Transfer week started out hectic...but we LOVE seeing missionaries from
near and far. I shared a new recipe of banana bread on Monday although
only a few zone leaders came to the office. Those who did come by raved
about the recipe.. (the secret ingredient was sour cream).
Sister Baker was on her own again Monday and had a tough time without Elder Goodrich there. We are no help as we are clueless about her finance duties.
Lee made two trips to the airport Monday and brought back 5 being transferred from Darwin the first trip. On the second trip, he collected the Carter's and two missionaries being transferred, all from Alice Springs.
Travelers with the Whites: Sisters Latu and Moss, Elders Wilson, Hatch and Wilkinson
Once Lee dropped me early at the office that morning, he did the grocery shopping for leaver and arriver dinner supplies. I already cooked meat on the weekend, so I was able to assemble chicken and beef enchiladas after work Monday. We skipped the Monday morning spiritual thought since Goodrichs and Lee were gone and planned for Tuesday instead. Sister Baker was in charge.
The assistants invited us to go teaching to Zochrae at 8 pm Monday and honestly, we didn't complain when the text came in saying the appointment was postponed until another time. So by the time I assembled the enchiladas and cleaned up, I didn't even sit down until 8:00 pm. "Been a long day" as my granddaughter would say.
We were in the office by 8:00 am Tuesday because President had called late Monday evening asking me how the 'project' was coming and if I would possibly have the data summarized in time for his meeting at 12:30 Tuesday? What? Lee helped me drop the data into the revised excel document. It was a huge blessing to have him read me the info as I typed it in. At 9:30am I took the limited info I had to President and he was thrilled!
We were all seated in transfer meeting by 9:55. It was Sister Baker's first transfer in Australia, (did I tell you she served previous missions in Ghana and Nauvoo?) Leavers were Elders Aiono, Nay, Sexton, Tuiluaii, Tuitasi, Paulo, and Wilson. I know we shouldn't have favorites but we do. We really love Elder Sexton and will probably meet up with him again in Utah as he is headed to BYU.
The office was hopping with missionaries before and after transfer meeting. I really didn't get any WORK done but I was busy all day. Lee drove some biking missionaries home after transfer and training meetings. Elder Sexton had asked if I would have time to give him a final haircut and it worked out about 4:15. Lee drove us over in the van and we were finished in less than 40 minutes. I didn't go back to the office but we went to the mission home by 5:45 to get dinner in the oven. As it turned out, no need to rush...we had plenty of time to chat with the leavers and discuss aboriginal artists in Alice Springs with Sister Carter.
A couple of paintings from Alice Springs...I love these!
In his talk, President Carter said that the progress and growth of missionaries is the miracle! This group is special since they were Carter's first intake two years ago when Carter's first arrived in Australia. He described Elders Aiono and Kruger (who he sat by on the plane the day before from Alice Springs) as big trees and encouraged us to grow together in families, zones, and districts as our own sacred grove of trees. Strong trees face opposition (wind, weather etc). True growth doesn't come without opposition in people either. Trees grow toward the light of the sun, people grow toward the light of the Son.
Sister Baker was on her own again Monday and had a tough time without Elder Goodrich there. We are no help as we are clueless about her finance duties.
Lee made two trips to the airport Monday and brought back 5 being transferred from Darwin the first trip. On the second trip, he collected the Carter's and two missionaries being transferred, all from Alice Springs.
Once Lee dropped me early at the office that morning, he did the grocery shopping for leaver and arriver dinner supplies. I already cooked meat on the weekend, so I was able to assemble chicken and beef enchiladas after work Monday. We skipped the Monday morning spiritual thought since Goodrichs and Lee were gone and planned for Tuesday instead. Sister Baker was in charge.
The assistants invited us to go teaching to Zochrae at 8 pm Monday and honestly, we didn't complain when the text came in saying the appointment was postponed until another time. So by the time I assembled the enchiladas and cleaned up, I didn't even sit down until 8:00 pm. "Been a long day" as my granddaughter would say.
We were in the office by 8:00 am Tuesday because President had called late Monday evening asking me how the 'project' was coming and if I would possibly have the data summarized in time for his meeting at 12:30 Tuesday? What? Lee helped me drop the data into the revised excel document. It was a huge blessing to have him read me the info as I typed it in. At 9:30am I took the limited info I had to President and he was thrilled!
