Christmas at Frankford Dec.28-Jan.4, 2014

   Well another Christmas came fast and left fast. I wondered at first if we could enjoy it without family, but it turned out to be very wonderful.  We have had a full month of blessings and small miracles! Our Christmas Tree story was a blessing that really touched our lives. The family that it happened to needed a miracle in their life, they have been pretty much to themselves since in all happened.  

   We had the missionaries over for Christmas Eve. We have learned to love these Elders so much! It still amazes us how 18 year old elders can be so sensitive and full of the gospel, the younger generation truly is coming up prepared to run the church!

   Christmas Day we enjoyed staying home. We skyped with the kids and got to share Christmas with each family.  That was wonderful!,  To our surprise, Fri. we got an early call telling us that Michael and Jen and kids were on there way to spend Sat. with us.  What a wonderful treat! They drove all day Fri. We played all day Sat. and they drove home all day today. They made it home safe. That was a big sacrifice for them but so very enjoyed and appreciated by us. At least we got 4 of the 17 grand kids, we'll always take what we can get.

   Karl has been the one conducting all month of Dec. in Sacrament meeting.  All week long he has said, "I need to prepare something I know the speakers won't show up."  His hunch was correct, that is how it works back here, it they don't feel like doing something they don't bother to tell anyone, just stay away.  

   We had been to the Messiah the Sun. before and had three people from Frankford sing in the choir.  Karl called on them to bear their testimony about the experience.  One Sister told how she couldn't imagine how it would ever come together with just one more practice, and she just cried telling the story. She had three solo parts and said she could literally feel angles helping her sing.  The performance was wonderful, I think she was right, they had many more helping them sing.  What a wonderful way to start off Christmas Week.

   I made 35 loaves of sweet bread to take to members of our small branch, it was rewarding to visit so many humble homes as we took the bread around.  We are all so blessed, even now I see how humble people have to live, I have been so abundantly blessed.

  We had the missionaries over for Christmas Eve for dinner, we played
games, sang songs and read the Christmas story, it was a lovely, spiritual evening.  

   We are anxious to start a new week and a new year.  It will be one year tomorrow that we went into the mission home. What a year it has been. I wouldn't trade it for anything! Our appreciation for the goodness of our Father in Heaven has been so abundant.  He is so aware of all His Children.  Especially all these that have it so hard back here.  We are so blessed to have been a part of their lives.  We are getting sad that the time is going so fast, we just have to make every minute count, some days count more than others. 

   We are having our Senior Couple Christmas Party at the Mission Home tomorrow night.  We have to take a $10.00 gift for a couple that they can share. I told Dad the thing we run out of the most is paper towels and toilet paper and that was what I wanted to give, he tabooed the idea so we ended up getting them some TIDE.  How fun is that to receive?  We've got to do the potatoes, another meal, when am I going to get ready for the wedding?

  We love all of you, I would like to hear some of your new year's resolutions.  I just add a  NEW year (2015) to the ones I made 10 years ago.  Like Dad told them today in his talk, if you can't get the entire Book of Mormon read, just read a verse or two a day.  With our age and the conditions back here, that isn't too bad of an idea.

                HAPPY NEW YEAR!  MAY WE ALL APPRECIATE OUR MANY BLESSINGS.  ALL OF YOU ARE SUCH A BLESSING TO US!

       PHILLY MISSIONARIES

   

