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

Aug. 13 - 18, 2014

 It seems like we have a couple of days then it is Mon. again and time to catch up email.  Our lives don’t change that much week to week, but we’re still here and trying to help out.  Roszena is back in the picture this week. She has several appts.  Dr. and Lawyer, which she got to help her fight getting kicked out of her house. We will have to see who wins. She I pretty strong willed.  I would  hate to stand against her in a tug of war.
  Our Elder Readhead i transferred this week.  It will be interesting to see what elder comes. Frankford has been a little slow for new investigators the past three weeks. Maybe now that school is starting we will get more appointments.  Our first three baptisms haven’t been out to church for four weeks now. Today we are getting in touch with them and find out the real reason why.  It is so much easier to just sleep in and not have to account to anyone!!  I can’t wait to hear their excuses; maybe we will pass some on!
  We are starting a challenge next week to have the Book of Mormon read in a year. Most of our members don’t read, they want us to start reading with them. We’ll have to see if anyone of them follow through with this assignment.  Our LaMar is doing a little better each time he reads in Bible Study.  The saddest part is that they don’t care.  We challenge Ceria every time we are with her. She is 19 and plays Poke Man all day on her ipad. She still won’t pray at our meetings. I’ve ask her to come with me to Primary and help me teach the Valiant class. We can’t get motivated to participate in anything, but I have to give her credit... she comes every week and is now taking the initiative to walk to church and not have to be picked up.
A wonderful quote was given in Sacrament Meeting yesterday. I thought it was worth passing on and memorizing: “If you don’t stand for something you will fall for anything!”  Pretty profound.  It is our hope that we all have a purpose in life and are reaching for that purpose.  I know all of you are so good at making goals and working them off.  We are very proud of you, keep up the good work.
Congratulations in our family to Addison Davis, she returned from her successful mission in Rochester New York. We are proud of the wonderful job she did. We went to see her in action and were so happy with her wonderful testimony.  She now goes back to BYU, so lots of luck with that.  Morgan is starting school in Cedar City a CSU.  Good luck to you.  How did you grow up so fast? Christian Evans is starting school at UVU in Provo.  Boy our family is growing up, that makes us getting much older!
  Thanks to all of you for the love and support, your letter, calls and prayers are such a help, when we heard from Taylor a week ago, he said that the family had really got behind him with prayers, and how it made a difference in getting a whole family baptized.  Keep up the good work guys!
  We had a Senior Meeting last Mon. We all got trained on the new computer system going into the mission office.  Most of it was on ancestral files, but very informative. I can’t believe how the church is so 100% in everything they do. That is our main goal when we get home!
  All the Grand kids have started back in school. Good luck to all of you!  You are all good students and always give it your best. It sure will pay off when you grow up!
  We’ll sign off for this week. Hope there is more positive activity going on next week to report, no matter what: THE GOSPEL IS TRUE, WE LOVE IT HERE AND LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH!
Elder & Sister Armstrong

August 6-13, 2014

We had a wonderful week this week!  It was enhanced by Rob, Laura & Brandon coming to Philadelphia. They arrived Thurs. night and left Sat. morning early to go pick up Addison who is now through with her mission.
We went down to inner city and showed Brandon the historical sights.  Independence Hall, where the constitution was signed, Liberty Bell, (through the window because the line was so long) Betsy Ross House, and the new temple sight.  We took a turn to go see the Rocky Balboa steps, but this got us in a traffic jam where we sat for over an hour trying to get back to the freeway.  The weather was cooperative and it was wonderful to be together!
 Laura and Rob are picking up Addison today.  Can't believe she has completed her mission. That 18 months went fast for us, just as our own time is flying,  We've already been here 7 months.
Things are a little slower right now in our part of the vineyard as far as new contacts go. We have been trying to spend more time working with the people that are newly baptized and keep them interested.  It is an ongoing process to keep everyone happy and focused.  They don't get that once you are baptized, you still have a lot of work to do.
Two of our members can't be found on church records, one is going to be re-baptized, and the other one we got in touch with the two missionaries that baptized her, and if you have two witnesses confirm the date, place and person they will accept that back in Salt Lake and they don't have to be re-baptized.  She was real happy about that. She is going through a lot right now because she is being evicted from her house on the 17th.
Every day we are here we become more aware of our blessing as members of the church. Our testimonies grow each day and our appreciation for our membership, our Savior, our heritage and our mission grows every day.  We see so much poverty, sickness and sorrow, why have we been blessed so very much?
Thank you for all the letters, support and information about home and family. We love and miss all of you, but we are so grateful to be here serving!  Have a wonderful week!

All our Love and appreciation,
Elder and Sister Armstrong

Independence Hall

With Brandon

Our Haitian lady (Maude)  broke her leg and her daughter had a new hair do, which you can't see very well. 

  Trying to  get our new members and inactive members interested in the Temple. Lamar, Elder Whitney, Jose, Elder Story, Elder Bott, Gertrude, Mom and I

Senior Missionary Couple activity.

July 28-Aug. 5th, 2014
  We just got our internet fixed and now it has been down again!  Maybe it is because we live in such an old house that the wiring just won’t take this new fang-dangled equipment!
  We are still happy missionaries, we still ask ourselves if we are doing anything back here but then our days surely fill up!
  The past week we have had four people evicted from their homes.  One just left her home and took all her personal items and went to New Jersey, walked out on her 18 year old Granddaughter she has raised, her daughter that Is going back to prison because of drugs, and said she has had enough!  (Kathleen)
  Person number 2,  (Ann) has had two month’s  notice that she would have to move and did nothing about it, so Fri. they kicked her out, she gathered all she owned and we moved it to a 5x5 storage unit.  You’ve never seen such a mess, she is very mentally ill, she is being accused of being on drugs, the landlady and her got in a terrible fight, with language I’ve never heard of, pray I don’t ever again.  She is staying with a girlfriend and has to be out of the storage unit in two weeks.  I imagine after the two weeks they will just open it up and put it up for auction!  My heart just aches for her, why do these people get into such pickles?
  Person number 3, (Rosina) our darling tooth lady that wants to live in our basement when our mission is over, we finally got the two missionaries that baptized her, both live in Utah and verified that they baptized her because there is no record of it back here.  We had to have two witnessed confirm it, so we were lucky that the Elders remembered her,(who could ever forget Rosina) so now the ward is bailing her out too. We just got a call (Rose #4) that her gas has been turned off today so we are going to deal with that!  
  Just 10 seconds ago (Rosina # 3) called and said they have raised her rent to 1,000, it was just yesterday that she was bailed out with her last two month’s rent so the problem wasn’t solved.  What is the rest of the day going to bring now?
  Sometimes I wish we were teaching more missionary lessons, not just solving problems for poor sisters.  Lynda (my visiting teaching sister) and I are going teaching this afternoon.  This will be real interesting, because (Tammy # 5 sister in trouble) says she is not coming back to church for a while).  Wish us good luck!
  We are excited that we will have a break this Fri. Laura and Rob will be here and we will see some positive people who actually love the gospel and have a home to go to when they get back from getting Addison.  We are excited about Addison coming home, she has been a wonderful   missionary and now Is heading back to the BYU.  Taylor comes home in Oct.
  All the family seems to be doing good, we are so grateful you are all so actively involved with life, doing well, helping mankind and well.  We all have so much to be thankful for;  especially that we all love one another and care what each other is doing!  Keep up the good work family!  Families are Forever and that includes all of us!  We love all of you so much!  Mom & Dad,  Grandpa & Grandma,  Neighbor, Friend,  Elder & Sister Armstrong

July 29- Aug. 4, 2014

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