Sunday, 17 April, 2016
Monday, April 11, 2016
Due to the fact that we have no Wi fi I have not commented. When we organize that, I'll be back.

Things I appreciate about Australia, I may have mentioned them before: Beautiful singing birds and crying birds and sarcastic birds accompanying me on my daily walks.  I am glad to have found a walking path to the side of our motel.  The water here is HOT within seconds so one must learn to start with the cold water but it is nice when I am cold and tired to know a bath tub will be as hot as anyone could want it to be rather quickly.  I love the beautiful skies, the green foliage and can't wait to return to the ocean that was so inspiring and beautiful during our District Conference in Coffs Harbor.

Jaywalking is legal here.  However, we are probably crazy as we jaywalk across the street that is known as the busiest street in Australia, to get lunch every day at the mall.  I don't feel my age as I run to get to the center barrier of the street.  We had fish and chips today.

My job at the office is serious stuff.  If I mess up the missionaries won't have what they need when they arrive and won't have what they need when they return to go home, i.e. tickets and luggage requirements or visa extensions when they expire before their mission release date.  I have to create and laminate maps which anyone who knows me well will be laughing over at the minute they read this but I figure if I have to, I know the elder down the hall who is good at directions and maps.

We attended our Senior Missionary Couples family home evening dinner tonight that was very special as it included a farewell to the Williams whose place we are attempting to take.  Thank goodness they will be here for another nine days. Elder Williams has an accent that is Australian, English and a touch of Irish.  It is fun to listen to and I think he can get away with  slightly blunt comments that come across quite funny.  We enjoyed a pork roast, mashed potatoes, salad and corn - an American meal!

Left to right Dale Fillmore and his wife.  It was such a surprise to me to find Dale Fillmore here on a mission.  He managed Stampin' Up! for years and I typed his name and billed to him for many, many years.  They are lovely people.

Left to right; Elder & Sisters Kinghorn, Dinger, Fillmore, Asplund, Willis, Berger, Williams, President & Sister Checketts, Leister, Ellis, Payne, and Mackey, with Sister Black in front.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

As we ran across the busy street to get lunch at the fish and chips place and returned to work, we stopped to look at this fun car and think about what a variety of blessings and gifts life presents.  This car was parked in the temple parking lot.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

We got up early and cleaned our motel room and moved into our temporary flat on the temple block which means we can walk to work, home for lunch, can walk to the temple and it is wonderful.  The flat is small but very cute, decorated nicely.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Wonderful of wonderful to awaken and use as my walking path, the sidewalks around the distribution center, our Buckland house office, and the temple grounds.  The sunrise was gorgeous and the bird song made my time very enjoyable.  I am so very thankful to my Heavenly Father for the health to walk and enjoy this marvelous experience. Being part of the mission office personnel is a wonderful and challenging experience as I am learning so any new things without the experience of the frame of reference that makes all of it make sense.  I imagine Elder Berger is finding similar feelings.  These people are wonderful.  No matter their age, in this work, you really do not think of age or the weaknesses of age, you just forge ahead doing what needs to be done and the Lord blesses us to be equal to the task.

Elder and Sister Leister invited us and the Williams to attend dinner at their house.  We enjoyed a delicious Chinese dish with pear cobbler for dessert.  We must have talked about just about every topic, lots on the church, the prophet, the mission, testimony and quite a bit about the music of the sixties.  It is so fun to hear the perspective of our Aussie couple, the Williams and their accent too.  They married, second marriages, seventeen years ago and are a great example of two soulmates who really enjoy each other.  They tease and joke and really have a good time and add so much to the lives of the missionaries.

Saturday, April l6, 2016

We joined seven other senior missionary couples and traveled by train to downtown Sydney to see Fiddler on the roof.  It was fun to go with the Blacks who know downtown Sydney much better than we do.  We ate lunch at a lovely cafe and stopped at a dark chocolate factory that is supposed to be known as the best and really enjoyed attending Fiddler on the Roof.  The main character, The main character, Tevia, was played by one of Australia's best the Williams told us and his voice was marvelous.  

Finally a kookaburra outside our new flat

Waiting for the train

Lunch

World Square

We got our wings!

At the show.

 

Moon for the Fiddler on the roof

Actor who played Tevia

Sunday, April 17, 2017

Our beautiful granddaughter, Lyla, turned four today, and my heart has a hollowness that we are not with her.  These darling grandchildren grow so quickly it is hard to miss any of it.

Happy Birthday Lila!!!