i've spent most of the day thinking about the event because it was so fun and special. what made it so? was it the 30-100+ ft waterfalls over burnt sienna-red colored rock? the topaz blue pools of water, the rushing rivers or the constant cooling mists? other than the amazing scenery only nature could provide, the group of people who joined in added the extra perfect element. so, now to wax sappy and sentimental.
i have often heard (and believe) that an important thing that will continue on after this life is relationships. relationships with a spouse, family and i hope, friends. now i don't know if the people i met and spent time with this weekend will become some of my best friends but i am sure glad that i met them. for some reason, i'm in awe that we all got along so well. something about the camaraderie i felt makes me wonder if it was maybe a glimpse of what heaven will be like. we didn't have the butcher, the baker, or the candlestick maker but we had a variety of occupations represented along with differing temperaments and it was all good. our common beliefs allowed the group to to initially form. the rest just happened.
speaking of which, after attending an lds church meeting in istanbul, turkey, i made church and temple attendance a necessary event on all of my travel itineraries. so far, i have not been disappointed.
on the hike down the canyon to the village, i was amused to see a double-wide trailer with a stout white steeple on top indicating that it was a church. i was impressed and even proud when someone pointed out the familiar signage toward the front left of the building that read, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
the thought never crossed my mind that we'd attend services there but as sunday rolled around the idea was tossed about. a few us attended. about 12 of the 19 of us. i was so glad i did. i am getting choked up as i write and reminisce. brother and sister haws came from kingman, az to speak. we saw and recognized them as church members as they came out of one of the first choppers to land in the village that day. i asked brother haws if he was the bishop. he said he wasn't but that they were the speakers for the day's service. i pointed them to the direction of the church and off they went down the dirt road.
after we got our names on the helicopter list, a few of us at a time made our way to church... hats, tees and tank tops, runners, sandals, board and booty shorts and all. the haws were the the only ones there setting up the chairs and getting sacrament ready. actually a local boy was sweeping the floor when we got there but he disappeared. none of the local members came. we got started late but the Spirit wasn't lacking from the opening song of 'did you think to pray' to the closing of 'how firm a foundation'.
partaking of the sacrament was simple yet powerful. it was a special event. brother haws blessed the sacrament and jason s. passed it... wearing a tank top. sister haws gave a touching talk about prayer and brother haws spoke about the faith of the brother of jared. they cut their words short for us knowing that time was of the essence. during and after church i felt uplifted, happy, grateful, and filled. going to church in the havasupai village was one of the highlights of the trip.
