To hear the beginning of this story read my last blog by clicking HERE.
Tuesday night we made it back in town to Vegas in time for dinner and went to visit downtown, the older part of the city. In one casino you could see a million dollars in one pile, and get your picture taken with it. In the same area you can see the drive-through wedding chapels.
Wednesday I got up early and went on a hike with my sister-n-law, Cassie. My dad had arranged a guided hike in the area near Hoover Dam. The guide kept talking about 600 million years ago, and 5 billion years ago. I know he doesn't have his numbers right, but I do know God knew what He was doing when he created some of the amazing things I saw on that hike.
There were come great views of the Colorado river south of the dam and a great view of the new bypass bridge. Hiking in the Rockies isn't like anything else that I've experienced. The mountains are so huge. Much different that the Smokies I hiked in North Carolina and a lot different than the hike up Sugar Loaf in Freetown. I guess I shouldn't imagine hiking in the dessert would be the same as hiking in shaded under dense tree cover.
Thursday we went to visit Hoover Dam. The bypass bridge was finished a few years ago and offers a great view of the lake and dam, so we stopped there first. Then we went around and went across the dam it self witch of course has great views of the bridge. The thought and amount of planning that went into putting the dam where it is, over 80 years ago, is so much that I can't even think of where the began the massive project.
Thursday afternoon we went out to Red Rock Canyon just before sunset. With only being about an hour from where out hike and Hoover Dam is, it was amazing to see how drastically different the scenery was. The rock formations were like nothing I've ever seen before and proved to be a great place to burn off some extra energy. If you look at the third picture down you can see a small red person, that's dad on the top of a look out. On the fourth picture you can see Ben & Cassie after the hiked up to a nice overlook.
After rushing through the park we managed to get done before the actual sunset and missed some great skyscapes with the sunset reflecting on the clouds. On the way back to the room we stopped at the Las Vegas sign to get the traditional Vegas picture. If you ever get a chance to make it to Vegas remember..... the best things are off of the strip!!!
As far as everything on the ship, they had their first major screening in Togo last week where there were over 3,500 people that showed up. The main goal was to find people with cleft lip/cleft palate, facial tumors, and burn contraction and they managed to schedule over 1,600 were scheduled for further screenings. The first patients made it to the ship yesterday, Sunday the 5th, just in time for the first surgeries today. I can't wait to hear how things begin to progress over the next month.
As far as things at home, things are going good in class. Still getting to know my students and filling the four hours of class up every night. At the end of the month we'll be having a dinner for the families of the students. Yesterday the 5th, our new pastor started at church. It's going to be exciting to see how God moves through Dr. McClain and to see First Baptist grow in the coming months and years.
