Update on Duraye at the end of September 2016

21 September 2016

Dear family,

We are happy to report that things continue to go well for Duraye in many respects, including she now has a job…started this week at a company that helps people invest in high-end homes or something like that. I haven’t investigated it personally, but she likes it because it has both a base plus commission.

She also has had a wonderful experience attending the Arcadia Ward where leaders and members have reached out to her very warmly. Amazingly, there were already some connections of friends in that ward. In fact, the bishop was a counselor in the bishopric of Jeffrey and Olivia’s student ward at ASU a couple of years ago and loved them dearly. That has helped open the door for Duraye to become very well acquainted with Bishop and Sister Horsley.

The ward has already provided her with a generous supply of food from the storehouse and $334 in assistance to offset two bills that were due this week.

All of you have so generous in helping Duraye get into her new apartment in Scottsdale and to get a “fresh start” to life. She’s very, very grateful to the family and recognizes this is no small sacrifice. Little by little she’s getting on her feet again and has hope with the family’s generous support.

In addition to your financial support, having so many family members help her move and set up her apartment (in 2 hours flat!) earlier this month was thrilling. She was touched by such an outpouring! Please continue to reach out to her with emails and phone calls. Needless to say, her life is a bit lonely with both daughters now in Utah, her favorite pet dog Pearl having to stay in Mesa due to the no-pet rule we didn’t originally know about and just being on her own in a new place. So your outreach with calls, texts and emails are welcomed. 

What will really help is if family members in the Valley can remember to invite her to holiday or family gathering. Please feel free to forward this to your children in the Valley. We so appreciate them remembering and connecting with Duraye as often as possible. More often than not, she may decline your invitations, but just having invitations to decline will touch her deeply.

As for the finances, here’s a brief rundown so far:

In addition to the original up-front payment of $2,150 to get her set up in the apartment, we spent another $778 in costs for utilities, moving expenses and a variety of bills (like her cell phone) that were past due and very much needed.

In all, we’ve spent $2,928.58. Fortunately, the family generously donated $3,034.00 leaving a $183.42 surplus. THANK YOU!!

While Duraye has a job, she really won’t see a paycheck for a week or two. So we’ll need to continue to provide some support, as we originally agreed. Fortunately, her bishop is working with us and using some fast offerings to supplement our efforts to keep her afloat.

In the meantime, here’s what we need for our second installment.

Her rent is $950 per month. Because the landlord failed to have the apartment ready for move-in, as promised, we were able to negotiate a reduction of $176 off the October rental payment. So with this reduction plus the $183 surplus, we won’t need as much from the family this month…

$950 monthly rental

- 176 negotiated one-time reduction

- 183 surplus from original family installment

$591 for rent in October

However, we expect we’ll have a few expenses that may need to get covered before she finally starts pulling a paycheck. So we recommend that we contribute about $700 total in October.

May we ask that we all send $100 each before Oct 1? For those who originally committed to send $50 per month, please send only $50.

As all expenses are coming out of our personal funds, please send funds by check to:

Vivienne Lewis

1121 SW 10th Drive

Gresham, OR 97080

Or, if you prefer, you can send payments via PayPal.

Thank you so much for your kindness in being so prompt and again for your generous support. We trust this is making a difference in our sister’s life. Above all, she knows that we truly and deeply love her; no matter the past, she is loved by all of us!

Thank you for ongoing support and love,

Crismon & Vivienne

503-914-8689 M

P.S. We leave tomorrow, Thursday, 9/22, for Virginia where we will visit Dallin and Janelle’s family (he’s now a professor at Southern Virginia University) for a few days, returning on Tuesday, 9/27. But we’ll be available by email, text or phone, if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you!