Mar. 17-24, 2014

We had a very busy week. They are getting more involved. A lot of it is we have quite a few getting ready for baptism and it makes twice the appointments.  We had one ready for baptism yesterday, (Sun.) but the story is quite involved.  We went to her house with the elders on Fri. to give her the questions that she would be asked on  Sat. by the zone leaders.  Anyway during our appointment she told us she was bisexual.  The elders about dropped their teeth and so did I.  Anyway, Pres Stephenson interviewed her for 1 1/2 hours, told her baptism would take away her sins and she had to change her ways, and never get involved again. So, by the hour of midnight she was still going to get baptized.  Sun. she comes out to church and will only stay for Sacrament Meeting.  That ticks Pres. Burno off, so we go pick her up at 3 and take her, her mom and little 3 years old boy to the baptism. We get there and there is no water in the font.  After waiting for another hour for the rest to arrive, Pres. Burno gets there and calls off the whole thing. No water in the font, he is already mad.  So we all start back home wondering when it will all happen.  I felt bad for Shinqua, she is so new to our ways, hope it takes place soon.
Sat. we had an all day conference for the stake at another building and location. It was wonderful.  Super good classes, nice food and I really enjoyed being at a function with many other wonderful sisters.  I thought of Jill because the week end before she was doing her own cooking class at the Women's Conference in Kanab. They had a cooking class at this one, but I hadn't preregistered and had to go to classes that weren't already full.
I need to comment on our dinner last Fri. night.  We were at Moll's again. (She is the GOAT lady)  We are sitting around this big long table and I'm sitting by her daughter. She asks how I like the food and mistakenly (which means I wish I hadn't) asked her what the meat dish was.  She says carrots, egg plant, and coyote.  Well she must have looked at me and saw I was turning green, so she says, "oh it isn't coyote meat, coyote is a herb they use in Mom's country for seasoning."  Then she persuades to tell me we are having ox tail tonight! It was meat you had to pick out of bones like vertebras. She gave us a plate for the food and one for the bones.  Thank goodness Dad sat on the other side of me and took my meat.  If you don't put things on your plate then she will come around and dish it up for you.
All the time here we just go by what ever happens. They are wonderful people, and I'm sure my ways are very strange to them.
It looks like we have another baptism for next Sun. This is a really cool lady.  She laughs all the time and feeds everyone that comes into her home. Maybe if all goes well, Shinqua can try for baptism again. We'll let you know what happens.
After Sun. services we had a pot luck lunch. Pretty interesting things there.  We are going to do it again for Conference Sun. It helps bring more people out.
Family has really been on my mind a lot this week end. I know Tyler and Harrison are both gone.  Kris has gone to another yoga seminar. I can't help but worry when everyone is in so many places.  The best medicine for Dad and I when we feel lonely for all of you is to get busy, busy and go out and do something for all these wonderful, poor people. If the baptisms go through we will take pictures of the two ladies. Shinqua and Arma

(I believe this is the baby mom talked about in her letter last week)

