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| Elder Cook, Prime Minister Tony Abbott Elder Pearson |
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| Missionary Conferrence with Elder Cook |
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| Reviewing the Prime Ministers Family History |
There are in all, 5 articles on the website about him and the missionary article contains a short vieo of him with those sweet young missionaries. What a tender experience that was. Sister Cook had them sing a song with her when she spoke. Page 264 'Hark all Ye Nations'. I have never felt a hymn sang with so much power. It was as if it could have lifted the roof, and in some ways, it probably did! There were some 400 people there in all, and it sounded like thousands, really and truly. "We're asking the world to 'Hark to our voices", she said, "The nations are listening. As you sang that song, singing about shining the gospels truth and light, you lit up the room." They surely did.
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| Elder and Sister Cook welcoming the missionaries |
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| Missionaries waiting for the meeting to begin |
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| Elder and Sister Leota (just called to Area Seventy) |
Sister Cook obviously has a great love for music, she used it in all her talks. She is a really, really great speaker.
Both Elder and Sister Cook love 'Preach my Gospel'. Apparently Elder Cook and Elder Ballard were very instrumental in putting it together, under President Hinckley's close supevision. He mentioned in his Stake Conference talk that he would like to see families use it more in their homes.
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| Elder and Sister Cook |
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| Elder Cook and an older missionary |
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| My favorite companion |
One thing Elder Cook said in every single talk, sometimes twice, "We need to take back the sabbath day, take back the sacrament." He explained that the sacrament should be holy to each and everyone of us, all of us knowing in our hearts what it means. Making Sunday more of a family day.
Religious Freedom was the theme of the week, we think. So that we can retain the freedoms the constitution now allows us, to teach and worship in our buildings and teach in the public square. Those freedoms are at risk. Many would have us only able to worhip in our homes. Chilling thoughts.
Richard Hunter, our boss in New Zealand is coming over next week to spend a few days with us and the Willis' (the other Public Affairs couple). Our boss Alan Wakely has gone to SLC to help write some training materials. Although he and his wife will return to Australia in 4 months, he will not be returning to Public Affairs, but will be preparing for a mission. So, Rich is coming over to help with the transition. And tell us what happens next. At present, we have done the website without Alan's help, for the last 2 weeks. More than that actually, to be honest. We hear there will be someone new hired to take his place, but it may take some time.
We went to Nowra branch to speak on the 30th. It was the biggest branch that we have spoken to so far. They had 60 people there, which is about average for them. Some very, very nice people. We really enjoyed our three hours there. It was the Branch Presidents first Sunday in his calling -- AGAIN! We think we may send out a warning to the branch we're visiting the end of June. Tell them changes may happen before we come. Just kidding.
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| Kangaroo Valley |
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| Nowra Chapel |
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| Three Sister Missionaries in Nowra |
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| Nowra Branch Chapel |
As we drove there, we went through the Kangaroo Valley (saw not one Kangaroo) but it was the most green all put together in one place than we have ever seen. Amazing! There is an old movie called 'How Green Was My Valley' and that phrase just kept going through my head. ALL kinds of trees and ferns and bushes all so close together that you couldn't see past them!! Just stunning.
June 7, 2015
We spent last week with Rich from New Zealand. We feel really excited about the website going forward. Things for all articles are simplified, editing will be streamlined and we will be on our own with the Willis' for the next month and perhaps two. They are going to hire someone to take Alan's place but it may take two months to make that happen.
We have been invited to go to Papau New Guinea for a week in August. Something we had not thought we'd do. So, some shots and pills to take care of in preparation! It's a bit primitive up there for the most part, but Elder Cummings would like to see more article info. coming in from them, so we are going up (or down, I have no idea) and try to make that happen. When we arrived here, they wouldn't let sisters go there at all. So, this is new territory, but the Willis' are going too and we will brave new trails.
We were put in charge of Melbourne for the rest of our time, so we may well get a trip there, and a trip to Tasmania as well, as that is part of the Melbourne council. Going to Adelaide in August too, for the 175th anniversary of the first missionary coming to Australia and it happened there! So, we are going to be a little busy, but it's all pretty exciting!
Yesterday (Saturday) we spent on a bit of a tour with the Smiths who are going home to Las Vegas the first of July. We saw some beautiful places on land that we had only experienced via the ferry or rivercat. It was stunning. Pictures are included. It was a good day seeing many amazing sights and eating and laughing. Good way to spend a P-Day. We will miss them when they go home!
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| Elder & Sister Smith and the Allens |
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| Two investigators |
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| Two beach bums |
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| Sydney Harbor |
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| Sydney from across the Harbor |
We came into the office tonight, Sunday, for a PA meeting and it seemed like a good time to finish off the blog. We love you all, miss you all. It has been a hard month to be away from home. Next month will be better, we just know it.
Time is marching on and we are trying to keep up with it! But we are happy!
