Well, the time is here, we have such mixed emotions about the entire thing,  we have learned to love these people as our family and  know many of them we will not see again.  This has been a hard mission, but now that it is coming to a close we wonder what more we could have done!

   We were with Elder Carr Wed. (the person  who is over the Philly Temple construction) He said we may never know what spark or seed we may have planted to someone in our area. He said, that even up in heaven we may find out that someone listened or had a spark flash back on something we or the missionaries may have done or said. We pray that be the case, because right now we are wondering what on earth we could have done more.  

  These are wonderful people back here, but they are so steeped in their traditions that is has been hard to change their minds. We have learned to love them and understand a lot where they are coming from. These are traditions that have been passed on since they were born, they grew up in poverty and don't know how to get out of it. Most of them are very strong willed, it is hard to break their thick skin, anyway, we tried our best, we love them and will continue to pray for them and keep in contact with a lot of them.

  Next Sun. (since Karl gets all the speakers) we are speaking in Sacrament meeting. We will turn over our books and badges and are able to go home Mon.  That will be the first we will start our packing. We are still waiting on the mission Pres. to let us know if our house is going to be used for other missionaries. We have a going away party this Fri. at the mission home. I guess then we will find out what our final move will be.

  We are planning to stop for about 3-4 days and stay with Michael and Jen, then on to Nauvoo to see friends that are serving there. Our car has taken quite a beating back here. We have had it tuned up for the trip, (sure hope it holds up), the last thing we need is to look for a new car on the way home or when we get back in Utah

   Today we are going to Zone Conf. There is a Seventy from Salt Lake coming out to talk, we have had to break the mission up into 4 time period time slots because this mission is so large.  

    Karl took two missionaries up to NY Temple Sat. A man they had both brought into the gospel was taking out his endowments and they wanted to be with him.  Karl made the drive and found his way to the temple.  Parking was $40.00 for a couple of hours, but he had a wonderful time as he visited with a dentist he knew in Utah that is now serving in the area along with several temple missionaries out of Utah on a year or eighteen month assignment. The temple was wonderful, he did a session and initiatory.  

    I stayed home and had a brunch for all for the ladies in this branch. There was a pretty good turn out since Karl was not around with the car to pick them up.  We enjoyed ourselves, I had Josephine do her latest song recording, she is so talented.  It turned out to be a very nice day, I will miss a lot of these dear sisters.

   We will send you an email when we figure out our agenda!  Utah here we come! We are excited, scared to get back into the ward and normal living but, also sad to leave these people. They are worried who will be there to taxi them to their appointments, pick them up for church, get their food orders at the bishops storehouse, and accompany the missionaries since they need a priesthood holder whenever they are teaching a single sister or youth. We have put on about 25,000 miles on our car in the last 18 months, and burned a lot of gas.  

   Thank you a million times for all the love, support and prayers. We could surely feel it when we got discouraged and wondered if we were doing any good! We had a crisis in your branch last Sunday. A Father, Mother and a 4 year old came to church, who were planing to be baptized, but when the 4 year old had a melt down, our branch president's wife, sister Burno, took her in a room, turned out the lights and held her tightly to discipline her. The Mother heard her screaming, and came into the room. She was furious, and vowed never to come back, and canceled her baptism. Sister Burno never has had children, and thinks she can tell everyone what to do, and drives both the inactive members and investigators away. The Missionaries are so afraid to bring anyone to church, which defeats the whole plan of fellowshipping, love, and activation. Despite these setbacks, we have seen at least 8 people come into the waters of baptism, even though some are now inactive, the work is going ahead in the Frankford Branch. 

  Thanks for Father's day gifts, cards, coupons, phone calls and just being the wonderful friends and family who have been more than supportive. 

We love all of you and can't wait to see you again! 

Joyce & Karl, Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Elder & Sister Armstrong

         

   Our little branch picnic. It was hot but nice under the trees. We were surprised when they gave us a huge cake for our work in the branch and our going away. It will be sad, although we are anxious to move on. I don't know who will take over our free taxi cab which really keeps us busy every day taking the missionaries to appointments, tracting, and the members to their outings at the Dr., Dentist,shopping and the like.

     We have had some good investigators who are coming to church, but last night they got hold of some anti Mormon stuff, and it will take a while to answer all their questions without them losing their meager testimonies. Their little girl, who is four, is the meanest and most spoiled thing I have ever seen. It took four of the sister to handle her at church yesterday, and the times I go with the missionaries to teach them, she about tears me apart. Anyway I hope we can still get them into the Church. 

   Two more weeks to go, wow. Some members want us to take them to the D.C. Temple and two Missionaries want us to take them to the Manhattan Temple to see one of their converts sealed. We need to take the Branch Presidency out to dinner, and Joyce is planning a brunch for all the sisters in the branch. The missionaries are trying their best to wear us out, and Rosina is trying to get as much out of us as she can. She called this morning and needs to go into the Emergency room at the Hospital, but the Ambulance wants $500.00, which she doesn't have. What a worry as we wonder what will happen when we leave. They still don't know what they are going to do with our apartment, and who will replace us in the Branch as first counselor and primary president. Not that we are that good, but there isn't anyone else to fill in. What a worry, but I guess it will all work out.

   We had a funny experience yesterday after Church. A Pakistani Sister, who can't speak English wanted to come to our house, so she waited around for about an hour and a half while we finished up the welfare checks, the food orders for this week, the tithing reports etc. When we got to our house she started pointing to all the stuff she wanted us to give her. It amounted to about everything she could see. We tried to explain  that we needed to take some of it home with us, and the stuff the Church furnished for us should stay. She would have none of this, and we about had to force her to leave even though we each had armfuls of stuff she thought we could part with. What a women.

   We are enjoying two new Elders who are fresh out of the mission home. It is hard to see transfers, cause we get so attached to them. It was funny when Josephine, who is black, took pictures of two of our missionaries who are also black, when she said this is the first time there has been two black missionaries assigned to the Frankford branch. They are loving it. 

 Well, time to take Rosina to the Hospital, better leave. Joyce wants to add more later.

 Love ya all. Elder Armstrong

Dear Family & Friends,

   The time is just flying and still so many things to accomplish on our bucket list. 

#1.  Rosina is in her apt. No furniture, no gas, (Karl is down working on that with the company right now), the only furniture they have is a lawn chair from outside and our blow up mattress we used when we arrived here and didn't have furniture yet.  It is pretty sad. I'm not sure where Pewe sits. Sun. they took her in an ambulance because she was so sick. They didn't keep her in the hospital so now she is back home unpacking. I should be helping her but I've got Enoch all this week.  He is out of school but his mother is not!

