It was almost like coming home to drive into Yuma. Of course, it isn’t even close to being home, but we feel at home in Yuma. As we were choosing our site at the RV park we met Richard, who would be our next-door neighbor for the next 10 days. In his eighties and living at the RV park full time, he is originally from Iowa. For 60 years he lived in the freezing temps of Iowa and said that was enough. He lost his wife a few years back. His cats are his main companions now – 7 adults, one of which delivered 4 kittens the week before we arrived. The day after we arrived Larella came by to introduce herself. A full time RVer for 24 yrs, she lost her husband about 4 yrs ago. She divides her time between Utah in the summer and Yuma in the winter. These are precious folks that we were blessed to get to know a little, listening to their interesting and funny stories.
On our first Sunday there we reconnected with the church family at Grace Bible Fellowship. Tom and Carolyn Sawyer are pastor and wife of this “church in the community for the community” (their motto). It was a heartwarming reunion with them. The church building is in a high-risk community of homeless and emotionally broken folks. Tom and Carolyn live in a neighborhood where gang activity is present. There were a couple of teenage girls at Tuesday night Bible study whose father had been shot and we found out after we left Yuma that he had died. The church family is a small group, but their outreach is deep and wide, ministering to the Native and Hispanic communities around them. Almost every meeting that takes place at the church building involves serving a meal. I love watching Tom and Carolyn love their people. Tom is a bi-vocational pastor – working full time as well as pastoring at Grace. It was so wonderful to share life together for a short time – even got to attend a high school football game (Yuma Criminals) and watched an animated Carolyn cheer on the home team! The team is called The Criminals because back in the early 1900’s the high school burned, and the unused Yuma Territorial Prison became the high school for a few years until a new school was built. The team is lead onto the field by a police car with sirens blaring before the games begin.
Yuma is a pretty flat city with great bike routes. Our RV Park is beside one that we travelled to church as well as historic downtown where we shopped and enjoyed good food and great coffee. There is also a used bookstore there that is so laden with books a person could disappear for days. We limited our time to about an hour and half.
My morning ritual was delightful – get up, pour my coffee (laced with Southern Comfort egg nog – and no, it doesn’t have liquor in it) and sit outside for my devotional time. The sun would poke up over the trees after a while and I would just turn my chair around to get my face out of the sun. The sun is very intense, and the daytime could get very hot. Doesn’t get much better than that.
A lot of people go just south of the border to Los Algodones Mexico to shop and for medical and dental services. I was always dubious about doing that, but the US government recognizes Los Algodones as a safe place and worth a visit. We have not taken the trip, but if we ever return, we may investigate.
Some interesting things about Yuma:
- It is the sunniest place on earth according to Guinness World Records with promises of sunshine at least 91% of the year.
- It is the winter vegetable lettuce capital of the world.
- In 1949 two men flew a N1156H airplane around Yuma for more than 46 days straight. To be refueled they would fly low while people in a 1948 Buick Super convertible passed fuel (and food) as they drove beneath.
- The Christmas parade in Yuma is second to none. It boasts an audience of about 40,000 people who enjoy the show for 2 – 3 hours! Marching bands, antique cars that bounce on their hydraulic shocks and floats of every sort, all with strings of lights wrapped around (it is called the Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade), and so many other participants. I’m sorry we won’t be there!
The beauty of Yuma can capture a heart, but I get more attached to people. I am totally blessed to meet new friends. And I believe that the word “goodbye” can be the loneliest word in the English language.
Doug – I love Yuma and am so glad to be able to visit again! The RV Park is nice and inexpensive, the city park next door is also nice though they are renovating it some, the biking downtown is great – something we looked forward to every day – we love the downtown with great café’s and things to see. We have made good friends with Tom and Carolyn and feel at home in their church. I told Tom that it’s the kind of church Jesus would go to – not polished or modern but Bible centered, godly and caring for the lowly, which are most important.
The weather in later Autumn here is the best – low 80’s (high 20’s), sunny every day, nice breezes, bluest skies, and dry air which is good for my joints. The sound of fighter jets on maneuvers is a daily thing – which I love. I got to preach at the church which was surprising but great to share Ezekiel 47 and some of our journey through life, deep waters and all. It was nice to get to know Richard and Larella and have them over for supper. Glenda is such a welcoming host to people everywhere! Enjoyed a Friday night High School football game – Criminals won 52-0. The Sawyers took us out twice for great meals.
Also enjoyed good times of devotions and personal reflection in the park. On Monday we talked about this being our last trip to Yuma and the south-west and by Friday we were talking about when we will come back. That is the effect Yuma has on us. As we left on Hallowe’en morning, we drove east on I-8 past Telegraph Pass and looked at the distant ears of spooky Muggins Mountain, where we camped in 2018. Goodbye to one of our favourite places!
Let's Do The 180! 