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She is Called Mescalero Sankofa Journey

Mescalero Sankofa Journey
Mescalero, NM

August 7 – 11, 2025

Learn more about Sankofa Journeys:

View the slides

Sankofa: Looking back to move forward

Join us as we journey together to the Mescalero Apache Reservation in Mescalero, New Mexico, and learn from the experiences of our Mescalero Apache sisters and brothers. 

  • Travel with others from varied contexts and receive the gift of relationship created through shared experience. 
  • Explore–with your feet, eyes, heart, and imagination–the culture and circumstances experienced by the Mescalero Apache. 
  • Share your personal reflections and responses to these stories, and how you plan to bring your learnings back to bless and transform your own community. 

As we engage the culture and place of the Mescalero Apache, we will: 

  • Explore the town of Mescalero, including the museum and tribal offices
  • Tour the reservation and visit the site of the first Reformed church
  • Worship with the congregation of Mescalero Reformed Church
  • Participate in coming of age ceremonies for young women
  • Share our stories through the Honoring Our Stories process

Please note that registration will be open until July 3 or until we reach maximum trip capacity. We encourage you to put in your deposit to secure your spot as soon as you are able.

Register Now
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Our leaders:

Rev. Liz Testa, is the director for Equity-Based Hospitality and Women’s Transformation and Leadership. She is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to embrace their gifts and live into their God-given callings, and helping faith communities create healthy ministry environments where all God’s children can serve freely and fully together.

Elder June Denny, is a long-time member of Mescalero Reformed Church, and the key community leader in this Sankofa Journey.

Other leaders include: Pastor Karla Camacho and Rev. Corinne Ellis, Classis of the Southwest; Ms. Lesley Mazzotta, Rev. Deb Rensink and Elder Patti Van Dorp, Women’s Transformation and Leadership; Pastor Mark Vellinga and Mescalero Reformed Church team; Rev. Stephanie Soderstrom, Global Mission Supervisor for Short-Term Mission and North American Partnerships.

Helpful information

There will be three pre-trip virtual meetings which all participants are expected to attend. These will help us to get to know one another, prepare ourselves for the journey, learn about the four pillars of RCA Sankofa Journeys and Equity-Based hospitality values and practices.. These meetings, held via (free) video conference, are scheduled based on the groups’ availability and will last no more than two hours each.

Accommodations for this event will be at the Inn of the Mountain Gods, in Mescalero, NM. Single and double occupancy rooms are available, and wifi will be available in rooms.

Several of our meals will be hosted by the community and served potluck style, so it may not be possible to accommodate specific dietary needs in these situations. Be sure to notify us of any dietary restrictions during the registration process.

All participants on this trip should be in good physical and mental health in order to fully engage this experience. This trip will require walking up to 1-2 miles per day, climbing stairs, and walking over unpaved ground.

This Sankofa Journey is appropriate for participants ages 16 years and older. For participants under 18, please plan to travel with a parent or another adult from your church.

Travel and Registration Costs

The event registration for this Sankofa journey is $540.00 for double occupancy lodging, and $790.00 for single occupancy. This includes lodging, most meals, and ground transportation in New Mexico.

The event registration does not include transportation to/from New Mexico. Participants will book their own flights to Albuquerque International Sunport. Group transportation from Albuquerque to Mescalero is included in the registration. Participants who wish to drive may meet the group in Mescalero.

For more information about this Sankofa journey please contact:

Rev. Liz Testa
ltesta@rca.org

Rev. Stephanie Soderstrom
ssoderstrom@rca.org
616.541.0899

Please note that registration will be open until July 3 or until we reach maximum trip capacity. We encourage you to put in your deposit to secure your spot as soon as you are able.

Register Now

Tentative Schedule

Thursday, 8/7

  • Travel day
  • 4pm Arrival at Inn of the Mountain Gods
  • Check in, relax, connect, explore the grounds
  • Dinner on your own
  • 7pm Welcome and Orientation Session

Friday, 8/8

  • Transport from Inn to Mescalero Reformed Church
    Breakfast
  • Morning: Welcome, worship, Mescalero Apache history, relationship-building
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon: Tour of Mescalero, including Cultural Center, Tribal Council office, Catholic Church, Fish Hatchery
  • Return to Inn for rest and prep for evening
  • Evening: Feast (this includes cultural overview, dinner, dancing and rituals associated with the young maiden’s coming of age days-long ceremony)
  • Return to Inn

Saturday, 8/9

  • Transport from Inn to Church
    Breakfast
  • Morning: Devotions, Honoring our Stories process
  • Lunch and Mescalero crafters boutique
    Afternoon: Tour of the reservation and site of the first Reformed church in the area
  • Return to the Inn to rest and prep for evening
  • Evening: Feast, part 2
  • Return to Inn

Sunday, 8/10

  • Breakfast on our own at the Inn
  • Transport to church
  • Worship led by Mescalero congregation, with Holy Communion
  • Lunch
  • Capstone afternoon gathering: Reflect on our experience, explore the take aways, plan next steps for meaningful action, closing worship and prayer together
  • Return to the Inn to pack and rest
  • Farewell Dinner at the Inn

Monday 8/11

  • Check out
  • Breakfast on our own
  • Travel home, transportation by bus for those flying from Albuquerque
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