   Yesterday was a really hard day at Sacrament Meeting.  Dad had to conduct and of course it was Fast Sunday so he is the one who started it all off.  He bore his testimony, and then half of the congregation started.  They all expressed so much love for the two of us, everyone was crying, mainly Mom, but it was so very kind of these people we have learned to love so much. If it weren't for our wonderful family and friends to come home to, I do believe we would extend. (But then we would just start the whole process all over again).

   It isn't that we have accomplished so much back here, this little branch will never be a healthy, functioning area, but we have certainly loved the people. They are so kind and giving to us, even though most of them have nothing.  What a wonderful lesson we have learned on humility. We have learned far more than any of these people have.  If I had lived under the conditions that most of them have I DOUBT  I would still be here.

   Dad too has grown so much, he has always been such a kind, gentle person, the Ex. Sec. tells him he has to toughen up but that is harder on dad than just keep serving all hours. Mainly taking everyone to appointments and keeping the missionaries  happy.

   I've missed out on a lot of the missionary work, this is the third week I have been responsible for Enoch.  He can't go to teaching appointments so we stay here at the house.  Today was his graduation from preschool. It was darling but I sure felt guilty that I hadn't been to a lot of our own grandchildren's activities.  Remember that our hearts were with all of them though.

   We have stopped game night on Fri. Just not enough coming out during the summer, sure hope the missionaries pick it up again in the fall.  During the winter we felt it  was helpful, it brought a lot of people in off the street, mainly out of curiosity.

   

           THE PATH OF SALVATION ALWAYS GOES

                           THROUGH GETHSEMANE

                                                                    Jeffrey R. Holland

    

   A lot of you are having struggles right now. We all need to tell ourselves several times a day, that the Savior is well aware of our pains and sorrows. He will not give us anything we can't handle!  It is just hard to remember this when we are struggling so much.   We all can do whatever we are asked, He will help us through everything!      We love all of you sooooo much,   Mom & Dad

                                                                                     Grandpa & Grandma

                                                                                     Bro. & Sis. Armstrong

                                                                                           Karl & Joyce

                                         

Dear Family & Friends,

   Happy Birthday Rob! Are the darling little girls still with you? I'm sure that is the best present you could ever receive. Hope you all had fun- it's hard to see them go when it is time to leave!

    Last week was a banner week. Rosie got her apt. and we are helping her move today. Karl talked Pres. Burno into giving her some financial aid, despite the fact they got into a big battle at church last week, and we didn't think he would help her, but He did, plus a food order from the Bishop's Storehouse in New Jersey. She  has gone with Elder Armstrong to take the check from the Church so she can move in, but when they tried to get her electricity changed over, her SS number was wrong so now we have to go downtown to the office with two forms of ID and her SS card to prove she is who she says she is. That will be another full day to get that done. She has no furniture to take, no beds etc. and on the way out she said that the few boxes she had packed was all that she had to her name. 

   I am here tending Enoch. He said his eye hurt so his mom dumped him off for us to tend all day, plus the time she needs to go to the gym. Her orders are that he can't eat any sweets and can only have water, so he pesters us and goes through everything to see what he can find that is good. He is suppose to have a bad eye. I'm not sure even which eye it is (wouldn't he be better off in school?)  It is 9:00 and he already wants to eat his lunch, except there isn't anything in it that he likes. I bought him a few things at the store to do, but he is already tired of them. Now we are trying Sesame Street, it will be a long time till 5:00, especially, since he can only eat the things his Mom sent with him, (we cheat though and don't tell his mom). She doesn't realize how hard she makes it on us with the no TV and no Eating rules! We are also suppose to tend him the rest of the week until His dad, (who is remarried and lives in Calif.) comes for him next week for a visit. He is a darling little boy though.

   Wed. we went to the temple in Manhattan with 8 Sr. Missionary couples. We took the Mega bus up, caught a taxi to the temple, and arrived about noon. It was so lovely and so good to be back inside a temple. There was one endowment room, it held about 30 people, we got to see a film that we hadn't seen before, and the workers were so helpful and lovely. The man at the desk and his wife were back there on a mission. They were almost through and were from Arizona. The gospel surely binds all of us together! It was funny when a Sister Missionary came up to us and said that Karl had given her a patriarchal blessing a few years ago. It is a very small world, and so good to see someone from home! We also learned that one of the couples that came with us used to be a neighbor of Joyce's when she grew up in Moroni. They had a good laugh when neither of them recognized each other until they asked "do you know anyone from Moroni, that's where I grew up". 

   Afterwords we went on the double decker bus for a tour of New York.  It was nice but not quite the same as the tour we went on with the Davis'. It made me so grateful that I live in Utah, that I have some space and can drive wherever I need to go.  We had to take Taxis four different times, the tour took much longer than we had planned so we almost didn't make it back to our bus on  time, but it was quite an experience and we were so glad we got to go. We will probably never be in New York again for that opportunity!

   We had almost 50 people out to Sacrament Meeting yesterday. Wow a record. The missionaries had a few investigators and some inactives came as well. Believe it or not we had 10 children to primary, I had six in my class, they all behaved very well. It was a wonderful day at church.    

   The Missionaries get their transfer notices this Fri. We are thinking two of our four could go, especially Elder Milene (he has been here the longest). He had me make over a suit that was too big on him, which was almost as much work as starting from scratch. It took forever and I almost wished I had never started it. It is a pin-stripe suit and the lines can get going pretty crazy, and since he is so fussy I sure hope it works!

   Another thing on our bucket list may take place. A couple may be coming out here in Aug., called as extraction missionaries, but Pres. Anderson may change that and put them in Frankford to live in our house. That could solve soooo many problems for this branch when we leave. They may could be in the bishopric, Primary, etc, and pick up where we leave off. That would surely make us feel better about leaving. We will keep our fingers crossed, and keep even more prayers going. Heavenly Father knows all circumstances. He  knows how bad these people need help, and we are starting to feel so much better about leaving!  All things are in God's hands, He will work this one out too!

   Karl is here with the boxes, guess we will start the move, this is what we have been praying for so long, Heavenly Father helped these wonderful people here once again!  We are so thankful!!!!!!

   Enjoy your week. May we look back next Mon. and see where we've all been given help in our lives!    HEAVENLY FATHER SURE TAKES CARE OF HIS CHILDREN!

                                       Love to all of you,  Mom & Dad

                                                                     Grandma & Grandpa

                                                                     Elder & Sister Armstrong

                                                                     Kart & Joyce

Dear family and friends,

   Today is a beautiful, sunny day, one that we can go help people and preach the gospel.  Aren't we ever so lucky!

   We have been working our entire mission to help out Rosina.  She came out to church Sun. and had a huge confrontation with the branch Pres. He scolded her for not coming to church very often, and since she was moving she couldn't get any assistance from the branch. I was a little upset on how he handled the whole situation. I pray all our work will not change things inasmuch as she left pretty upset, and I doubt she will come back to church. She finally has a place to move to, it was approved last week for section 8 for the poor (government housing), if it doesn't just blow up in her face.  She definitely needs to get out of her area, too many killings, robberies, and drug dealings going on there.  We are all praying for her!