Christmas in Philly

 Who said there isn’t miracles on Orthodox Street!  We are here in Philadelphia PA serving on a mission for our Church. We have been called to this special branch where there isn’t much leadership, money, Priesthood, enthusiasm or desire to really have a strong bunch of Saints, working hard together to learn and grow in the gospel.  It isn’t their fault, they have been living this way from one generation to another.  Who knew there was to be love and harmony in a home, most of these little kids don’t even know that there is supposed to be a father and mother living together to help raise and support and care for these children.  Christmas is coming, why does it matter to these children, most don’t know of Santa Claus because he has never been to their house.
   My story starts with a young boy who is eight years old.  He lives with his Grandmother who loves him so very much. In fact, that is why she keeps trying to live because of that little boy’s sake.  You see this little boy doesn’t have a mother or father that really cares about him.  If he gets something to eat or clothes on his back it is because this Grandmother cares what happens to this little boy.
   This little boy is named Raymir. He is kind of a shy little guy, and has a hard time looking at you when you talk to him. He stutters very badly, and is very self-conscientious. You see he has been abused since he was an infant, and doesn’t carry a lot of faith or trust in adults.  He feels extremely self- conscientious and sucks his thumb all the time for comfort.
   He is like all little guys that are eight.  He knows Christmas is coming... what would it be like if he had a Christmastree like many of the other children’s homes have?  As He is walking to his Grandmother’s house after school, he notices some branches of an old Christmas tree sticking out of a garbage can.  Of course this perks up his curiosity, could someone really be throwing away something so important as a Christmas tree at Christmas time?  He pulls it out of the garbage can and gathers all the fallen branches, it even has two sets of lights tangled around it.
   As he pulls it all together, his heart is starting to sing! Surely this could be his and Grandma’s Christmas tree, even if it was in the garbage can, then they (the owners) didn’t want it any more.  It would be his Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. He knew Grandma would let him keep it.  He drags the little tree down the sidewalk, pleased as punch with his new finding. To Raymir’s astonishment, when he plugs the lights into the socket, two strands of light beam to their full capacity and His Tree is becoming a magic Christmas Tree after all.
  This is where I come into the picture. Rosina (Raymir’s Grandma) calls me into the house to see the treasure Raymir has  found.  There in a heap upon the floor, is this pathetic looking little tree. Rosina is telling me this is their tree and Raymir is so happy that they get to have one.
 
   The wheels start to turn in my mind... I’m remembering my own children’s childhood where the tree in the downstairs family room was decorated as a CANDY TREE for the grandchildren to eat on during the Christmas season.  That’s what I’m going to do, make this a CANDY TREE for Raymir.  I piled the limbs in the trunk of our car and brought it in the house to start a remodeling job.  With some bends and pulls, some wire and string, this little thing started to take on a whole new meaning for a CHRISTMAS TREE FOR RAYMIR.  I don’t know who was more excited? Myself or the thoughts of Raymir having a tree.  We got candy canes, chocolate Santa’s and snowmen, bells, balls, suckers and rings, popcorn and all kinds of things.  On the top of the tree stands a picture of Jesus, He is the reason we are doing all of this.  To help make a smile come to this young boys face will make all the effort and time just erase.  To give a little cheer to this guy who has always had so little, will make Christmas for Elder and Sister Armstrong COME ALIVE.
   We have been wondering how we would get through this special time of year without being together with our family so dear. I know Heavenly Father sent me this project to help me realize that there are so many other SHEEP I can help and serve. The SPIRIT OF THE SAVIOR is our most special gift of all, and as we open gifts, sing Christmas Carols, let’s all feel that wonderful Spirit of our Savior, Jesus Christ who made it all possible.
   Love to you all.
The (Karl & Joyce) Armstrong’s

10 days and counting

Hi everybody,

   It's starting to get close,  and we are getting in the Christmas mood.  Sat. we had our branch Christmas party. We had about 40 there, which is wonderful for our branch. We did the Polar Express, had them all sit in the hallway lined up like seats on a train, served them hot chocolate, took them in the R.S.room and did a lot of singing time. (I was so surprised that not very many people knew a lot of Christmas songs), showed the new church sight on Christmas.  Some at the party even said they don't celebrate Christmas. Mainly because they don't have an extra dime to spare.  We then made our little chapel, rec room, into the diner of the train and served them Chicken Parmesan, salad, rolls and bread pudding (a must from Sister Burno) cookies and juice.  It was a success and everyone seemed to enjoy.  Some of the people asked if we had gifts for them. I guess that would have been nice but it didn't happen. The grandson of one member found a small, partially decorated tree that had been thrown away, and was so proud, he now had a Christmas tree. If we don' help, he won't get anything for Christmas.