We were all seated in transfer meeting by 9:55. It was Sister Baker's first transfer in Australia, (did I tell you she served previous missions in Ghana and Nauvoo?) Leavers were Elders Aiono, Nay, Sexton, Tuiluaii, Tuitasi, Paulo, and Wilson. I know we shouldn't have favorites but we do. We really love Elder Sexton and will probably meet up with him again in Utah as he is headed to BYU.
The office was hopping with missionaries before and after transfer meeting. I really didn't get any WORK done but I was busy all day. Lee drove some biking missionaries home after transfer and training meetings. Elder Sexton had asked if I would have time to give him a final haircut and it worked out about 4:15. Lee drove us over in the van and we were finished in less than 40 minutes. I didn't go back to the office but we went to the mission home by 5:45 to get dinner in the oven. As it turned out, no need to rush...we had plenty of time to chat with the leavers and discuss aboriginal artists in Alice Springs with Sister Carter.
In his talk, President Carter said that the progress and growth of missionaries is the miracle! This group is special since they were Carter's first intake two years ago when Carter's first arrived in Australia. He described Elders Aiono and Kruger (who he sat by on the plane the day before from Alice Springs) as big trees and encouraged us to grow together in families, zones, and districts as our own sacred grove of trees. Strong trees face opposition (wind, weather etc). True growth doesn't come without opposition in people either. Trees grow toward the light of the sun, people grow toward the light of the Son.
Highlights from their testimonies are as follows:
Elder Paulo: Be humble and love those you work with, teach, and serve
Elder Tuitasi: Develop and keep positive attitude
Elder Tuiluaii': Study, increase desire to be obedient
Elder Wilson: Trust Pres Carter, have joy in the journey
Elder Nay: No success on the mission until we submit OUR will to His, music is valuable and wonderful
Elder Sexton: Remember! To follow the spirit, it's a workshop not a camp, your covenants
Elder Aiono: Love Pres Carter, love your companions, apply training
We received email notification that the three US missionaries' flight from SLC to LA was cancelled and the soonest church travel could rebook is 21 July as there were no seats available from LA to Australia. That means the missionaries had to go back to the Provo MTC for a week.
Leaver dinner turned out well. President was running a little late so we started eating without him at 7:00 pm while he finished the last leaver interview. Holding the enchiladas in the oven didn't do too much harm and we served banana splits for dessert. Leaver testimonies followed, along with the Carter's remarks, and then they sang their parting song. We took pictures and finished cleaning up and fell into bed after 9:30. Another very long day!
Wednesday Lee had two trips to the airport transporting transfer missionaries as well as leavers. The four missionaries coming in from the New Zealand MTC missed their connecting flight in Melbourne because they were delayed at customs, but they caught another flight and arrived only two hours late. President and Sister Carter met them at the airport as did Lee. President began interviews as soon as we took individual arrival pictures in front of the mission office once they were back in Firle.
Parents love receiving the email and picture of their son or daughter with the Carters confirming that their missionary arrived safely in Adelaide Australia. I try to get them out the day after, but it didn't happen this time as every spare minute has been spent on the "project."
My goal for project completion is Tuesday night, in time for the first monthly stake Presidents meeting. The stake president, President Carter, and the zone leaders in that stake attend. I prepare a packet for each stake pres with other reports and include a copy of the Zion Rescue and picture list of new missionaries in their stake after transfers. We have three stakes in Adelaide and President Carter meets with them monthly.
The four Wednesday arrivers got to the office just before a huge downpour and we were putting them through orientation with the financial clerks, interviewing w pres, housing, etc and then the power went out at 4:10. Because power wasn't restored over the next hour or two, Sister Carter finally called off the dinner since the church nor our flats had power either. What a total GONG SHOW!
Lee and the Goodrichs went back over to the church in the dark to take down everything that was set up, and brought back the food and supplies in a downpour. It was the arriver's dinner that never was! We'll organize and do it again next Wednesday when the rest of the intake arrives, although Mildura and Port Augusta Elders left Thursday to go back to their assigned areas.
