Oct. 20-27, 2014

Greetings from Philadelphia. Everything is going good here. Today has been a banner day!!!!  We got Rosina this morning at 9:30 (it was supposed to be at 8:00, but she was still in the shower) and took her to get her government housing.  It was an all day process. But finally, she now has all the paper work done and just has to wait a month for it to be processed. We then get to take her out looking for housing, and, I’m sure, move her out of the house and help her find some furniture etc.  And then, start thanking Heavenly Father for all His help.
  When we got up this morning, our phone wasn’t working.  It wouldn’t charge and we had no idea how we were going to keep in contact with Rosina.  Anyway, she called us from her phone one time, and low and behold the phone worked. It was totally an answer to a prayer.  She forgot that her appointment for Government housing was a 10 am, and she called in a panic about 12. We went anyway, found out that some of her documents, such as Soc. Sec. payments had expired, and we had to rush to the Soc. Sec. office to get a new doc, and then, go back to the housing authority, and Yea, we got it done! All these little miracles that happen to help us assist these people!
   We have been planning a trip to Washington DC Temple. Elder Armstrong went out and rented a van so we could take 8 people, and since about 10 said they wanted to go, we will have to drive our car as well. (if we can find a driver) I will be surprised however if that many show up. Will write next week on how it all turned out. Since Joyce won’t drive here in the city, I am trying to figure out how to pick up the van at the airport and be back to pick up our members at the church by 6 AM. I don’t know how they will even get to the church unless someone goes to pick them up at their homes.
   Last Sun. we had a baptism, (Robert Richard Anele Jr).  He has had one tough life. He has been on drugs since he was 13, been an alcoholic, is bipolar, many, many health problems, hepatitis, etc. It is so wonderful to see how the Spirit takes over their lives.  He is so enthused about the gospel. He bore a wonderful testimony after the service and was so thankful for a new chance on life.  What a turnover he has made. He gets pretty depressed, so we pray the adversary won’t get to him when he is in one of his low moods. He wants us to help him move on Friday, and since he doesn’t drive. We will gain one more in our taxi service.
Our new friend Robert, who (who is also bipolar) is our best friend when he needs to go somewhere, but otherwise he doesn’t want anything to do with us or the church. He told the Stake Pres., who was visiting the other day, that he wants his records removed from the church and wants to denounce his USA citizenship because the VA won’t give him the benefits he wants.
 Our other friend, Maurice, who was in prison for six months and had the church pay all his bills, called, and his power has been shut off and his rent has been unpaid since he got out. He wants the church to bail him out again. (He has five kids from five different mothers, only one he was married to). The Stake President said, “no more”, and that he has to get a job. Anyway he came to church and offered to help clean a little and then came to the baptism. His kids are so rowdy in church.  Sister Armstrong about goes crazy.  Anyway I feel really bad to see them suffer, even though they only bring it on themselves.
 We are working hard on our Halloween Party.  The Primary is in charge of it which amounts to Josephine and myself. We’ve had a lot of people sign up to come. It should be a lot of fun if it goes as we’ve planned. I got a green long wig as my costume, (just fits in with what they wear everyday out here anyway) don’t know yet what hubby will be.  Hope we can get a decent turnout.
We had a family history fair on Saturday. Sister Armstrong and I went and were planning to take our new convert, Lynda DeSousa, who was called to be our family history consultant. She went to Delaware instead however, and doesn’t  know a thing about her new assignment. We then had a follow up at church the next day during the 3rd hour, presented by President Burno, our Branch President. Wish she would have been there to learn her calling. It is so hard to keep everyone active in our little branch.
   Karl went to Bible night just now, but I have had tooooooo much babysitting today, so I didn’t go.  I am working on a quilt that I promised a new member that I would make for her daughter in law who is expecting. (don’t think she is married to her son, but I opened my mouth about quilting and told her I would make one) It has been a hard job since everything is done by hand and my little sewing machine.
The missionaries do a wonderful job teaching, not only to investigators, the gospel principles class, but on bible study that is held on Tues. nights. We have been doing the New Testament, trying to get some people off the street, along with some members, to come and learn about the Bible. Can’t believe these missionaries know as much as they do at such a young age. They are great.  Our newest missionary was called on Sun. to give a talk, (they forgot again to get speakers, our 2nd councilor who has had a stroke forgets most of the time) any way, He talked for twenty minutes and gave a super talk. (our Branch President took up the rest of the time) You can really tell they live by the Spirit. He was so cute telling about his family. (He comes from a family of 10 and has a sister on a mission just next to us in Washington D.C.) He started to cry, he has only been out here 5 weeks.  It was pretty tender!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
To all of you. Hope you have a fun night if you get involved, at least see your grand kids dressed up, wish we could. Send pictures if you get a chance!
   Love to all of you, keep up all the important things you are doing. It’s Fast Sunday this Sunday, I’m challenging all my 4 Primary kids to fast. I hope the fast helps each and everyone of us this week. We all have so much to be thankful for!
Love to all of you, Elder & Sister Armstrong