   We are trying to reach out to some of the less fortunate, which pretty much covers the entire branch.  It's like feeding 5000 with two loaves of bread but then  we don't know how to increase that to 100 loaves. These little band aids we put on things doesn't go to far.

   Karl is in charge of the Christmas Sacrament Meeting. It goes for two hours, I don't know who made that rule up but Brother Storm says if Sister Burno says to do it we will.  We are using a lot of music from the 5 member choir.  Yesterday we had a practice after church and two missionaries showed up.  It will all be off the cuff.  Dad has written the script and has done a super job. We will hand out the parts as they come into church, since most won't show up if they have to speak.  A lot of these people don't read so we have to be careful. The primary is doing one song, and we have three other special numbers. Hope it will take up the two hours.

   We miss everyone, mainly because it is that time of year when we all want to be with our families. We pray for Harrison, his first Christmas away too but, he has the true Spirit and a wonderful attitude so he will do fine.  Do you know what time he will call?

   The very most important reason we celebrate is our dear Savior, let's have Him a bigger part of our lives this year.  A quote from Pres. Uchtdorf: This is the season of rejoicing!  A season of celebration!  A wonderful time when we acknowledge that out Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world!  To redeem us!

   It is the season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love.  It is the season of being more about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiving. 

  Perhaps most of all, let it be a season of seeking the Lamb of God, the King of Glory, the Everlasting Light of the World, the Great Hope of Mankind, the Savior and Redeemer of our soul.

   I promise that if we uncluttered our lives a little bit and in sincerity and humility seek the pure gentle Christ with all  our hearts, we will see Him, we will find Him, on Christmas and throughout the year.

   This would be the most wonderful thing we can do.  Let's have Him closer to us this year!  Thank you for your prayers and love! 

 Elder & Sister  Armstrong and all other titles!  

Big hugs and kisses to all!

December 1-8, 2014

   Another week- have I said that before?  They are going way to fast.  Today has been very cold, windy and wet. It rained all night long (I know because I was up). Today we have been out on three appointments and got stood up by all three of them!  Do you think people are too busy shopping or something???

   The same stuff as last week, there isn't a whole lot going on missionary wise.  We make appointments with the inactive members, but most of the time when we get there, they aren't there and don't even let us know. Even Alma, our sweet convert who has only been to church once since her baptism 4 months ago, was a little cold with us because she said she was so busy. She is always our ray of hope, and usually loves us no matter what. I guess the whole world feels stressed and pressure this time of the year! 

  It is our turn to conduct and get talks this month for Sunday,but even though we ask people, if they don't want to, they just don't show up and we have to try to figure out how to get through the meeting. It pays to always have a talk ready.   

   Dee has been quite stressful lately. She gets a bee in her bonnet and won't leave Karl alone until he satisfies her wants. She only has herself to think about. I feel sorry for her, but she sure likes to boss, and over the most stupid things.  She's got it in her head that we are all going to the temple site Monday night and sing Christmas songs in front of the temple and through the streets in downtown Philly. It is really cold and will probably rain so I can really see us hobbling along with Dee and her little push cart that  has  a sign on it saying, WATCH OUT, I'M BLIND AND HARD OF HEARING. Dad says it is "ME" that gets to walk with her and listen to her complain the whole time. Maybe we could find her a wheelchair, but I doubt she would use it.

   The weather has changed to cold. I'm getting out my long pants I wear under my skirt. It sure did help last winter. I bet we don't know anything compared to you "WALKERS".   Have you guys dug out yet?

   This coming week is pretty filled up. Sorry there wasn't much to report on this last week. We'll let you know if all the appointments follow through. We had the Christmas devotional broadcast at the Church. It was really nice, but only two missionaries showed up, so we went home early and watched in on our computer.

   Love to all of you.  Hope all of your weeks are filled and getting a lot accomplished.    

THE ARMSTRONG MISSIONARIES