Still enjoying the Beauty of West Virginia

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted the latest on this blog....and to think I was originally going to post every two weeks!  Little did I know how very, very busy we would be.  We still travel 2-3 thousand miles each month, teaching people about our wonderful church, finding people that haven't been found for 10-20 years, and just visiting the many wonderful members of our Branch. Very often when we are traveling on this Highway 20 that stretches through the mountain, towns and valleys we are looking at this very scene...a logging truck.  They are quite plentiful despite the cut-backs due to Government regulations and are only a problem when trying to get to an appointment on time and the truck is creeping along, especially when the road climbs again.  Such is life in WV!

Here are some of the best times of our mission.  When we are able to interact with the wonderful Elders and Sisters.  They are ages 18-21 and although young in years are very spiritually mature in the Lord's Gospel.  Elder Morgan on the left is our direct supervisor...calling for weekly reports.  He is our DL (District Leader).  On the right is one of the other Elders in our District...He is an AP (assistant to the Mission President) and a real spiritual Giant.  We are enjoying the nice weather outside the chapel in small town of Flatwoods.

Well, this is the Simons trailer that is being  that was moved out to make room for bigger, newer one.  Elder McBean has been working with this for months to clean up the mess and get ready for this better trailer.  They are now jacking up different corners of the bigger trailer and putting blocks under for support and to make it level.  After spending 2 days, the trailer started to slide (not good) and it was determined that because they are on soft dirt (which gets softer with so much rain) and  the ground is sloped that they need to
dig holes to put in frames into which concrete will be poured to make a permanent and stable  foundation for the trailer.  This is up a mountain
in a hallar  that has no real road, no drain field

no source of clean water and lots and lots of "junk"! I have also been working inside the trailers (2 pushed together) to help Susan (lady in red shirt) to clean, organize and make the home livable.  Because water is so scarce we have washed and folded around 70 loads of laundry for them (yes, it was piled up everywhere!) and tried to get them to put trash in a trash can instead of on the floor!
Elder McBean is sitting in the middle of the 3 people. 

Yes, I do have fun making fall baskets to take around for visits.  We sure do miss our wonderful (inexpensive) and delicious WA apples!

This is 7:15 a.m. when I am out for my daily walk.  This is before time change and the street lights are still on.  I. love walking across the Swinging Bridge and seeing the "mood" of the Elk River below. This scene is a mere 2 blocks from Main Street.  So love these rustic surroundings.

OK...so Elder McBean has been waiting an entire year to go to one of the most well-known events in WV - Bridge Day.  We drove 2 hours south to the New River Gorge Bridge...one of the highest in the world.  Early in the morning we  joined the other 80,000 + visitors to watch these daring adventurers leap (with parachute on back) off this bridge that is 876 feet high.  Wow!  here is someone leaping...

Here is someone that is being catapulted off the bridge (worse)...

And this is the river below...(yellow and blue parachutes) with rescue boats in the water for those who miss the big X on the ground and land in the cold river below.  Thank goodness there were no accidents today.  There are often fatalities.

The lay-offs in the coal mines continue to happen 100-1000 people at a time.  It is crushing an already fragile economy.  Signs such as this are quite common!

Fall has been so very beautiful...as was last fall.  Here is a single lane road complete with mists, curves and color.  Elder McBean so enjoys driving these roads.

This is so typical to find a hallar like this...starts out gravel and turns into dirt, rocks and potholes.  No name  to the road that will go deeper into the mountains making it hard to find families who may live there.

Our main road of travel...highway 20....takes us through the Monongahela National Forest.  Such beautiful, beautiful country!! 

A few words from Elder McBean...                                                                      Working in a small Branch  45-50  Sac. meeting att.      is much different than a ward where most things get done on a fairly regular basis. We have a new Branch Pres. who has not been a member very long and does not really know how the church operates, so the stake is working hard to get things up to speed, he is a good man and wants to do things right so it will happen. H.T. has not been done for years and is really hard to get started, ( you know, " an object in motion etc. ") The Branch Pres. last mo. in Sac. mtg. did say he was committed to doing one a mo. he didn't but I am sure he will. We are only trying to teach about 25 families who are possible to bring back into activity.                                                                  Be faithful, support your Bishop, have a great life, prepare for Exaltation, See you in March. Elder M     

Dear Friends & Family...Yes, we have done a little bit of traveling and have some pictures to share...

