We had such a wonderful day yesterday I decided to write it so I wouldn’t forget!
The elders found out Fri. that they were being transferred. Timmerman and Kofford were being sent to new areas, Reedhead and Smith were staying here but just each got new companions. It was pretty sad to tell Kofford and Timmerman good bye. They were such wonderful elders, every time they got out of an appointment or out of the car they would say I love you guys. The two sisters we just baptized were pretty sad. I kept thinking of Addison and Taylor soon trying to tell everyone on their missions good bye. What a wonderful experience it is to be missionaries, with Harrison’s personality, he will bring as much love to his mission has these two have.
When they left our house from dinner on Mon. they gave us a wonderful book about the Savior. Elder Timmerman had written in it so lovely, that will be a real treasure for dad and I to remember.
Tues. we went to the mission office because it was transfer day. They (over 150) of them line up at two ends of the culture hall, then they put a slide up of one elder and match up his new companion on the other side of the screen. They then both come running to the middle of the cultural hall, embrace each other with big hugs and pats on back and smiles, and yells. It is quite a sight to behold, the Spirit is so strong in the room, everyone is crying, laughing and the energy is so strong. These missionaries really love one another. Pres. Anderson them tells them that this is how the Lord wants them to be matched, he goes through quite a process to get it all lined up the way the Lord wants it.
We were so glad we got to see it. What an inspiring experience! Dad and I were so glad we got to stay together and neither of us got transferred!
Elders Timmerman and Kofford got the highest in the mission last month for the most contacts and lessons. No wonder Dad and I get tired!!! Hope these new ones keep us just as busy. This is what makes missionary work so wonderful. I know all we missionaries get much more out of it than the investigators. We are so happy to be out here, we love the people, our branch and just everything about it. Thanks to all of you for our support, you are all so good to us, we can truly feel of your support and prayers.
Yesterday, Tues. our little Tammy Edmonds from our branch called dad and wanted him to take her down town to a Dr. apt. We couldn’t because we were on our way in another direction for the transfers. Anyway, she was crying on the phone because she was having chest pains and no money for bus fare. Dad felt so bad that he turned around and went down by her house and gave her money to get on the bus and get some lunch. She is the one that got kicked out of her house two weeks ago. They lived in it for six weeks without electricity, they have no car, she has no husband, poor health and just lives from day to day. I don’t know how some of these people survive. I have been blessed with so much, our entire family has. I hope Dad and I are grateful enough for all our blessings. I know our eyes sure have been opened!
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Week May 19th to 26th, 2014
It has been a wonderful week. We were all surprised because both Elder Koffard and Timmerman are being transferred this Tues., so they have really poured on the appointments. They have been two of the finest Elders I've ever seen. They have loved families through death, hospitals, jail time and converts. We really hate to see them go. We are having a dinner for them tonight, and take them to the mission office tomorrow. We will bring back two new Elders. They have been with us since we got here. We've sure learned to love them-each time we are with them we think of Our Three Missionaries!
In church today, this young gal that we are teaching came up and ask me if I thought our branch Pres. could marry she and her boyfriend! I went and asked Pres. Burno and he said he could if it were on a Sat. I came home and called her to tell her and she said it would have to be at the prison (that is where her boyfriend is). Anyway, her baby is due on the 26th of June and she wants it done before the baby comes. Dad and I are trying to work that out and see if we can get Pres. Burno in the prison to marry them. What are some of these people thinking? She had to have the elders give her a blessing after church because she was having contractions, sure hope it all pans out for her.
We were concerned to hear about Addison. She always down plays it, but sure hope she is OK. She puts so much humor in her experiences. What a darling girl! it made us laugh to hear her describe her experience, what a girl!
Our two sisters that were baptized a week ago got confirmed today. They were quite excited about it, the one (ALMA) will be quite a member, especially if she can get some of her family interested.
It was our Branch Conference today. We had 45 in sacrament meeting, half were stake people. It sure seemed nice to have our chapel that full. I had to make 30 sack lunches for them to have after the meetings, they (the stake) wanted to go visit inactive and see if we could get more coming out to church, we have about 150 on the roll that we don't know anything about. You call and don't get anywhere or go there and nobody will answer the doors. I'm anxious to see if anyone could get in today.