   Yesterday we took her out to the cemetery with some flowers. She had two sons that were buried there. They had been murdered four years ago, not at the same time but four years apart.  She has been through so much, we worry about leaving her. She still claims she is coming to Utah when her lease is up on this apt.  (We'll see if she even gets it now.)

     Yesterday our four missionaries had time off till 5:00 and wanted to go to the mall. They showed us their true colors when they were all together having fun. We saw the 18 year old side of them instead of the confident missionaries  they always are.  Maybe their serious side would be a better word. They had us laughing so hard, it was a sweet time for all of us. Today back to bigger and better things.

  Last week I tended Enoch again for a couple of days. He is a darling little boy but, when I stay home with him I sure miss out on going around with the elders.  They are still working on two investigators. Looks like at least one of them will be baptized, not sure about the young 9 year old.  We had them, (the missionaries) for dinner again Sun. those elders sure can consume the food.  We leave for the Manhattan Temple tomorrow. We are so excited to go! We are going on a bus, there is very little parking up there. It should be a wonderful experience and we'll tell you about it in the next email.

    Sure do love and miss all of you. Hope life is going smooth for all of you. I guess when school lets out next week your summers will be busier.  We are all so blessed, it is shown more strongly every day as we live back here. I pray Karl and I remember this lesson we've learned back here. We have so many comforts in Utah.

      Our love to all of you, and again appreciation for your calls, letters, gifts and encouragement.  You are all the best!

      Mom & Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Elder & Sister Armstrong,

                                    Karl & Joyce

Joyce, Rosina and Raymir at her son's graves. They were murdered several years ago

       

Dear Family & Friends,

   We were in the car all day yesterday taking people to dental, doctor and  buying shoes for the one Elder.  Then he ended up not getting any. Guess we'll try again, anyway, that is why we didn't get an email off yesterday.

   Today Karl has the 4 Elders to take around so guess who gave up her front seat? 

Maybe today I can catch up on emails.

   We appreciate hearing from all of you. Our mission and places in life are all so varied. We love knowing what is going on in others lives, for sure we can all find plenty to keep us busy!

   Things have slowed up a lot in Frankford. The missionaries are getting a little discouraged.  They do a lot of knocking and inter netting but not a lot of come back appointments right now, don't know if it is summer or what, even game night has backed off in attendance.  

   We do have two baptisms set up for the end of the month, not completely sure they are ready, but then, who are we to judge,  We see so many of the first people we worked with that were baptized getting less and less attentive at church.  Seems like they love the missionaries that baptize them then when they get transferred they don't get the attention they are use to.  That is where Karl and I should pick up, but, most of our service back here is running people to different places they have to go, as you know there are very few cars in this branch.  At least they are getting to their Dr. and other appointments.

   It has freed up Karl's time quite a bit since Josephine got a car. We are happy for her, now if we could just get Rosina a place to live, we keep trying.

   Next week we are going with the Senior Missionaries to New York to the temple. That will be real wonderful to get to go through that temple before we go home.  We are taking a bus up there, so far there are six couples going.  We'll report on it when we do the trip.

   Marisole is having a BD dinner for me tomorrow night. She is very attentive and so kind to do it.  Thanks for all the cards, gifts and reminders that life is going way toooo fast, that includes our mission.  You keep us so inspired to do our best back here, what would we do without friends and family!

   Hope all is going well in everyone's family. Every family has a load to carry, everyone is trying their best and working hard to keep it going.  We all need to know that Heavenly Father won't give us more than we are able to bear.  We are proud of all of you!  We send our love and know our prayers are always with all of you!       

Elder & Sister Armstrong               Mom & Dad

               Grandma & Grandpa           Karl & Joyce

             

     

Dear Family & Friends,

   Hope all the "WOMEN" had a wonderful MOTHER'S DAY!  We missed all of you but thank goodness for telephones.  We got to talk to every one of our KIDS.  That is the most wonderful MOTHER'S DAY  gift I could ever ask for.  Thank you so very much for all the remembrances and love.  My most precious gift is my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, my husband and the gospel.  Heavenly Father has certainly made my cup runeth over! 

      We have had a wonderful week. Sat. we took two cars filled with members to Washington DC Temple.  What a temple, and a wonderful experience to get to go again before we leave. We took Tim & Marisol Hatchet down for their first time. They got to do baptisms, and also had their daughter with them and really enjoyed the experience.  Their daughter had never been outside of Philly.  We got to do a session and help in the baptistery, doing confirmations, Karl as a witness and I was handing out towels. 

   I had forgotten how beautiful this temple is and how much I miss working in the temple, we sure want to get back into it when we get home!

   We left at 9 in the morning and got home at 11 pm. We are so blessed to have our temple so close by, we've learned many lessons back here, one of them is how close we are to conveniences at home.  I hope we will remember all the positive things that we have so missed and learned here in the mission field.  Being so close to a temple is certainly one of them!!

   The Hatchet's had us over for Mother's Day dinner, they fixed a lovely meal, they also had the four missionaries there.  The missionaries gave we two mothers a special tribute and then they had me bear my testimony!  My heart was very full, because I missed all of you so much, but truly I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. It has made me so appreciative of all the blessings I've been given,(and have surely taken most of them for granted) anyway, please all of you know of the love and appreciation we have for your love, kindness, encouragement, help and prayers. They have made this an experience that has helped us grow and become so aware of all we've been given and helped with.  YOU ARE ALL THE VERY BEST, thank you so very much for being behind us!

          We love you all, Elder & Sister Armstrong

                                    Mom & Dad

                                    Grandpa & Grandma

                                     Karl & Joyce

                              

     Spring has sprung, the weather is beautiful, and things are going well in Philly. We had a wonderful regional conference last week, it was for the eastern states, so I doubt any of you saw it. We went to Pennypak ward to see it. (about 10 miles away) and took some of our branch members with us. It was nice not to hold services in our branch, gave us a little break from trying to get speakers etc, and hear from the general authorities in Salt Lake. Afterwards we had pot luck dinner, which turned out pretty good. We took a pasta salad. It was funny though. A man kept sneaking into the line to get another plate, which  I thought was for his family, but he went to a table in the rear and starting eating each plate by himself. I thought for sure they would run out of food, but they barely made it, and after the man got filled up, he went into the kitchen and got foil so he could take anything left home with him.

     We had a transfer this week, our best Elder, Elder Long left us. He plays the guitar and has really touched a lot of people as he plays and sings to them. He has a jam session, so to speak, with a member’s husband who plays the drums and percussion in a Latin band. They just came back from Colombia on a tour, and we are trying to get him interested in the church. He is really nice to us, but not in the Church.  Elder Long had those who he is teaching sign his guitar, and it was covered with signatures, but didn’t ask us. We are so hurt! Just kidding.

