May 20th 2015

Here we are, half way through May. (May 15th) Time is flying. Everyone said it would  speed up at 6 months and they were right! We have less than 5 months left now.  In case I didn't say so on the last post, we have airline tickets and will be home on October 10th. Unbelievable!!

Sister Killebrew front, Elder and Sister Finch back

It has been a busy few weeks since last we wrote. The Killebrews are home in Texas now. At the present time, we have 5 couples at Family Home Evening dinner.  There have been times when we have had 12 couples, if my memory serves (which is always a gamble). 

It seemed a little lonely last Monday evening! More will couples will come. Visa's are a big problem.

Last Senior Couple Picture before 4 couples left

There are a few changes coming up in our offices, but we will wait and write about those when they have actually been made public.  Things will be so different, but it will all be good.  It's been in the works for probably 6 months now, but should be final in the next week or so.  We have been a bit anxious, but as it gets closer, it's a bit exciting.

Mission photograph taken last December (dare you to find Elder and Sister Allen)

Pat's picture of the Anzac Bridge

One of our neighbors by the flat

Sister Allen's Screen Saver

We had a visit a few weeks ago from someone we went to high school with and her husband.  Paul and Laurie Roberts Linford.  They live in Arizona now.  They have 2 good friends who live in Australia, so they came for a visit.  How nice of them to come and see us!

We have been very blessed to have article material come into us. There are always things on the desk to dive into, and we like it that way.

Pat and Patrice

Patrice Topoki Arkins

Down town Sydney, Capital Theatre

A couple of weeks ago, we were invited downtown to the launch of a CD.  It's Patrice Topoki Arkins (A Mormon).  We did an article about her a few months back, and she has a 'Why I Believe' video out with the Church.  She is also starring in Les Mis as Fontaine at the Capital Theatre in Sydney, which is where the launch was held. It was fun to take her picture several times and listen to her sing.  What a VOICE!  We were in awe. The CD has hit #1 nationally here. We hope to do another article about her, but she hasn't gotten back to us with quotes. We'll see. But it was so fun to be there in that kind of setting! 

Saturday May 16th. Last month we went to the Cowra Branch to speak. Really nice people there and a linger longer with lunch after, for which we were most grateful!  It's always fun to share a little about Public Affairs with them.  We gave out pass along cards with the Mormon Newsroom address right on it!  It seems to be spreading the word! Numbers are way up.  

Branch Pres's son on meeting house sign

Cowra after Church mingle (Wonderful Soup)

Cowra Meeting House

More Cowra Branch Members

This branch was just special, working so hard to bring in new members. The Branch President was experiencing his first Sunday in his calling.  His wife was a true missionary on steroids1 Really! She knows all the branch and most of their neighbors and is very involved with investigators.  Cookies, cards, dinner, YSA refreshments, dinner for the missionaries.  She was really something, in the kindest sense.  I would guess the two are around 40.  If I were to speculate, I would say that in a years time, that little branch will be a ward.  It was great to watch the whole group of them.

They had two investigators there that day, a woman and her daughter.  Mennonites, but called by a different name here.  They had noticed the increase in cars at the little church lately, and the daughter had been invited to YW a few times and had gone.  They seemed very interested to me from what I heard in RS. They had one YW in the branch, so I wondered what their activity nights looked like, but didn't get a chance to ask. Great experience!

A few weeks ago, we went to a Chinese Garden in downtown Sidney with the Willis'.  It was very beautiful, check out the pictures.

Cute couple we saw in the Gardens

The Gardens

One of our favorite birds in Australia

More of the Gardens

Elder and Sister Willis our special friends

More of the Gardens

Tomorrow we head to a Stake in New Castle (about 90 minutes away) where they are re-aranging boundaries in 3 Stakes.  Hope to get some quotes and pictures for an article. Fingers crossed.

Monday May 18th. We have had so many blessings from our Heavenly Father of late, that they just have to be mentioned.  Not expanded on, just mentioned.  He has helped us through some difficult situations and taught us so much. We are just grateful, and humbled. It needs to be said.

We had a good talk today, as we drove along in the car.  We think we know what we want to do when we get home and where we want to be.  It's like we've been turned around and held upside down until we got the picture, and it feels very, very good. Sometimes we learn slowly!  This has been one of those times, but worth the wait!

Monday May 18th
We went to the Stake reorganization yesterday and were blessed to get the quotes and pictures we needed. The Church is expanding here, you can feel it, and you can feel who is driving it. Great meeting, great spirit. We were very happy to be there. The article is going up on Newsroom today, so, that's a miracle in and of itself. Very speedy for Australia Newsroom and we are grateful for everything that 'clicked' to make that happen.

New Gosford Stake Presidency

Elder Nielsen

Elder Nielsen and Elder Leota (New Area Seventy)

Newcastle and Gosford Stake Presidencies 

Last night (Sunday) we were at the office late, after a PA meeting, trying to get this article ready and get some important numbers and facts. Into our office walked Elder Leota. He is our new Area Seventy here (article about him on Newsroom 8 or 9 days ago). He had conducted the meeting regarding the new stake here and was able to fill in all the blanks. Numbers and specifics we never would have known without really digging and taking a few days.

We talked together about many things, mainly how we felt about public affairs and how he felt about his new calling. It was the most wonderful conversation, coming with such a warm spirit, that walking home (more than ready for bed) I had to wonder about the sweetness of it all, and what prompted him, at such a late hour, to walk up the stairs and talk with us.

Elder Leota, such a sweet man

I will always remeber that, I hope.  How much help there is in this calling in Public Affairs.  It isn't what one pictures, but it is definitely the best part of the job. We are never alone spiritually, never left to our own devices.  Thank goodness!!!

Elder Quentin L. Cook comes to Sydney tomorrow and will be here through most of next week.  We hope we have lots of Heavenly help with pictures and quotes, from his various meetings.  Say prayers for us, we will need them.  We are so excited to hear him

We love you all, and still miss the USA! You are all so dear to us, family and friends!  Be safe, you are in our prayers.  Missions are the greatest thing, Just hard to be so far away from people you care about.