All Mission Conference
It's Friday here in Canberra and will probably be above 85 degrees. We're staying inside today because I'm fighting a sore throat and bit of a fever. I was starting to feel it as we were driving toward Sydney on Tuesday but I'm so glad we made the trip. What a great experience the last three days have been.
We had seen some smoke and fires since we'd arrived in Australia but nothing like our drive to Sydney this week. Both directions we encountered probably 50 kilometers of heavy smoke. It was thick enough that Evelyn was covering her mouth and nose as we drove through it. The winds in Australia are nothing like what I've seen in the states. It even makes Rexburg and Reno seem tame. I can't imagine how hard that makes it for the firefighters.
We were invited to stay with the Blackhams in their flat near the Temple. When we arrived at the Mission home Sister Blackham said that she'd started a crock pot dinner that was waiting for us. After dinner we went over to the Balkham Hills Chapel and helped set up for the mission conference. The entire cultural hall was decorated with a South Pacific theme and everything was made ready for Wednesday.
I don't think that President and Sister Runia had any sleep on Tuesday. Wednesday morning all of the missionaries arrived at the church where they held their meeting. At noon we had a great lunch of chicken, pork, several salads, desserts, and drinks. There was still food left over when all of the missionaries were completely filled. After lunch they showed the film, The Other Side Of Heaven II. When the movie was over they all exited to a nearby soccer field where Sister Runia had orchestrated several games that they played in teams that were previously decided and identified by headbands and wristbands. They had soccer, kickball, relay races, a tug o war and even had a truck that came and provided flavored ice. It was hot and there are small flies that won't stay away from your eyes and mouth, along with ants but the elders and sisters loved it. When the games were done they returned to the church where Sister Runia had arranged, and personally made, a gift bag for every missionary. I'd never handed out packages and mail to nearly 200 missionaries before. It's only the first week of December but the packages from home are already arriving. The office missionaries seem to be watching for those young missionaries who don't receive mail because I noticed several bags were given out that hadn't come in the mail. That night we went with the Blackhams to a restaurant called "Hogs Breath" and it even has a few Harley's in the room. Good dinner and lots of conversation. As we were entering the restaurant we watched as thousands of large bats flew over the valley. I've never seen bigger bats. They seemed to be the size of a crow.
Yesterday, Thursday we went to the Temple and participated in a session with the senior couples. It was so awesome to be there and feel of the spirit. It was so easy to go back in my mind to the Star Valley Temple and see the people there. The spirit is the same, half a world away. After the temple we had lunch at Rashay's a local restaurant that is frequented by the mission staff. Then we had a meeting where Sister Runia and her husband gave wonderful talks. We then had an ornament exchange and dessert. By the time we hit the road home we were both exhausted and feeling the effects of a sore throat. It took us a little longer (3.5 hours) to get home because of traffic around Sydney. After we got away from the city we were able to maintain a 110 KPH as we headed through the bush. There were mobs of kangaroos along the road but fortunately we haven't hit one yet. There were also a few dead wombats along the road.
Today we made some more plans to include members with our working with the YSA here in Canberra and hope to build a program where they will want to come and participate.
We had seen some smoke and fires since we'd arrived in Australia but nothing like our drive to Sydney this week. Both directions we encountered probably 50 kilometers of heavy smoke. It was thick enough that Evelyn was covering her mouth and nose as we drove through it. The winds in Australia are nothing like what I've seen in the states. It even makes Rexburg and Reno seem tame. I can't imagine how hard that makes it for the firefighters.
We were invited to stay with the Blackhams in their flat near the Temple. When we arrived at the Mission home Sister Blackham said that she'd started a crock pot dinner that was waiting for us. After dinner we went over to the Balkham Hills Chapel and helped set up for the mission conference. The entire cultural hall was decorated with a South Pacific theme and everything was made ready for Wednesday.
I don't think that President and Sister Runia had any sleep on Tuesday. Wednesday morning all of the missionaries arrived at the church where they held their meeting. At noon we had a great lunch of chicken, pork, several salads, desserts, and drinks. There was still food left over when all of the missionaries were completely filled. After lunch they showed the film, The Other Side Of Heaven II. When the movie was over they all exited to a nearby soccer field where Sister Runia had orchestrated several games that they played in teams that were previously decided and identified by headbands and wristbands. They had soccer, kickball, relay races, a tug o war and even had a truck that came and provided flavored ice. It was hot and there are small flies that won't stay away from your eyes and mouth, along with ants but the elders and sisters loved it. When the games were done they returned to the church where Sister Runia had arranged, and personally made, a gift bag for every missionary. I'd never handed out packages and mail to nearly 200 missionaries before. It's only the first week of December but the packages from home are already arriving. The office missionaries seem to be watching for those young missionaries who don't receive mail because I noticed several bags were given out that hadn't come in the mail. That night we went with the Blackhams to a restaurant called "Hogs Breath" and it even has a few Harley's in the room. Good dinner and lots of conversation. As we were entering the restaurant we watched as thousands of large bats flew over the valley. I've never seen bigger bats. They seemed to be the size of a crow.
Yesterday, Thursday we went to the Temple and participated in a session with the senior couples. It was so awesome to be there and feel of the spirit. It was so easy to go back in my mind to the Star Valley Temple and see the people there. The spirit is the same, half a world away. After the temple we had lunch at Rashay's a local restaurant that is frequented by the mission staff. Then we had a meeting where Sister Runia and her husband gave wonderful talks. We then had an ornament exchange and dessert. By the time we hit the road home we were both exhausted and feeling the effects of a sore throat. It took us a little longer (3.5 hours) to get home because of traffic around Sydney. After we got away from the city we were able to maintain a 110 KPH as we headed through the bush. There were mobs of kangaroos along the road but fortunately we haven't hit one yet. There were also a few dead wombats along the road.
Today we made some more plans to include members with our working with the YSA here in Canberra and hope to build a program where they will want to come and participate.
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