A new, yet old sight
It's the 27th of March but my computer says that it is 5:20 AM on the 28th. It's a bit confused, and so am I, because I'm sitting at my desk, here in Wyoming. It was just yesterday, literally that we were in Australia.
We began our Thursday morning by meeting Elder and Sister Stoker at 4 in the morning to be driven to the Sydney airport. They dropped us off at the International terminal and we said our farewells. When we entered the building we realized we were at the wrong terminal, which is not accessible to the domestic side so we took a cab over to the other side. We watched people buying tickets for the few flights that were scheduled. We checked our bags and then met a fellow who has spent the last six months in Tasmania, as an ecologist. He has really long, blonde hair and a beard and a smile a mile wide. Come to find out, he's actually from Utah and a member of our faith. Although he's been apart from the church for many years he's not antagonistic and he has a heart of gold. He had been out of contact with any of the world for several weeks and when he came back into civilization, it was to see a world turned upside down. His parents were worried sick about him and he was making his way back to the states. After our arrival in Brisbane we continued our conversations and we're going to be friends with Hunter (yes, that's his name) forever.
The Brisbane airport was almost like a ghost town. All flights had been cancelled except for 3 jumbo jets. One going to Canada, one to New Zealand and ours to California. It took several hours before the plane would actually push back from the ramp. There wasn't a spare seat so we knew we were going to be spending 15 hours in a petri dish. Most of the passengers were US citizens returning home. Our seatmate was a fellow from North Carolina who works for the US Army fulltime. Yohan was raised in Ohio and it wasn't hard to turn the conversation to the gospel. He had never been to Kirtland so I started there. We had some deep conversation about Joseph Smith, the restoration, and a living prophet. When we had concluded our flight he was rather excited to find the church website and he wanted to learn more about President Nelson. He wasn't raised with any religious experience but he acknowledged there is a power greater than we can see.
We were required to go through Customs in LA which was probably one of the easiest experiences I've ever had in that airport. It was so quiet. Very few people through the terminal but every place you looked there were missionaries. Apparently the chartered jets were landing from Brazil and the young elders and sisters were scrambling to various connections. After we found our gate we started up a conversation with the group that were heading back to Salt Lake City. When we identified ourselves, one of the elders said, "do you know President Southward?" Come to find out he's the Southward's nephew. I sent a message to the Southwards and when they answered the phone, I had the camera so they could only see my face. "What a small world", I said and then pointed the camera at their nephew. They were excited to see him and we had a sweet moment together.
The flight to Salt Lake had less than 20 people on it. The airport in Salt Lake looked like a storage facility for Delta. Because it is one of their regional hubs they've started parking their planes now that the air travel is dramatically slowing down. There were less than 10 people on the flight to Jackson. As we were landing Evelyn looked out the window and said, "there's our car". Chad was driving into the parking lot as we were taxiing down the runway. Camie had followed in their car and we were able to drive our car home without contaminating anyone. One of Evelyn's bags didn't make it home so hopefully they can locate it and get it shipped to us.
When we drove up our lane we came past piles of snow that are six feet tall from where Chad had cleared the driveway. He had put food into the refrigerator and had everything warm and welcoming. Before we had everything unpacked Mark and Lisa Luthi had driven up to ask us what we wanted from Juan's House of Tacos since that was where they were going for their own dinner. Then Chad brought up a loaf of banana bread that Sam Jenkins had made for us.
We said good morning to Australia, good morning to California, travelled 8,000 miles and made a Thursday that would actually be 42 hours in length.
We began our Thursday morning by meeting Elder and Sister Stoker at 4 in the morning to be driven to the Sydney airport. They dropped us off at the International terminal and we said our farewells. When we entered the building we realized we were at the wrong terminal, which is not accessible to the domestic side so we took a cab over to the other side. We watched people buying tickets for the few flights that were scheduled. We checked our bags and then met a fellow who has spent the last six months in Tasmania, as an ecologist. He has really long, blonde hair and a beard and a smile a mile wide. Come to find out, he's actually from Utah and a member of our faith. Although he's been apart from the church for many years he's not antagonistic and he has a heart of gold. He had been out of contact with any of the world for several weeks and when he came back into civilization, it was to see a world turned upside down. His parents were worried sick about him and he was making his way back to the states. After our arrival in Brisbane we continued our conversations and we're going to be friends with Hunter (yes, that's his name) forever.
The Brisbane airport was almost like a ghost town. All flights had been cancelled except for 3 jumbo jets. One going to Canada, one to New Zealand and ours to California. It took several hours before the plane would actually push back from the ramp. There wasn't a spare seat so we knew we were going to be spending 15 hours in a petri dish. Most of the passengers were US citizens returning home. Our seatmate was a fellow from North Carolina who works for the US Army fulltime. Yohan was raised in Ohio and it wasn't hard to turn the conversation to the gospel. He had never been to Kirtland so I started there. We had some deep conversation about Joseph Smith, the restoration, and a living prophet. When we had concluded our flight he was rather excited to find the church website and he wanted to learn more about President Nelson. He wasn't raised with any religious experience but he acknowledged there is a power greater than we can see.
We were required to go through Customs in LA which was probably one of the easiest experiences I've ever had in that airport. It was so quiet. Very few people through the terminal but every place you looked there were missionaries. Apparently the chartered jets were landing from Brazil and the young elders and sisters were scrambling to various connections. After we found our gate we started up a conversation with the group that were heading back to Salt Lake City. When we identified ourselves, one of the elders said, "do you know President Southward?" Come to find out he's the Southward's nephew. I sent a message to the Southwards and when they answered the phone, I had the camera so they could only see my face. "What a small world", I said and then pointed the camera at their nephew. They were excited to see him and we had a sweet moment together.
The flight to Salt Lake had less than 20 people on it. The airport in Salt Lake looked like a storage facility for Delta. Because it is one of their regional hubs they've started parking their planes now that the air travel is dramatically slowing down. There were less than 10 people on the flight to Jackson. As we were landing Evelyn looked out the window and said, "there's our car". Chad was driving into the parking lot as we were taxiing down the runway. Camie had followed in their car and we were able to drive our car home without contaminating anyone. One of Evelyn's bags didn't make it home so hopefully they can locate it and get it shipped to us.
When we drove up our lane we came past piles of snow that are six feet tall from where Chad had cleared the driveway. He had put food into the refrigerator and had everything warm and welcoming. Before we had everything unpacked Mark and Lisa Luthi had driven up to ask us what we wanted from Juan's House of Tacos since that was where they were going for their own dinner. Then Chad brought up a loaf of banana bread that Sam Jenkins had made for us.
We said good morning to Australia, good morning to California, travelled 8,000 miles and made a Thursday that would actually be 42 hours in length.
What a great experience. My wanderlust is experienced through books and each book is a great journey. I envy those that travel and especially for the Lord. I will keep you in my prayers that you survive this adventure without becoming sick. Please give my love to Evelyn. My thoughts and prayers, Sharon
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