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Visit Mexico and Its Copper Canyon

March 9 - 18, 2012

David Freisen at the Museum

With tour leaders David Friesen & Shirley Redekop

Join Mexican-born David Friesen, who worked for Mennonite Central Committee in Mexico and in the Mexican school systems, on a special tour visiting Mennonite colonies in Mexico. You will gain new insights into the life of the Mennonites – their history, churches, businesses, schools and institutions – and their struggles to be faithful in the face of challenges. David presently lives in Winkler, Manitoba, where he is a chaplain at Salem Home Inc. Shirley Redekop is an Outreach worker with low-income families. She also leads worship and teaches Sunday School at Floradale Mennonite Church and has led other TourMagination tours. She will look after your needs and tour logistics. A highlight of the tour will be taking a train ride to the spectacular Copper Canyon, a group of canyons in southwestern Mexico that are considered to be the 13th Natural Wonder of the World. You will marvel at the sunrise in the Canyon after spending a night in the mountains.

Click here to read past blogs about this tour.

Friday, March 9
Fly to Chihuahua, Mexico, and meet David Friesen and Shirley Redekop as well as other fellow tour members at the airport. Together, we will transfer to Hotel San Francisco, where we will stay for night. This evening we will get to know one another at a welcome reception and evening dinner at our hotel, including an orientation for our tour with David and Shirley.

Saturday, March 10
This morning we will explore the thriving city of Chihuahua as we embark on a walking tour with David Friesen as our guide. Our tour will include a visit to the Cathedral of Chihuahua, seeing the University of Chihuahua and the Institute of Technology, and more. Following lunch, we will travel to Cuauhtémoc, where we will stay for three nights.

Old Colony Church
Old Colony Church
Sunday, March 11
Early on Sunday morning, we will join the Old Colony Church at Gnadenfeld for worship, 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 12
Today we will tour the city of Cuauhtémoc, including the train station where Mennonites arrived more than 80 years ago. We will see the Eustillos Valley, where the Mennonites settled, and visit the cheese factory in Gnadenfeld and the Y Centro Cultural Menonita Museum. We will also visit the Unser Hoffnungsheim, a home for special needs adults, and in the evening, see a film on the settlement and development of the Mennonite colonies. David Friesen will help us to understand what we are seeing and experiencing.

One view while traveling on the train
One view while traveling on the train
Tuesday, March 13
This morning we will board the luxurious first-class Chihuahua-Pacific Railway train, which will wind along the rim of a steep chasm before climbing the high passes of the Sierra Tarahumara Mountains. The scenery is 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. These artisans make beautifully hand-crafted baskets and weaving, and we will have an opportunity to support their work and learn more about the Tarahumara people. Our resort hotel is dramatically situated on a high cliff in El Divisadero. 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. We will visit the remarkable Hill of Cliff People and enjoy a traditional Mexican meal.

Wednesday, March 14
We will make sure to wake up early this morning to see the beautiful sunrise over the mountains. Before we board the train to return to Cuauhtémoc, we will enjoy a walking tour to the Balancing Rock and then see a Tarahumara Indian Folk Show. We will again enjoy magnificent vistas on our return to the Tarahumara Inn, where we will stay for two more nights.

Old Colony School
Old Colony School
Thursday, March 15
Today we will visit the Mennonite Credit Union in Cuauhtémoc and the Old Colony School at Blumenort #22. As we travel on to the Ojo de la Yegua Colony, an outgrowth of the Manitoba Colony where David lived and taught, 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.


El Valle Colony
El Valle Colony
Friday, March 16
In the afternoon, we will travel on to the El Valle Colony, a newer Mennonite colony, where we will have lunch with the Kleinegemeinde. This colony is very progressive in agriculture and technology. We will then travel to Nuevo Casas Grandes, where we will enjoy our evening meal and stay for the night.

Saturday, March 17
On Saturday morning we will visit the remote El Capuline Colony to see their school and farms and have our noon meal with the Neufeldt family. Then we will journey back to Chihuahua for our farewell dinner at Hotel San Francisco. We will take time to reflect on new insights we have gained into the many different cultures of Mexico.

Sunday, March 18
Following breakfast on Sunday morning, we will say our goodbyes and transfer to the Chihuahua 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.


For further information regarding regarding the complete tour fare, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We would be happy to be of assistance.
 
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