[Source: Author, Noorim Oh]
[Source: Author, Noorim Oh]
The car ride was an uncomfortable experience, sitting for so long that I desired to be outside. Ten long hours later, we finally arrived in Arizona and decided to spend the night at a small inn in Flagstaff. Early the next morning, we left for the Navajo Reservation. When we arrived, we were greeted by the fresh air and burning heat. The view was unimaginably beautiful with the clear blue sky. The night sky was pure, with no artificial light polluting the bright shining stars as they danced through the night. Although it may have been my third time going there, the works of nature continued to astonish me. There, we stayed for three days, meeting wonderful people and having fellowship with our comrades.
In the land where we stayed, electricity and water were scarce, so we had to conserve as many resources as we could. The worst part of all was that signal from all kinds of carriers couldn’t reach us, disabling us from using our phones and even calling our parents. However, these few days without using my phone opened my eyes to the wonders around, and, surprisingly, we all had fun playing games and talking to one another. I was reminded of my childhood, when smartphones were just becoming “a thing,” and we would just have fun running around.
From this trip, I was able to spiritually and mentally grow and learn more about the valuable things in my life, such as God, family, and friends. It was a new experience where the simple things made me happy, and I was able to appreciate the beauty around us.
