Lee, Sister Salazar, and President Carter finally had a chance to meet
for the mission bike policy review. As I mentioned last week, Lee has
been gathering information from other missions on how they handle bikes
and they were able to formulate a new version for the Australia Adelaide
mission. Even that proposal was tweaked a bit in the meeting and Lee is
gathering final cost data from other bike vendors. The goal is to
encourage better bike care and maintenance by the missionaries and to
reduce repair costs. Finalization of the bike policy will occur at the
mission presidency meeting Thursday night.
The past week was slow in the office for both Lee and I. President and the assistants spent several days sequestered in his private office prayerfully planning transfers and companionship changes, as well as where and with whom to put the 8 new missionaries arriving Wednesday. It's a lengthy process but by Friday morning I was able to schedule travel, which includes both air and ferry this time. It could also include a bus trip but Buses R US doesn't run on Monday so a senior couple will make the 3 hour drive each way from Mildura to transport the missionaries from Robinvale, and the missionaries will drive in to Adelaide with Mildura missionaries from there, which still takes another 4 1/2 hours.
I've been told that Mildura is like the Willamette Valley in Oregon, very beautiful and agricultural. We are going to take a long weekend to go there sometime for fun!
This week we put into practice Elder Pearson's suggestion from the Senior missionary meeting/dinner. He counseled that the senior missionary schedule could include personal and companionship study, much like the young missionaries do on a daily basis. Although we were reading scriptures daily, we hadn't been having companionship study since we left Mount Gambier. Even though it is a time sacrifice to study every morning, I am confident that blessings beyond our expectations will be a result of our obedience.
I can't believe I'm sharing this most embarrassing moment on the blog but I'm hoping you'll have a good laugh and then have some empathy too. So.....before new owners move into one of the three flats on our driveway, they are having some interior built-ins installed. The workman's truck clogged the driveway so we parked on the street during our lunch break. After eating lunch, checking email, putting dinner in the crockpot etc, we refreshed in the powder room before walking out the garage door and proceeding down the driveway to where the car was parked. The workman had his van doors wide open at the rear so he could access tools and supplies, and a saw horse was set up as well. He was standing there measuring as we walked out, nodded and said "Thanks again mate!" We sauntered on down the driveway towards the car, and only when I smoothed my skirt to slide into the van did I realize THE BOTTOM BACK HEM OF MY SKIRT WAS CAUGHT IN THE WAISTBAND OF MY UNDERWEAR!!!!
We had a similar scenario happen at our grocery store in Oregon several years ago, although I didn't personally see it. The story goes that the poor woman walked across the entire front end of the store by the check stands with her skirt back tucked in her underwear. No one knew what to do or how to help or what to say. In fact, visualizing the scene has always given me the shivering fits as I imagined her extreme embarrassment once she realized her predicament. I don't have to imagine how mortifying it must have been THEN because I NOW know exactly how she felt!
We attended the temple Friday night and came home to eat dinner after.
We were invited by the assistants to join them to teach a single mom and her 12 year old son one night during the week. It was a beautiful evening and we sat outside in a common area to talk and the mosquitoes ate us alive while we visited!
General housekeeping, laundry, and grocery shopping took up Saturday morning after our regular walking and face timing the family. When Lee returned from the store we got a call from a set of sister missionaries that needed a ride because they were out of k's, so we jumped up and went to rescue them. By the time we got home, we were ready for a delicious afternoon nap. I spent the evening cooking and preparing ahead for Sunday dinner guests. Lee is always good to help me clean up!
The Sacrament meeting topic was gratitude and covered very nicely by two speakers. The Young Men's president showed a large empty jar and explained his intention to write daily on a small piece of paper something for which he was grateful. At the end of the year, it would be fun to review the blessings he had received and recognized. His challenge wasn't our own gratitude jar, although he highly recommended it, but rather to regularly 'count your many blessings.'
A lovely brother in our ward closed the meeting with prayer and I love listening to him pray. He's an older man with a terminal condition, yet is the epitome of kindness and service to others, and you can tell that he speaks to Heavenly Father regularly. He and his wife are stalwarts in the Firle ward and both are an inspiration as they serve in the temple and do genealogy work! I notice they are always smiling!
