Currently Listening To : Kanye West ft Sly Polaroid & Timmy G - Payback
Waking up at 4am in the morning was definitely NOT the easiest thing to do considering the fact that majority of us went to bed at 12am (the earliest) the night before. However, if "sunrise at the Gran Canyon" is the reason why we're waking up so early in the morning, then yesss... NOW WE'RE TALKING! Haha.
It was a choice on whether or not you want to make the trip to the canyon. Of course for most of us - internationals - it'll be a natural YES since the grand canyon is one of the 7 wonders of the world. (is it still?) We drag our lazy asses up as early as 4am and then drag our lazy asses up the bus and sleep for another 1hr+ to Grand Canyon Village. Well of course, not the case for the poor drivers. :/
As the buses came to a complete halt, we naturally woke up with a black and white image before us. Well, black simply because 'twas still dark at 5am in the morning. White because there was a thick blanket of snow EVERYWHERE! It was as if we were in santa town instead.
5am in the morning,
waiting on the sunrise.
Dark and cold.
:/
I decided to go down to ready myself and of course, to make sure my camera gets used to the sudden change in temperature. I was sleepy still sleepy, nonetheless, the blanket of snow around us was over-exciting! Haha. I just naturally love snow. :)
It's definitely deeper than it looks!
I was just wondering around in the dark alone while Jordan & Koichi went to look for rest rooms and
the spot to watch the sunrise.
Donnie & Kristi decided to come down and stretch, too.
Moments later, Jordan & Koichi came back with some bad news. "It's too cloudy to watch the sunrise today. We can't even see the canyon!!" Dang, that news came as a blow to be simply cos' I really wanted some shots on the sunrise. Besides, how often you wake up so early for a sunrise!?
Anyways... we decided to still go ahead with the plan and probably just get whatever we get. Well, since I no longer get to take photo of the sunrise, I was just being all random - trying to get whatever I can get as well. Afterall, I'm in the Grand Canyon!
Macro.
Hiiii snowmannn!
;)
Watch tower.
This was
the spot.
If you look closely (or click on the photo), you could actually see the canyon.
Since we all arrived at the "picturesque" sunrise spot, we decided to just go ahead with a group photo - even if it means we'll have a white background like a studio shoot.
Huddle cuddle!
:)
30+ of us smiling wide at the canyon! :) Spirit was still high despite not being able to catch the sunrise as we've got each other, ain't it? WHO NEEDS THE SUN?! ROFL...
Donnie & Kristi.
Mr. & Mrs. Thornton.
Luna-che from Macau!
:)
Reiko & Jordan.
Leader & organizer for Tuba City mission trip.
Rachel & Maya,
w/ Hyun.
Ni Hong Jin. (Japanese)
Hua Ren. (Chinese)
As soon as we're "done" taking pictures, we finally got what we came for - the sun! Yay!
SEE!
We had a mini snow war in the nice soft snow. Everyone just having tons of fun throwing snow at everywhere! Donnie even came up with the most convincing question ever, "HAVE ANY OF YOU TASTE SNOW BEFOREEE? If not, try it. It's awesome!" Haha. Everyone just put their fingers into the snow and grab a little snow and eat it. I find it really funny. Haha! However, it was too cold to enjoy the snow for long. Some even quickly went back to the bus as soon as we're done taking photos.
On the way back to the bus.
The cold got the better of quite a number of us while others just feel like staying to see the Grand Canyon now that the sun has finally come out. Thus, leading us to split up with 2 buses of us driving another hour into Grand Canyon Village while 1 bus containing those who can't handle the cold heading back to Tuba City. Well, those who went back prolly think that the sky wouldn't clear up. But as soon as we leave...
taDa!
;)
I felt bad for those who went back cos' a couple of them regret as soon as they saw those my photos. I guess it's all about perseverance AND determination. :p Enjoy the Canyon. :)
Poor Moose.
Front: Donnie
Back: Maya
Side?: Yukari.
Tsktsktsk...
Owhhh Maya...
Maya & Yukari-chan.
Gorgeous Japs.
;)
Eva.
Koichi-san.
Anime.Haha!
Rwandans.
Hyun.
Japan + Korea = Jarea/Kopan?
ROFL!
;)
:)
I'm taking a picture of Donnie taking a picture of Hyun taking a picture of the Grand Canyon.
HAHA!
:D
KiHyun.
Hyun.
Kristi & Donnie!
Krystelle!
Hiroka-chan.
