April 7, 2015 / Hard Goobyes and Sweet Welcomes

Hard to believe that Easter is here!  What a great time of year it is in every way, and to have Conference on the same weekend makes it all the more special. We won't actually have conference broadcast here in the buildings until next weekend, but the i-Pad is a wonderful invention, and we hope to have heard most of the sessions before then.  We listened to the women's meeting the other night and thought is was wonderful.

March just seems to have passed so fast!  We spent a week in New Zealand and it was all so great!  We were able to take Elder Parker Jones (our ward) and his companion out to dinner while we were in Auckland, and that was just a special treat!  It was fun to listen to their experiences and gaze at the missionary glow on their faces.  Just 2 of the most choice missionaries with great sense of humors, they could match Elder Allen easily and it was a good evening. Great memory for us!

Elder Parker and companion

Young and Old missionaries

They ate steak

The Irvins and Allens

We also ran into the Irvines (who are serving a mission in NZ, from the 20th ward)) at a fair type event called Pacifica on Saturday.  I walked up behind her as she was talking with a group of senior missionaries and surprised her. The world is so small within the framework of the Church! It's amazing!  

We spent a couple of days touring with the Wallaces and Fugals (the 4 Public Affairs missionaries in NZ who we actually trained with in SLC in February of 2014).  They showed us so many great places on the island and some perfect beaches. We took lots of pictures, obviously!  We saw the Temple in Hamilton (just spectacular) and went to Hobbit Town, where they actually filmed the movies.  Beautiful place, it's like a bit of magic, with the dozens and dozens of tiny doors, all a different color and small furniture and tiny clothes hanging on the tiny clotheslines. Very realistic!

Sunset over New Zealand

Public Affairs missionaries

Hamilton New Zealand Temple

Pat and  little Hobit house

Ray in Hobitsville

Gull nesting area

New Zealand sunset

Another sunset

We had a great time, and recieved some great training from a member of the Area Presidency, Elder Gifford Nielsen (pastball player) and Richard Hunter, the head of Public Affairs for the entire Pacific Area.  

Fugals, Moores, Allens & Wallaces, Elder Neilsen and Bro Hunter

At the time we were there, Cyclone Pam warnings were out and there was great concern.  It hit the island of Vanuatu very hard and they are still recovering, but was only a bad storm in Auckland with lots of wind and sheets of water. We were actually in a meeting with Br. Hunter when he got word that 11 of the missionaries, that were of great worry, had been found safe.  He hurried out to meet with the Presidency about press releases and poked his head back in to say they all were safe.  The room was very quite as we contemplated what a really huge blessing that was. We will never forget being part of that.

On Sunday evening there, we attended a "Come and See Fireside" with the couple missionaries.  It was a chance for missionaries to bring investigators to learn about the Church.  They have them once a month and it was good for us to see how that works.  It was pouring that night, we took our seats in the gymn, as the chapel was already full.  By the time the meeting started, the whole place was just packed!  We had great seats to watch the young missionaries come in with their investigators!  The size of the crowd was truly unbelievable.  The young missionaries were so fun to watch as they brought these people in and found seats.  Such a spirit in that room.  A one hour fireside that just took our breath away.  What power the Lord gives to those who are seeking!

We came back to Sydney, glad to be here, and happy with where we had been called, AGAIN!  New Zealand is beautiful, but this is right for us!  

Flowers and wildlife

A water wheel in New Zealand

On April 1st, we took the Moore's  to the cruise ship.  I think we mentioned it last post, but they are cruising around NZ for 14 days.  They were excited and tearful at the same time.  We feel bad, because it's pouring rain here, which means it is there as well, but for the first couple of days, we don't think they will even care. They had a particularly hard week, as we did we, and we'll bet they sleep for 24 hours.  The cruise ship looked beautiful.  Some day, we'd like to do another cruise, but not NZ.  Too long for us. Then they come back to Sydney and fly home from here to Salt Lake, but we won't see them till we get home.

We went over to the Archibald's Thursday night to tell them good-bye.  They arranged to leave 6 days early.  As they looked at the calendar a few weeks ago, they realized their last 6 days here, included a 4 day weekend, when the area legal offices would not be opened.  What a waste.  The couple to replace them won't be here till August, so, it was an easy decision.  They're the couple who have been married longer as missionaries than they had been before they came. We will miss them so much,  he works upstairs with us and she has just been so sweet in every way.  They fly home to Arizona, but spend the Summers in Idaho Falls.  We hope to see them as they come home from Idaho in late October.

