Gallup and Rehoboth, New Mexico

Jack and I met 42 years ago because of a good friend of mine - Carlene Grit Hoeksema. She and her husband Gary have lived in Gallup for the past 34 years. We renewed our friendship a few years ago and this year as we drove I-40 westward, we took the opportunity to visit with these good friends. Carlene is a nurse and works in the Dialysis Unit at the McKinley Christian Hospital and Gary is a Respiratory Tech working for Apria.
Many members of the Christian Reformed Church will know that missionaries began working here with the Navajo people, establishing a mission hospital and school. This was built near Gallup at Rehoboth. Though the hospital has moved and the old church has been replaced with a new facility, the school remains. The dorms are now used for other activities because all students are bused. There is a brand new sports and fitness building and the school is growing with 495 students from K - 12.
We arrived on Sunday evening in time for church and then had dinner with Gary and Carlene. On Monday, Jack and I did a day tour of the area while Gary and Carlene worked. We toured Gallup on the old Route 66, then drove south through Zuni Pueblo to El Morro and then to El Malpais - a large volcanic area with craters, ice caves and lava fields.
After a day of exploring, we had dinner with Gary and Carlene at Earl's (good Mexican food - burritos and Navaho tacos) and then returned to the RV to catch up on our lives over a bottle of good wine. A great visit!