:D
Gorgeous Grand Canyon.
Hyun.
Kopan/Jarea
Potrait
atau Landscape
lebih cantik?
:)
Johnnie.
Refreshing.
Ahhhh...
Where's the toilet?
Owhhh Johnnie...Haha.
That was about all the fun we could afford as we needed to rush back to prepare for VBS day 2. By 12pm, we headed back to Tuba City.
I could see why the Grand Canyon it's one of the 7 wonders of the world. God's creation as a whole - gorgeous and perfect. The mountain colors are vibrant and it just make me go WOW everytime I look at it. Breathtaking - I just can't get enough of it. The Japs and I make a pack and we intend to come back to the canyon one fine summer - weather together or not. I prolly go HIKING during then so I could experience what the REAL canyon is. :) Anyone want to come along with me? Heeees!
On the way back....
Yukari-chan.
"JAMMY! I feel like a model!!" HAHA!
NINJA-Jordan.
:DD
Back at Tuba City Church of Christ, VBS - day 2 started with a "praying 101" session...
Lil'Maria being the first one to pray!
Rachel & Allen was so proud of her.
Allen & Ken praying in
their language.
ROFL!
Right after prayer 101, it was the same routine once again - story second part of the life of Moses, craft & art work, and a show.
PingPing
美女.
:p
Awwwww...
Hiroka-chan.
Work work!
Kuri-chan w/ Lil'Maria.
Smileeeeee!
You're on camera KiHyun!
;)
Poor Gary & Hitomi.
:/
MARIA!
Then it was SHOWTIME! Well, since we didn't want to watch another movie - cos' the kids can't seems to sit still, Allen decided to do something "different" this time round. It sure IS something different on day 2 as the Japanese girls decided they would dance for the kids instead. The 4 of them had previously performed in Kappa's banquet - talent show. Eventhough they only managed a 3rd place, those who watched clearly thought they deserved to win instead. Anyways, they performed the same dance and I HAVE TO agree, it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!! I wish I could post up a youtube one but they only post it on facebook which doesn't allowed public viewing unless you're a friend. So, till I get the youtube version, you'll have to WAIT
la. ;)
Still shot
ada, boleh?
Getting ready.
L-R: Yukari, Ayaka, Maya, Hitomi-chan.
Maya-chan.
:)
FOOOYUHH!
Yukari-chan.
Double FOOOOYUHH!
Maya-chan.
"HITOMIIIII!!!"As soon as the girls saw this picture, they screamed and teased Hitomi cos' as you can see, she did wrongly.
Awwwww... You still rock Hitomi!
:)
FREEZE!
Finale.
*clap clap clap!*
We could see that the kids enjoyed it - eventhough they kept the little boys kept chuckling silently to themselves for God-knows-what-reasons. Yeapp, that was the final event for the entire mission trip as the kids gave a final round of applause and left for home. We on the otherhand had to start cleaning up the entire church and get ready to leave for home as we needed to reach OC in time to make sure some of us don't miss their flight or transport back to their respective home in time for Christmas.
Before we left, I made sure we leave something back so that we would be remembered. :) I always had that though in mind, that's why I pre-prepare myself and quickly print off our group photo in Grand Canyon when we had our stop at the tourist spot. Smart
lehhh? ;)
I had the most creative duo - Tomoko & XingYi quickly do a simple card for Paul (out host) to keep in remembrance of the 2009 OC group. :)
L-R: Tomoko-chan, XingYi.
All in all, it was a really neat trip. Eventhough it was a short lived one, EVERYONE on the trip had their fare share of fun! The bonds we created and the memories we shared will long lived within us all. This trip was also an experience of a lifetime for most of us - experiencing the work of God through our earthly work. The kids probably touched us most deeply as most of them doesn't have a complete family. One of them even asked, "Where's my daddy Mark?" It was the sweetest thing and probably the most precious phrase you could ever hear of. FYI, Mark went on the trip last year and I guess he said that he'll be back this year only to be put off as a kind family decided to buy him a ticket to Nebraska for Christmas. I've to admit, it's too close to Christmas. Anyway, as you can see, it's a big deal to the kids to just be there for them and play, teach, guide, and talk to them.
Well, I don't know about the rest but I'm so ready to go back next year - as much as I hate the torturous 18-20hrs bus ride. It was fun. I had fun. It was for a good cause. I made new friends. I guess that's all that matters?
Mission trip - Tuba City, Arizona: Outreach 2009, anyone?
McJammy ~~~~out!
