Last year I did a post, La Santisima Trinidad Church In Arroyo Seco, N.M.
This year we were in the area and stopped by again
and were lucky enough to be there when the care taker was working
and we got a private tour.
The next three posts will be on this adobe church
but for this one I want to show you the cross out front.
According to the caretaker, Manuel, a man showed up at the church
some years ago and walked on his knees to the front door.
He told Manuel that he was from Laguna Pueblo in west central N.M.,
and had finally found the church that was in his dreams for most of his life.
He was also suffering from cancer from exposure to uranium mining.
This cross was made from the tools used in uranium mining:
the cross bar is made from a hammer,
the curved pieces are wedges driven by the hammer,
and the support is drilling rod.
The man died prematurely from the effects of mining for uranium,
as did many other Native Americans,
but he left this cross to adorn the church in his dreams.
It was an honor to hear this story from Manuel.
It is just another story detailing the legacy of destruction
brought to us by the nuclear industry in the state of New Mexico.
In the next post we will take a look at the outside of this church
and then we will go inside.
