June 10, 2015

May 29th We had the most wonderful experiences following Elder Quentin L. Cook from meeting to meeting over a 7 day period here in Australia. He shook hands with every single missionary before the mission meeting.  So tender and sweet.  We got to meet him and shake his hand as well, more than once, what a blessing!!!    (Lost the font I started with and can't get it back, sorry)

Elder Cook, Prime Minister Tony Abbott Elder Pearson

Missionary Conferrence with Elder Cook

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.

Elder and Sister Cook welcoming the missionaries

Missionaries waiting for the meeting to begin

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.

Elder and Sister Cook

Elder Cook and an older missionary

My favorite companion

Elder Cook said a few times that he loves Diversity and Unity.  I imagine all of the congregations he spoke to here, with the exception of Notre Dame, had a sea of diverse faces, colors and cultures.  Having been the Pacific Area President at one time, I doubt he was surprised.  Don't imagine Heavenly Father is either.  All part of His plan.

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.

Kangaroo Valley

Nowra Chapel

Three Sister Missionaries in Nowra

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!

Elder & Sister Smith and the Allens

Two investigators

Two beach bums

Sydney Harbor

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!

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.

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!