Thursday Lee took an Elder transferred to Alice springs to the airport. He was supposed to travel North with one of the new missionaries but that didn't happen since the new Elder was delayed a week as mentioned above. Two more bikes were stolen from inside an unlocked garage this week. No sugar coating here...this issue is extremely frustrating! We send emails, make phone calls, give guidance, and reminders, and STILL have unlocked bikes, cars, and flats!
Friday Lee took the Carter's to the airport for their trip to Darwin for zone conference and they returned again Sunday. They took a lost red bag up that belonged to one of the transferred sisters since hers was left in the early morning craziness of packing the trailer in the dark office parking lot. Later Friday, Lee cleaned the shed after shoving things just inside the door during transfer week, since he couldn't stand the disarray a moment longer. He also washed the van and Presidents car after dropping me off and picking me up from the hairdressers. We finalized head counts and menus for zone conference lunches coming up next week and I worked on the "project." I also made phone calls and placed the 2nd ZAAM hoodie order.
Lee was chewing on a chocolate covered caramel and pulled off the crown on his tooth implant.
He didn't want to confess it since I've warned him of the hazards of caramel and crowns.
Friday, the assistants invited us to go teaching and to dinner at Rachel's. She is a friend of Sammie's and very receptive to the message. Recently, she experienced an answer to a personal prayer and was excited to tell us about it! Rachel served a huge plate to each of us with chicken, shrimp, onion, and potato in a thick gravy beside a mound of white rice, along with a Kim shee beef/tofu soup. The gravy was okay, but the soup not so much to my liking. In addition, I prefer to dish my own plate rather than having the hostess do it as is common in Australia.
We had a lovely lesson afterward introducing Rachel to the Book of Mormon and they presented her a copy in Chinese. She was thrilled and committed to read chapter 1. Her boyfriend Frank returned Sunday from China and we haven't met him yet.
We find the Chinese to be open and accepting to the concepts of God and Jesus Christ, in spite of no previous religious training, or maybe BECAUSE of no previous religious training. They are eager to listen and to learn and it is a blessing to be involved in the process.
Teaching about Jesus Christ with the language barrier is very challenging, but the missionaries have learned a few Chinese words and are able to make us smile with their efforts at pronunciation. Good on them for making the attempt!! They had Rachel smiling too!
Saturday, Sister Carter called from Darwin about the previously mentioned red bag and described Sister Moss' disappointment when she saw WHICH bag Sister Carter brought. We went to the storage vault and sure enough, there was another bag for Sister Moss and it wasn't red, but gray. So Monday, Lee will investigate the quickest and most economical way to get it to Darwin since Carters don't go again for another month. GONG SHOW!
We did our regular Saturday housekeeping and laundry. I made oatmeal cookies in the afternoon, some for the missionaries and some as a thank you to our English class sub.
My homemade chili was a little disappointing for dinner since it didn't turn out as tasty as the last time I made it.
Sunday sacrament meeting theme was adversity and all three talks were about the blessings and power of the Atonement and how faith in the Savior can help us through our challenges. English class was on "Making an Appointment" and we reviewed Talking about our Hobbies with Danny and Christina, Max and Sammie, and Taylor.
At the beginning of English class, Lee gave a brief summary of what had been said in Sacrament meeting and they all seemed appreciative and enlightened. Bless their hearts! Max said he noticed that men wear shirts, ties, and suits to church. We explained that it is a good way to show respect and that eventually he probably would want to wear them too. He smiled and nodded.
Danny had his baptismal interview Sunday and we took all five of them to see the baptismal font after English class and showed them how and where the baptisms take place.
We napped after lunch and left for the airport at 3:40. After fighting through the downtown Adelaide traffic jam from the football game crowd, we still made it in plenty of time. Carter's 4:45 flight was 20 minutes late but it was fine to sit and people watch.
We dropped Carter's off and had a light snack at home. It was sunny with a few clouds and dry all weekend. Our pilot light went out again for the 5th or 6th time in the past two weeks. The landlord hasn't been over nor sent a repairman yet, so Lee is feeling a bit annoyed. We never know when or why it goes out or for how long. It gets cold fast in the house with no heat and no insulation.
The weeks really do fly by and it was a good week in spite of the Gong Shows! You just have to keep smiling and it all works out.
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