Ordaining Michael Allen, Sister Carmen, Our Bus Experience the Danger Zone and Autum Leaves!

 

This is a picture of Michael (Calvin) Allen, second from left after we ordained him an Elder!  We have been working with him for at least a month (at Bishop Chilingirian's request, far right) to prepare him to receive the Melchizedek priesthood.  Far left is yours truly and second from left is our ward high councilor representative.

I wish we had a picture of Emmanuel as I was privileged to confer the Aaronic priesthood and ordain him a Priest.  For his baptism see an earlier post.

This is Sister Carmen from the Philippines.  She is a favorite of all the missionaries as she feeds the missionaries.  She is the member we tried to visit but couldn't find a parking spot in crazy downtown, which led us to the Chicago water treatment plant (see Oct. 5th for that experience).  She is 92 and is as spry as ever.  She walks 1/2 mile to church and is always there with a treat for whichever missionary companionship she sees first.  No doubt the young elders compete for her treats.  We finally organized a chance to visit getting there with our first Chicago Rapid Transit-bus.  And of course, she fed us!  It took us $5 in bus fare to go the 1/2 mile and another $5 return.   Our ride to her apartment was great (see a picture of us to the right).  The return was not so good.  As I was trying to feed the bill into the machine, Cathi was walking back to find a seat.  As soon the bill was inserted the bus driver took off.  I was holding onto to a rail but poor Cathi was not and the sudden surge knocked her sideways.  She said she was okay but I wanted to report the driver (I am always the crusader for the oppressed but, Cathi said no).  Cathi had a couple of nice bruises for the next week.

Unfortunately this is one of the most dangerous streets in our area.  There is always a police car parked near the intersection.  I am not joking as this street is known for the location of murder and mayhem.  We are teaching three members in this area.  Sorry for the background but this picture also shows one half of the abundant native wildlife-Pigeons!  The other is squirrels but though they may bark at you they don't threaten a bombing.  For an appropriate song regarding these birdies, see our October 30th posting.  The key is to walk slowly through the masses.  If you walk too fast or somehow threaten them they panic and take off in mass and heaven help whoever is beneath their panicked flight path.  The sidewalk is the evidence.  Signs are posted "Do not feed the Pigeons" but misguided good deed doers do and thus the extensive populations.  

Finally, we end this post with a favorite of Cathi's.  She has been trying to get a picture of the fall leaves before winter hits.  Here you go!  Fall!