EL PATIO

Finally found great Mexican Food! It is colorful, not fancy & music nice. Just one+ mile from the ERC. Always a busy place but one day at 4:00 no one there so we could take pictures.

From Mafia to Mormon

Mission President & Sister Holms with Mario Facione, guest speaker at Palmer Park Chapel fireside.
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Mario is the author of the book Mafia to Mormon: My Conversion Story. Below is a little except and description of his story:

I learned early that if you don't want to go to school for a career . . . then this was the life. And there were rules. You better not drink, you better not be a big shot and you better always stay low and keep your mouth shut. If you're going to play the game, you've got to play smart.

Thus began Mario Facione's slow descent into the Mafia world. With a desire to please his father, Facione kept the rules taught him — don't get caught, know your people. . . never let them have control of what you're doing, and never let anyone fully know what you're up to.

So when two clean-cut young men in dark suits showed up on his doorstep, Facione's main concern was to figure out the scam they were selling. Instead, he became surprisingly relaxed as these two answered every question he had unsuccessfully asked other clergymen. He learned real truth and began a journey towards knowledge. Yes, there is a reason why we are here on earth; yes, you can re-remember who we are and yes, it's true, Heavenly Father still speaks through a modern-day prophet.

Marion Facione's story is one man's extraordinary journey through the darkness into the light. Reading his story will confirm again that the gospel is truly for every child of God who is willing to change . . . even someone who wants to go from Mafia to Mormon.

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His story is sad but touching. It is plain that it was not a story about the Mafia, rather a message about the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and complete transformation and healing it provides. Mario now serves in the Detroit Temple.

Young Joseph

Young Joseph, 15 years old has loved the missionary lessons! He is a great joy to know and to watch. He is Sister Caldwell's neighbor and is over at her house most every day asking what he can do to help her. He is the most mature young man. He does not have close friends his age, but enjoys the Elders and other more adult mature people. His answers to gospel questions are amazingly brilliant.

He is mature, like I said, but he is still a fun teenager who likes to run around in the snow, fall down next to the car, and pretending he is hurt. What a hoot! The smile on his face showed us that he just loves having fun! He has moved away since we were meeting with him, and we don't know where. We hope that some day he finds - or - the missionaries find him again.

After these visits with Joseph, Torries and Siter Caldwell, we continue our member teaching with Danita and she feeds us too. Yummy Pie!

Freezing Cold

It is freezing at my desk in the winter! The windows are drafty & the door behind me has cold wind blowing in under the door & under my desk. I use a hot pad & blanket to keep me warm!

Since this picture was taken, a blockade was put under the desk & the door was fixed to trap the air. I fixed the window by putting scotch tape around the edges. They say the windows are going to be changed out maybe before next winter.

Some winter days can be so stunningly brilliant I had to take some pictures.

Our days are full, so when we can we stop at Olive Garden to relax.