Monday, October 31, 2016
Sheila writes in black, when Rick writes, he does so in blue.
Seminary, skyping and then we met with a family and gave a home evening to the mother and two children. We took pizza to eat and talked about the plan of salvation and what Jesus did for us. It was an interesting experience. Hopefully, as we continue to do this, everything will fall into place.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
We find that Austraila, generally, is almost a totally sectarian country. There is much evidence of the former existence of religion in buildings and landmarks but it is like the Savior said, "having a form of Godliness, but they deny the power therof". I don't think that this is uncommon in the world, but is easily observeable to us because we are here. There are days that we long to be back in Zion among the ubiqutous, wonderful, faithful, worthy Saints of God who are members of the Church. We do have those same people here but they are few and far between. Almost all of the people that we come in contact with proclaim some form of aetheism or only a very casual relationship with a church. When we ask if they have a church, they say something like, "yeah, I think that I was a Methodist, or maybe an Angelican" because it has been so long since they have even thought of it. There is almost nothing that we see, besides the old churches, that would lead us to believe that a belief in God is even a part of anyones life.
The Missionaries here work very hard and are wonderful, humble, spititual servants who do have limited success with mostly foreigners. Very few white Australians are brought into the church. There are some Chinese students who join the church and then, after graduating, return home to spread the gospel where missionaries cannot go at this time. We have been very fortunate to work with many Elders and Sisters who are so great. We love the country and the beauty and diversity of landscape but we fear for the people who are so indifferent to God. We know what happens when people are prideful and rely on their own worldly wisdom. Humility may be coming down the tracks and the collision will not be pretty. This is not a prophecy nor a prediction of mine but a genuine fear for these otherwise good people. We pray continually for the people here in Australia that they will be spiritually awakened of their own accord and not have to suffer the judgements of God.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
After seminary and Elder Berger's dental appointment, we left for South Kentucky to meet with a less active sister, her son who is very limited because of extensive drug use as a teen and her granddaughter with cerebral palsy, who she is raising. We had a lovely visit and talked to her about the Book of Mormon.
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Off to Inverell to see our sweet sister who hasn't been feeling well and arrange for our monthly sacrament meeting schedule. We stopped to visit a minute with President Sully. We took the road to Tingha in order to get to Inverell a quicker route.
I just can't get enough of the gorgeous cloud filled skies and peaceful pastures with sheep and an occasional kankaroo
So many of the areas we travel have these huge rocks on top of each other surrounded by large fields; would be interesting to know how they came to be here
There has been so much rain that the road had two areas covered with water. Luckily, it wasn't as deep as it was wide
On the road to Tingha, we passed 8 houses painted yellow and once in Tingha,s the school and the church were also yellow. Someone had a sale on this paint.
Interesting tree with feathery, red blossoms called a bottlebrush.
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Finally a day without a forecast of rain in which to clean our very dirty car and then the afternoon to help JoAnn Pearce load her truck to move to Newcastle.
Sister Berger loves to vaccuum the floormats. I am her official photographer.
Brother Smith and Josh mowing and weed eating
I am doing what I do best. President Sully is sitting beside me (behind Josh) and we are discussing hunting rifles and calibers that would be particularly suited to culling kangaroos.
Too much long grass for the trash bin
President Sully giving the weed eater a try
Elder Berger overseeing the loading and taking a minute to rest. I need to test the chairs so that we do not send any uncomfortable ones to the new place. It takes time, but I will suffer through the ordeal.
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting with Sister Jackman, who livces three hours away, coming her one Sunday a month to teach Relief Society. Here is a look you don't see much back home in a "Zion" sacrament meeting.
Temporary purple hair, orange clothes, orange and purple blue nail polish, what a jazzy lady
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