Giving service down under

It's weird to sit down and write and think about our family back in the states.  The grandkids are probably asleep and the parents are probably slowing down.  I don't know if they even read these blogs so maybe I'll get a comment later that they were just getting revved up on a Saturday night. We went to the Garran church today so we could attend the Red Hill Ward and the Stromlo Ward.  Because their boundaries were all changed a month ago, this was their first fast and testimony meeting together.  The spirit of those two wards was wonderful and we were able to meet several new people.  President Moir met with us between meetings and officially called us to be the Stake Young Single Adult leaders and to be the Institute teacher.  We readily accepted and now we will have access to the computer names and information for all of the Stake. Evelyn is playing the keyboard in the dining area, as I sit here in the living room.  She's been asked to do a mus...

Teaching this good man, Michael, in the public library.  These sisters were amazing!  He always brings them candy.

It's a beautiful Thursday morning here in Canberra, the birds are making crazy loud sounds out the window and Evelyn is cutting out fabric on the floor.  It is a different Thanksgiving day from anything in my previous 65.  Thanksgiving is an American holiday and most of the conversation, that I've heard here in Australia is anything but excited to talk about another country that was overrun by Europeans looking for more land.  Tomorrow morning we will drive up to Sydney to have a big dinner with the other senior missionaries.  Evelyn is making a pecan pie to share. Last night we went to the Institute class that was celebrating their last week together before the summer break.  Sister Moir has been teaching the class and she and her husband provided treats, meat pies and sausage rolls, for the students to enjoy.  There were probably 15 kids that came and we had a good visit.  Before the social we went to the senior center and Evelyn played the piano a...

At a little cafe in Nimmitabel where we stopped for an early lunch with the young sisters.  We had meat pies and some sweets.

It's Tuesday morning and Evelyn and I are getting ready to head out with Sister Ballew and Sister Christensen to Cooma.  It's about 1.5 hours away and  we will spend the day there.  They have a few people that have indicated an interest in the church and there's a member they want to visit.  We just finished reading in the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel.  We were up late last night with the YSA here in our flat so Evelyn didn't go to the gym this morning. I had a short workout on the elliptical and light weights. Last night was wonderful.  We had 24 young people here in our flat, which included 3 sister missionaries and two elders.  Several came that we hadn't met before so it was great fun.  I actually used Marco Polo for a minute so our families back home could see the chaos.  We had an actual family home evening.  One of the Polynesian brothers conducted and we had a rousing opening song and a beautiful prayer.  Evelyn pla...

On this Sunday afternoon I find myself thinking about Bilbo Baggins and his grand adventure, as was paraphrased by Elder Uchtdorf in this last general conference.  We left our comfortable, and easy circumstances, although our garden never really grew well in Wyoming, to embark on a grand adventure.  I'm sure some people will question why we did it and others will surmise that we did it only to get away from the Wyoming winters.  I don't know if I'll every be able to explain the feelings of our heart in submitting our names for a full time mission but today I was reminded that we're in the right place, at the right time, to be of service to our brothers and sisters.  One fellow, back in Wyoming actually said, "I heard you had to finagle your way into that call".  Which is true if you mean that we had to challenge the missionary medical department when they said we needed to stay close to my cardiologist because of having heart surgery 8 years ago.  After we ...

I wish for the words to share my heart. We've just returned from an amazing dinner with Bishop Loney, his sweet wife and their 3 sons. Apparently Bishop Loney made the entree, which was excellent and Sister Loney made the dessert which was so good that I'll have to put extra time on the elliptical on Monday.  For me, the memory that is going to last the longest was their introducing us to Cricket in their backyard.  It's going to take me 18 months to learn all the rules and terms but it was pure joy to watch Evelyn take her first swing with a cricket bat and then to have a turn myself.  We made another trip to Costco today and we're starting to navigate around the Capital city by landmarks like Black mountain and construction cranes around Belconnen. This morning we made our fourth day in a  row of going to the gym. It feels good to get my heartrate up and use some machines to try and stay in shape. We had our second District council meeting yesterday and it wa...

This picture was taken Wednesday evening while we were making music at a care center. They loved Sister Weber at the piano and the missionaries,  along with a few members signing the songs.  There were probably 25 senior citizens joining in and there were a few that stayed up on the balcony which reminded me of my mom back in Orem, Utah.

It's been quite a ride. We just returned to the flat after joining 4 of the missionaries,  a few members and one young YSA at a care center in Ainsley. It is a nice large facility and it reminded me of My mom's place. There were several people who sat up on the balcony area and I'm sure that's where my mom would've been.  Evelyn played the piano and we sang probably 10 songs.  We ended with "God be withyou" and it always tugs on my heartstrings. This morning we joined a gym that is not far from our place and we should be able to go there regularly.  We had a good first workout. This afternoon we went to a government office in Belconnen and did all of the paperwork so we ate now registered with Australia and their working with vulnerable people program.  It's been a good day as I watch Evelyn finish out her day by sewing on some dresses that Sister Christensen and Ballew brought over last night.  Her talents are going to be so used in this mission.

It's a beautiful Tuesday morning.  We've been in Canberra one week. We're starting to find our way around although we got horribly turned around last night trying to find the FHE group. In fact, without a phone call from Joe we probably would've given up and brought our pumpkin squares with cream cheese frosting and come home. We eventually found Conner's home and joined 12 YSA for the evening.  They are a great group and they had a very lengthy conversation about mental health. We left after 9:30 and they were going strong playing video games. Yesterday we checked out a few local gyms where we might be able to do workouts.  Our daily walks are good but we need to keep strong.  We also went downtown for the first time and drove around the Parliament building and the ANU campus. Most of the kids have taken off for Summer break.