This is the infamous home of our first President, George Washington...
Mount Vernon.  Our tour guide and hostess for a few days in Virginia was the lovely Stacy Sorensen, the wife of my nephew, Paul Sorensen Jr.
It was a nice break and besides the sights we so enjoyed their beautiful children and lovely home. 

 The second day in Virginia, we went to sights in Washington DC.  Here are Elder McBean (love the tie!) and I in front of the Lincoln Memorial.  What a great President.  This was the first of so much to see!! 

This was our favorite monument...for WWII.  There are pillars with all the states and countries that fought with us in WWII.  There is a beautiful pool in the middle and famous quotes throughout the memorial.  It really rallies your patriotic feelings!

 This was a "tender mercy" from the Lord.  The beautiful young woman in the center of the dancers is our oldest granddaughter, Kamalei Ho.  She lives in Hawaii, has been attending BYU in UT and had received a mission call to serve in the Dominican Republic.  We knew that there was no way we could see her before she left on her mission (2 weeks ago).  However, she was part of a performing group that puts on musical firesides followed by culture presentations.  They were to perform only in NY but at the last minute added a couple of shows in VA and DC.  So our last night in VA, there she was part of a musical fireside and performance in my nephew's church building!  Yes, a true blessing!

The finale of our brief 3 1/2 day trip was to go to the Washington DC Temple.  It was so magnificent! You can see it as you are driving on the freeway and there are signs telling you it is the Mormon Temple.  I understand that it was initially causing accidents and cars stopping to take pictures.  They use to have lights from the grounds shining up on the Temple and it looked as though it was in the air.  The lights had to be discontinued as it was such a distraction to motorists.  What a beautiful "House of the Lord".

 

 

 Another wonderful blessing was to go through the Columbia, SC Temple with our Grandson, Elder Carter who was called to the Vanuatu/New Caledonia Mission above Australia.  What a wonderful young man...so anxious to serve the Lord.  How grateful we are to have been serving on the East Coast so we could be there for his farewell.

This is one of the greatest moments of our mission.  Elder McBean is about to baptize into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cameron Dennis.  They are in the baptismal font in our chapel in Cowen, WV.  This brings such great joy into this wonderful journey of a mission.

 There is always a silver lining among the storms of life.  My brother David unexpectedly passed away.  I flew to Seattle to be with family.  My sweet missionary companion encouraged me to take advantage of my time in WA and visit with family.  I did!  It was great!  So wonderful to see my siblings.  Best of all it was great to see children and grandchildren.  There were two granddaughters born since we left and I finally got to meet them...

Here is Scarlett Lily Capetillo!! 
 (Rachel's daughter)

 Here is Maci Awai!!
(Ben's daughter)



Holding and kissing them was like a dream come true!  Aren't grandchildren just the best!

West Virginia is now fully green as evidenced by the roads we travel daily.  So often we have rain during the day that creates the rich canopy of trees covering the roads in these beautiful mountains.  And of course there are curves everywhere!  I am so glad Elder McBean enjoys driving these curvy mountain roads!! 

As I go on morning walks I often see rock formations covered in a carpet of leaves, flowers and always trees. 

 

A couple of times a week I take my clippers on my walks and cut wild flowers for a bouquet on the kitchen table.  I have never before lived where the greenery has been so diverse, so dense and so beautiful! 

Birds are everywhere as shown by this cardinal that often visits in the morning.  It is roosted on the rail of the balcony outside our door. 

 

 It is amazing how much wildlife is everywhere.  These deer are grazing outside the living room window by the creek that borders the property.  We often have wild rabbits that also like to nibble on the grass.  Other wildlife that we have seen are a badger, possum, squirrels, fox, snakes, bear and coyote.

