This has been our home for the first month.  On the right is the lovely home of President Hamrick and his sweet wife, Hope.  On the left is their renovated garage...large apartment...which was one large room that had bed, couches, small kitchen, bathroom and lots of miscellaneous "stuff".  It was great being next to this wonderful family...sharing dinners, tomatoes from their garden, enjoying the river in the back yard and having a place to actually do our missionary work.





Here is the most adventurous thing we have eaten...thus far...

Squirrel with squirrel gravy on fresh biscuits with corn and hash browns.  Not bad actually!  I especially love the fresh biscuits that we get everywhere!  YUM!!

Here is our church building in Cowen.  It is a phase one building that is very small but adequate for meeting on Sunday.  The Chapel is also the multi-purpose room depending on what day they put the needed furniture.

The Relief Society Room is about 6 feet across and the Primary room is the largest next to the chapel with about

8 -10 feet across and dividers to make 3 different classrooms when there are enough children.  Last week there were only three children!  We had 38 in Sacrament meeting yesterday.   

Now we are living here in town at the "Dotson House" in the middle of Webster Springs.  It has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dining room, kitchen, living room, screened in back porch and nice front porch.  All for only $350/month!  This lets you know how depressed the economy is in this once booming coal mining town.   We are happy to spread out although we miss the great neighbors we once had! Now I am 4 doors down from the gym, which is also across the street from the Post Office.  Good location.  Now look below for what is in the other direction down the street...

 

 

Here is a river across the street...have to go across a swinging bridge to get there...yup...3 minute walk from the house!

Here is one of the side streets (that is 2 blocks away-- still part of the middle of town!) that show the road going until it reaches the forest covered mountain.  Notice the low-hanging cloud...very common in this mountainous area. 

Here is the entrance to the Swinging Bridge.  It is suspended by cables and swings and rolls as you walk on it.  Something else new for us.  Again...this is in the middle of town. 

One recent development in this struggling economy:
Last week 75 coal miners were laid off at a nearby mine.
Another blow to this struggling economy. :(