September 12, 2014 / Indian Ocean and Perth

We had a very interesting week!  We just got back from Perth last night, having spent 6 days away from our little Sydney office.  It was a little of a shock to realize that our place here has become a comfort zone. Along with that, we also felt like we were on a bit of a work vacation, and that was a good feeling too.

We flew to Perth last Saturday (a 5 hour flight) and arrived in time to check into our room, find out we had no internet service there, walk up the street to grab a very late burger and get ready for bed.  The next day, we woke up to pouring rain and very stiff winds.

A Public Affairs person in Perth had suggested the hotel for it's reasonable prices, and although, it had a few little glitches, it was right across the street from the Indian Ocean!  The air smelled like San Diego and we had to assume the ocean was beautiful, but we couldn't tell for sure. We headed for Sacrament Meeting about 30 minutes away, in-land. 

 After church, we were able to meet with the Stake President about Public Affairs. It was interesting. They had submitted one article from Perth since we have been here, and it was a great one. A Family Values Award with some great inter-faith wove in and wonderful pictures, along with 900 people in attendance. It kind of felt as if they felt like they were done for a while.

We hope we were a good influence in encouraging him to get his people doing more, as some stakes will send two a month or even more, when there is a really good PA person in the Stake.

We then drove for about 90 minutes to a Stake house where we were never able to get an appointment with the Stake President via e-mail, and had decided to just drop off a PA packet and hope it helped.  As we headed up the side walk, a man stopped us and asked if he could help us.  (missionary badges are magic that way).

He was a counselor in the Stake Presidency, standing visiting with his just barely called PA person for their stake.  We all went right into the Stake Offices for a visit.  It was amazing to get to know this newly called person and feel some excitement from him. The counselor was very kind and helpful.  Then, in walks another brother, and he is Stake Presidency counselor over PA for the Stake. We all 5 had a very good visit.  We left feeling like we had just had several tender mercies in one place.

We then headed for another Stake building, but were only able to give a packet to a high councilman, and asked him to tell the President that we would be in touch.  We felt a little down hearted, but, it beat a blank.

The next stake house was . . . wait for it. . . a blank!  It was no longer the Stake Center and no one would take the packet.  The Stake Young Women's President and R.S. President were there in a meeting, but didn't think they would see the President for several weeks.  I think we will have to mail that one. We were discouraged.

All in all, it was a really good day. You can't win them all, and we decided the contacts we did make were good ones.  There are always those investigators who don't show up to church when they say they will, right?  So we're good.

We got back to the hotel at almost dark, but got to ride down to the ocean and see it. Still raining, but it looked amazing.  More green than any ocean we had ever seen.  A walking trail that went all along the coast line.  Fantastic, just to see it, rain and all.

Monday night we took the Rajahs, the Multi Stake Public Affairs Coordinator to dinner at a place they had picked out.  It was in a place called Hillary's Harbor.  A buffet that was unlike any we had ever seen.  Many more choices than the Roof in SLC.  MANY more.

It was delightful. They even had an octopus salad with the little tiny whole octipi (?) on top.  I asked Sister Rajah how she liked them and she said oh, with all the things in the salad, to off set the taste, I really enjoy them but, they do have a weird sort of crunch to them. 

Daniel and Malar Rajah at dinner in Perth

I decided I wasn't that adventuresome!  But I almost did.  It was the "weird crunch" remark that did me in. That and the fact that they were grey and extremely un- attractive.

We had a great visit with them and we felt so good about that.  We really think, having met face to face, that it will make a difference in the number of articles that come from the whole area.  And it's nice to put a face with the names we see on e-mail responses.

Tuesday, late afternoon, the rain stopped a bit and the sun peeks out for a couple of hours and we are able to drive down the beach and then take a long walk on that wonderful path.  It was glorious.  We put our feet in the water and gathered some sea shells.  Just heavenly!

The Indian Ocean

Tuesday evening (raining and winding again) we go to the multi-stake council meeting.  So fun to meet all of these people, the ones who are really in the trenches!  Some of them are so good at sending reports and photos and quotes of events.

The idea of having missionaries meet them in person and form a relationship, is so they will really want to be involved more, and feel some responsibility to go to work in their area.  Planning interfaith gatherings and putting together helping hand opportunities etc.

We pray it works.

Wednesday morning, Phil Baker, the PA person who got us our hotel, picked us up to show us Perth!  We walked through a 1,000 acre park in the middle of the city, with bridges over the Swan River and statues of important people in Perth History and lots and lots of wild flowers!  Fantastic!  Then he took us down and put us on a boat so we could enjoy the sights and the 50 million dollar homes on the river.  90 minutes of just watching. . . and the sun was out!  We know more about Perth now after 5 days, than we know about Sydney.  We just won't remember it!

Elder and Sister Allen with the fishing fleet behind them

Elder and Sister Allen with Phil Baker at the boat docks

After boat ride down the Swan River in Perth

It was a great trip.  We both decided if we were to live in Australia, we would choose Perth.  The roads are wider and the beauties are still all there.  Its quieter, calmer.  It's like the difference between New York City and Boise.

We really loved the people we met.  Phil especially.  He is our age, but seems younger, and is all about Public Affairs and meeting people and getting the work to go forward.  He loves Australia and it shows. A real Australian treasure . . . there isn't a question he can't answer. The trip was a really good one.

We are scheduled to go to Adelaide in October for the same thing.  It will be much less daunting than this one was.  It was SO out of my comfort zone. . . not so far out of Ray's.

Wednesday evening we were happy to be able to attend the Perth Temple.  It is a beautiful new building with the most fantastic chandelier we have ever seen.  It was a wonderful, peaceful evening.

While we were in Perth, we received an e-mail on the Church phone, which doesn't need internet, to speak in Church Sunday in our ward. Wow, there is always something, and we count our blessings most of the time.  We sure are getting stretched to the max sometimes.

It has been a long day in the office, and probably another long one Saturday, to try to make up for what didn't get done while we were gone.  I think it may be to make up for the 90 minute boat ride and long walk on the beach!  In that case, it was totally, totally worth it!

We keep busy, we stay happy, we enjoy each other and sometimes, we still can't believe we are actually in Australia. . . even now.

Ray said to me on the airplane, coming back, "Remember the last time we flew into Sydney?"  I did, with a bit of a shudder.  We were total Zombies then, and totally scared and clueless. The jet lag was so real. Now we are so much better!  Still clueless, but better!

We count our blessings at this point, that we can be stretched beyond any normal capacity, and still be really happy!  It's a spiritual thing and it is wonderful!

We miss you all, but we are doing OK and like the work, no, LOVE the work! We are grateful for our blessings, most of whom, we're related to! We love you ALL and miss you still!