     We went to a members house and her boyfriend was laying on the couch with his leg all bandaged up. He said he was outside the night before and a hooded guy pulled a gun and started shooting. He could have been killed, but only got hit in the leg. Also our dependent lady Rosina, who takes up most of our time in service chasing her all over the city for this and that, asked us if we would take her to the cemetery on the anniversary of her one son’s murder, but she couldn’t remember where the cemetery was. We drove for two hours, gave up and took her back home. Anyway, the night before two men broke into her house with guns, put one in the mouth of a neighbor lady who was there and robbed them. They didn’t get much though, there isn’t anything of value in their houses. They got a few dollars and some cell phones. Rosina was yelling at her kids, (she always has some there sponging of her, since none of them work), to call the police, but they either went in the basement to hide or something like that, she really gave them a peace of her mind which only Rosina can do. She is called the pit bull, and this name fits her perfectly. She is the one who says she is moving to Utah with us when we leave. We have been helping her get government housing and I only hope it come through before we leave, so she can get out of that neighborhood.  

     One of our inactive member’s sons, who we are teaching but has not yet been baptized, got in trouble with the law and has been in home confinement. He finally had a hearing with the judge and we were shocked to hear that they sentenced him to six years. He is only 14 years old, seems to be a good kid, a little rowdy, but normal for that age group, at least around here. So goes the people in the Frankford branch.

     We had a good fast Sunday, but few showed up. There were less than 10 members other than the leadership. Joyce had 3 kids but I had to take two of them home because they wouldn’t cooperate and were so angry in being here because they missed their favorite TV show. Of course their mother wasn’t there, she has only been to church once during our entire mission. The neat thing was that 3 of the members bore their testimony. They were only a minute or two long, but the first time in their life that they had done this and stood up in front of the congregation. A couple of them had to get help from the leadership as to what to say, but at least they did it.

     Richard, our bi-polar member who hates the world, is mad again. He calls me daily to complain about anything and everything. He walked in after church was over and wanted to have it out with President Burno because he went out of the meeting several months ago when Richard was giving a talk. (He had just moved in and this was the only meeting he has been to) Anyway everyone was just leaving to go home, which made him mad and says he won’t ever come to church again. He will call me tomorrow with another story though, so I don’t worry much about what He says.

     Despite the challenges, we love the people, love going with the Elders, love playing taxi cab driver, love keeping the peace, baby-sitting, going for food orders, holding bible study and game night, taking people to the hospital and doctor’s appointments, and in doing the Lord’s work in the Frankford Branch. Joyce’s back is starting to feel better since she fell, and is coming out on appointments when she can. She has been sewing and making quilts to give away and is enjoying doing that when she stays at home.

     We love you all, have a great day. Our time is now less than two months, as our release date is the end of June. We are planning a temple trip to both Washington D.C. and Manhattan Temples in the next couple of weeks with the other Senior Couples and also with our Missionaries, who are now allowed to go with members to do baptisms. It doesn’t look like they will be replacing us with another Missionary Couple, so we need to figure out what to do with our apartment and more important, how this little branch is going to survive without a taxi.               

Love, the Armstrong’s

I'm just looking at pictures of all the humanitarian work that has been accomplished in Nauvoo.  Way to go all you hardworking missionaries, what busy, busy hands, with Susan and Ross there working and encouraging I'm not surprised!

   W have had a busy week, mainly Karl is the taxi of the branch.  Trips to New Jersey for food orders, taking people to Dr. and Dental appointments, trying to keep up with the missionaries here.

   We took Rosina to the Dentist, she had only been out of the hospital a couple of days, anyway, she got real sick down at the office and couldn't see the Dentist.  We are trying again tomorrow to see if it works this time.  My heart really goes out to her, if we can just keep her well enough that she can get this other housing and get her out of the situation she lives in now.  She really has it tough!

   Sun. we had our regional conference. It was broadcast from the conference center for several States back here in the Eastern part of this country.  It was wonderful. We could see a big change in Elder Hales. All of the apostles are getting much older, it breaks our hearts to watch them age.  We are so blessed to live in such a wonderful time of life to have the media that connects us all as one.     We held a pot luck after the broadcast, I've never seen so much Rice & Beans.  I thought of Brooklyn, she always orders Rice & Beans at Cafe Rio.  We took the Hatchet's with us, they have been very active since his baptism, sure hope it lasts, we need the help in the branch so much.  He has started passing the Sacrament, he can't quit smiling as he passes it.

   Our wonderful Elder Long is getting transferred this Wed.  He has been such a super Elder,he plays the guitar, and has sung his way into so many hearts back here.  We will take him out to the mission office Wed. and bring back a new Elder.He has had me fixing suits before he goes.  He had a tailored suit made out here for a $100.  He is so proud of this suit, it fit him terrible, so I'm trying to rectify many of the problems, the hem on the pants was unbelievable, anyway, he loves it and is very happy with it so at least his pants won't be 2 inches above his shoes.

     We had the Elders over for dinner Sun.  We also fed them Wed. They are so grateful for a dinner, especially when it get towards the end of the month and their food is getting quite sparse!   We spent Sun. night taking Josephine to another recording for the song she wrote.  It is so beautiful, she really has a wonderful voice, so much talent.  She dubbed in her own voice for all the harmony. We have a video of it and  want all of you to hear it.  Elder Long does all the recording-he brought back his own equipment and knows how to fill in all the extra's, 

    The work is the same. Lots of problems to help with, always places to drive people to, try to enthuse the Primary, and Dad always hunting for someone to talk in Sacrament meeting.  He is preparing more talks right now. He either hands them out for someone to read, (if they are assigned they won't come to church and give the talk), or else he has something ready that he can give himself.  

   It was funny two Sunday's ago, the stake came for ward conference. Usually they prepare the entire lesson, sharing time and singing time. This time they got up and said I was doing the lesson. When the stake is there it is a little hard to get up and pull something out of the top of my head. Anyway we made it through and they really encouraged and helped us.  They are all wonderful people, not judgmental, just willing to  help where they can because our branch is so unique from a normal primary.

