching across the cultural divide. The reservations in America have some of the greatest needs in the world. We want to help meet some of those needs. - Day 5 – Hozhoni
A change of pace will do the team well as we head into Eastern Arizona, where we will drive through miles of forested peaks. We will arrive at a famous motel, a Route 66 icon built in the late 1940s. Everyone will enjoy nice hot showers and a bit of rest before we head into our goal for visiting Holbrook, where we will learn about Hozhoni. Hozhoni is an enchanting Navajo term that means, “together we walk in beauty.” - Day 6 – Natural Wonders
With an early start, we will head out to the southern entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park in the gorgeous Painted Desert. You will be mesmerized as you spend the morning exploring these crystallized woodlands frozen in stone. In the early afternoon, you head back into the Navajo Nation toward the brilliant Canyon de Chelly (pronounced “shay”). These spectacular canyons were the last stand for the Navajo tribes as they unsuccessfully resisted the Indian hunter, Kit Carson. You will drive the south rim of the sacred Canyon gaining higher perspective of this natural beauty. And in the evening, rest in a famous Canyon retreat. - Day 7 – Canyon de Chelly
Our morning exploration takes us deep into the heart of Canyon de Chelly. We will take an unobstructed view of the interior of the canyon and stop for some ruin-viewing. We may even make it up into the haunting Canyon del Muerto, Mummy Cave or Spider Rock. After lunch we will start the drive back toward civilization. If we have time we may visit one or two cool spots. Once we get to our hotel in Albuquerque, weʼll clean up and go out for our last New Mexico meal. - Day 8 – A Hozhoni Future
What a week we have had giving of ourselves for our Navajo brothers and sisters. Through storytelling, service, laughter and tears we have learned the story of the Navajo people that once dominated the west. We have visited untold natural vistas. We have crossed not only two states but visited a different nation. There has been moments of wonder at every turn but our greatest gift is learning the meaning of Hozhoni. May we walk together in beauty as we return home.
Legacy Location
Legacy in New Mexico
- *This is the base cost of the trip. Your cost may differ depending on housing, activities, etc.
