April 22-29, 2014

Dear Family & Friends,
  Another week. I guess they are going so fast because we love it so much.
  Last week was a very busy one, always the same thing- just a lot to get done and most of the time the investigator stand us up.  They don't have very good manners because they don't even bother to tell us, or else they are hiding in some part of the house and tell the kids to say they are not at home.  We had an investigator walk out of church Sun. because the high council man said that they shouldn't have tattoos. We got Sister Burno mad. She is the one I always talk about, her husband (Branch Pres.) told her to keep her mouth shut and now she is not coming out. Boy you have to walk on egg shells here.
  We are trying to find housing for the Jackman family. They have to be out of their house by the 1st. They have no car to move with and are just going to walk out of the house with their clothing and leave the landlord to deal with the furnishings.  It looks like they are going to go to No. Carolina. They have relatives there to stay with and they think the relatives can help them find jobs. No money, no car, no home, how do they get themselves into such a pickle? You try and help, like we saw a opportunity for a job, John the husband has been short cook and wouldn't even go look at the job.  They wanted someone that could do breakfast, lunch, and dinner cooking plus make pizza. He has been a short cook before but wouldn't even try because he didn't know how to toss pizza crust. Dad told him that he could show him how. Dad said can't you learn but he wouldn't. It is easier to collect unemployment. You feel bad for them but they have to try a little too. The Mother of this family is Tammy that cut my hair.  I did it to help them out a little, so Sat. I went into the beauty school to get it colored and I turned out blonde. Dad said he would give anything if he had a picture.  There were 20 chairs and stations, each had a African-American as the hairdresser, and the 20 seats filled with the same people. Dad said every eye was on this white lady getting her hair colored blonde. You can imagine how I felt. Wish we had a picture to show you. I felt like such a geek anyway when I turned out blonde. Thank goodness the people back here don't care or know the difference.
  Sun. they put me in the Primary Presidency. I didn't know they were going to do that. They forgot to ask me. Anyway dad said my mouth dropped open when they read my name. We now have 4 coming out to primary.  Three of the children have their father in prison-if you don't think they are little brats... there is no mother in the picture and an aunt is trying to raise them.  I feel so sorry for them. They are brats because nobody ever tries to help them. The little girl Faith was so disruptive that I got her back sitting by me and put my arm around her and she snuggled right down into my arms and sat still the rest of primary. I guess I will have a lesson ready each Sun. because we never know what will happen. We are trying to teach the songs for the Primary Program. I can't play the piano and lead at the same time, so most of the time we sing without the piano.
 Dad keeps a talk ready all the time.  They call on him if a speaker hasn't been asked or doesn't show up.
   We had such a wonderful time Mon. The Seniors all met by the Pres. home and played golf. Dad didn't know if he should or not because of his shoulder. Anyway he did and said he used a putter most of the time.  They put him on the team with two sisters that play golf all the time, and on Pres. Anderson's team. Anyway they would let dad put a few in and he would completely blow the drives.  He was pretty embarrassed because their foursome won the tournament. Sister Sumin, came up after and said to me, your husband is a lousy golfer. Anyway, he has a certificate to show for it. The rest of the women went shopping.  It was the first time I've been shopping without Dad since we left Utah. It was kind of fun even though we both felt like we were breaking mission rules.
  We then went back to the mission home and had a big picnic and then Pres. Anderson talked to us. He had L. Tom Perry out here the week before having a big missionary Pres. conference.  He said that the work is to expand two times more in the next two years.  A lot of it is because of the iPads, and the missionaries coming out at a younger age.  The Spirit was so very strong! Dad and I both came home so very thankful we are out here- even if they don't want to change.  I know though we don't make a very big dent.
  We love it out here, the people make it wonderful.  They are so much like primary children- even the ones that have been in the church for awhile. Their feelings are very tender. Sister Bruno is always causing feelings among the members. I truly don't know how we would function without her. She is usually a big support in every way.  I called her yesterday but she wouldn't break down and tell me anything. We'll see what happens Sun.
  I can see a lot of change in Dad. He really loves these people. He is so supportive to them and the missionaries. He adds so much to their teaching and you can really tell he is the mature one. I mainly go cause they need another woman in the home.  We miss all of you.  Thank you for sending pictures.  All the kids are growing up so fast. We probably won't recognize them when we get home. Thanks grand kids for letting your parents take pictures of you.  It is what keeps us going back here.   We love you, we miss you and are so proud of all the things you are accomplishing.  Keep up the good work.  Now is the time in your lives that you can take advantage of all your opportunities.  Do good, Be good, enjoy your lives and stay really close to our Savior, He is your biggest supporter and best friend out of anyone.   We love you all so much, you are all in our prayers many times a day!!!!!
Mom & Dad
Grandma & Grandpa
Great grandma & Great grandpa