   Our two grandsons went to the Prom this week.  First date for Tyler. Two of our grandkids graduated from BYU, two of them finished up another year of  college and our missionary boy had his nineteenth birthday.  Boy our family is all growing up and spreading their wings for bigger and better things.  We are so proud of all of them, keep up the great work, all of you!   Life is great, we miss all of you, but know we have a lot more to do here in our time left.  Have a wonderful week, keep well and stay busy, (this one I know for sure you all do.)    Love each and every one of you!!!  Mom & Dad, Grandpa & Grandma, Elder & Sister Armstrong 

Dear Loved Ones,

   The weeks are rolling by so fast, we can hardly catch our breath!.  Last week was a very busy one with Rosina, Stake Faith in God, Stake leaders for ward conference, and our RS birthday party.  All went very well, but hope this one is a little less hectic.  The most wonderful thing about the entire week was our ward conference. The first counselor talked on how we love these people no matter what.  I really needed to hear that talk because  many days we wonder if we do anything at all.  He told of his grandfather going to Brazil some 75 years ago  as a young missionary.  The whole time he was over there he had no converts and felt very discouraged.  Today, that same area has many temples, stakes and missions, and how strong those people are.  How we pray we are planting a seed or two for these dear people.  Karl and I have laughed about many of the situations they get themselves into. We do that so we won't cry. With no cars, no husbands, no money and many kids and poor health, I'm sure they have done much better than I ever could have under these circumstances.  

   We've learned to love these people so much, many of them we feel like family.  In fact that is how Rosina introduces us. We are her church family she tells everyone!  We are most worried about her, her health is terrible, she is in the hospital every other week.  Tomorrow we have several Dr. apt. with her. We have her a place now to live, just pray she can get into it before something serious happens to her.  She has applied for government help and who knows how long that will take. We have seen a lot of sad and poor people because we are so personally involved with their problems and pain.  We pray every night that there will be a couple sent back here to take our place in July, if anyone needs help it is these sweet people.

   We have a woman's Book of Mormon study each Mon. night.  We have another new lady who isn't yet a member coming tonight. We read together in the B of M, our help and explanation is always taken from The Book of Mormon made Easy by David Ridges.  I have loved these books for a long time, and ordered another set when I got out here. I will leave them here when we leave.

   Thank you for all your love, emails and support.  The other night Anna called and said she just wanted to talk to us. It totally made our day.  All of you are so attentive, you are all the best people in the world. 

Happy Birthday goes out this week to Chase, Mary Louise, Pam, and Harrison.  Have a wonderful BD and know we love all of you!

Karl & Joyce

Mom & Dad
Grandma & Grandpa

Elder & Sister Armstrong

Dear Family and Friends.

   We had company last week, and also this weekend so we are behind on our writing.  It is good to have people here. Everyone seems to be doing good and life is busy for everyone. I guess that keeps us out of trouble.

  Byron Larsen from our ward in Glenmore and a member of the Bishopric has been with us.  He is an inventor and had to come out to Philly to bring some machine that he has produced in a food making plant.  If it works for their company they will be sitting pretty darn good. He and one other person are the CEO’s of the company and they didn’t have a pay check all last year.  They are all praying this will fly this time.  Our prayers will certainly be with them, they really need a break!

   It has turned so lovely here, around 68-70 degrees.  Just absolutely perfect.  A lot of Spring things are coming to bloom-no wind the past two days and so much sunshine.  We are praying for it to continue.  We hope this week we can unpack some summer skirts and tops.

   We have had Rosina in the hospital again. She gets herself up so tight, she has 18 kids and right now they are all driving her nuts.  We have been looking for her some housing. She got cleared by the government to qualify for assistance, now if we can just find it.  We have an appointment with her tomorrow to start the search.  When she moves she is not telling anyone her address. She is only taking her downs syndrome brother and as she puts it, (fading into the sunset).  Right now she lives next door to a half-way house. All the people come over to her house to watch TV and she lives upstairs in her bedroom.  I don’t blame her for being upset.  They sit there all day, drinking and smoking and eating her food. She is a nervous wreck, and needs to get out of that environment! She had two heart attacks last week, one of these times we won’t be bringing her home from the hospital!

   Josephine has been supper involved with school, programs, young single adults and everything you can think of, so we have had Enoch a lot last week.  He is an easy little boy to tend, but gets quite uneasy with not much to do at our house.  I know she doesn’t like him to watch so much TV, thank goodness there was a lot of cartoons on Sat. to help us get through the day.  Everyone back here needs so much help. If we were only magic and could solve everyone’s problems.  We pray every day that a couple will soon be called to take our place. We would just love to walk out and leave them everything in this house.

   Thanks for all the love and support! You are all the best, we got kind of homesick after Doman’s left. You can tell it is getting near the end and there are so many things we still want to get done.  Most of it depends on the people themselves, the cooperation we get from the city, government doctors and landlords.  We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed and praying real hard a lot more can happen!

   Love all of you so much!  A quote I loved from conference:

   THOU LIFT ME, AND I LIFT THEE, AND WE SHALL ASSEND TOGETHER!   All of you are what keeps us trying back here.  Hope when we leave some little thing can have been accomplished back here.  Right now we are praying for miracles!!!!!!!!  

                                   Elder & Sister Armstrong

                                    Mom & Dad

                                    Grandma and Grandpa

                                    Karl & Joyce

Visit with the Doman's

Bishop's storehouse

Zone conference lunch

4-1-2015

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!

Dear Family and Friends,

    The weather really played a joke on us today. It is so beautiful outside, the air is pretty nippy but it is actually starting to show signs of Spring.  I don’t know about the majority of you, but I’m really liking the looks that maybe we are through with the cold, dreary winter.

   We are back in Philly. We drove to Illinois last weekend (16 hours each way), mostly rain all the way there. We went to our son’s house, they baptized their 2^nd little girl (Brie).  It was so wonderful being with their family. The children had all grown. They had just finished their basement and it looked so lovely. Very modern looking, the coloring, the lights, the floor, etc. It looked so much like Jen.  We drove all day Fri., and the baptism and confirmation were Saturday.  Dad and I got a big laugh out of the fact that Brie had asked Grandpa A to baptize her, so our own Grandchild was our only baptism that Grandpa got to participate in on our whole mission.  Pretty neat though!

    We have been involved with teaching and preparing investigators for baptism, but the YOUNG ELDERS do all the baptizing.  We remind ourselves daily that we are back here to support, support and support!

   16 more hours for the drive home. We were so glad to get here! We both had bad colds and fevers so it was a long ride home.  We took yesterday to pull ourselves back together.

   One of our biggest priorities before we leave here is to get Rosina in some livable housing.  Yesterday they called and said she has been approved for government  help.  Now we have 10 days to find her a house, and get her settled.  We have all been working so hard on this project.  Right now she lives in a very scary neighborhood, her home is the hang out for everyone in Frankford. We go there to teach and the house is so full of people, cigarettes, pot etc. It is hard to teach above the screaming TV.  She wants so bad to get out of her environment.  This is really a priority on our bucket list.

   We are all watching conference at the church.  We get it two hours later back here. We always have a pot luck in-between the two sessions.  I know we will have a lot of rice and beans come in so I’m trying to think of something different. They are always all  hungry, mainly just something that will fill them up and have plenty of it, what ever IT is.

