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