Another beautiful thing I witnessed in Sacrament meeting was a recent young adult convert passing the sacrament to the congregation. Shawn is so humble and bows (as part of his Chinese culture) to you as he passes the tray of bread and water. It's just so endearing that it brings tears your eyes to observe his reverence and respect.
Some of the investigators that our missionaries are teaching are international students attending the University of Adelaide. They are of all nations, but Chinese are especially receptive to our message as they are raised without any belief in God. Families from all over come to Australia for a better life for the children, but language is always a huge barrier. I've mentioned before that Adelaide is a melting pot of many cultures, which means even more accents to interpret than just Australian. It makes for some funny conversations though. We've been told that WE have an accent......people can tell right off that we are Americans.
The closing song in sacrament meeting was an addition to the hymnal to celebrate Australian Days, commemorating the discovery of Australia by Captain Cook. We were invited to attend a parade, fireworks, and take the bus downtown to look around and would have accepted if on any other day, but declined since it was on Sunday. Monday is the celebrated National Holiday and most everything will be closed. But it's back to school Tuesday.
Two young women aged girls were baptized Sunday after church. I've enjoyed getting to know Maggie, the mom, and they are a lovely family! Maggie and the older brother Jordan are investigating and it was beautiful to share the family experience yesterday.
We had the Firle sisters for dinner Sunday night. Lee barbecued burgers at their request and I made fruit salad and a veggie plate. Sister Lewis is 3rd child of 9 from Provo (her dad is a chemical engineering professor at BYU). Sister Lucas is from Tahiti, has already graduated from BYU Hawaii, and she is beautiful inside and out and has the most gorgeous long dark hair!
After dishes we were getting ready to relax when the phone rang. It was the Firle sisters saying they had received a call from a single mom in the ward who was sick and had requested a Priesthood blessing. We loaded up in the van and stopped to get the sisters to go with us to Hannah's house where she and a 1 year old were sick with a stomach bug. Poor little guy and poor mama to have to clean it up! Yuck!
We have planned for leavers and arrivers dinners this week and Lee will do the grocery shopping in between trips to the airport. With a change in every companionship in Alice springs and Darwin, the airport van and trailer will be loaded down with missionaries and baggage coming and going. More on that next week!
The past week was slow in the office for both Lee and I. President and the assistants spent several days sequestered in his private office prayerfully planning transfers and companionship changes, as well as where and with whom to put the 8 new missionaries arriving Wednesday. It's a lengthy process but by Friday morning I was able to schedule travel, which includes both air and ferry this time. It could also include a bus trip but Buses R US doesn't run on Monday so a senior couple will make the 3 hour drive each way from Mildura to transport the missionaries from Robinvale, and the missionaries will drive in to Adelaide with Mildura missionaries from there, which still takes another 4 1/2 hours.
I've been told that Mildura is like the Willamette Valley in Oregon, very beautiful and agricultural. We are going to take a long weekend to go there sometime for fun!
This week we put into practice Elder Pearson's suggestion from the Senior missionary meeting/dinner. He counseled that the senior missionary schedule could include personal and companionship study, much like the young missionaries do on a daily basis. Although we were reading scriptures daily, we hadn't been having companionship study since we left Mount Gambier. Even though it is a time sacrifice to study every morning, I am confident that blessings beyond our expectations will be a result of our obedience.
I can't believe I'm sharing this most embarrassing moment on the blog but I'm hoping you'll have a good laugh and then have some empathy too. So.....before new owners move into one of the three flats on our driveway, they are having some interior built-ins installed. The workman's truck clogged the driveway so we parked on the street during our lunch break. After eating lunch, checking email, putting dinner in the crockpot etc, we refreshed in the powder room before walking out the garage door and proceeding down the driveway to where the car was parked. The workman had his van doors wide open at the rear so he could access tools and supplies, and a saw horse was set up as well. He was standing there measuring as we walked out, nodded and said "Thanks again mate!" We sauntered on down the driveway towards the car, and only when I smoothed my skirt to slide into the van did I realize THE BOTTOM BACK HEM OF MY SKIRT WAS CAUGHT IN THE WAISTBAND OF MY UNDERWEAR!!!!
