It's Getting Warmer

Week Feb. 17 to 24th

The last two days have been so much warmer. 20 degrees makes a big difference, but the wind sure doesn't know how to stop blowing.  I thought it was windy in Glenmoor.   Well this tops that!  Plus it makes the temp. seem colder than it is. There are two storms coming in however, one tomorrow from the north, (Addison's area), and the next one Wednesday, from the south.
Yesterday was a funny day at church.  Dad and I were suppose to talk in Sacrament Meeting, but when we got to church they had the high counsel there and the Branch Pres. forgot he had asked us too, now maybe in March.  We just go to church and anything goes.  We really have to flow with the day.  We got our new second counselor yesterday.  I feel so bad for him, he just has had a stroke and can't use his right side and can't hardly talk.  He was pretty brave accepting the calling.  I'm sure Heavenly Father will help him for being so faithful.  Another funny thing that happened in Sacrament Meeting was the chorister (who is African American and the branch Pres. wife) got up to lead the closing song and had copies of the words printed off so we could sing the (black anthem) then to top that off she draped a (black movement cloth) around the pulpit. Then for choir practice, she brought a big spiritual piece where we could all clap and shout.  I told Dad we were soon going to be sent home.  We had two women to choir practice, so the same lady decides that if there isn't any more going to come out to choir practice then she and the other lady would sing a duet.  The other lady (Carlene) doesn't have any idea what key she is on or even if there are different notes.  I can't wait to see if we can pull this off. There is always something happening here to keep it humorous.  If we don't have fun with it we would start crying.
Dad has something wonderfully spiritual to tell you!  When we left home our tires were getting a little worn, but since they were 60,000 mile guarantee and we only had 30,000 miles on them, I decided to wait.  Anyway, the other day Joyce noticed a nail in one of them. Today I took it in, and they wouldn't let me out since they were so bad, so we had to buy new ones. Anyway, think of all the potholes we hit on the way and here in town, and thank the Lord He protected us until we got them fixed. We are being watched over! I especially think of my trip to New Jersey to take the missionaries down for a ride to the temple, (story to follow). On the way back I took the wrong freeway and wound up almost to Atlantic City, then to New York state before finding my way home. The next day, I had to pick them up, and the same thing happened. This time I pulled off and reprogrammed the GPS, and found out the Elders had programmed it to not go on any toll roads or bridges. This time we got it right and crossed a big toll bridge across the Delaware River, and made it home safely.
Our one elder has been waiting for a visa to go to Brazil, and it finally came after about 5 months. He is really sharp and we are going to miss him. We are gong to have a dinner for the missionaries and the relief society president next Sunday to see him off. Mom is trying to figure out what to fix.
Yesterday I had to teach RS, and I did Bednar's conference talk on The Window's of Heaven.  Anyway, read this talk if you haven't, it truly makes us realize how many times we are being blessed and not even knowing or thanking HF for the blessing and the protection. Everyone is in so many different places yet we have all been blessed and protected.  We have soooooo much to be thankful for!
 Dad and I are having little tender mercies happening all the time.  We have started to keep track of all of them.   Maybe all of you ought to keep a list- I think all of us would be surprised.  Let's see what we have by the time this mission is through!
You are all so very precious.  Thank you for all the love, support and care you are always giving us.  We love it here and we are learning so much.  Especially how blessed we've been all of our lives, just to have been born in the gospel is such a huge blessing!
 

We are all stoked up about missionary work because yesterday we had a wonderful Stake Conference.  Gifford Nielson was the authority and talk about enthusiasm!  He told us that we are definitely in the last days and we all need to lengthen our stride much, much more.  The whole conference was on missionary work, and all the missionaries in this mission got Ipads.  Last night we went to two houses and they showed the investigators the films on first discussion.  This really helped them understand so much more clearly and faster.
Today we are going to the hospital to see a member that is dying.  So sad- she has two little boys that her mother is trying to tend.
YESTERDAY we really had our eyes opened.  We went to a beautiful new stake center, big, lovely homes all the way out there, and many, many members.  There is a lot of church activity beyond Frankford branch.  We love our people however, and will do all we can to strengthen them.  They are all Heavenly Father children, and He loves them and so do we.
Weather here is still cold-more snow coming tonight.  We don't have to walk like the missionaries do, so there is another big blessing.  Dad is really turning into a super missionary. He bears the most humble, sweet testimony, and even at times makes both of us cry.  We are thankful for these opportunities and blessings! The gospel gets more precious to us everyday. Thanks to all of you for your love, support and prayers.  We are so happy and appreciative. Thanks for letting us talk often to all of you, especially the grand  kids.  What a joy they are in our life.    LOVE YOU ALL, Mom and Dad and Grandparents.  

