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