We are having the elders over Memorial Day for dinner, we hate to see the two of them go, so did Alma she just cried and cried! We keep busy, we are putting a lot of miles on the car but we are really enjoying it here. Every week is new experiences. We have a lot to be thankful for. People are really good to us. I didn't know I could love these people so much! Hope all of you can do something fun for Memorial Day, it seems strange not to decorate graves!
We love all of you and miss you. Hope you can all get through school letting out and summer coming on. Please tell all the kids that we love them and wish them good luck in finishing this school year! Have a wonderful, busy week.
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful birthday presents. I got to hear from each one of you, and you were all so good to me, how did I ever deserve such a wonderful family?
Love you all so much, Mom & Dad, G&G, Great G&G
In church today, this young gal that we are teaching came up and ask me if I thought our branch Pres. could marry she and her boyfriend! I went and asked Pres. Burno and he said he could if it were on a Sat. I came home and called her to tell her and she said it would have to be at the prison (that is where her boyfriend is). Anyway, her baby is due on the 26th of June and she wants it done before the baby comes. Dad and I are trying to work that out and see if we can get Pres. Burno in the prison to marry them. What are some of these people thinking? She had to have the elders give her a blessing after church because she was having contractions, sure hope it all pans out for her.
We were concerned to hear about Addison. She always down plays it, but sure hope she is OK. She puts so much humor in her experiences. What a darling girl! it made us laugh to hear her describe her experience, what a girl!
Our two sisters that were baptized a week ago got confirmed today. They were quite excited about it, the one (ALMA) will be quite a member, especially if she can get some of her family interested.
It was our Branch Conference today. We had 45 in sacrament meeting, half were stake people. It sure seemed nice to have our chapel that full. I had to make 30 sack lunches for them to have after the meetings, they (the stake) wanted to go visit inactive and see if we could get more coming out to church, we have about 150 on the roll that we don't know anything about. You call and don't get anywhere or go there and nobody will answer the doors. I'm anxious to see if anyone could get in today.
We are having the elders over Memorial Day for dinner, we hate to see the two of them go, so did Alma she just cried and cried! We keep busy, we are putting a lot of miles on the car but we are really enjoying it here. Every week is new experiences. We have a lot to be thankful for. People are really good to us. I didn't know I could love these people so much! Hope all of you can do something fun for Memorial Day, it seems strange not to decorate graves!
We love all of you and miss you. Hope you can all get through school letting out and summer coming on. Please tell all the kids that we love them and wish them good luck in finishing this school year! Have a wonderful, busy week.
Thanks to all of you for the wonderful birthday presents. I got to hear from each one of you, and you were all so good to me, how did I ever deserve such a wonderful family?
Love you all so much, Mom & Dad, G&G, Great G&G
Monday, May 19, 2014
May 12-19th, 2014
We had a pretty full week, Elder Kofford thinks he will be transferred next week so they are really giving it all they have. The only problem is that we can't keep up with them, but we sure try.
The big news of the week is Alma Claudio and Shaniqua Harris got baptized. We have been working with them ever since we got here. The baptism was so wonderful. Alma had 30 people there to see it happen. She is the only member and all but her brother came from New Jersey to see it. I hope she will have a lot of influence on her family. They all just love her to pieces. She is the main force in all of the family.
They both took their time in making the decision. The meeting was so spiritual, Dad, I and the branch Pres. talked. Both Shaniqua and Alma bore their testimonies and did such an awesome job. We were so proud of them. The missionaries sang and the spirit was so strong. I hope they will remember it always. We gave them a journal (thanks for the idea Alisa) and told them to go home and write how they felt during the baptism and especially the testimony meeting afterwards. Those feeling we can forget so fast. I hope they remember the Spirit that was so strong. Alma was crying so hard she could hardly talk. The missionaries are so neat. Every time I'm around them I think of Taylor, Addison and Harrison. These converts certainly love their missionaries, especially when they are females! In our Branch they always confirm them the Sunday after they are baptized, so that will take place next Sun.
