Long Time, No Blog

It has been awhile since I have updated on my mom's mission. I will try to recap some of the highlights that she has shared with us.

*Mom and Joyce have been doing lots of humanitarian/compassionate service work over the last few weeks. They got approval to paint two sisters houses that are in desparate need of some help. As they painted one of the sisters houses last week they had the privilege of some extra company--mice. My mom said the mice just run freely around the house, doesn't really phase anyone. They are now also going to replace this same sisters ceiling and put in new ceiling tiles. They are nervous that they may be exposed to the Haunta Virus--hopefully they can hold their breath the whole time!!! After the painting was done mom also took the time to wash all the dishes in this entire house. She said it looked like the dishes hadn't been washed in about 100 years. She said the water would be filthy after washing 2 or 3dishes and she was constantly having to get clean water.

*Mom and Joyce will beging their after school tutoring program this Tuesday. They will do it every tuesday, wednesday, and thursday. This is going to be hard work, but I think this will be such a rewarding experience.

*Mom and Joyce have been bringing a 16 year old girl to church with them for a while. She has decided to be baptized next Sunday!! They went to visit her at her home the other day and I guess it is not a very good enviroment that she lives in. I am sure it will be and has been difficult for her to make this decision. What a strong spirit she must have!

*Mom's branch will have their first ever Enrichment Night this Wednesday. Mom and Joyce planned it and showed the RS presidency how it is done. Hopefully they will continue with these nights and will be able to plan their own. Such small things that we take for granted.

*The building where the Chester Branch meets is in an old hospital that they now use as a community health center. Mom says the cockroaches in the building are as big as small mice---AAAAAHHHHH!

*Mom and Joyce have been working hard trying to teach the RS Presidency about how to conduct and run the meeting. They are trying to prepare the room on Sunday and bring pictures that tie into the lesson. The branch has no easels so luckily Joyce has that creative mind and she created some of her own!! Something I found funny, they had to ask the RS President to please stand when she conducts and to keep her SHOES on!!!

*On a bit of a more relaxing note, Mom and Joyce got to spend a P day at Valley Forge. She was supposed to send pictures, but they got lost.

Please keep mom in your thoughts and prayers! We love and miss you mom!

The only picture that I have gotten is from a zone conference with Elder Hafen

My Mission is for ME!

Mom hit her 1 month mark on her mission this past Wednesday. I can't believe it has only been a month. It seems like she has been gone much longer. We miss her and wish we could see her! 1 down, 11 to go!

Mom and Joyce are enjoying their new apartment. It is much nicer than the last. Mom says it is such a different way of life than what we are used to. She has to keep reminding herself that she is still in the United States. There is such extreme poverty it is hard to believe that people really live that way. They are in a branch in the city of Chester. They are overseeing the Primary and the Relief Society and helping the presidents of those organizations. They have visited, called, and written notes to every sister in the branch. Mom and Joyce are helping them try to plan their first Enrichment Night ever. They are also helping the primary to put together their program! They are hoping to help the presidents get organized and know what to do. They are helping alot with the needs of the branch: taking meals to those that are sick, driving sisters places, etc. Mom and Joyce just got permission to organize an after school tutoring program for the children in the branch. I am sure that will be a neat experience for them.

Mom was at a district meeting a few days ago and someone was talking about how each persons mission is for them. Mom said she thought she was coming to help others, but her mission really is for her. She says that the young elders and sister missionaries are so amazing and have taught her so much. She says they are brave, strong, and true. They are truly the army of God!

I am so uplifted when I read or hear about what my mom is doing. I am so impressed by her and her willingness to give up so much to help others. It makes me so grateful for what we all have. There are so many things I take for granted and listening to my mom makes me realize how blessed I am. I am so thankful for my mom's wonderful example! I am so thankful to be a member of this great church!

Remember to keep mom and Joyce in your prayers and READ the Book of Mormon!!

**Mom is supposed to send pictures soon so check back for those. I will post them as soon as I get them.

Safe and Sound

Monday, September 15th - American Fork, UT to Kearney, NE - 778 miles
Tuesday, September 16th - Kearney, NE to Joliet, IL - 625 miles
Wednesday, September 17th - Joliet, IL to Carlisle, PA - 657 miles
Thursday, September 18th - Carlisle, PA to Philadelphia, PA - 124 miles

Mom & Joyce arrived in Philadelphia last Thursday morning and met with their Mission President. He talked with them for a while and then took them to lunch. They were originally told that they would be in Philadelphia their entire mission, but there has been a small change in plans. They are now going to be moving to the city of Chester. Chester is 10 miles south of where they are right now. They will stay in Philadelphia for a week and train with some other sister missionaries that are there now.

It has been a hard first week for mom. It was really hard for her to leave all of us(by all of us I mean Linda and fam!!!!). It was just a lot of adjusting to lots of new things, but she is doing better already! The apartment they are in for the week leaves a lot to be desired. Quote from Mom: "The Quality Inn we stayed at in Carlisle was very old and smelly. Our apartment makes that motel room look palatial." She has had some really neat and spiritual experiences. One of the things they did last week was to go to a sister's house in the ward who was just recently called to teach Relief Society. This sister doesn't read or write any English and even struggles to speak English. They went to her house to help her some with her lesson. Mom said she taught on Sunday and taught part of the lesson in very broken English and then would turn to the African sisters and teach them in their native language of Krahn. Remember the majority of this ward is made up of people from Liberia. After church mom and the other missionaries spent time dividing out bread and rolls that were donated. They distributed these to ward members. Mom says that was a very humbling experience.

As I was sitting here typing out this blog, mom called. It was great to talk to her. Let me give you another quick update of what she had to say. Mom and Joyce moved to Chester today. She is relieved that the apartment is much nicer than the other. She said that the area their apartment is in is much nicer than the last and it looks and feels more safe. She said that the city of Chester is another story. She said it looks like it was in the middle of a war zone. They received a call from the branch president and he said one of you will be the relief society president and one will be the primary president!!! AAAHHHHH!! Actually, I guess one of them will assist the RS President and one will assist the Primary President. He also warned them that neither one of the presidents would probably be very happy to have the assistance. On a positive note, the Branch President's wife told them that they were an answer to prayer.

Here is mom's new address:
1100 Albert Rd. Apt B4
Brookhaven, PA 19015

or you can email her at: patcantera@gmail.com

I know it would mean a lot to her to hear from everyone! Please keep her in your prayers!

LOVE YOU MOM

Philly...Here we come!

We said goodbye to Mom tonight as she and Joyce leave first thing in the morning for Philadelphia. They were told they needed a car while they are there, so they are driving and plan to arrive on Thursday or Friday. After talking with the Mission President, they know that they will be serving in a ward in Philadelphia with a high rate of poverty. Over 60% of the members are from Liberia, in Western Africa. It sounds like they will be serving the members of this ward with their needs, humanitarian efforts, and activation. From their understanding, they will be in the same apartment their entire mission. We know that this will be an amazing experience for her.
This last week has been a busy one as she has made final preparations to leave. It started last Sunday when she was set apart by President Goodsell as a full-time missionary. My family and Laura & Jon were able to attend and it was a wonderful blessing. She mentioned afterwards that it was exactly what she needed to hear.
She reported to the MTC on Monday morning and spent the rest of the week getting oriented and learning about being a missionary. It was a lot of information as they learned in four days what other missionaries learn in three weeks.

Here are some miscellaneous pictures from the last week.

We know you will be a great missionary. We love you!