After visiting a new member in the Branch we followed signs to the sight of this battle.  We stood on the battlefield where men gave their lives.  The civil war was fought all over these mountains and there are many reenactments throughout the summer.  Old Glory waves year around on many buildings and outside many homes.  This is indeed a very patriotic spot...we love it! Most of all we love being able to serve others every day, all day.  What a privilege!! With love from West Virginia...

Elder and Sister McBean

 

 

 

 Sorry it has been so long since I have had a new posting but we have been busy being missionaries!  We have moved, have 4 people being baptized on Sunday and have spent a lot of time driving around these mountain roads looking for less-actives.

Here is a great chart that a man around here makes...World History Chart.  It shows information from 4004 BC to 2010 AD.  We have never seen anything so comprehensive!

The first week in April we had the wonderful experience of traveling to Buena Vista, Virginia...just outside Lexington.  Beautiful country!!  We attended a 2 day conference for all the senior couples serving in the WV mission.  Very inspiring and enjoyable.  We met on the old, but beautiful campus of Southern Virginia University.  There are currently between 600-700 students on campus and only 30-40 are not LDS.  The classes only have an average of 15 students attending.  What an impressive campus and outstanding student body.  We highly recommend this "East coast BYU" for anyone looking for high standards and a great university!

 

 

OK...the latest new food item...Ramps! They are like wild onions that grow in the forests high in the mountains.  Now is the only time of year they are available.  They are fried with bacon, scrambled eggs and other items as well.  Nope, not going to eat this one.  They smell and we have been told by many people that YOU will smell for days after eating them.  Heard on the radio that they are the latest delicacy in fine restaurants...don't do it!

Here is the Elk river, taken from the swinging bridge shown in previous post.  The snow is gone, the river is rising but the trees are still without leaves.  There are a few flowering trees that have blossomed but the majority of the multitude of trees are still very barren.  We are sure looking forward to Spring.  No, hasn't come to the mountains of WV yet!

Here is our new house...much warmer with insulation in walls and carpet in living room and bedrooms.  There is a beauty shop in the back (with whom we have to share the only bathroom - Tuesday thru Friday - can be tricky!) and way behind is an auto garage...the two businesses run by the owners.  In the foreground is our trusty "chariot"...great all-wheel drive Subaru who has taken us up many mountains and hollers through rain, ice and snow.  Already past 40,000 miles!!

While in a park the ranger said this usually out smarts the many bears that roam the woods.  You have to put your hand inside the metal piece at the bottom and push a button to open.  How ingenious is that!!

We actually had company and spent a couple of days taking my cousin, Juan Rondon, visiting from Miami, FL around to see the sights.  Here we are standing with Juan in front of a small water fall...part of the Gauley river.

We live in the lovely mountain valley known as Webster Springs.  The sign also shows off one of the flowering trees that have just recently blossomed.  Notice the barren trees in the background...with the exception of a pine tree.

This picture was taken out the car window on April 15th!  I thought the first day of Spring was in March!!  Apparently that is not the case in West Virginia.  The next day it jumped from 30 to 50 degrees and it all melted.  Today it is 60 degrees and raining.  When I ask people if we have seen the last of the snow they say "Don't know...we'll just have to wait and see."  But we have been told that it has been a colder winter than usual.

So the journey continues here in WV!  We love serving others every day, all day.  We love the people here in WV but sure miss all our friends, children and grandchildren.

Our love and fondest wishes to you all...
Elder and Sister McBean

Winter inWest Virginia!

Well, here is the latest "new item" that we have eaten.  Perhaps it is not new to some of you, but it was to us...pickled eggs!  Actually, it wasn't really bad.  Actually tasted pretty good.   ---   The people here are very resourceful and bottle just about everything...have even been given bottled bacon and every other type of meat imaginable. Venison is served quite regularly and many people kill deer (which are everywhere) year round to feed their families.

