Hi everyone, we enjoy hearing
about your missions. They are so different and I guess variety makes it
interesting. Would anyone like to change with us for just a little while, so
you can get a taste of Philly. Just kidding, we are enjoying our work even
though it is very challenging. For awhile the missionary work was going so
strong, 8 baptisms since we got here, but only about 3 are consistent in coming
to church. They have so many problems, it is really hard to keep them enthused.
Last week we had three families come to the church for assistance, since they
were all getting evicted from their apartments for non payment of rent, power
and water. One of the sisters, Rosina, finally warmed up to Sister Armstrong
and myself and wants to come and live in our house in Utah when we leave, ha,
ha. We had been driving her to all her doctor and dentist appointments in
Center City, which takes most of the day. We then approached the branch for
food orders for her and several others, which requires us to drive to New
Jersey to the bishops storehouse. It also takes us most of the day, and to top
it off I have gotten three tickets at the toll booths, despite our having an EZ
pass furnished by the church. Anyway when we got to the point of writing a
check from the welfare funds, we couldn’t find her membership! It is nowhere to
be found, even though she showed us pictures of her baptism and the Elders who
Baptized her. This happened to another member of our branch who was also
baptized at the same time in a neighboring ward, several years ago. We think
they never filled out the paper work. She was livid! I hope we can get it
worked out, since today is the deadline.
Another sister, (never been to
church since we got here) called us for a blessing. When we got there with the
missionaries, she had been thrown out of her house, and she and the landlord’s girlfriend
(what a pair) were about in a fist fight. This women (our member) is really,
really, mixed up. Anyway I talked to the Landlord and quieted them down, and
told him I didn’t blame him for kicking her out. We then helped her move her stuff into a storage
unit. (You would not believe the junk and filth in her room). The next day
Sister Armstrong and I went over to finishing packing, and she wasn’t there, so
we began putting her stuff in garbage bags to take to the storage unit. She
eventually came, and I asked her where her 16 year old son was who was supposed
to help us, and she said oh, he went bowling with his friends. So we packed up their
things and told the landlord that this was all we were taking, and he could
throw the rest of the junk away. All her belongings (for a lifetime) fit in a
small 5x7 unit.
Last night we had the
missionaries over for dinner, along with two other members. It is transfer
time, and I am sure at least one (the one from England) will be leaving, it was
also his birthday! It was a nice evening. One of the sisters who came to
dinner, (we’re not match making) served a mission, went to BYU and moved here.
She isn’t married, but wants to be, but there isn’t much opportunity here. The
other one is just starting her life, works three jobs, wants to go on a
mission, and wants to come to Utah with us and go to school. (boy, we’ll have a
house full!) Joyce is asleep and probably wants to add to this, but I guess
I’ll send it for now. Have a great day, love ya all. Elder Armstrong
Our little Haitian Kids
Jose Jose's birthday party
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