   We are excited this Sun. Alisa, Curt and their family are coming back for Spring Break.  We will be so glad to see them.  We have been so blessed while back here, we have had all of our family (except our son John), two sets of friends, our next door neighbors and my Sister and brother-in-law.  We have appreciated all the love and support, the cards, letters and encouragement.  There is nothing in the world like true friends and family to keep us all trying and determined to keep going and doing our best!    You are all so wonderful! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and encouragement.

   Enjoy your conference weekend. What a great opportunity to all recommit and take the advice of our living prophet and His wonderful disciples.  We are so blessed. I pray I won’t take it just for granted! Love and miss all of you. Stay healthy, happy and keep doing all the good that you are doing.  

You are all the best!!!  

Grandpa & Grandma

Mom & Dad

Elder & Sister Armstrong

Dear family and friends, 

    Another short note about our doings. We had a nice baptism two weeks ago, that we already told you about. Anyway we scheduled their confirmation last week and really began to worry when the Sacrament had been passed and they hadn't shown up. After the first speaker (Elder Meline), one came in, then another, but Raymir, never did. I went to pick him up but he wasn't home. We got two confirmed anyway, but whether they remain active is anyone's guess. Timothy is fighting with his wife and she wants to divorce him, and Leon is still on probation from his prison term, but since we got permission from the First Presidency, he can get the Aaronic Priesthood, and go to the Temple for Baptisms for the dead. I think he will be a good member, but has a long way to go to understand the gospel. 

   We don't see the other Sr. Couples very often, so last week we all got together and went to Gettysburg overnight. We had two new couples who had come in, but the one couple was so swamped with their work at the mission office, they didn't go. Three couples have gone home, and one is leaving this week, so we got to see them. There are three new couples coming in the next few months but we will still be short until they open up the site where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were baptized and the new visitor center is finished. 

  We had the street blocked in front of our Church all day. Someone said there was a shooting and a robbery, but I haven't heard the details. We just continue taking the Elders to their appointments, taking the members to their doctors appointments, shopping or whatever, holding bible study on Tues, and activity night on Fridays. And then our services on Sunday, hoping we can get enough there for our block meetings. Thank the Lord for our missionaries, who teach classes and speak in Sacrament meeting. I hope our little branch survives since people move out as soon as they can. Nobody likes living in this area, and those who stay are only here because they have nowhere else to go. 

  Once again, we got permission to go to Illinois for our Grandaughter's baptism this weekend. Our Mission President lets us do this type of thing which we really appreciate and gives us a little break, then we are renewed to continue on with our work. We are blessed to have two new missionaries in our area. One, Elder Milligan is an African American from Louisiana. He is so funny. A convert to the church and has a strong testimony. He tells of his past life, which was very sad, and of his conversion from the Baptist Church. He is wonderful in explaining the truths of the gospel when we meet people who say they are content in their own church and won't leave. Our branch clerk is a strong member who comes in from another ward as a Stake Missionary to help us out each Sunday. He has been a bishop, a high counselor etc, and really helps us run the branch. Without him and his wife who teaches Sunday school, our branch couldn't function. 

   Last night in Bible Study we studied the Gospels in the New Testament.  Elder Milligan bore his testimony and showed a short video on the miracles the Savior did during His ministry on earth.  I had the most wonderful, peaceful feeling come over me. I knew Heavenly Father was mindful of Karl and I. We have been worried that we've done no good back here, we just help with problems and make very tiny baby steps, which they too can blow up in our face. Anyway, I felt so much better when it was confirmed to us that some days we really help these wonderful people. They all have so many struggles, our lives have been so easy compared to these special Saints.  We are constantly praying for more understanding, more compassion and more patients with each one of them!

   We love you family and friends so much. Thank you for all your prayers and 

e-mails, they truly keep us going.

         THE ARMSTRONG'S IN PHILLY    

Philly Times

Hi wonderful Family and Friends,

   Another new week, they just keep coming and getting better.  Our little branch had a miracle happen yesterday.  We had three baptisms, and what a thrill, especially for Elder Seeley who goes home tomorrow.

  LEON MOBLEY

  TIMOTHY HATCHET

  RAMIR WILLIAMS. He is nine, the others older.  Ramir is Rosina's Grandson, we've written about him many times.  A bright little guy with a ton of hang ups he has had to cope with all his life.  He was so excited, he got out of the fount and when asked how he felt about being baptized he said, "Well my foot didn't come out of the water".  We went and got him new clothes (the Sunday dress outfit) and he said, "now I look like a missionary".  We so hope all three of these people can hang on and embrace the gospel, it would improve their lives so very much.

   That is our biggest fear, that this entire branch is going to sometime get lost in the shuffle.  Many of them just hang on with a thread. This mission, as yet, doesn't have anyone (Senior Couple) to take our place.  Not that we do so many wonderful things, but they just need extra love and care. Not anyone in the branch, only a very small handful, can offer that, they need that love and care themselves.   

   How on earth does Heavenly Father keep track and bless everyone? His job seems so over whelming to me. If we have three a day that needs a lot of extra attention and help we come home exhausted.

  ELDER ARMSTRONG'S TURN: It amazes me the support that the church gives its people. Our small branch gets thousands of dollars of aid each week for rent, food, utilities, etc. and when we see some come to church, we know the purpose, they are in need of assistance. Every other week or more often, we drive to New Jersey to the Bishops storehouse for food orders and the like, but I now have a new friend, Richard, who is a disabled vet, and is bi-polar, and was very negative about the church, rides down with me and helps me deliver the food. We even got him to speak in Church last Sunday to our amazement. We love our little branch however, and really enjoy working with the missionaries who really put in a great effort in the work. 

     Our mission will be closing down eight apartments soon, since more are leaving than are coming. Three new Sr. Couples will soon be called to work at the Susquehanna site however, where Joseph Smith was  Baptized.  Elder Russell Nelson will dedicate the site this fall. They are building a new visitor center and it will be a choice church history site to see. 

   Anyway, all is great, the Temple is moving ahead and drawing a lot of interest, I only wish we could see it dedicated before we leave, but who knows, maybe we can come back!

   Spring has sprung, the weather is great, and all is well. Love ya all. 

Ramir's baptism

Frankford Times Episode 200

Dear Family & Friends,

   Elder Armstrong is acting weird again but he is not far from wrong about the episode number, it was more like 200 last week.  We keep putting out a lot of fires, and a lot of wonderful things happen as well.

   We missed last weeks news because we flew to Utah. Karl's sister, in St. George, passed away after 5 long years of Cancer.  She has been so courageous all this time. We just had to go out for the service or Karl would have never forgiven himself.  It started as ovarian cancer and after the five years it had spread everywhere in her body.  Her services were so comforting and peaceful. She really was a wonderful lady.  While out there, we of course, had to visit with the family. We stayed one night with John and another with Alisa.  Boy, how all the grand kids have grown up. We also were there for Ethan receiving the priesthood. All were taller and oh so wonderful to see at least two families. 

