Some additional pictures from our most recent Zone Conference in Maitland.
Our Zone being as normal as possible.
Our Zone acting Crazy!
President Checketts doing training.
Pizza for lunch!
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
The rain is continuing here in Armidale. It interferes with my morning walk but certainly provides a beautiful green to the yards. We taught a Doctrinal Mastery lesson in Seminary. It reminds me of eating vegetables: you know they are important but it is hard to get excited about them. 🙂 The lesson was on the Plan of Salvation, knowing where to find answers in the scriptures for friends' or associates' questions. I can really see the inspiration in teaching in this way even though it is more challenging than the regular lessons.
We worked on creating a video to post on Facebook asking senior couples to consider requesting a mission to the Sydney Australia North mission. We are concerned that three more of us will be going home in the next few months and at this time there are no replacements available. Four Senior Couples will leave our Mission before the end of July this year. All four have been assigned to Member and Leader Support (MLS). President Checketts has not been notified of any replacements. That means that there will be two Branches that will lose Branch Presidents and two others that will lose counsellors. The Sisters who will be leaving are currently serving as Primary Presidents or other vital callings within the Branches. The Australia, Sydney North Mission really needs replacements for these couples. Please let anyone who might be interested to contact us and we will put them in touch with President Checketts.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
At District Conference President Checketts told us that sending young men and women on missions is very successful. He said even though he is educated and trained in the gospel and has taught the gospel for many years, people open their hearts to the young missionaries far more easily and sincerely than to him.
Friday, March 24, 2017
After Seminary we worked on the video we are doing for Facebook and visited the Benesch's for dinner (tea) where we recorded a message from them. Everything is so very green and so very wet. The Benesh family may have to move as the owner of the farm they are leasing from has decided to sell. I have added to my prayers a request that they may find something to lease nearby so they can continue living in the branch as they are extemely important. I feel Sister Benesch would be the best choice to replace me as Primary President when we leave.
We enjoyed her apricot chicken and apple pie with custard and mango ice cream. I started with a head cold and was miserable by the end of the evening, glad to go to bed.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
We traveclled to the Sully farm and gave the home teaching message. They are such smart, well travelled and interesting people. We always enjoy talking to them. We were greeted with so many parrots and birds of beautiful red and blue and yellow and green feathers. We saw five kangaroos We can really see why people love to live on farms here. There is such beauty and peace.
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Primary was full as usual. I taught the CTR class and music in sharing time. Elder Berger taught the gathering of Israel. I tried to control my coughing. We received a sad post on facebook from one of our Inverell members. They were notified that their permanent resident visa had been denied and they have 28 days to leave the country. They are heartbroken. Their 11 year old son loves his school and sports. Their 23 year old daughter is hooked to their visa and is trying to complete medical training to nurse here. They will have trouble getting decent jobs in Fiji from what they have said.
They cancelled the Inverell Sacrament meeting today and so we invited the elders to eat with us.
