Sept 16-28, 2014

Dear Loved Ones,
   First an apology for not writing last week. 1. Too lazy 2.  Had company 3. Caught the gom boo from the Missionaries. I had it last week and Karl is getting it today!
  We had a good time with the Bingham’s and the Kunze’s. They were with us for four days. (not with us in our house) but we were with them seeing some places we hadn’t seen.  It is always fun to see people from home. Didn’t remember we could laugh so much.  They loved our branch. The only problem was our converts that were baptized since we got here didn’t come to church.  We so wanted them to meet Rosina, and some that are just a work in the making!
  Alma is going to be a great-grandmother, so she wants me to make her a quilt for the new baby boy.  Of course I know that is in the outline of “SUPPORT”.  They are doing a nautical theme, so it has been a little more detailed.
  We got two new missionaries last week.  They are both Zone Leaders and are they ever on fire! Can’t wait to see what happens now.  Our little branch did need a good shot in the arm.  Elder Whitney goes home tomorrow so that will make three new elders for us.  I felt so bad yesterday. We always feed the Elders on Fast Sun. so they came up in church and asked if we were having dinner.  I had forgotten they put fast Sun. up a week because of conference so I had to say NO,  we had the company and were going with to help them with transportation because they had turned in their car.  Hope we can make it up to them this week!
  Rosina is still having troubles getting out of her house.  She has till the 30th. Only one more day to see if she can get in government housing. Sure hope we can all pull it off!  She has five grown men always living with her laying on the couth watching TV every time we go  over there.  Last week they couldn’t even carry in the groceries we brought her from the store house.  Have any ideas how we can get these people off the couch and help each other plus themselves?
   We are so excited to see conference this weekend.  It will be at the church and it starts two hours later.  Last Sat. we watched the Women’s conference at the church and had a pot luck before hand.  We had the branch presidency and their wives there, plus one more sister and her two kids.  I made soup, Sister Burno brought Sub Sandwiches and the 2nd, counselor in RS brought cake, it worked out good plus the missionaries came in to have some food too.  I thought it was wonderful how they tried to include all nationalities plus the younger girls, the church continues to amaze me.
  Ann Radclift, another member that was kicked out of her house, is now kicked out of the one she moved to with a girlfriend.  Nowhere to go, no money to pay for her storage. What a pickle they all get themselves into! It just goes on from month to month and person to person.
   We love our work, it makes us realize how very good we have had it all our lives. We have wonderful friends, family, relatives and the gospel so predominate in our lives.  Let’s all count our blessings!!!
    Enjoy conference! I love the attachment today about conference. I’m going to make several and take to our new people and our investigators, darling idea!
Love to all of you, our hearts and prayers are with each of  you individually!  Keep up all the good work you are doing in your various places and positions.  
    All our Love and Appreciation, Elder and Sister Armstrong

Sept. 8-15, 2014

Dear wonderful Family, Friends and fellow Missionaries,

  If every week was like this one, we should be able to convert all of Frankford!  Unfortunately life doesn’t always go like we are taught because we have to deal with real people and real life situations.

  Elder Wilford Andersen from the 70’s came out all day Fri. to hold a missionary conference.  He had us believing we could convert all of Philly! I think all the missionaries (both Elders and Sisters) knew it would happen!  Then we get back to our own area and face a lot of the same discouragements!

 Anyway, we were uplifted and certainly have recommitted and will try harder.  We all need a shot in the arm all the time, at least we will be believing we can for a while!

  He gave us 9 standards to live by daily, I’m copying them in my scriptures so I will remember them forever!

Daily Scripture Study
Complete Obedience
Daily Testifying of Savior and Joseph Smith
Use Time Wisely
Set Goals
Serve Others
Be Constantly Learning
Where ever You Are At, Make it Your Home
Always Carry An Attitude of LOVE

   These were wonderful instructions, if we just stay on top of it and do it everyday!  It is always a little easier said than done.  I certainly believe Elder Andersen and his dear wife live this way.  He talked all day long, everything uplifting and positive; everything he taught was backed up with scripture!  That is why He is a 70’s.  Isn’t it wonderful we have such wonderful examples in our lives and scriptures to pattern our lives after!

   This week we tried to get Rosina a little more on her feet.  We took her to get a free phone, papers to show her husband has deceased, her own ID, to the court house to apply for low housing and some bills paid!  Yesterday she calls, on her son’s phone, and says her phone won’t charge.  Everything seems to be going wrong for her; she has to be out of her house as of Sept. 17 and still nowhere to go, each day the landlord tasks extra on because she isn’t out yet. She needs her foot operated on, and can hardly walk, and today her back is completely gone, and needs to go to the emergency ward. Brother Burno says NO MORE CHURCH HELP!  What do people do in these kinds of situations?  This is why I count my blessings several times a day for the secure life I have, it has been good to see all this, at least I have more gratitude and empathy!  Some people really do suffer!

   We were wondering why none of our new members came to church today, and learned that one had a meltdown and got drunk, another one was involved when a jealous ex-husband tried to shoot his ex-wife’s boyfriend and shot and killed her instead. She was 8 months pregnant, and was the best friend of one of our other members.