These are our good friends that we knew at the Oqurirh Mt temple who are serving in Addison's mission.  (The Walker's)

Apr. 14-21, 2014

Dear Everybody,
  It was wonderful to talk to most of you on Easter. I hope you had a wonderful day.  The most important part was to be together as a family and think of the Savior.  Our Easter was quite eventful. They have called a new ward clerk (the one that was so wonderful with this branch quit). He pretty well ran everything for Pres. Burno.  Anyway Dad has to help with the finances on the computer and no one could get into the system. They called Brother Halman and he couldn't do anything over the phone, so after trying for about 8 hrs. Dad and the Pres. just tried to take it to the bank which was not open this certain Sun. because of Easter. Anyway Pres. Burno ended up taking it home and depositing it the next day.
  We had promised the missionaries Easter dinner so we came home from church around five and tried to put it all together for them. Got to their apt. and our key didn't work so we left it on the door step.  We were to be at the Carr's by 6 and getting off to a late start we were super late for our dinner with the Seniors. After we got to the Carr's home, getting lost in the meantime, we had a lovely time.  We love to get together with the Seniors because we don't get to see them too often. We had a lovely dinner with them and shared some wonderful slides of the mission field. We meet with them again next Monday for family home evening!
  We have about three real super investigators going right now, sure hope they interested. The one Alma has been trying for about three months to set a baptism date.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will set one this week  She is such a sweet lady, always feeding us and we were all over helping her paint a room last week.
  You won't believe it, Sun. we had 35 out to Sacrament Meeting. I think because it was Easter it helped a little.  The branch Pres. forgot to get speakers, so he called on Dad and the elder's quorum president. They both did a very good job.  I had to teach Primary off the cuff, that is trying to be organized.  They called me to be a counselor but didn't put in a Pres. because she was out of town. They didn't even ask me if I would accept the calling, they just got up and announced it in Sacrament Meeting. The other counselor to the Branch Pres. has had a stroke. The poor guy got up and had two people released and sustained. the High Priest group leader was one of them and dad had to run down and tell him it wasn't true. Every week Dad and I wonder if it will still be going because it run through faith and the seat of our pants.
  Last night was a pretty good evening- we visited three in actives. Two are members and we challenged them to start coming out again.  We'll see what happens by next Sun.  The other sister isn't a member but her two daughters are.  She goes in for surgery today so she received a blessing. She has so many health problems, I feel so sorry for so many of these people.
  Tomorrow (Apr.23,) we have quite a group going down to the temple sight again. We love going down there.  Each time we can see more progression. The weather is beautiful today, hope it is the same way when we go tomorrow.
  Hug all the kids for us.  We miss all of  you a lot but know this is where we are suppose to be. The Mission Pres. confirmed that to us again last night.  Hope we feel like we can do some small thing, we may never know but just hope and pray that someone will get the big picture and carry this branch forward till they are strong enough and big enough to become a ward.  Tell the kids to keep working hard, only a short time until school will be out for another summer.
We LOVE YOU SO MUCH, WE ARE PROUD OF ALL OF YOU. MOM & DAD, G&G, PLUS GGPARENTS

