Small Town America

Having grown up in rural Minnesota, I have always had a love of small towns. There is a simplicity and honesty they provide. Everyone knows everyone else which can lead to problems with gossip but can also bring accountability to a community. There is a true sense of belonging when you go to the post office and get stuck talking to the post master for the next hour because he knows everything and wants to share it. Or at least he thinks he does, which can lead to some of the problems in a small town. While small towns may not afford the best academic educations, easy access to communication or 1000 varieties of tomatoes in the grocery store and other endless choices, they still have a lot to offer.

Sarah and Jeremy work at a Christian adventure camp near a small town in Western Montana. Plains has a population of 1200 people. We walked down the street with Sarah and she was greeted by name. Even if they didn't know her name they knew her face and wanted to talk about the baby.

Sarah took us to the small grocery store and was horrified to see the industrial revolution was finally getting to Plains. Conveyor belts had been added to the check-out counters! Ashley and I laughed. Progress takes time but it takes even more time in small towns.



I fell a little bit in love with Plains. It's surrounded by mountains and rivers that take your breath away. The people were friendly. There weren't too many options to overwhelm you. I found comfort with the lack of options and not being an anonymous face in the crowd. Maybe it's me coming off extreme community in Uganda that has me craving and desiring the simplicity and community of a small town. While I continue to contemplate where-to-next, I'm beginning to think small town America might not be such a bad place.

Another picture of Adelynn just because she's so cute!