This week was a lot cooler, 57 degrees when we woke up. It did get muggy though, because it rained quite a bit. We enjoy it more when the temp. is not so hot and sticky.  It sure makes it for better sleeping at nights.  In fact, it’s still clouded over today and looks a little like fall.

   Wish you could have driven by yesterday to see us out in our prison vests cleaning up an area in Frandford.  A picture is attached, we all are a pretty sight.  At least we had fun and had a lot yell out of their cars to (keep it up.)  If we did, we would be working till the Millennial Reign.

    We wish all of you success on your challenges. Just keep trying hard!  Some of the things we take upon ourselves are not as important as we may think.  Let’s all focus on what the Lord expects us to accomplish and what would make the most difference in our ETERNAL LIFE!

   LOVE EVERYONE, HANG IN THERE AND DO YOUR BEST!!!!!!  That is all that is asked of any of us!!!!!!

 Dad & Mom
Grandpa & Grandma
Friend
Neighbor
Brother and Sister in the Gospel

Sister Horton

Sept. 1-8, 2014

Hi everyone, greetings from Philly where it has been 97 or above all week, with the humidity about the same.  Life in our mission is almost the same every week, helping members, transporting people, helping the sick, which include our four Elders that are really sick right now.  Two of them have strep throat, we gave all of them dinner last night, they had a hard time eating, or I should say swallowing, and now today they are really down.  Hope we don’t get it, both of us have had a sore throat today, I think it is sympathy pains for the elders.
  We are still trying to help DEE out, she is getting more frail every day, today we were to take her to a dental Apt. but she just didn’t  feel like going, we went and got her groceries, thank goodness we got all the right things, it was much easier without her there.
  We were to take two of our missionaries to a new area, but with them all sick they are waiting a few days.  Maybe all of Frankford people will be down tomorrow.  Two other members we were going to go to today are down also.  What’s going on back here?  It is all this humidity that doesn’t let all the bugs leave.  (Of course you know we have a lot of bugs.)
  Missionary life is wonderful, especially when we are busy, with everyone sick it makes our days seem a lot less productive.  We hope to accomplish more tomorrow!  We are very happy here, love these sweet people, wish we could do more for them, how do you get them to realize to be a member of the church isn’t just baptism but, enduring to the end as you work, work, work to keep the kingdom growing.
Advice for ourselves, we’ll see if it helps:  Pres.  Hunter: “I command to you to study the revelations of God as the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed.  Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, (OUR WHOLE BRANCH) face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets and the Lord.”  We are going to try real hard this week to get more answers out of the scriptures, conference talks, prayer and to help these people do the same.

  The gospel is true, we love telling people that, you would have been proud of your Mom telling that to the JW’s this week.

   Bless all of you, keep up all your good work wherever and whatever you are doing!  Tell all  the members of your family how precious they are to you, and us, hang in there with all the tough things that challenge you, and we will all be blessed for not quitting!  You are all wonderful, we love and miss you!  

Elder & Sister Armstrong

Aug. 25th-31st 2014

What a thrill to see the family and the Clements on skype and Pictures.  You all look wonderful and happy!  Just think you are getting along just wonderfully without G&G!  Thanks for including us on all the fun.
The week was the same as before, mainly helping (Momma Rosa) as we call her and wonderful Dee!  Both of these sisters are very ill and very needy.  We (5 of us,) met to decide what would be best for Dee.  She doesn't want anything only her way. We arranged for her to get part time help, but she doesn't want it because she has all the help she needs.  (That is 5 of us in the branch working 2 or 3 times a week to take her places: Dr. Dentist, store, laundry etc.  Dad and I don't mind that much, it is that she really does need more full time help. She doesn't see it that way, besides Bro. Peoples told her she was getting that from all of us, and that we all have more to do that just her things.  She started crying, I felt so bad for her.  What are you going to do with Dad and I when we get that age.  The poor thing is blind and deaf.  I guess we will deal with it when it happens!  Just remember we stay in our home as long as we are reasonable- that may be even sooner than we think!
We did start teaching a new investigator today.  She is actually not in our district but said it was easier to get to our church than anywhere else.  She is 90% blind, but very independent. We'll see what happens with a couple of more visits.
Sun. was a super full day. I had to talk in Sacrament meeting, teach Primary, the singing, and the day before we had an activity at the park.   We went personally to each primary child's house on Fri. to invite them.  They weren't home, and no one back here will answer their phone, so Sat. we started to go around to the houses again.  We got "YES" from 5 families Sat. morning and got to the party at 2 pm with 2 kids and the Primary Pres's son.  That was with Dad and I picking up the two!  
You will not believe this!  We had 55 in Sacrament Meeting yesterday!  That is a first and we pray not a last!  Man our attendance doubled, wouldn't that be wonderful if it was that way every Sun.
  Here is a quote:  "Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving...And Jesus said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many thing:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:39-42
I ask myself all the time which part am I choosing?  I know all of you are trying so hard, let's keep trying and choose the very best we can!
Thanks for responding to last week's email.  We appreciate everyone’s comments and interest.  You are so helpful to us!  Thanks for your prayers and input!
    WE LOVE ALL OF YOU!  Philly Missionaries