Dad is so darling back here, the Linda that was baptized a month ago had the Elders dig her a little pond, (about 3x3 in her back yard). Dad went out today and got her 8 Goldfish to put in the pond. He just loves to do some little thing for people. It has to be what he thinks of and in the way he wants to do it.
We have been teaching a young mother (Marsadies). Several years ago she was baptized. She has a boy 9 and wants to get him baptized and her back in the church. She is expecting a baby boy in June. As we have said before, there is never any fathers in the homes, so we just thought that was the norm. Anyway, yesterday at church she cane up and asked me if the branch Pres. could marry her before the baby comes. I went and talked to Pres. Burno and he said he could as long as it was on a Sat. because he works nights during the week. I came home and called Marsadies and come to find out she needs to get married at the prison. That is where her boyfriend is. We are trying to work through the Stake Pres. and see who can go there and marry them. I hope it works out for her. I'm always amazed at these people's baggage, actually they think it is pretty normal. Dad and I may be going to the prison again.
The man we went down to court to see being sentenced is getting out this month on the 25th. I sure am glad for his kids. They have been living with his X wife's sister. They are such a handful in church (you can tell they need tons of direction). Sure hope he will give it to them. We have another sister in our branch that was put in jail last Thurs. She got in a fight with another woman. I don't know how long she will be there. They all have no money and the church won't put up money for bail, so there they sit trying to cool off. We may have to go down to her hearing if they call one. She is a sister to the lady that died in March. Their Mom is now raising both sister's kids.
We feel so sorry for so many back here, all of the branch has tons of baggage. You try and help but it doesn't seem to make much difference. My hair dresser, Tammy and her daughter and husband got kicked out of their house. They finally found another place in our branch. You go to help them and they have no car to move with, they couldn't get out their washer so they just left it in the house. Who knows when they can get another one. The branch tries to help what they can. They put up money so they could get into this other house, then they all came to church yesterday in new clothes. I hope the money went for the down payment for two months so they can live now in this house. I never realized I had it so good. We can all be so thankful our husbands provide for us and they are not sitting in jail.
Dad and I realize it is graduation time. I can't believe we won't be with your families to see it. We are so proud of Harrison, Morgan and Christian. We love all of them so much. Please all of you remember we are trying to save souls, but, sure wish them luck and we will be thinking and praying for all three. Please keep us informed on how it all goes!
Dad and I are very happy back here. Every day we wish we could do more and pray that Heavenly Father will direct us to help those we can. Some days we feel like the situation will never change, how must Heavenly Father feel? We love and miss all of you so much. Thank you for keeping us so informed on your lives and all that is going on... We have the best kids in the world! Much, much love, Dad & Mom
This is Alma Claudio, Elder Timmerman by me and Elder Koffard by dad.
The big news of the week is Alma Claudio and Shaniqua Harris got baptized. We have been working with them ever since we got here. The baptism was so wonderful. Alma had 30 people there to see it happen. She is the only member and all but her brother came from New Jersey to see it. I hope she will have a lot of influence on her family. They all just love her to pieces. She is the main force in all of the family.
They both took their time in making the decision. The meeting was so spiritual, Dad, I and the branch Pres. talked. Both Shaniqua and Alma bore their testimonies and did such an awesome job. We were so proud of them. The missionaries sang and the spirit was so strong. I hope they will remember it always. We gave them a journal (thanks for the idea Alisa) and told them to go home and write how they felt during the baptism and especially the testimony meeting afterwards. Those feeling we can forget so fast. I hope they remember the Spirit that was so strong. Alma was crying so hard she could hardly talk. The missionaries are so neat. Every time I'm around them I think of Taylor, Addison and Harrison. These converts certainly love their missionaries, especially when they are females! In our Branch they always confirm them the Sunday after they are baptized, so that will take place next Sun.
Dad is so darling back here, the Linda that was baptized a month ago had the Elders dig her a little pond, (about 3x3 in her back yard). Dad went out today and got her 8 Goldfish to put in the pond. He just loves to do some little thing for people. It has to be what he thinks of and in the way he wants to do it.