Oct. 14-23rd, 2014

       I’m sure our news is getting quite boring!  Nothing seems to change only the order we do things in.  This week has been another serve Rosina week.  Her ankles are bothering her again, so we went back to the foot Dr.  He is now sending her to an orthopedic Dr. He thinks she needs surgery.  Tomorrow will make or break her life. We are taking her back to the State Housing Dept. for one last try to get her in some other gov. housing.  She has till the 28th of this month to get all papers in.  This will be the fourth time we have made the attempt. Everything better be in order or I’m afraid she will be out of luck. We are praying real hard tonight.  I’m doing her washing tonight; so far I’m on the 6th load.  We feel so bad for her, but feeling bad doesn’t solve any problems.  We need some action from everybody tomorrow.
   It has rained all day today, it is a little colder but still there is that muggy feeling in the air.  We actually wore sweaters today while we were with the missionaries.  We had some good lessons today. We are trying to get Alma coming back to church and reading the Book of Mormon.  We brought her a Spanish version today and I’m sharing The Book of Mormon Made Easy with her. She has no excuses now only to come right out and say she is not interested. She is such a wonderful lady, she needs the gospel as much as the branch needs her!
   Tomorrow we are going to Modes again. (She is serving goat again) I’m so excited.  She is still on crutches or in her wheel chair; it has to be that way till the end of Dec.  She really had a bad break but she still has her same wonderful sense of humor.
   We have a seminar this Sat. on personal histories. I really feel guilty when I hear that word. Louise has been doing a lot on hers when she has a little break at the temple.  We are getting a group together to go to the temple Nov.1st. A lot want to go but we only have about 3 other members plus the Branch Pres.  that have recommends.  Nobody wants to help with gas so Pres. Burno thinks we will just open it up to those who can actually go in and do temple work.  I’m  so excited to get back there. We have only been over to the temple one time since we came on this mission.
    We love being with these two missionaries that are Zone Leaders here.  They are so positive, knowledgeable, and caring; they truly LOVE the people into the gospel.  We have transfers in another two weeks. I’m so afraid they will take them away. We hear that the one is being considered for assistant to the Pres.  Right now he needs his suit coat fixed, sure glad I brought back my machine. I have curtains to make for Karlene this week too!
   The FAMILY has been so busy. Sounds like Taylor’s Homecoming was wonderful. I can’t imagine Jill feeding 100 people after the meeting. Oh what you young people accomplish! When you turn 70 you slow down, of course the rest of you won’t, you all take after your dad, because he sure hasn’t slowed down.
    We miss all of you. We have to admit that especially the Grandma got a little teary Sun. when we weren’t at Taylor’s Homecoming.  We are definitely where we are supposed to be though!   There isn’t a day that we can’t help two or three people. My life will never be the same since being out here. I have been so spoiled and blessed, how come?  Keep loving  each other and helping each other. There is nothing more  important  than our FAMILIES, FRIENDS and the GOSPEL.  We all have all three, how we need to count our blessings.  Thanks for all the support you continue to give us.  We love and appreciate all of you. All of you are our example. We watch for e-mails knowing our missionary couples are just as busy and engaged in the Lord’s work.  All of you are so wonderful, the more we trust and serve the Lord the happier all of us will be.  Keep up the good work!
             Our LOVE and deep APPRECIATION,   Elder and Sister Armstrong

October 6-15, 2014

Hi Everybody,

   Our internet has been down again. We just got it serviced again and will see how long it lasts this time. 

