July 7th 2015

Sunday July 5th

We missed another July 4th at home, but lots of face-times from home made it easier.  So good to see all the patriotic Facebook posts as well. Kind of made us proud to be Americans!  We always are!!!

Josh's picture of down town Salt Lake on the 4th

This week the Smith's headed home to Las Vegas and we were so sad to see them go, but happy for them. They are the last of the couples who were here when we arrived in Australia.  Now, when we want to ask someone what happened on this holiday, or that FHE, there is no one to ask. But we will miss them for mant more reasons than that!

The Smith and Sister Allen

Elder and Sister Smith

We have a new mission president and his wife as well, Donna H. and Max L. Checketts.  It has been quite the week. They both seem so, so nice. We are excited to have them here, it will be fun to watch what changes may come.

President Max and Donna Checketts

Elders at Leura Ward

Last Sunday we went to the Leura Ward and spoke to a congregation of about 50. They were so kind and again we had lots of spiritual help.  Oh, the blessings of being a missionary. I think it was my favorite place to speak so far.  Just such kind people.  And it was a combined R.S Preisthood meeting that day which made it even better. Fantastic looking building to drive up to.  Good memory.

Leura

Leura Meeting house

My favorite member at Leura

We have quickly become accustomed to our cubicles and love the big windows in the room.  It is a little less private to just turn to each other and check facts or whatever, but we are good.  Apparently they posted the ad for our boss's job last week, so we will see what comes of that. There is some suggestion that they could hire someone from Brisbane of Melbourne and they could work via internet, as Richard from New Zealand does.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  We know people in each state who have applied so, kind of fun.

Wednesday July 8th

The Ellis's are here from New Harmony, Utah to take their place in Self Reliance. They seem to be adjusting well for only having been here a few days. It's a bit of an involved calling, alot for them to learn.

Senior Missionary home eveing

The Willis's

Sister Barr - Temple Matron

Elder and Sister Black our new legal couple

Sister Aspland and Sister Henderson from down town

The Smiths bid everyone good bye

The Wallaces from New Zealand 

Senior Missionaries at Smiths and Howes farewell

The greeting of new people is really, really a pleasure, the saying good-bye to those leaving, not so much!  So hard.

We are un-packing boxes in our area here that came from up-stairs!  More boxes than storage space.  We were to have a storage room down here, as we have had upstairs, but that got lost in the last minute negotiations.  We're pretty sure they will come up with a plan.  Till then, it looks a bit like our storage room in the Kaysville house looked, just before we left!!  Some of you will remember that, thankfully, some of you never saw it. LOTS of boxes!

We are happily moving on with the work.  Articles keep coming out of no where and we are so happy about that. It's so much easier to do an article at this stage than it has ever been and it's really a plesaure to work on them, and figure them out! All the pieces are eventually gathered and just slide into place. AWESOME, but doesn't come without heavenly help.  We are always, always grateful!

We love Sydney

The opera house (again)

We read a Conference talk the other night that I particularly liked. Ensign pg. 54 called, 'The Music of the Gospel'. I love that title! 

Elder Wilford W. Anderson Quotes D & C 8:2  Where the Lord taught Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry, "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."
Elder Anderson then added, "We learn the dance steps in our minds, but we hear the music in our hearts.  The dance steps of the gospel are the things we do; the music of the gospel is the joyful spiritual feeling that comes from the Holy Ghost. . . 

He goes on to say, "The dance steps require discipline, but the joy of the dance will be experienced only when we come to hear the music."  He continues on with some more really amazing insight.  But, I just love that analogy to music and dance and the gospel and the Holy Ghost!!!  It resonates to me. 

I think missionaries of every age learn the dance steps of their calling (some just take longer than others) but the point is, the steps are well defined and there is 24/7 to learn and implement them!  So the music just flows, more than I have ever experienced before over a long period of time. 

Sister Durtschi and companion day before Sister Durtschi head back to Hyrum

It is the music that writes the articles and asks the questions, and takes down the quotes.  It is, in fact, the music that helps missionaries sleep at night and sometimes do some very long days and curbs the home sickness to a managable size.  

We are close enough to going home, that we are beginning to wonder how we learn the new steps after we go home, as well as we have learned them here. We want to hear that music in our lives, day to day, going forward. That music is the part of the mission that will be very,very hard to leave behind. I am beginning to think that leaving that constant melody is what makes missionaries cry as they leave the field. That crying has never made sense to me before, and suddenly it does.

We have 12 weeks left, we want to treasure them.  We love you all, and are ever grateful for the prayers for missionaries, and for your support and love.

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.