  Nothing slowed down back here in Frankford while we were gone. In fact, they multiplied, so we got right back into the swing of life back here in Philly!

   Our plane flight was canceled because of the weather. We flew out the next morning and got here in Philly with everything canceled for planes coming in that entire day. Heavenly Father knew we needed to get back to work!  We are glad to be back.

   While we were gone Rosina had to go back to the hospital. She called us in Utah and wanted us there, but her niece took her and all worked out good.  We worry so about Rosina, she is getting more frail all the time.

   Our great news is that we have 4 baptisms this coming Sun.  Two young boys age 9 and two other men.  Yeah, we will have more Priesthood  in our branch.  Let's pray they keep coming. The first four that were baptized when we first got here never come out to church.  We still meet with them but they don't see the need to attend church. We are going out today to buy Raymir clothes so he can look like a Mormon (so he says).  He is the sweet little boy that we had the Christmas Tree experience with. He has had such a rough life, the only person that cares about him is his Grandma.  Thank goodness she loves him!  He has been abused by his mother all his nine years. The gospel will help him so much! He comes to Primary and gets to associate with the few kids we have there.

   We had a going away party for Sabrina Blake at our house Sat.  She tried to get into the BYU but wasn't accepted, so what do we know next, she has up and joined the Navy and signed up for 8 years.  She has been a real blessing to our branch. We will miss her and definitely miss her help.  

     The heavy snow storm really slowed things down for two days. This was the biggest storm we have seen while we've been back here.  The schools were closed for two days and so was most of the city.

   Karl is in charge of getting all the talks for Sacrament meeting.  Sabrina, who is leaving, was assigned to talk last Sun. she came but  left crying.  It always leaves Karl in the lurch, he always carries talks in his briefcase to give out or give himself.

  We got to the Jordan River Temple twice while in Utah.  It was so wonderful to get to go. We have only been to the Washington DC Temple two times while out here. We have another date for our branch the first of May.

   My sister, Mary Louise, is having back surgery on Wed. She had neck surgery two weeks ago, and this new surgery is a lot more serious. It is in her middle back. The Dr. says she can recover from both of them at the same time.  This is about her sixth surgery on her back.  I wish so bad that I were there to help her. Our faith and prayers are with them- please include her in your prayers as well.  If you would like to join our fast it will be on Tues.  We love you Mary Louise and know it will go well and help you a lot!

   Hope all of you are well. We know that you are busy, life seems to keep everyone going all the time.  Thank goodness we have health enough to try to keep up the pace.

   We send all our love and prayers your way. If we have our religion, our health and families we have everything. This week we will all count our blessings, they are many for each of us!

                                Love and miss you all,  Elder & Sister Armstrong

                                                                      Mom & Dad

                                                                      Grandma & Grandpa

                                                                       Karl & Joyce                                                          

Frankford News

After returning from Calif and the 72 degree weather, we are back at work in 2 degree weather. It hasn't been bad though, although we cut short our Sunday meetings due to water damage and no heat. All 15 of us huddled up in the relief society room and had Sac. mtg. We finally got one member to speak, Marasol, who had been preparing for two weeks on the word of wisdom, and gave a five minute talk, which really was nice even though she was scared to death. The other speaker didn't show up so Pres. Burno told of his conversion for the rest of the mtg. We decided to hold a Sunday school class anyway, and about 8 people stayed for that.

   We had an interesting mtg. with the elders. A lady who had had the missionaries in 2009 had us over, and about half way through the lesson she freaked out, and said we knew what the problem was, but we didn't, but anyway we think it had something to do with Sister Armstrong being in her house, like she is afraid of women. We have some really interesting people in our branch! We will leave Sister Armstrong home next time and see if we can find out what the problem is. 

  Two of the Seventies in the missionary dept held a meeting with our whole mission today. This is the first time in five years this has been done. It was to introduce the new program where new Ipads will be given to all the missionaries and their old ones will be retired. The missionaries will be instructed on how to use them over a period of several months. The new missionaries will purchase their own before coming on a mission and will receive their instructions, languages, and teaching techniques and the missionaries who are going home will keep theirs to continue to teach and learn and if they desire, they can continue to teach investigators and new missionaries their prep classes prior to their missions. We all need a shot in the arm, so maybe this will do it. 

 Besides being cold and slow, we are not making much headway with investigators, Elder Seeley goes home in four weeks and he so wanted two of his investigators to commit, but they are still luke warm.  

  Our darling Sabrina, who got turned down at BYU has joined the Navy and is leaving us. Another active member gone. We are losing them so fast, others have moved out of the Branch, and another one, Yadera got married, and spends time in New York and here, occasionally. Luckily new Elders come in to try to hold it together and be our speakers.   

   We got home from our conference, an all day affair but was it ever wonderful. Several of our dear Senior Couple friends are leaving in the next two week, and two couples will not be replaced. We understand there is a shortage of applicants from both Seniors and new missionaries. In the next few months we get 4 new missionaries and somewhere between 40 and 50 are going home.
    Elder Allan, of the Missionary Dept. says this is one reason we know we are in the last days, because missionary work has to be sped up.  I've never seen two men so bright, enthused and spiritual about this new program, everything is moving so fast, it is truly time to stay on the band wagon for the coming of the Millennium! To think what our little grandchildren will be involved with is just mind boggling!  Let's all think where our priorities are and keep ourselves heading in the right direction.  You are all wonderful, keep working hard on staying on track, we are so blessed to be a part of this wonderful plan.

    Our love and best wishes to all of you!  

Philly Missionaries    

Stay Warm

Dear Family & Friends,

   We left Calif. in 78 Degree weather and today we woke up to 7 degrees, talk about a contrast!  Some of the areas around here canceled Sun. meetings yesterday. We had two hours worth then everyone was sent home. Mainly because most of our members have to walk and it was bitter. Only a couple of inches of snow, but the wind factor was below 0. 

Today is about the same. We turned the window washer on and immediately it froze on the window.  Hope we can stay in most of today. It is suppose to be this way a lot of the week.

   Last night we went to a fireside, it was on the new Philly Temple.  The Carr's are in charge of all the workers.  Every Wed. Sister Carr bakes 300 cookies and serves to the workers.  They told of the feeling on the temple sight, it started out to be union men who were crude, swore every other word, a lot of back biting among the workers, and a large feeling of competition.  They wondered what to do, so Brother and Sister Carr decided they would let them into the temple grounds every morning, start with a prayer and a good thought.  They have been working there now 1 and 1/2 years, the workers now use clean language, totally respect Bro. and Sister Carr, and are very polite in taking and thanking for the cookies on Wed.  Isn't it wonderful how Heavenly Father helps soften hearts.  All because two people stood up to what they believed and wanted to accomplish.  All of us too can have the same affect on people, use our kind, sincere side, it goes a lot further than a rough, angry approach.  The temple is almost completely done on the outside, and are now working on the interior.  They are shooting for the summer of 2016!  Hope we can come back for the dedication!