I probably won't finish this until tomorrow but I have to record a few feelings on this Saturday night, before I fall asleep, exhausted.  We just returned from a ward dinner with the Red Hill ward. The people were warm and welcoming.  It was a potluck dinner and the food was great.  We made several new friends. After dinner the bishop led an open talent show. After his poetry reading Evelyn jumped up and said to me, let's sing the pioneer song. I kept objecting as I followed her up to the front of the cultural hall. She got everyone singing along and we actually sang it twice!  Well, they know us now. On the way home we actually had to slow down for a family of kangaroos crossing the road.  We had seen some yesterday but this was our first dodging. I don't want to end up in a smash shop This morning, on our walkabout we met the Wilkerson family that was visiting for a wedding.  Good long talk and we got enough information to send a referral to the missi...

This morning we walked along lake Ginninderra and then had breakfast, cleaned up and headed over to the Yerribi ward meetinghouse to meet with the young missionaries.  We were early so we went to a local grocery store to pick up a 3 litre bottle of milk to go along with the brownies that Evelyn baked last night. We also bought some bananas,  apples and nectarines.  The milk is labelled "full cream".  We had the best meeting. Elder Palmer conducted. They spent a lot of time on their goals for the next transfer but there were wonderful testimonies shared. Missionaries from Fiji, Peru, Singapore  and the US. We came home for lunch and supposedly a smoke detector inspector but nobody came. We're going to Costco again to pick up a few more things. Even though the flat was previously occupied with senior missionaries we still have several things to make it home. I love how the Australians shorten words.  The University is referred to as the "Uni". So grateful...

When we arrived in Canberra,  on Tuesday afternoon, it was so awesome to finally be in our assignment.  The winds practically blew our car off the road and we dodged kangaroo carcasses all along the 3.5 hour drive.  We found our flat, unloaded our car and went across town to the Costco.  We brought our purchases back, had dinner and then went a few kilometers to a local mall for groceries.  As we were getting lost trying to find where we'd parked our white car (most cars here are white) a fellow ran up to us with a big  grin. He introduced himself as the Stake executive secretary.  We had just prayed that our first priority was to meet the Stake President.  Brett was so kind and immediately put us in touch with President Stuart.  He even shared a cookie with us as he directed us toward the parking.  So, last night,  Wednesday,  we drove over to the Stake center in Garran and had the best meeting ever. President Stuart was just ...

We are sitting in  a video conference with a fellow who is teaching us how to help people with their physical wellbeing.  The dietary habits of the islanders,  over the last 100 years, has created an increase in obesity and diabetes so the church is introducing new programs to help. We've just read their new book and they are asking us to assist, particularly the missionaries, with diet and exercise.  We've also been asked to teach English to the foreign language missionaries.  We met about 40 of the young missionaries last night at a music fireside and there are several missionaries from Korea,  China, the Philippines and Micronesia.   Tonight we're having dinner tonight with the office staff and President and Sister Runia. Elder and Sister Bingham will be there before they finish their mission this week.  This morning we exercised in the park, along with several senior citizens from China.  Evelyn is able to talk with everyone. 

We had a wonderful sabbath.  Went to church in downtown Sydney with the YSA ward. Lunch with Elder and Sister Maudsley and Stokers. Music fireside presented by the young missionaries.  It was beautiful 

I will do my best to put into words, the last two days. We are so excited! We departed from Salt  Lake on Monday evening. The flights were all on time. We were able to travel with Elder Nam who is from South Korea and a recent convert to the church. He is learning English and was very grateful to have us on those flights.  We didn't have access to our boarding passes for the flight to Sydney until we arrived in Los Angeles where we discovered our seats were not together,  on a very full Boeing 777. A flight attendant was helpful, and a kind gentleman moved so we were together.  (Fourth row from the back) Evelyn didn't even put on her seat belt before she introduced herself to the young man (19) who was returning to Australia after working the farming season Canada.  For the next fifteen hours, minus a few moments of sleeping, Evelyn taught the gospel.  Before we landed we had shared our contact information and a promise to continue our friendship. ...

It's before 5am and Evelyn is still sound asleep. Yesterday was great. I even volunteered to be in the choir just so I could see Ryan Eggett and Ellen Amatangelo. Since I can't sing parts I chose to sit with the tenors only so I could sit by Evelyn who sings alto. It was an amazing fireside with Elder Bassett. Our classes are primarily directed by recently returning missionaries and they are directed by the spirit. They are awesome. This morning my thoughts went to the temple in Star Valley. I can picture Chad standing at the recommend desk and those beautiful youth streaming through the front door heading to the baptistry. In David's psalm, 27, he records, in verse 4, "...that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple." I was blessed to be there. It's because of "there" that I'm "here" I'm still trying to figure our this blog so please be patient wit...

President Southward asked me to write a few last words before my release from serving as a counselor. I agree with Oliver Cowdrey that these were days never to be forgotten. To sit in council with President Southward, Sister Southward, President Mcnabb and many of you has been a sacred experience. This past Thursday I attended the baptism of a sweet sister who moved to Star Valley just a month ago. Two beautiful sister missionaries stood as witnesses and the joy of that moment was evident on everyone's face. Yesterday, Saturday morning, I was able to witness missionaries attending the Star Valley temple with another new convert as she was baptized, for and in behalf of, her grandmother and other deceased relatives. It was beautiful beyond words! Sisters and Elders, this is your moment, to be a part of a "perfect storm" of spiritual discovery here in the Idaho Pocatello Mission. What you are sharing is the recipe for true, and complete happiness. Joseph Smith decl...

Taking the obligatory picture