Debbie, the Children and Youth Coordinator from the mission, used to be a tour guide in Fort Smith. So, she took us to a few attractions around the town.
We began our day at the bordello, Miss Laura's Social Club.
It was definitely a Victorian-style place:
There were beautiful stained-glass windows:
Standards of beauty are so much different today than in the early 1900's. The woman who worked at the bordello would smoke asthmatic cigarettes to make their skin really pale.
Random things in the bordello:
Debbie took us to the gallows when we finished touring the bordello.
I think 79 people were hung here:
Trap Door:
Whatever happened to the 6th Commandment : "Thou shalt not kill"
We ate a wonderful lunch at this place:
We went to the Fort Smith National Cemetery. It was so peaceful there and I took a lot of pictures:
A woman recently died. So, she was buried in front of her husband's grave:
Prisoners used to sleep here:
Anna sticking her head between...I guess gun holes??
I had my first REAL root beer float at one of the museums:
The soda syrup:
The fizz:
The ice cream and whipped cream!
If heaven tasted like anything, then it would taste like a root beer float.
An old fire engine:
Wedding shoes:
Belle Starr's pocket watch:
An old night depository box:
Pretty Boy Floyd robbed that bank back in the day!
Debbie was unexpectedly reunited with one of her former co-workers:
Anna on the trolley ride:
Debbie gave a Native American blessing over a someone's new house at the end of the day:
She burned sage around the house the take away all the bad spirits, and then she took a candle around the house to bring in the light of God. It was really awesome.
I love the sunsets here:
We found some berries beside our trailer:
Our neighbors:
We have an arsenal of mice killing supplies:
Anna fixing a mouse trap.
Turns out mothballs are really toxic and you shouldn't put half a box of them in your bedroom. My naivete got the best of me with that. So, Anna and I had to sleep with the mission team Saturday night to let our trailer air out. Although we haven't caught any mice in the traps, I think the poison is taking care of our mouse problem.
A really sweet dog was at the mission today. She was hungry and you could even see her ribs. A few of the adults told all the kids here not to feed her so she would just leave, but she was still here this evening. So, I let my heart get the best of me and I called the Humane Society of Cherokee County--a no-kill animal shelter. They are so full and had over 50 dogs on a waiting list to get in. The woman I spoke with said that she would give me food to feed the dog until they could find a home for her, but they just couldn't take her.
This broke my heart. We can't keep a dog at the mission because of the children who are here everyday. I walked around some tonight and haven't seen the dog anywhere, but I really do hope she finds someone who will love her and take care of her.
I think sometimes I'm faced with the problem of wanting to fix all of the worlds problems. I want to stop injustice, poverty, and violence, but I have definitely realized I can only do so much. I am reminded of something Mother Teresa said that speaks volumes:
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."
So, I'll do what I can do--even if it's just a phone call.
Meredith
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