    Things have hit full force since we got back.  Rosina is in congenitive heart failure, Dee has been very needy, (we can't seem to do anything right), she really got mad at me Fri. at the Dr. office.  Finally, some stranger stepped in and tried to help me.  She locked her feet on the floor and wouldn't move.  All the time we are holding up people behind us, of course she doesn't care because she can't see what is going on.  It is amazing that we got her into the office.  My heart goes out to her because she is so confused and can't see what is going on.  I'm trying real hard to develop much more patience! 

   We are going out to teach RayMeir this afternoon.  He is Rosina's grandson. He wanted to be baptized  in Jan. but hadn't been to church enough times.  (He is our little Christmas Tree Guy).

   Let's all have a great week. Keep reading our scriptures and praying for each other.  We certainly can feel your prayers back here, they help a ton.  We pray for all of you as well!   

Love to all of you, 

Bro & Sis Armstrong   

Dad finishes another puzzle.....

 

Hi Everyone,

   We just got back this morning at 9:30 from Calif. to see our beautiful granddaughter married.  She was married in San Diego Temple. Everything was perfect, the weather, the ceremony, the reception and being together as a family again.  Nothing makes you count your blessings more than to see your grandkids (and kids) make right choices in their lives.  It was so wonderful being together. We are so grateful the mission Pres. consented for us to go. 

   On our way out to Calif. we stopped in Vegas and rented a car so we could run to St. George and see Karl's sister.  She is dying of cancer. We were so grateful that we did, because, I know we won't see her again.  She is pretty near the end!  It was so humbling to be in her presence, you could just feel the Spirit in the room. Her peace was amazing laying there so frail and sick.  How could any of us face life without the help of our wonderful Savior.  

   We feel that we have been so blessed to be able to go out to the wedding and also see Nedra. Heavenly Father is so mindful of all our needs. I don't know what Karl would have done if he couldn't have seen her one more time.  

   Our cup is really running over with gratitude and blessings while serving out here.  Our little branch got along just fine while we were gone. It sure made us realize how short the time is that we have left here with these sweet, challenging people.  We must admit that it was a very good feeling when the plane touched down and we knew we were back again to serve.  

   We look back on the 13 months we have been here, and ask ourselves have we done anything that has helped?  I believe we have eased a few burdens, but most of all, we fell in love with people we never knew needed so much love and help. We are so grateful for this experience! Our lives have been nothing but growing experiences and learning to LOVE  all of God's children.  As the song says, "they are all precious in His sight," Thank goodness we had this opportunity!

   We have a lot more to do in the next few months. This little break brought to mind just how short life is. The time out here has gone so fast, all of our lives just seem to be going on full speed!  

   Hope all of you are in good health. Life is wonderful. Let's all make the most of every day, count our blessings, and keep telling Heavenly Father how grateful we are for all His help!  

We love you all, 

Elder and Sister Armstrong

Hi everyone, 

We enjoy hearing from each of you including our Missionary friends from Nauvoo and Rochester Missions. Hope you aren't snowed in. Most of the storm missed us except for freezing rain and about 3 inches of snow. Everything is still about the same however. We proselyte with the missionaries, teach the inactivates, encourage them to do family history, try to get them to give a talk in church (to no avail), attend presidency meetings at the branch, branch counsel and PEC, pick up as many members as we can and who will come to church, then start Sac. meeting with about 6 people present, and then when the meeting is half over, another 15 or so will show up. After mtg, we make out the donations, and then make out the welfare checks for the members who can't pay their rent, water, power, and gas bills.

 On Tuesday night, we hold bible study at the church, and sometimes we get people off the street to join us along with a few members. Friday night is game night, we usually play UNO. Anyway, that is our usual week, plus go to New Jersey, (about 50 miles) to pick up food orders at the Bishops Storehouse. 

   This week we got a new assignment. Josephine, (our primary president who went to BYU, sang with Young Ambassadors, and married a white member, who later divorced her and left her with one child), had her only car break down, and had no way to get to her teaching job at the school, so we pick her up each morning, take her  to work, and her son Enoch to preschool. We then pick them up in the afternoon in between lessons with the missionaries. Anyway her son came down with viral pneumonia, so for the past week we have been his baby sitter as well. We forgot what being a parent is all about.  I cheated however, and left Sister Armstrong with him while I carried on our usual missionary day. 

  We also had to take Rosina to the Hospital, where she stayed for about three days. She is pretty well bedridden at home at the moment. We still need to find her housing and get her on a government program to help pay her rent, water, gas ect. as soon as she gets better. She is the one who has had eighteen or so kids, who are all grown up, but about five of them plus their street friends sit around her house and watch TV all day. (some of them use drugs I think, and the house is always filled with smoke, which is sickening)

   Brenda, Kay John, and Tammy, who haven't been to church since Brenda got married to Kay John, (we think they got married), and Tammy, (who received  her endowments in the D.C. temple), decided to move out of the Branch, so I volunteered to move their fridge and washer out, (which the church members from another ward donated) and then give them to other members who are in need. It took most of the day just to get them out of their apartment. We had to remove doors, take the appliances apart, and by using some muscle from a disfellowshipped returned missionary and his room mates,(who got into trouble after his mission, and is trying to get reactivated), helped me move them if I would pay him $20 and then give him the Fridge! which I did. Then Brenda asked me to rent her a U Haul truck to move their stuff, since they didn't have any money and no drivers licence, but I just walked away and didn't follow through since I didn't want the liability and the expense. The Branch president and Clerk tell me I am too nice, and need to toughen up with these people, so I took their advice. 

   We are going to Utah and Calif this week. We leave on Weds and get back the next Wed. My sister in St. George is dying of cancer, and I want to see her one last time. We then go to Calif for our grandaughter's wedding, who recently returned home from a mission in Rochester. (The Walkers knew her up there). It will be a nice break, unless we get spoiled with a new, soft life, Ha,Ha. 

    Two of our Elder's got transferred, so we had a going away dinner for them last night, (didn't watch the super bowl of course). We really learned to love and appreciate them, but I am sure the new one's will be the same. We take them to the mission home tomorrow, and bring the new ones back. 

    I want to thank those who sent us gift cards, we used some of them for my Birthday, (yea I turned 74) and took the missionaries out. Thanks, you saved me over $100.00 at Applebee's. I also want to thank Curt and Alisa for letting us use some of their sky miles to go to Calif. You all do too much. Anyway Dee just called and wants me to get her sack of food that was left at the Church, and then take her to the Bank, so I'll leave Joyce with the rowdy, sick, Enoch, who is tearing the place apart, and say goodbye for now. 

Love Ya all, Elder and Sister Armstrong