Just a quick report
from our new "home" in Ohio! Kim has maintained our blog up to this
point - so it's now my turn to add a post updating our mission to this
point. (let me know if you'd like to view the blog and I'll see that your email
address is added to the access list).
- We arrived in Ohio
about a week ago after a fun crosscountry drive of 2,000 miles! Stops along the
way in Denver & Limon, CO; Salina, KS; Hannibal, MO to visit Mark Twain;
Nauvoo, IL: Temple visit, visiting the historic sites; then on to Ohio.
- We stayed in the
Columbus area for about a week while we looked for a house/apartment in
Coshocton (pronounced: kuh -SHOCK - tun) where our mission president has asked
us to serve. Unless we are asked to move into the mission office for an
administrative assignment, we will likely spend our whole mission here in
Coshocton.
- Coshocton is a small
country town of about 10,000 population located 70 miles east of Columbus. It
has a rich history as it was a booming "canal town" during the
heydays of the Erie/Ohio Canal from 1830-1850. It is located at the confluence
of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding Rivers as they form the Muskingum River - a
sizeable river about 100 yards across. Until about ten years ago, it was a
busy, industrial town but many key industries shut down and the downtown area
is now teeming with poverty, welfare abuse, drugs, general decay /
decline / apathy. It's a new world that we're just beginning to learn
about and understand.
- However Coshocton
also has a beautiful upside! The Roscoe Village canal district has been
beautifully restored is now a popular tourist attraction drawing hundreds of
visitors daily. It features a beautiful lane called "Whitewoman
Street" (named after Mary Harris who was kidnapped by the Mohawk tribe in
the 1700's. She grew up to be the wife of a Mohawk chief and she became a
respected, famous leader in Ohio.) Her namesake street is lined with very
attractive restored shops, restaurants, historic recreations of 1800's
craftsmen like blacksmiths, weavers, candlemakers, etc. and a team of draft
horses pulling canal boats up and down the reconstructed canal and locks!
It even has it's own website: www.roscoevillage.com
We found a third-floor apartment over the Medbery Marketplace Deli in Roscoe
Village- it's like living in Gardner Village or on Main Street in Park City. So
our mailing address is:
Paul and Kim Blanchard
C/O Medbery
Marketplace
403 North Whitewoman
Street
Coshocton, OH 43812
- Our assignment is to
help strengthen the small branch in this struggling small town. The branch has
about 100 members with about 30 people attending church on Sunday. They do have
a small chapel and that is a huge asset - but the local economy and welfare
culture are challenges to building the branch. Kim and I have a lot of
opportunities to meet new people every day, especially since we live in a very
attractive, popular tourist attraction which draws hundreds of visitors each
day. We also teach an Institute New Testament Class on Wednesday evenings which
is a helpful draw for both LDS and non-LDS adult students. There will be many
opportunities for us to be of service in this challenged-town; we are looking
forward to the experiences.
So all in all, we are
having the time of our lives! Living and working together in a small beautiful
village in a lush green countryside with really nice, humble people. Life is
good and we're thankful for our countless blessings. Being missionaries is even
better than we dreamed - we're learning that wearing a black name tag 24/7 is a
new and exciting experience! Thanks for your support and interest as we
prepared for this incredible adventure! If you're ever out this way, let us
know - we'll take you downstairs for some famous "Velvet Ice Cream"
and then for a ride on the canal boat behind King & Max the Belgian tow
horses!
Best wishes,
Elder & Sister
Blanchard
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