Moving to Mt. Gambier.

We met with the mission president, President Carter, for two hours and are moving to Mt. Gambier.  Mt Gambier has 140 members but only 45 attend. There are two sets of missionaries, plus us sent to work there. We are better trained after the MTC to listen, discern needs and concerns, and then invite ( to church, to pray, to read The Book of Mormon, to feel like they did when they were baptized, to feel peace or ?)

President and Sister Carter took us to a Mexican grill last night and though is was good, it was very small portions.  Papa and I came home and had soup for dinner at 8pm after they dropped us off. Mine was two small corn tortillas with a chicken cheese filling, ( it was thin and hardly any chicken, although very flavorful).

The Carters are Utes fans.

Papa drove for the first time yesterday . It's very narrow lanes and feels scary. 

 We left the mission office by 10:30 am Friday and arrived in Mt Gambier by 4pm with a couple of pit stops and lunch stop. The Judd's (another missionary couple) drove down with us thankfully, so we followed them the whole way. He drove right to the flat without ever being here with the help of GPS . The missionaries helped us unload and find the actual flat as they were here to help the housing people haul furnishings in, etc. when the flat was set up. The numbers are wacky so we would never have found it without them even though we have the apartment number. It was a total GONG show, the 6 of us staggering in and out of the elevator  (it's a tender mercy that there even is an elevator) With 4 large suitcases, 2 carry-ons, heavy computer bag and another carry-on plus my purse and garbage bags of bedding etc. plus a portable space heater.

Drove through miles and miles of beautiful flat green pastureland.  The landscape reminds us of Oregon a little bit.  Its very green and we saw lots of sheep, cows, few horses, and sorry, no kangaroos or koalas.

The Carter's saw a koala just down the street a couple of days ago, so I am on the lookout.

No, its not a Minecraft sign....it means get back and quit following so close.

 On the way here is also wine country... Miles and miles of vineyards...it's still really hard to remember to drive on the other side of the road.

After one pit stop we looked left and pulled back onto the highway going right and looked up to see a semi coming toward us. It wasn't close but we realized how it 'could' have been and were very sobered by the experience. Another tender mercy on my growing list.

We read part of the missionary handbook in the car for our study time. And reviewed D&C 31:1-6 last night before bed, which President Carter shared in our interview. He had us insert our own names in the first line and said maybe the family afflictions didn't fit, but as we read the rest, please know this gives us great comfort, encouragement, confidence and the ability to be away from you all.

The Judd's left to find a motel room and while they were gone we unpacked and organized. They picked us up after 6 and we searched for something for dinner. Stores close by 5 or 6. There are Subways everywhere, and lots of storefront tiny restaurants like New York, so we tried Chinese and it was $50.00 and gross. It was fun visiting with the Judd's though. We were home by 8 and in bed after the scriptures and prayers.

On Saturday we got up and were ready to leave at 9am this morning. We didn't get home from getting a clothes dryer (which Papa and Elder Judd set up) and food shopping until almost noon. Also bought a crock pot, flat iron, toiletries, food etc.  Dropped it all off here and set up the clothes dryer then went to inspect the two sets of missionary housing....so met the other elders. ( Mt. Gambier is divided into two sections with a set of elders for each, plus us for support.)

We had lunch at Subway for 23.00 for a 12 inch and a 6 in sandwich, plus 3.40 for a 20 oz bottle coke. It's very expensive here. We spent 253.00 at the grocery store!

It's turned out cold today, but after lunch we drove a short distance to see the blue lake and also about 20 miles to the ocean. It was windy and I cannot get warm.

We will go back to Adelaide September13th, and have three weeks training in the mission office with the Judd's, before they leave October 4th . Then we move into their place that is quite nice...3 bedrooms, living room, family room, kitchen, laundry.

We love you all! 

The church is true or we'd be home with you!