   The past 10 days have been interesting; Rosina, Shaniqua, and Sister Horton have all dumped us.  They won’t pick up their phone when we call, and we go to Rosina’s house and all the men that are laying there watching TV say she is upstairs asleep.  I’m sure they will need us when they have to have a ride or some more food.  I don’t mean to sound like sour grapes but we are starting to find out how they play their games.  I doubt Pres. Burno is going to fall for it much longer.

   The man (Richard) we helped move into his apt. (up 3 flights of stairs with a large 

u-haul full of furniture etc.) has been calling Karl 5 or more times a day.  First he says he doesn’t have to go to church, he has heard all of it already.  He came to the building and asked Karl if he would take him to the store and he was busy with tithing and fast offerings right after church.  Anyway, this ticked him off and he texted back and said he hated the church and Karl and would never come again or didn’t want us to try to contact him.  A few hours later he texted back and said he was sorry and wanted us to be his friend.  This has been going on now for three days. First he won’t ever talk to us, then he love us.  When we got in touch with someone from his last place they said he was bipolar. We have so many here that are suffering.  Wish we knew how to help. This is when we need Kristine and her counseling degree to help us!

   Life stays interesting. Everyday there is someone in dire need. How do you help them when they don’t know how to help themselves?  Over 60% of the branch has so many mental challenges, all we can do is love them and try to help them out of many messes they get themselves into.

   We were out to the Mission Office two times last week and both times we got to watch the new movie that is out, “Meet the Mormons”.  It is done very well,  and if you get a chance to see it make sure you do.  It would be nice to take some in-actives or nonmembers to.  We are all so blessed to belong to a church that is right on top of all the technology. Every avenue they can take to bring the gospel to the world, how very grateful we all should be.  Sometimes I feel I’ve taken my wonderful heritage and privileges for granted.   With the sad things we have seen back here, we are very humbled and thankful for all the wonderful blessings we have been blessed with!

  We are getting more rain today but the humidity is right up there with the rain.  We still use our coolers and are very thankful for them. The vegetation back here is always so lush. When I think of Utah not having enough water it makes me wonder why it can’t be more equal. Heavenly Father knows and we have to trust in what he does.

   We send our LOVE to all of you, our eyes have been so opened back here, we all have so much.  Our material needs have been met all our lives.  Let’s all offer a prayer of gratitude today and tell Heavenly Father how thankful we are for our wonderful lives and the conditions we have always had.  May He continue to bless all of you.  We are most grateful for this experience and the way our eyes have been opened to our many, many blessings.  Each one of you are part of those blessings.  Keep doing well, stay healthy and be appreciative for all of our circumstances.

Got ahold of Rosina finally.  Her grandson has a free school pass to go roller-skating, but needed $4 for skate rental. Her friend didn’t have any money but she rounded up a couple of dollars from someone else and then got two from us. She then shouted “praise the Lord, and that the Lord provides”, and asked us if we would take him to the rink, several miles away, which, we did. I guess we will take her Friday to get birth certificates and ID for her brother so she can get some Gov. Housing before she gets thrown out again, and then, to get her dentures from the dentist before he says He is going to throw them away.

We go to New Jersey tomorrow to get food orders for three members, then (we made up with Richard, our bipolar),  we promised him we would take him to the store to get groceries. I hope he has some money or we will have to pay for it.

Sister Horton must still be hearing voices, since she won’t answer her phone. I left her a message to see if she wanted a blessing, but haven’t heard back. The voices tell her to jump off a building, or the like, and tells her not to come to church.