Hi wonderful family,
We had a busy week last week, but what a lot of spiritual experiences.
The little young mother that we keep talking about with cancer died.  We went to see her about 1 hour before she passed away.  She had withered down to just skin and bones.  I've never seen anyone that poor.  Her family is having such a hard time-we have been there three different times to see if we could help with funeral services.  The branch pres. can't get off work so dad thought he better get something going.  Every time they would say the mom is to upset to think about it, so we just kept going back and waiting.  Sun. we went over there with the missionaries and her sister told us that the Catholic church was taking care of it.  They have been members about three years but in times of trouble they do what they know best.  Dad still has to dedicate the grave, we are doing the meal after. All the R.S. sisters work so guess I'm doing it!  The family wants chicken wings (which I've never cooked in my life). I hope they like my kind.
I may have told you that she has two little boys.  They don't have a father so I guess the grandma or sister will raise them.  I wish I could have sent them home to Andrea, they are so darling.
Anyway, I want to remember all my life how tender two of our missionaries were with the brokenhearted mom.  She is really having a hard time, and Elder Timmerman and Elder Koffor just got down on their knees and loved that mom.   They read to her out of the Book of Mormon.  I've never seen anything so tender.  Elder Koffer was just crying and was so very helpful to all of them.  The Spiritual part to me was that an 18 year old boy had so much maturity and love that he would even do that.  Most 18 year old boys are too wrapped up in appearances! He was really doing what the Spirit told him to do. I’m so impressed with these wonderful , young people that go out and make such a difference in people's lives. I will write about the services next week.
The picture is of a darling little family we visit.  They have been baptized since Aug. The dad always works on Sunday’s and she has a hard time watching them all at home let alone bring them to church.  All four of them are in diapers.  Talk about darling little kids.  Each time I hold the baby because he is only 1 week older than Ashley.  (By the way, we saw her for two seconds on skype last night, she is  such a doll, it made me miss all the Grand kids, including the greats.)
It was so wonderful to talk to most of the grand kids last night on the phone.  They are all so wonderful to us!  How did we get so blessed with such a wonderful family?  I realize more every day how blessed our family has been.  You are all so awesome and trying so hard.  We are grateful for all your accomplishments, for the safety of Kristine getting home, and pray for her safety as she leaves again. Thanks to all of you for making her so welcome in your busy lives.
The gospel is true!   It is the most important thing we have besides each other. Thank you for being so supportive of our mission and by letting us stay in such close contact with all of you. We feel like our blessings just keep coming!!!
                                    We love you so
 Elder & Sister, Mom & Dad, Grandparents, &Great grandparents

(picture hasn't arrived yet... hopefully soon)

We've learned to ride the subway:)

Another week-boy are they flying! Last week went so fast. We had a lot of appointments but half of them always stand us up. These darling four missionaries always just take it with a smile, Last Mon. we went down to the church and the elders were out on the street with signs about the church, trying to talk to anyone that would give them the time of day. They were even offering them hot chocolate. They have such energy and always happy and smiling.   There are always trying to do anything to get everyone's attention. We walked out of the church Sat. and the elders had decorated our car windows with pictures that pertain to the gospel.
So far we have two more baptisms planed for this week.  It is pretty interesting on how much some of these people have to give up,  just personally because they are the only ones that will join the church.  One of the biggest problems is to keep them active.  They think when they are baptized that is all they have to do. Anyway, when the Lord gets them ready, hopefully we'll help find them.
Sat. night we got together with all the Seniors and went to the basketball game. The Jazz were in town, and the secretary at the office could get tickets. It was pretty fun, especially because the Jazz won.  It is great to get together with the Seniors.  This mission is so spread out that we seldom see them- only on occasions.
Sun. went wonderful.  We start out with about 6-9 people and by the time Sacrament Meeting is over we have 15-20. It makes it that we all have to speak about once a month.   There isn't too many members to call on for leadership.  We have learned to love this little branch so much.  They are very humble, caring people who just need to be taught and learn more what the gospel is all about.
One thing that has happened a few times because of my stupidity... our branch Pres. is named Pres. Burno.  I can't ever remember his name and I have been known to call he and his wife "Beano". Karl about dies when I do that.  To tell you the truth, I feel pretty stupid myself.
We are very comfortable in our little house, we love the people, and love helping them.  We have fantastic missionaries to help us.  Just last week we got a new elder from England. He has such an accent that he is hard to understand. He is 6 ft. 8" tall and when he gets in the car dad asks him if he wants the sunroof opened so he will fit. It's good he has a playful attitude about it.
We went downtown this morning.  A trial date was being set up for a member of our branch.  The branch Pres. couldn't go so dad and I went.  Anyway this is his third wife, all of them he has divorced.  Well one of them went to him in Jan. and told him she was expecting and he got in a fight with her so he pulled a gun on her and threatened to shoot the baby.  Anyway the judge set his trial for June.  They are going to let him sit in jail and think about it. He wanted to be bailed out by the church, but of course they won't do that. He has two kids living with him.  They would come to church once in awhile but we haven't seen them since all this happened.  We hope someone is caring for them!  My heart goes out to all these people in our branch that mess up their lives so much.  We took the subway down and it went just fine.  If we ever have company back here we want to know how to do it. There is very little parking down there!
         We are heading to a meeting with the mission Pres. All is well in Philly!
 Love all you so much, thanks for all your support.       DAD&MOM