Our numbers are getting smaller

The Willis's are here, from Snow Flake Arizone, and they are going to be great PA missionaries!  Really great. Elder Willis has such a 'deer in the headlight' look right now. We so remember how that feels, when the boss is pumping you so full of information and duties, just before he leaves for a while.  You really think you can't possibly ever do what is asked, because it means nothing, until you actually do it.  He isn't a great computer person either (his words) so I so sympathsize with how he feels right now.  Ray said to him yesterday, "don't worry, you'll learn it as you do it, and it takes time.  They have been living with the Mission President for many days now and living out of suitcases.  I think they'll be all in and settled by the time Easter Weekend is over!  It will be such a relief for them, I imagine.

We have 2 couples leaving the first part of May.  It's like a revolving door right now, change is all around us!  We just need to stay focused, we'll be fine. This all would have been much harder if it had come 6 or 8 months ago.  Now, we can see the end from the beginning, and know that no matter what, the time will pass fairly quickly.  We're having good experiences and the hard times seem to lessen a bit as time passes. Still, we miss family and friends.  I was thinking maybe something was really missing in both of us, but I got an e-mail from friends of ours, who are also serving a mission in a foreign country and she said, " here, missions are called a miserable joy."  It made us feel better about looking forward to going home.  Maybe we're normal? (OK, perhaps not). 

It isn't that we aren't glad for this experience and so, so grateful for the blessings that come to us, almost unbidden.  We are SO thankful for our call, in every possible way. We have learned so much and gained a strength we didn't know we had.  We just miss people! We probably get demerits, but, there you go.

The Easter Bunny came on Saturday morning and left a trail of chocolate eggs EVERYWHERE!  It was such a nice surprise and a glimpse of the past.  We have a very long hall from bedroom to livingroom, so there was LOTS of candy.  What a good rabbit! Thank you Easter Bunny!!!  He vacuums too! Love that guy!

On Easter Sunday we had 6 other couple missionaries, including President and Sister Howe over for an Easter Dinner at our flat. It was a good evening and everyone brought something yummy. We had a very short lesson, going around the room and asking each person to name one attribute of the Saviors that they most admired.  Then we challenged them as they read their scriptures to make a list on a blank page of other attributes they found as they read, and give the reference. The point being, to know Him better.  It was a nice night.  A good Easter.  Easter in the mission field is something else!  This is our second one, and they are very special!! It just seems to make Him so real, the Atonement so real!  What a blessing we all have.

Today is April 7th here!  It's an anniversary for us.  One year into our mission!  Time is passing!

Take care all, and know that we think of you very often, pray for you and we're so happy for your support and prayers and contacts with us!

March 7, 2014  Elder Bednar Visits Australia

It is March (which is a bit like September in the states) so summer is about at an end, althought it was 99 Sunday with 90% humidity, so it's hard to tell.  We understand that it has been a very mild summer here, surprisingly so, and we are glad! When we first got here, we heard many stories about January and February and how unbearably hot and humid it gets.  It has been so much the opposite.  The average has stayed between 75 and 85 degrees and very few days have been really, really humid.  We are not complaining!!!  Elder Allen was so worried his hair would get all straight and awful looking.

Brisbane Angel Moroni

We went to Brisbane last month, to meet with a very large Public Affairs council there. We counted 35 in the room at the last meeting. It was a real learning experience, as the Public Affairs Director really knows how to run a meeting. She could be a poster woman for how it's done.  We talked to our boss about getting the new PA senior missionaries who arrive this month (they will be right across the hall from us) down to Brisbane very early in their mission. We wish we had been there first!  We had quite the grand tour by two of the PA's and their spouses and made some friends. It was a good trip and a great SHORT flight.  Love that!

Downtown Brisbane

Brisbane Temple

The Stokes, Owens and Allens

Queensland Public Affairs Council

Australian Bush Turkey

Another boring Australian Beach

Downtown Brisbane

On February 27th, 28th and 29th, Elder Bednar came to Australia.  The level of excitment for everyone was over the top and I don't think a single soul could have been disappointed. What a weekend!