Elder Seeley asked us if we have been shot at yet, and we said no. He said that he had, and it hit his backpack, so he just kept running. The Elders have a potential baptism lined up, but since their contact is on probation, they need to get permission from the Mission President before they can baptize him. They also have a couple of others, so maybe we will get some more converts before too long!

Luzi, who has been baptized, needs to have it redone, since there is not record of it anywhere in the Church. We are finding a few of these. I guess no one bothered to have it recorded, so it has to be done over. One daughter of a member was baptized at age seven, and no one caught it, but since they are inactive, we are having a hard time getting it done again. Anyway the work goes on in the Frankford Branch. 

Love Ya All. 

Elder and Sister Armstrong.  

Sept. 28- Oct 5th, 2104

Hi Everyone,
   A report from Philly Pa. where the weather is a muggy 72 and our clothes are already sticking to our skin.  It looks wonderful outside but it gets pretty miserable after a while.  All the leaves are starting to turn, and the landscape out in the county is so beautiful!
   Last week was more of the same- helping Rosina. A gentleman moved into our branch area and they called Karl and I to go meet him on the road. Anyway when we got to him, he had a pretty good sized u hall truck full to the top.  We took a look at that and called the missionaries.  He was moving into an apt three floors up with no elevator. We got a brigade going and of course the missionaries got the stairs.  He wanted us to place each container in the area it was going, but with just 2 rooms, it was all pretty much taking up the entire two rooms.  I guess he got it, sight unseen, because he was pretty disappointed in it’s size.  We invited him to conference and he said “oh they will just tell me the same things they did last time and I already know that.”  Right then and there we realized he wouldn’t be much of an asset to our branch.
   We had the same duties with Rosina and Dee this week. You get them over one hurdle and four more pop up.  Rosina was to be out of her house on the 30th, Guess what, she is still there. The landlord raised her rent to $1000 and her SS check is $400.  I wonder what her next dream will be?
   Dad called 8 members to go to conference, said we would come and pick them up, but not a one was interested! We met at our little branch and had the Branch Presidency there, their wives, the RS Pres., Primary Pres., and four other members.  We had pot luck between the sessions.  We thought that would bring people out, but that didn’t help either!
   I made soup and rolls and as we went down the line of food, Dad asked if all I was having was soup?  The one I took of course!  He was a good sport and tried some of the most disgusting dishes I’ve ever seen.  And by the way, dad is still feeling good and didn’t sick.

       Conference was so wonderful, don’t you wish we could live and feel that close to the Spirit all the time.  We tried to make a few changes with our investigators, none were even willing to answer their phones.  We keep trying! We got these two Zion Missionaries to come to our branch to liven things up, they are trying hard but nothing is moving a lot right now.  Wish I had the determination and faith Elder Stubs has. He keeps saying the Lord is working on them, some of them will come around.
    I’m glad all the Utah family got together at Alisa’s, house.  It really thrills us when you all take time to be together.  Sounds like some of you are setting some new goals together.
   We are here thinking about Taylor! He will be home in about 5 hours.  Please give him a hug for both of us. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of you.
   I went to the eye Dr. today. We called Sister Storm to get the name of her Dr.  She was very nice and said I  had something like sty’s on the outside of both eyes.  She now has me on steroids and antibiotics and she says it spreads very easily from one eye to the other. I guess that is what happened in my case.  I have to use ointment for the rest of my life.  I get really concerned about our eyes when I think of what Grandma when through. Glad I went in to catch it.  I have to go to an eyelid specialist next Tues.
   We are happy and well, but not quite as busy as two months ago. We are praying for something to soon get us super busy with new investigators.  I know all of you are so busy. Wish when we have a two hour break we could be helping all of you with your busy lives.   Keep up the good work.  It is so much easier on the mentality if we are super busy!
   No more news on Blake, we’ll tell you when we hear something.
 Love all of you!
(A few more pictures of our time with Bingham's and Kunze's)