We had a similar scenario happen at our grocery store in Oregon several years ago, although I didn't personally see it. The story goes that the poor woman walked across the entire front end of the store by the check stands with her skirt back tucked in her underwear. No one knew what to do or how to help or what to say. In fact, visualizing the scene has always given me the shivering fits as I imagined her extreme embarrassment once she realized her predicament. I don't have to imagine how mortifying it must have been THEN because I NOW know exactly how she felt!
We attended the temple Friday night and came home to eat dinner after.
We were invited by the assistants to join them to teach a single mom and her 12 year old son one night during the week. It was a beautiful evening and we sat outside in a common area to talk and the mosquitoes ate us alive while we visited!
General housekeeping, laundry, and grocery shopping took up Saturday morning after our regular walking and face timing the family. When Lee returned from the store we got a call from a set of sister missionaries that needed a ride because they were out of k's, so we jumped up and went to rescue them. By the time we got home, we were ready for a delicious afternoon nap. I spent the evening cooking and preparing ahead for Sunday dinner guests. Lee is always good to help me clean up!
The Sacrament meeting topic was gratitude and covered very nicely by two speakers. The Young Men's president showed a large empty jar and explained his intention to write daily on a small piece of paper something for which he was grateful. At the end of the year, it would be fun to review the blessings he had received and recognized. His challenge wasn't our own gratitude jar, although he highly recommended it, but rather to regularly 'count your many blessings.'
A lovely brother in our ward closed the meeting with prayer and I love listening to him pray. He's an older man with a terminal condition, yet is the epitome of kindness and service to others, and you can tell that he speaks to Heavenly Father regularly. He and his wife are stalwarts in the Firle ward and both are an inspiration as they serve in the temple and do genealogy work! I notice they are always smiling!
Another beautiful thing I witnessed in Sacrament meeting was a recent young adult convert passing the sacrament to the congregation. Shawn is so humble and bows (as part of his Chinese culture) to you as he passes the tray of bread and water. It's just so endearing that it brings tears your eyes to observe his reverence and respect.
Some of the investigators that our missionaries are teaching are international students attending the University of Adelaide. They are of all nations, but Chinese are especially receptive to our message as they are raised without any belief in God. Families from all over come to Australia for a better life for the children, but language is always a huge barrier. I've mentioned before that Adelaide is a melting pot of many cultures, which means even more accents to interpret than just Australian. It makes for some funny conversations though. We've been told that WE have an accent......people can tell right off that we are Americans.
The closing song in sacrament meeting was an addition to the hymnal to celebrate Australian Days, commemorating the discovery of Australia by Captain Cook. We were invited to attend a parade, fireworks, and take the bus downtown to look around and would have accepted if on any other day, but declined since it was on Sunday. Monday is the celebrated National Holiday and most everything will be closed. But it's back to school Tuesday.
Two young women aged girls were baptized Sunday after church. I've enjoyed getting to know Maggie, the mom, and they are a lovely family! Maggie and the older brother Jordan are investigating and it was beautiful to share the family experience yesterday.
We had the Firle sisters for dinner Sunday night. Lee barbecued burgers at their request and I made fruit salad and a veggie plate. Sister Lewis is 3rd child of 9 from Provo (her dad is a chemical engineering professor at BYU). Sister Lucas is from Tahiti, has already graduated from BYU Hawaii, and she is beautiful inside and out and has the most gorgeous long dark hair!
After dishes we were getting ready to relax when the phone rang. It was the Firle sisters saying they had received a call from a single mom in the ward who was sick and had requested a Priesthood blessing. We loaded up in the van and stopped to get the sisters to go with us to Hannah's house where she and a 1 year old were sick with a stomach bug. Poor little guy and poor mama to have to clean it up! Yuck!
We have planned for leavers and arrivers dinners this week and Lee will do the grocery shopping in between trips to the airport. With a change in every companionship in Alice springs and Darwin, the airport van and trailer will be loaded down with missionaries and baggage coming and going. More on that next week!
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