Womens Conference with Sister Bednar

Sister Pearson, Sister Bednar, Sister Robbins

We probably were a bit naive, just thinking how wonderful it would be to hear him speak and to see him!  The Tuesday before he came in, we had a conference call with New Zealand about the visit and we guess that's when reality set in.  We knew we would be taking down quotes from his talks, we just hadn't put it together that we would be the ONLY ones taking down quotes.  New Zealand sent a photographer and video person to do the recording, but the recording wasn't for the purpose of getting quotes.  We were happy not to be taking photos, until we found they would not be at the womens meeting with Sister Bednar and Sister Robbins.  I was the only one from PA going!  Ray said he would drive me down and take photos in the hall. Yikes.  I was so nervous.  No one wants to risk quoting an apostle wrong!??? And I really, really didn't want to get in Sister Bednars way and ask her for photos, etc. I just knew I couldn't!

Elder and Sister Bednar at
Stake Conference

Elder Bednar and Elder Pearson

Shaking hands at Stake Conference

Elder and Sister Bednar

Sister Allen and Sister Smylie and
Missionaries preparing for conference

Australia South Missionaries

Teaching at the Marriage Conference

Sister Bednar

But we asked our family for prayers during his visit and they were answered, big time!  I found I felt braver with a camera around my neck and my missionary badge on than I thought I would.  In actuality, I found that Heavenly Father wouldn't let us fail in something as important as Elder and Sister Bednars talks. We got great pictures and I got one of the 3 speakers that I will always treasure, and some as Sister Bednar greeted the women afterwards. So amazing, and no fear on my part whatsoever.  My testimony just soared that day, because I knew how much help we'd recieved. So humbling.

The other talks were wonderful as well.  He spoke to the missionaries in the afternoon and then to couples in the evening, about marrige.  So great.  Elder Bednar doesn't just speak at these meetings, he asks questions of the congregation and answers their questions.  So much learning occurred! Just watching faces and listening to the way he answered things.  No question he's an Apostle of the Lord.  We could just feel it!

He gave some words of comfort to the senior missionaries that were very tender. (Ryan, you will recognize this, in part).  "Your abscense is the most powerful testimony you will ever bear to your posterity.  The day will come when they will rise up and call you blessed because you were gone for a season.  Those grandchildren will never pray as hard for you as they do while you are serving a mission."  David A. Bednar, 2/28/15

Schedules were kept and words flowed and the spirit was ever present. Sometimes at our computers, we were just amazed at how it all fell together. Very sweet. Very tender, simply astounding!

It's interesting that with all of that, we didn't ever even shake his hand.
The crowds were too large and even at the missionary meeting, it just wasn't done.  Even so, by the time he left, we felt like we really knew him.

If we had to pick out one highlight of our mission so far, this would be it! The whole weekend, and the preparation for it, it was so great to see what it entailed, to see his agenda and the super-human scope of his schedule.  No wonder we are to pray for them.

To another subject, the Moores leave here on March 31st. They are going on a two week cruise around New Zealand and then heading home to North Salt Lake. (they are the missionaries across the hall from us). They have been a fun couple to share the upstairs offices with.  They were so good to us whan we first arriived that we will ever be grateful.

The Archibalds leave on April 7th. OH, but things, 'they are a changin'. That is so hard!
They were also very good to us, and continue to be.  Change is hard here, it's like part of your support sysyem going away or breaking down.  We have to remember that on the day the Archibalds leave, we will only have 6 months left on our mission.  It helps to remember that.

The Smiths will be here until July 1st and that will really help.  We probably have spent more couple time with them than anyone else and we really enjoy them.  They are one of the huge blessings here.  They came from Fruitland Idaho, but are going home to a house they bought in LasVegas before they left and their Fruitland home sold while they were here. So, we talk about the decisions in life regarding homes really often. 

The Moore's replacements, the Willes's, arrive on March 16th or March 23rd (as their visa has not yet come, so there is some question about that) from Snowflake Arizona.  We have face-timed them several times and they will be awesome! We can't wait to meet them in person. The two weeks they train with the Moore's will be interesting (or much less than that if they come on the 23rd). Two weeks is a bit of a long time to share a small office with 4 people. But, it will all work. If I were them, I'd be voting for the 23rd. 

We head to New Zealand on March 11th and are looking forward to it. We will be gone 1 week. The two missionary couples there have planned alot of touring for the 8 of us. Mostly, it will be good to just see them and talk to them! And the meetings will be really good for us too.