We have been teaching a young mother (Marsadies). Several years ago she was baptized. She has a boy 9 and wants to get him baptized and her back in the church. She is expecting a baby boy in June. As we have said before, there is never any fathers in the homes, so we just thought that was the norm. Anyway, yesterday at church she cane up and asked me if the branch Pres. could marry her before the baby comes. I went and talked to Pres. Burno and he said he could as long as it was on a Sat. because he works nights during the week. I came home and called Marsadies and come to find out she needs to get married at the prison. That is where her boyfriend is. We are trying to work through the Stake Pres. and see who can go there and marry them. I hope it works out for her. I'm always amazed at these people's baggage, actually they think it is pretty normal. Dad and I may be going to the prison again.
The man we went down to court to see being sentenced is getting out this month on the 25th. I sure am glad for his kids. They have been living with his X wife's sister. They are such a handful in church (you can tell they need tons of direction). Sure hope he will give it to them. We have another sister in our branch that was put in jail last Thurs. She got in a fight with another woman. I don't know how long she will be there. They all have no money and the church won't put up money for bail, so there they sit trying to cool off. We may have to go down to her hearing if they call one. She is a sister to the lady that died in March. Their Mom is now raising both sister's kids.
We feel so sorry for so many back here, all of the branch has tons of baggage. You try and help but it doesn't seem to make much difference. My hair dresser, Tammy and her daughter and husband got kicked out of their house. They finally found another place in our branch. You go to help them and they have no car to move with, they couldn't get out their washer so they just left it in the house. Who knows when they can get another one. The branch tries to help what they can. They put up money so they could get into this other house, then they all came to church yesterday in new clothes. I hope the money went for the down payment for two months so they can live now in this house. I never realized I had it so good. We can all be so thankful our husbands provide for us and they are not sitting in jail.
Dad and I realize it is graduation time. I can't believe we won't be with your families to see it. We are so proud of Harrison, Morgan and Christian. We love all of them so much. Please all of you remember we are trying to save souls, but, sure wish them luck and we will be thinking and praying for all three. Please keep us informed on how it all goes!
Dad and I are very happy back here. Every day we wish we could do more and pray that Heavenly Father will direct us to help those we can. Some days we feel like the situation will never change, how must Heavenly Father feel? We love and miss all of you so much. Thank you for keeping us so informed on your lives and all that is going on... We have the best kids in the world! Much, much love, Dad & Mom
This is Shaniqua Harris
This is Alma Claudio, Elder Timmerman by me and Elder Koffard by dad.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Dear Friends,
It is so good to hear about your mission experiences, they are quite similar to ours. We have learned to take what ever comes up and tell each other Support, Support, Support! We have to laugh a lot of times because the assignment is very strange. Last Fri. we had to take a blind, deaf 84 year old sister to the Dr. She yelled at us the entire time because we were doing it wrong. For not seeing, she sure knew her locations and directions. Finally at one point she said "Sister Armstrong you just don't understand, you haven't lived back here to know the way it is." She is right, I still don't know the Philly way.
We have so many nationalities in our branch that Sat. we had a rice cook off, we had almost 10 different kinds of rice, the missionaries were the judges and of course everyone got 1st place. It was a lot of fun, we need that for our branch to help bring some unity.
Sun. we (the elders and us) had a baptism, we always go with the elders teaching so they are kind enough to say we help baptize. Anyway, it was a 19 year old girl that we couldn't tell if she loved the gospel or the missionaries the most. Both of them are to get transferred in 3 weeks, I guess time will tell, I don't know if we are interesting enough to keep her fellowshipped, we don't have any young singles in the branch as of yet, we'll have to get busy and find some more.
As of now we will be coming to Palmyra with Pres. and Sister Hall on the 17, 18 or 19th of July. That is the plans as of now, when it get closer we will let you know, we all want to see you both of you,
Keep up all your good work, today we are going down town Philly to inspect missionaries’ apartments. If they are clean they get a WaWa card for treats.