This is an interesting concept...an outside wood burning stove.  Quite a few people have this outside building where they burn wood...have to stoke it morning and night.  Then there are pipes under ground that carry hot water to the house to run through radiators for heat and to have hot water for bathing, dishes, etc.  They say the heat is warmer, moist and makes you feel better.  One drawback is that if it gets too cold...in teens, then this method of heating is not adequate and additional heat sources need to be used.  There are trees everywhere so if you have a log splitter (Elder McBean helped priesthood split someone's logs and said really works great!) you have unlimited wood!

Yes, it is winter.  This picture is a result of a little warmer temperatures that intermixed with below freezing...hence the large icicles that form from the momentary warmth.  They are everywhere...all along the windy, 2 lane roads that we travel daily.  We put about 3000 miles per month on our car visiting members and investigators.

 

 Here are some of the white-tailed deer that we see so often.  Usually running up the side of the mountain or scurrying across the road before I can grab a camera.  Finally we were able to slow enough to grab a shot before they saw us and ran.  They are so pretty but are an essential food here in the mountains. 

Just more shots of winter and the windy roads we travel.

We are now in the middle of ANOTHER winter blizzard.  They just keep coming!
The scene is looking out the kitchen window, across our small back yard at the neighbor's pool and yard.  YUP!!! It is cold...more so than is usual we were told.  So this morning church was cancelled!  :(

Here we are in front of our comfy home in the recent snow.  Yes...at least a foot deep!

In the fall I had pictures of the Elk River from the swinging bridge...just a block from our house.  What was once shallow and inviting now appears cold, harsh with huge sections of ice floating slowly south.

The swinging bridge is covered in ice and snow.  When I went on it to take the photo above it creaked in an unfriendly, dangerous way and I was quickly off!

Ahh...life in West Virginia is very rural, very rustic, very close to nature and very wonderful! Here is evidence of some of the animals we see frequently.  These are two baby possums on the side of the road-no doubt hunting for lunch among the snowy leaves.  One morning last week I took a trash bag out the back door to the trash can in our small back yard and I am so glad I first glanced into what I thought was an empty trash can.  Nestled in the bottom of the standing trash can was a sleeping possum!  We have also seen a bear running up the mountain and deer everywhere.  Beautiful country!

Yes, winter has come to West Virginia.  This picture was taken last week after a couple of days of snow.  The colorful leaves have been replaced with glistening snow.  Another evidence of the lovely hand of nature!  Today, in the 7 o'clock hour it is already 30 degrees with the weatherman predicting a high in the 50's.  We are witnessing the up and down of the weather however.  By Sunday we are to again have snow with a high in the 30's.  We especially know that it is winter in our cute old house that has no insulation and is so cold all the time.  We do have base board heaters but it can't keep out the chill.  So I sit at the computer in the living room with warm socks, pants, long-sleeve shirt and a sweat jacket besides! 

My, how we enjoyed Thanksgiving!  We actually had family here...Vicky, our oldest daughter, John, Brandon, Josh, Alex and Mary...Brandon's girlfriend whom he baptized just two months ago.  Every meal was a HUGE production but sure loved the help, the great appetites and so much fun!  Indeed, we have much to be Thankful for!

 

Here is the proud grandpa, Elder McBean, with Brandon...smart, accomplished grandson who has submitted his papers to go on a mission.  Right after this picture, Brandon and Grandpa went to a missionary teaching appointment.
Very memorable evening!

 While Grandpa and John stayed home in the relatively warm house to watch football, Vicky and I headed into the mountains, borrowing sleds on the way...the kids wanted to play in the snow and they did!  Grand time for all!! 

The Carter Family with Grandpa and Grandma.  Thank you so much for driving the 400 + miles to spend the holiday with us!
In three weeks we will be driving the 400 miles to South Carolina to spend Christmas with them!
        Family...that's what it is all about!
We send our love to our other 11 children and other 18 grandchildren (which includes Scarlett born in September and will welcome Maci to be born later this month!)  We sure miss you all!!