 Life is busy here almost all the time and we feel our age very often.  We feel we've aged 3 years in 1,but we are blessed as well, so very often, so we're good!

We are grateful, as always, for the face-times and e-mails from all of you, they are what keep us going, and make us happy.  Those and the blessing of missionary work that just seem to come, when we most need them. Love to you all!

February 7th 2015

February 7^th 2014
  

Wow!  Can't believe it's February or that it has been so long since we posted on the blog! I know we're always saying this, but we have been so busy.  It's important that you all keep in mind that we are getting up there in years, and so everything takes LONGER.  Which means, busy is relative.  

We are trying to think back to all of January and it is a bit of a blur.  We went from Christmas to about January 18th or so with absolutely no stories coming in from area Public Affairs people. We talked with two sister missionaries we had over for Sunday dinner.  One of them used to be in our daughter-in-law, Becky's, Laurel class, so we had an 'in'.  And we took some pictures of them and asked them the questions we wanted to cover for a news article and Tah Dah!! It was so fun.  It actually just got posted on the website this week.

Sisters Durtschi and Luo

Sisters Luo and Durtschi in our flat living room 

After that, it was like all the Australians were finally over Christmas and kids went back to school (December and January are their summer break time here) and article material just came pouring in!  Almost to excess, but we aren't complaining. 

Next week, on the 12th, we leave for Brisbane to do some training there. It's a council we haven't been to yet so it will be good to meet all those people that we e-mail with really often, regarding stories, and talk to on the phone a lot.  We will love putting faces with names, and it's good for them to do the same.  Makes the relationship stronger which always equates to better material coming in.

President Barr - Sydney Temple President

Sister Barr Sydney Temple Matron and Sister Allen

We also found out a little over a week ago that we are scheduled to go to New Zealand the first part of March.  The schedule is to spend some time with an Area Presidency member and with Richard Hunter, the PA manager for the Pacific Area. Also a  trip to the Auckland temple and a tour around the area with the two missionary couples who do Public Affairs in New Zealand. Both couples were trained with us in Salt Lake before we all left, and we just love them! The Moores from across the hall here are going with us, and then they head for home the 1st of April so it will be a nice trip for them especially. We are SO happy to go, it is the only place we wanted to see, outside of Australia, while we were here. Plane tickets aren't yet in hand, but we have seen the itinerary, so we assume it will be a go.

In two days, we hit the 10 month mark for our mission. Which means we have only 8 left.  It's hard to put into words how we feel about that. So many things here are so good.  It IS beautiful here and the climate is just fabulous. We love wearing these name tags, saying exactly who we really work for.  And missionary work is awesome! The spirit abounds when we need it most. We've had experiences we never would have had in normal life.  We can work longer and harder in stressful situations than we ever could at home. It is the opportunity of a life time.  Our testimony of the true Gospel and The Savior and that wonderful Atoning Sacrifice that is there for each person has grown in a way we never could have envisioned before we came.  At our age, that's saying A LOT!

Having said that, we miss home and family and friends.  Let's be honest, we miss America too. We look forward to driving on the correct side of the car, on the correct side of the road! And sometimes, we think it will be really nice to be slugs for days at a time. 24 hours of straight sleep would be heaven!!! Oh, I should not write this at the end of the day.  But we also look forward to the remaining months of our mission, and can hardly wait to see what article, experience, or beauty is just around the bend.

One of our greatest blessings is being on a mission after Face-time was invented.  Just the joy of talking to kids and grand-kids.  Makes us so happy and full. What a blessing.  We know it's a worldly one, but it sure was sent for good! 

We are happy, and in good health. We have seen beauties we could never have imagined. The temple President and his wife took us to a place called Nelson's Bay on a Saturday and there are no words to describe how beautiful it was, although 'stunning' comes to mind.  Long boat ride to see Dolphins! Lunch at an outside cafe by the ocean? Lovely.  We have learned to really make use of our Saturdays, we don't spend as many in the office in the summer. Winter is coming up in May, we have lots of time to explore.

Elder and Sister Finch - Payson

Elder & Sister Kilabrew - Texas

Dolphins tail

Camel rides on the beach

Beautiful Nelsons Bay

We have included many pictures this time.  The Cockatoo sits in the tree outside our office window.  Sometimes there are 5 of them.  The flowers are mostly from around the grounds by our flat, and the red bush is right outside our back door.  Just amazing!
We love you all and we are grateful for your contact, always and anytime!