Ft. Smith, Arkansas

Ft. Smith, Arkansas is a city of about 139,000 people built inside a turn in the Arkansas River.  It is located on the very west side of Arkansas nestled up to the shared border with Oklahoma.  In fact, if you miss our exit off 540 the next one is in Oklahoma.  It is just a bit south of I-40 which is the freeway that runs east to west across this section of the United States including through Amarillo, Texas.  It has a small campus attached to the University of Arkansas (UAFTS). It is located in the Ozarks and there are trees, hills, and streams everywhere throughout the city.  It is beautiful!

It is located almost directly south of Bentonville, about 90 minutes driving!

We turned off the main freeway for a bit and got on Hwy 71, which is a scenic byway in this area

to stop at the Parley P. Pratt Memorial.  He was killed near by this area by the former husband of his wife.

We made it to our apartment, met with the Ritters who we are replacing, and then unpacked.

The drive down Horan Street to where the Church is located.

Because Tuesday night we had to head to the Ft. Smith Church to a Game Night and Goodbye to Ritters and hello to us with the YSAs in Ft. Smith.

The Ritters and us

We wished we had served with the Ritters.  They are a warm and fun couple.  They are well-loved here and missed.

And that is it!  We are truly arrived in Arkansas and hit the ground running---at least it feels that way some days.