Another week in Philly

Week #5 from Philly
 We have been on a lot of discussions with the elders.  I guess this is going to be what we do.  One was to a sister that has been baptized for quite sometime, but doesn’t come out.  She is always feeding the missionaries and we were invited to come this time.  She cooked enough food for an army, but the main dish was goat!  Dad was kind enough to take my piece from me and eat it, you know dad- he will eat anything.   I didn't want to make "Maud" feel bad.  She is from Hati and says goat is their main meat source.  I know I'm spoiled but there is a limit to all things.
 Sat. we went on the subway and went with the primary downtown to see the Philly temple.  It is 1/3 through.  It is built right downtown and will look like all the wonderful old government buildings around there.  They had to drill through 300 feet of granite to get enough parking for the temple.  There is no parking in downtown.  If you all come back we are learning how to do the subway thing so we can show you.  The way there is 300 more feet of granite so it will be build on solid ground.  One year for the exterior and one year for the inside.  It won't be done when we get through back here so maybe we will come back to it.
 We are getting pretty busy in the branch.  In two weeks we have to talk in Sacrament Meeting.  I teach RS, we've started a choir and I have to do singing in Primary.  We take the elders everywhere.  Elder Kofford sprained his ankle Sun. so he can't get around.  There is always opposition!  Dad has to run these elders back home so I"m leaving.

Love Mom

We have an address!

Our new address is 3112 Unruh Ave. Philadelphia, Pa 19124 　　We have been in our apt. for a week now and it is very warm and comfortable. We sent a couple of pictures of bedroom and living room. 　They delivered a washer Sat. so now we are really in business. 　Feb. 2nd was yesterday, (a Sunday) and Kris' birthday. 　We got to talk to her on the phone. She is in Puerto Rico, and seems to be having a good time. Yesterday was also fast Sunday. 　We had a wonderful sacrament meeting, very spiritual, the branch also had another baptism, thanks to the Elders & Brother Paul. I couldn't go because Dad took all four elders and the car wouldn't hold me too. 　Dad and I both bore our testimonies. The people in this branch are trying so very hard- the faithful ones really have strong testimonies. It is all the ones that are not active that we need to get out. 　Dad went over the branch list yesterday and over 3/4 the branch Pres. didn't even know. 　They call in very active, bright people from other wards and stakes to serve in the leadership positions. 　Even the 2nd Counselor hasn't been out since we got here. 　We have our work cut out for us!!!!!

Sat. we went with 4 other senior couples to the movie about the two missionaries that were kidnaped in Russia. We went to dinner first, then the movie, which only about 6 other people in the theater and the 10 of us. 　Everyone loved the movie. I am sure glad our circumstances are different than the movie. 　After we went for some ice cream, which is owned by members so they gave us 50% off. Very yummy but oh so rich. 　Of course dad and I ate our whole turtle sundae.

We had the elders over yesterday for dinner- four missionaries can sure eat a lot, especially when they've been fasting. 　They were fun to have, and it made me think that someone else was feeding Taylor and Addison that day.

Today is very cold with a lot more snow coming. 　We woke up to about 6 new " and it is still coming down. 　There is no heat here in our branch where we are sending emails, so I'm cutting this short. My hands are frozen. We are on our way to buy a snow shovel. 　Happy Birthday to Abbey and Kris! So proud of all the grand kids and their accomplishments; Harrison, Morgan, baby Ashley getting named, all of you doing so well last semester in school, keep up the good work. 　Ally, you and Boo get feeling lots better! We pray for all of you and miss you!!!!!! 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Hugs and Kisses to the best family in the world!!!!!!! 　　　

G&G "A"