April 8-16, 2014

 Sun. we went to a stake musical our stake was putting on , it was "THE GARDEN", by Michael McLean.  We were  so excited so see that there is strong, talented, faithful members that really live in Philly.  It surely set the stage for a thought provoking week before Easter.  What a wonderful insight and reflection for Dad and I to remember all the Savior went through and did for mankind. I hope we think about this a lot all week long.
  Next Sun. (Easter Sun.) our little branch will be trying to have the choir sing an Easter song, what a contrast all six of us.!  The Mother of the branch, Sister Burno announced that she would be singing a solo, can't wait to hear it. She sings monotone bass.
  All week we have been trying to get into inactivates.  We were able to meet about 4 new ones we hadn't seen before. They are anything but interested-some of the excuses are almost funny. Another thing they like to do is to say they will come out to church and then have no intentions of doing so. One lady has 8 kids, each with a different man, and now has a one month old baby and a new boyfriend staying with her. We dare not ask if they are married or not. The other lady we visited is mentally incompetent. She invited us in, didn't say a word, they went into the other room. Five minutes later she went upstairs, and about 10 minutes later her husband, who was asleep came down. He was pretty nice, but said that although he is a member, he basically doesn't really believe. We are welcome to come back on a Saturday.
 On Fri. we did have a contact with a young mother who was so humble.  She wants us back today.  I sure hope she has the same enthusiasm.  All of these people in the branch need the gospel so in their lives, but they never have known life different, and they just don’t know how, or even want to make changes.  Even our one promising contact is getting cool feet.  This week the elders are painting a room in her house, maybe that will help. They insisted we go with them, which we did, and then sat for 3 hours since we were in our church clothes and waited for them. We got home and dad had 4 big paint spots on his suit, which won't come out.
 Our mind has been on Kristine this week.  She is heading back to Sand Point, she has a lot of anxiety about returning.  Don't know what will happen when she gets there.  She did say that Lisa, the lady she had been renting from said she could go back into her home.  We'll have to see what happens.  Hope she can soon find some stability!  Our thoughts have been on John Hall this week as well.  He had two stents put in his heart, he got along very well, and is back to the temple by this week end.
  This internet we are on back here is real flaky, I've typed about three times this much information and it keeps losing it.  We are on our way to the mission office so think I will try again when we get back. Since dad backed into a light pole in a parking lot, we need a new tail light at a garage that fixes all the missionary cars. We are also trying to get some window coolers in order that we can get through the summer. We'll close for now, love ya lots.

Pictures from our DC Temple trip last week

April 1-7, 2014

Spring has finally hit Philly, lots of flowers in bloom and the temp. is delightful. Soon we will be complaining of the heat!
  This was a super week, mainly because we enjoyed conference so much. We met at our little church and watched it with who ever came to church. Sat. we had about 14 there, then dad went back and watched the priesthood session.  Sun. we did the same thing only we had a pot luck lunch in-between sessions.
  The conference was simply wonderful!  It is just what we needed for a good shot in the arm. We had around 25 there, including two investigators. The one sister, if all goes well, is to be baptized next Sun.  Every talk was just for me, hope I can start doing better in a lot of areas.
  I have been fighting hives now for 4 weeks! I finally went to a Dr. and he has me on antihistamines and prednisone.  I hope it works.  So far I am still scratching, I don't know when I have had anything so annoying  I look like a monkey all the time.  I remember when you got hives so bad John, I sure didn't have enough sympathy for you then.
  We cleaned the church this week. The elders meet there often to study, email and just wait for other appointments.  It needs a good cleaning job a least once a week.
  Our Shaniqua is starting to get cold feet.  I don't know if we will get her in the water or not.  We keep praying for her and try to encourage her.
  Fri. we (5 senior couples) went to the DC Temple.  It was a wonderful experience. We got up at 5:30, left the mission office at 7 and drove for 3 hours.  Went into a session. What a beautiful temple. I had seen it before but forgot a lot about it.  It was so big compared to the one we are use to.  Dad and I were both surprised, we remembered all the dialog.  We then drove around downtown looking for "The Cheese Cake Factory." One of the couples wanted to go there so that took an extra hour.  After everyone ate their salad or sandwich (noone ordered cheese cake), it took us 4 hours to get home because it was after work traffic.  It was sure was worth it!!!!!
 All of you sound busy and happy.  We are excited some of you are on vacations, or back from vacations. We are so happy when you are together as siblings. Keep up the wonderful family unity!  We love and miss all of you a lot but we know this is where we are suppose to be.  Please all stay well and focused. We are so proud of each one of you.  Good luck to all the busy, busy grand kids, dance competitions, baseball, ending up another school year.  Being so busy is hard but it sure makes you focus in the right direction, keep it up!

