Hi! My name is Mallory, and I’m in my second year of the Pre-Law program.

This is my first time on an ABST, and I’ve been having a wonderful time in Arizona so far! Today (Sunday), we went to Gate’s Pass, a scenic mountain pass and hiking trail, visited the Sonora Desert Museum, walked through the San Xavier Del Blanc Mission and had dinner with a few Gannon alumni who live in the area.

Right away, we hiked up tons of rocks at Gate’s Pass, and I’ll admit I was unprepared! I wore Birkenstocks instead of sneakers, but I still made it up without any problems. The view left all of us in awe — it was really special to get to the top of the hill together and look out at such a beautiful landscape! Just as beautiful was the Sonora Desert Museum, where we spent hours looking at so many different plants and animals and learn about the local ecosystem. We even got to pet stingrays!

My favorite stop was the San Xavier Del Blanc Mission – it was so moving to step back in time and visit the same church building that so many have passed through since the 1700s. I thought about the care put into every small detail, like the ornate high altar and the paintings that covered almost every inch of the walls. Words can’t adequately describe the beauty our group witnessed! After walking through the church, we hiked up a hill and, from above, we got to see the church and the Mission’s other buildings, which was another very profound moment.

I’m excited to begin working with the youth at the Pio Decimo Center tomorrow! Stay tuned for more updates from other members of the Arizona group!