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