We love and miss each and everyone of you!
MOM & DAD
GRANDPA& GRANDMA, PLUS GREAT
BROTHER & SISTER ARMSTRONG
KARL & JOYCE

End of a zone conference

One more thing....

I just wanted to tell about one of our in-actives. Her name is Kathleen Biedrzycki. She was offended a few years back and hasn't been back to church since. She is a recovering alcoholic and smokes- it really smells and touches off my asthma. Anyway, she lives alone, and raises her granddaughter whose mother died of a drug overdose when she was eleven. Her house is a mess and the ceiling has caved in so that the rafters show. There is nowhere to sit, since her house is so small and cluttered. Her other daughter is also a drug addict and was kicked out of the house after she tried everything to clean her up, but to no avail. Her  mom is just waiting to hear the report that she has also died from an overdose. This same daughter came the night before and begged for money, and was given $20.00 to get her out of the house.
 Sometimes it is discouraging to see our meetings on Sunday, when we start with maybe 5 or 6, mostly leaders from other wards who are assigned to help. Seldom do the same people come two weeks in a row. We only have a few primary kids, no young people, and maybe 2 or 3 priesthood holders to come to priesthood meeting. Relief Society is a little better however, and we were pleased when a lady, Sister Horton, who Joyce and I have visited, came  out, when we picked her up, and everyone in the branch was happy to see her come back. The missionaries are working hard though. They try to visit the in-actives and teach non members. We spend most of our time taking them to their appointments, where we enjoy helping with the discussions..
 We saw the fruits of our labors last week when Linda DeSousa was baptized, but was disappointed when Shaniqua Harris fell through when we went to pick her up. I don't know what happened. Another lady, Alma is working towards baptism as well, but isn't getting much support from her family, and has only been to church once. She has had a kidney transplant, is diabetic, and can't get up in the mornings, but maybe it will work out.
 The work is slow, but is rewarding. I can't understand why people can't get a little more enthused when the true gospel can change their lives. Maybe it is because they are so poor, unemployed, and uneducated, and can't see how the gospel can improve their lives.
 It is a wonderful experience for us however, we get to teach, conduct, and spread the gospel, knowing that our efforts will pay of in the long run.

March 24-31, 2014

 This week was very eventful because we had another baptism! Lynda Desousa.  She is a happy, very intelligent person.  She has had a lot of hard knocks in life plus she has had a lot of health problems. She is disabled, a very large woman, and it took both missionaries to baptize her.  She will be an asset to this branch if she gets super involved, her health may limit her.
 We were suppose to baptize Shniqua again this week.  Can you believe she slept through the time? I think the missionaries were a little put out so they told her to figure out when she could get committed.  I hope we don't lose her! She needs the gospel. We thought she was real excited about all of it- she even shaved her head because she was starting anew. We'll keep meeting with her and encourage her (that is our job) follow up, encourage and support.
 We had two investigators out Sun. Our branch was a little sparse- I had to run in and support Primary. Our Pres. is a little touchy. She had her one usual little boy there and would not take the other three children that came out to Primary.  She took her (one) into a classroom and shut the door. Anyway, we have this wonderful couple from the stake that is just totally for support to this branch. They stepped right in and taught those three kids.  In the meantime, we were looking up Easter videos to show for sharing time. We learn something new every week about what people will do and not do. The other two Primary workers just didn't bother to show up.
 Karl has conducted this month. Each Sun. he has to read and prepare the Priesthood lesson and think about a lot to say in Sacrament meeting.  You never know if the speakers assigned will show up.  It was fast and testimony meeting and he gave his testimony for about 15 mins. About half way through the time he gave me this look that gave me the message I needed to get up and say something.  We are learning that you just get up and do anything that is needed and pretend you are prepared.
  The missionaries came over last night for dinner. We should have them a couple of times a week.  They are like normal boys- they live on junk and really EAT when they get here.  Elder Kofford always comes in saying it is just like my mom's cooking here.  Of course they know how to butter me up so we will keep having them. We sure love all four of them.  They keep us in touch with the things Taylor and Addison are doing.  These young kids sure make a difference out here. They have so much energy, fun and yet they are so spiritual and strong. We can surely see the wisdom in sending them out one year earlier, what a perfect age, right out of high school and get them trained in wonderful habits for the rest of their lives.
 Attached are pictures from the baptism!