Monday, December 9th
Except for the clanking of the washing machine, back behind the kitchen, it is relatively quiet here in the flat. It won't be that way in awhile when the young adults arrive. Hopefully the flat will be filled and loud after 7pm. The smoke is so bad outside that it doesn't feel healthy to spend any more time outside than is necessary. We went to Costco this morning after our workout at the gym. It was a much lighter workout than normal because we've both been a bit under the weather. We went to the "Woolies" next door to Costco to pick up some things and we had lunch at the little Asian food shop. That was our second try of their food and neither time was very exciting so we'll move on. We spent some time visiting with one of the sample servers, a woman who moved here, from the states, to retire with her husband. We exchanged phone numbers and Facebook information so we'll invite them to come to church with us.
Last night was the Stake Christmas Music Fireside and it was wonderful. It was done under the direction of Silva de Mon, one of our YSA and she was incredible. There were numbers from several different cultures and participation by other Christian faiths. Evelyn was invited to give the opening prayer and I read a few verses from Luke 2. There were refreshments afterward and the volume in that building was louder than anything I've ever been exposed to. The love, laughter and banter from these people is great! I have to admit that my favorite music is when the islanders sing.
Yesterday we were invited to speak in the Black Mountain Ward and we were joined at the pulpit by a young man who just returned from the Adelaide mission, Elder Jonathan Fangi'i'uiha. He was incredible as he stood there wearing his lava lava. I asked him afterward if he had met Elder Jeske and he definitely remembered him. Elder Jeske is the son of our Bishop back in Freedom.
In every meeting, in every gathering, the people are praying for rain and for help with the fires. I've been around several forest fires but I've never seen such constant smoke as there is around this east coast of Australia. Every day we hear about homes being destroyed and so much property damage.
Last night we had some visitors who will be staying with us for a few days. Sister Kyra Jackson just finished her mission here a few weeks ago and she's returned with her parents. Her dad also served in this mission, about 25 years ago so this trip is very meaningful. They are off seeing the sights today and will probably be returning to Sydney on Wednesday. They're from the Ogden area of Utah.
When a person reports on their mission, it sounds like there were so many awesome moments and that you're constantly having success. Not at all true, sometimes it's boring, discouraging and even lonely. During the past few days I've had 4 sister missionaries ask for a priesthood blessing and the most common feeling that I've felt impressed to address is discouragement. It's tough when you attend a mission conference, like we did last week, and all these people are talking about spiritual moments and people who are joining the church. Yet, in your own assignment it doesn't feel like that at all. I can't imagine how tough that is for those sweet young ladies because I get discouraged and I'm here with my own companion. Most of these sisters come from different countries and speak different languages. How would that be?
I doubt that anyone will ever read this far into the blog so I'm really just recording this as a journal but I want to express how grateful I am for a testimony that includes the understanding that we're hear because we believe. We believe in a gospel that's been restored and includes a living Prophet, continued revelation and tells us, with absolute clarity, that Jesus is the Christ, that he was born in the meridian of time and through his atonement, death and resurrection we can live again. It's true.
Last night was the Stake Christmas Music Fireside and it was wonderful. It was done under the direction of Silva de Mon, one of our YSA and she was incredible. There were numbers from several different cultures and participation by other Christian faiths. Evelyn was invited to give the opening prayer and I read a few verses from Luke 2. There were refreshments afterward and the volume in that building was louder than anything I've ever been exposed to. The love, laughter and banter from these people is great! I have to admit that my favorite music is when the islanders sing.
Yesterday we were invited to speak in the Black Mountain Ward and we were joined at the pulpit by a young man who just returned from the Adelaide mission, Elder Jonathan Fangi'i'uiha. He was incredible as he stood there wearing his lava lava. I asked him afterward if he had met Elder Jeske and he definitely remembered him. Elder Jeske is the son of our Bishop back in Freedom.
In every meeting, in every gathering, the people are praying for rain and for help with the fires. I've been around several forest fires but I've never seen such constant smoke as there is around this east coast of Australia. Every day we hear about homes being destroyed and so much property damage.
Last night we had some visitors who will be staying with us for a few days. Sister Kyra Jackson just finished her mission here a few weeks ago and she's returned with her parents. Her dad also served in this mission, about 25 years ago so this trip is very meaningful. They are off seeing the sights today and will probably be returning to Sydney on Wednesday. They're from the Ogden area of Utah.
When a person reports on their mission, it sounds like there were so many awesome moments and that you're constantly having success. Not at all true, sometimes it's boring, discouraging and even lonely. During the past few days I've had 4 sister missionaries ask for a priesthood blessing and the most common feeling that I've felt impressed to address is discouragement. It's tough when you attend a mission conference, like we did last week, and all these people are talking about spiritual moments and people who are joining the church. Yet, in your own assignment it doesn't feel like that at all. I can't imagine how tough that is for those sweet young ladies because I get discouraged and I'm here with my own companion. Most of these sisters come from different countries and speak different languages. How would that be?
I doubt that anyone will ever read this far into the blog so I'm really just recording this as a journal but I want to express how grateful I am for a testimony that includes the understanding that we're hear because we believe. We believe in a gospel that's been restored and includes a living Prophet, continued revelation and tells us, with absolute clarity, that Jesus is the Christ, that he was born in the meridian of time and through his atonement, death and resurrection we can live again. It's true.
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