February 27-March 8, 2009

David Friesen, who was born in Mexico and worked in the public and private school systems, invites you to join him to visit Mennonite colonies in Mexico to learn about the life of the Mennonites–their history, churches, businesses, schools, institutions and their struggles to be faithful. David presently lives in Winkler, Manitoba, and is a chaplain at Salem Home Inc. Ed Epp, a member of the TourMagination team, will co-lead and look after your needs and the tour logistics. A highlight of the tour will be taking a train ride to the Copper Canyon, a group of canyons consisting of six distinct canyons in the Sierra Tarahumara Mountains in the southwestern part of Mexico. You will overnight in the mountains and return the next day by train.

Friday & Saturday, February 27 & 28

TourMagination’s Mexico tour begins with a welcome dinner at the hotel in El Paso, Texas. El Paso is the Spanish term for “the passage.” Crossing the Rio Grande River on Saturday, we will travel by coach south through the Sonoran Desert. As we travel, David Friesen will present an informative orientation lecture on Mexico and Mennonites. Traveling through Northern Mexico, we will notice the extreme dryness of the desert and the mesquite bushes that create their own beauty in the desert. Lodging for three nights at the Tarahumara Inn in Cuauhtemoc.  

Sunday, March 1 

Early on Sunday morning, we will worship with the Old Colony Church at Gnadenfeld, followed by worship and fellowship with the Blumenau Mennonite Church, a General Conference congregation. Our afternoon will be spent visiting the Manitoba Colony. 

Monday March 2 

A cheese factory owned by the Mennonites

Tuesday, March 3

Tuesday morning we will board the luxurious first-class train of the Chihuahua al Pacifico Railway which winds along the rim of a steep chasm and climbs the high passes of the Sierra Tarahumara Mountains. The scenery will be spectacular through this mountain range. There are actually six canyons and the largest is known as the Copper Canyon. We will enjoy visiting the outdoor markets of the Tarahumara Indian women with beautifully hand-crafted baskets and weaving. Our resort hotel is dramatically situated on a high cliff. You will enjoy the beauty of the rugged mountain range from the balconies of the hotel. A local guide will take us on a nature walk, interpreting the culture and sites.  

Wednesday, March 4 

Before re-boarding the train, we will take a walking tour to the balancing rock and then see a Tarahumara Indian Folk Show. You will again enjoy magnificent vistas on the return to Cuauhtemoc and Tarahumara Inn where we will stay for two more nights. 

Thursday, March 5 

We will visit the Mennonite Credit Union in Cuauhtemoc and the Old Colony School at Blumenort #22.Travelling on to the Ojo de la Yegua Colony, an outgrowth of the Manitoba Colony, we will visit their Bible School and observe their agri-businesses. We will want to visit Campo 7 and their state-of-the-art cheese factory. 

Friday, March 6

Our journey today takes us to Chihuahua where we will visit the cathedral and see the University of Chihuahua and the Institute of Technology. In the afternoon, we will travel on to the El Valle Colony, a newer Mennonite colony, where we will have our evening meal with the Kleinegemeinde. This colony is very progressive in agriculture and technology. We will stay in Nuevo Casas Grandes for the night.  

Saturday, March 7 

Colony school children

Sunday, March 8

Following breakfast on Sunday morning, we will say our goodbyes and take the hotel shuttle to the El Paso Airport for flights to our home cities. We hope you will arrive home with many memories of new friendships formed and with a deeper appreciation for the diversity of our Mennonite family.