Love the Armstrong's
It is so good to hear about your mission experiences, they are quite similar to ours. We have learned to take what ever comes up and tell each other Support, Support, Support! We have to laugh a lot of times because the assignment is very strange. Last Fri. we had to take a blind, deaf 84 year old sister to the Dr. She yelled at us the entire time because we were doing it wrong. For not seeing, she sure knew her locations and directions. Finally at one point she said "Sister Armstrong you just don't understand, you haven't lived back here to know the way it is." She is right, I still don't know the Philly way.
We have so many nationalities in our branch that Sat. we had a rice cook off, we had almost 10 different kinds of rice, the missionaries were the judges and of course everyone got 1st place. It was a lot of fun, we need that for our branch to help bring some unity.
Sun. we (the elders and us) had a baptism, we always go with the elders teaching so they are kind enough to say we help baptize. Anyway, it was a 19 year old girl that we couldn't tell if she loved the gospel or the missionaries the most. Both of them are to get transferred in 3 weeks, I guess time will tell, I don't know if we are interesting enough to keep her fellowshipped, we don't have any young singles in the branch as of yet, we'll have to get busy and find some more.
As of now we will be coming to Palmyra with Pres. and Sister Hall on the 17, 18 or 19th of July. That is the plans as of now, when it get closer we will let you know, we all want to see you both of you,
Keep up all your good work, today we are going down town Philly to inspect missionaries’ apartments. If they are clean they get a WaWa card for treats.
Love the Armstrong's
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Apr. 28th-May 5th, 2014
Another week- boy they are going fast! We have been working with a young girl Ceara. She is 19 and has been taking the lessons and is pretty faithful in coming to meetings and the activities. Today the missionaries challenged her to baptism and she wants to be baptized on Mother's Day. We have been wondering it she liked the missionaries more than the lessons, but she does all her reading and seems pretty sure. We will see what a week or two brings.
The dear sister, Alma, has been coming up with excuses and not at home, hasn't been out to church for two weeks. This makes us very sad- she is such a golden contact. She is the center of all that goes on in their home. She has 3 married kids, neighbors and relatives always at her home. We were in hopes that she would be the force behind getting the rest of her family into the gospel, now we will have to see what is up with her. She has been so sincere, praying and had us in her home 2 or 3 times a week. We will keep our prayers going for her.
Tues. we had Bible Night again. It was a wonderful lesson taught by the Elders from the New Testament. It never fails that the Elders are so mature for their age, they handle our off-the-street (Nick) with all his off the wall questions. They do it in such a loving way. Each day we learn lessons from those fine Elders.
Wed, Maude had us over to dinner again. She is the goat lady and is a very good cook. She wants us back this coming Wed. to teach us how to make rice. We are having a rice cook off next week. She is doing Haitian rice, we have Spanish rice, Black rice, and then the judges are going to be the missionaries. I've decided to make rice pudding with Dad's famous raisins.
Thurs. was Zone Meeting. They are really uplifting. It is always fun to have a lot more Elders around. We spent the night getting ready to go to New York.
Fri. we left for New York City. There are three other senior couples going with us. We rode up with the Smuim's, (they are a couple that leave this month for home). They are very delightful and we will miss them. They drove their car along with the Halloways, who turned out to be our tour guide. They have been there many times. We stayed in Staten Island, across from Manhattan, and took the ferry over each day. The crowds were humongous, so we couldn't get to the statue of liberty or Ellis Island. We then took the red line subway to 42nd street, time square and got on tour buses to see the city. Lots of tall buildings, condos, skyscrapers etc, and the Empire State building, which we didn't go up. Of course they pointed out the homes of celebrities, among which was Oprah Winfrey, who pays $20,000.00 a month rent. We went past the temple but didn't get out. Other places we went were Queens, Brooklyn, Yankee Stadium, Bronx etc. It was a busy two days, before we returned home.
Sunday, up at 5am to go to a meeting in Jeritown. I am to coordinate a program to try to locate over 900 YSA who are missing from their wards and branches. I have no idea how to go about this. I then met the Elders who had a baptism in their last area, and wanted to go back and do it. They didn't tell me it was 125 miles away and took the rest of the day to go down and back. We then had a CES fireside with Elder Ballard, and home about 10 PM.
Got to go. Finish later. Love ya! Elder and Sister Armstrong
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