Jazz v. Philadelphia 76ers game:

Mission President:  President & Sister Anderson

What a wonderful week we had last week.  We are really starting to stay busy and loving every moment of it!
Mon. is our day to shop, wash and then fill in with the missionaries to visit, teach and encourage. We have Elder Bailey who has been here 7 months waiting for a Visa to Brazil. Anyway it finally came so we will be getting a new elder by next Mon.
Tues. appointments with elders and visited two inactive families. Two of which said they would come to church Sun. but then by Sun. they don't show. By the way, two of the people we were teaching with the Elders, said they would come to church Sun. One showed up.
Wed. more of the same, contacts, lessons and no shows.  Thurs. more the same. Fri. We have game nights at the church.  We played pictionary.  There were 7 people there which is pretty good.  Sat. we took Sneiquia to the temple sight, (picture)  she was pretty impressed.  This made up for the last few days being so unsuccessful.  The people who run the temple sight are wonderful people!  They have a trailer beside the grounds and have all kinds of films, pictures and talks going on.  That little trailer really had the Spirit in it. We then brought her back to the church and taught her a lesson on the word of wisdom.  She said she would have a hard time giving up her tea.  She is the one who did come out Sun.  What a blessing. She seems pretty interested. We hope it lasts.  She has a 4 year old boy.  All of these little kids are so darling, and so many of them don't have fathers.
Sun. We got to church and there were 6 of us there. The branch presidency and their wives.  By the end of the meeting we had 7 more join us.  The meeting was wonderful, even with so few people. The Spirit was so strong, and the testimonies were all wonderful.  You can really tell when the truth has sunk in because they are so grateful and have so little.
 My favorite lady (branch Pres. wife, (the one who really runs the branch), the one I talk about in almost every email) she is now the choir director. Today she pulls out another Negro spiritual, one that you clap your hands and yell Hallelujah.  Anyway, we get to the chorus and she wants to start clapping and yelling.  I told dad that we may be sent home after all.  Hope I have a little more say in the next song she picks.
After church we went to the hospital to see the lady dying of cancer. We got there and she is on life support, in a coma, and running around her room were her two little boys, ages 1 and 2 1/2. They have no father.  Talk about sad.  I'm sure she has passed away by this morning.  Some people have it so hard, I  just wonder what will happen to those two little boys!  We came home and got dinner and had 10 of us for dinner, with only six chairs.  The Relief Society Pres had to bring the rest.  Boy can those Elders eat!  We are losing elder Bailey tomorrow. He has been waiting for his Visa and after 7 months it came.  He leaves for Brazil tomorrow.  He is such a wonderful Elder! He is the one that looks so much like Ethan.  He was pretty full of mixed feelings!
I woke up Sun. morning and had hives all over my trunk, neck and head. Boy do I still itch. Dad went this morning to get something- I hope it helps cause all I do is scratch!!!
 It looks like we will have another in day today. Schools closed, more snow, plus more coming and bitter cold.  Dad gets a little uneasy! We will probably dream up something to do or someone to visit.  He has been in this house about long enough.   We are well, warm, happy and loving every moment of it.  Thanks for all your support and love. I have two pictures hanging on my cabinet-one from Payten and one from Olivia.  Thanks for being so good to us! I guess John's family is at Jill's Grandmother's services right about now. We hope the weather is better in Utah than here.  Our love to all of you, you are the best people in the whole world!

This picture is of of the elders in our branch- (L to R) Elders Bailey, Smith, Timmerman, Koffard, Tulo, and Ruford.  The last two are Zone Leaders.

 This picture is Sneiquia and me.  She is taking the discussions and we took her to see the temple sight. We are in front of the temple-what you can see of it.