October 5th 2014/ Sunday

Sister Allen's favorite tree in Australia

We can’t believe it's October, and yet we totally can. Day after tomorrow, we will officially be 6 months into our mission.  I know, I know, you're all saying, "have they really been gone 6 months?"  Because, that's how missions seem to work.  If they aren't yours, they go really fast.

If they are yours, the first 3 months are really long, and then (according to others) after 6 months, the time seems to fly.  So we will see.  We are certainly busier and more tired than we have been so far. 

On the other hand, most everything seems pretty normal to us now, and we can get almost any place here.  There are hours of the day and sometimes days of the week that we actually forget we're in Australia.  It's so weird.

We were set apart as temple workers last Thursday.  Ray will start in 2 weeks and I may not start till January.  It will only be a couple of Wednesday nights a month, so that will be good.  They say December is really busy here, as we all take turns hosting at the temple Christmas lights display.  Apparently they have like 12,000 people come to see the lights and singers etc.  This will be our first and only one, so we'll enjoy it and be glad to be busy during that particular season. We are having some pass along cards prepared for the month, which will be handed out to visitors, advertising the Newsroom Website.  Feel free to visit the site any time Mormon newsroom.  You will be called UNIQUE VISITORS on the monthly reports, and we get brownie points for that!

We had some interesting news yesterday. At least in Australia, they are no longer asking senior couples to extend, as the visas for them cost more than the 2 to 6 months are worth.  We have often wondered what we would say, if we were lucky enough to be asked.

Lucky, meaning that it would be a sign of sorts that we had at least done an adequate job.

I have to say (however undedicated it sounds) that it's nice to have it taken out of our hands.

We are including some pictures of our visit to the Targee Branch here.  It was a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't want to lose them along the way.  They don't have anything to do with the text, but here you go.

Targee Branch Pot luck after block time

Targee Branch members and missionaries

Targee Branch building

We have been able to watch just a bit of conference so far.  The official time to watch it at our ward is next weekend.  I have seen all of Women's Conference, and we have watched most of Saturday morning.  It is interesting to be away from Utah when Conference happens. We miss all the traditions that go with it, but it is so amazing to know that we can get it on the i-pad this quickly.  We could watch it live, but the time difference makes that difficult.  Unless we want to get up at 3:00 in the morning, which we don't.

We spent last Saturday in downtown Sidney.  All day!  The Feils (the mission office couple) took us down. They will end their mission in 3 weeks, so we were happy to go on a trek with them.  They are the couple who have been married 6 years now.  They know SO much about this area and are a treasure chest of information.  They are also fun to hang out with, so it was a very good day, one we will always remember!

Elder and Sister Fiel

 

We walked the Sydney Harbor bridge and took many, many pictures that will never do it justice.  The views of the entire city were absolutely stunning!!!! What an area we're in!  I think we seldom have a prayer that we don't thank Heavenly Father for letting us be here.  It is an honor and a privilege to serve Him and it is just plain amazing to do it here in Australia. What a blessing!  

Later this month, we head to Adelaide to do some training to those who have been called to Public Affairs in that area.  The council members are all new, so it will be great to spend some time with them and go over the packet of their responsibilities and share the vision.  Not that it's OUR vision by any means, but we are finally seeing the scope of it. We are so happy to be involved in Public Affairs, even in our small way.

The more we travel around this country, the more we see that, so far, the whole of the outer perimeter is absolutely beautiful. So happy to see a bit of it, and be doing the work at the same time.

It is Sunday evening at 9:50 and we are just headed home from the office.  There was a PA meeting this evening, as there is twice a month.

One more thing.  We started daylight savings time today.  We sprang FORWARD an hour!  It boggles the mind to know what time it is now for you, as we have kids in all 4 time zones in the U.S. and 2 family members in Lebanon? Too much for our tiny pea brains to work with. But we will try.

Just a last note.  It is Monday here now, Labor Day!  The service center is actually closed, so we are here for a while and it is VERY quiet.  That's both good and bad. Conference is over for you all.  We are so excited to hear the rest of it, because you are all saying it was wonderful.  But then, it always is!

Love you all, and appreciate your contact with us, more than we can ever say. We still miss you!