Sunday, March 19, 2017

Monday, March 13, 2017

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Savannah is ten years old today.  We dropped off a little birthday treat and card. 

Thursday, March 14, 2017

Off we go to Maitland to attend missionary zone conference.  It rained quite a bit but we arrived safely and stayed at the bed and breakfast we stayed at last zone conference. This is a nice place and we were the only guests. The hosts are very nice and very accommodating. We found out at about 9 pm that the location of the Zone conference had been changed so we had to alter our morning plan to accommodate a much longer drive.





Tantarra Bed and Breakfast was enjoyable once again; because of rain we ate our breakfast meal inside.

The owners love antique and Asian decor

One of our previous Elders in Armidale, Elder Moulton, relating his conversion story at Zone Conference.

Elder Dransfield, mugging for the camera, stands next to a John Belushi lookalike from New Zealand.

The 3 Musketeers doing what they do. Most of the time they seem older than they are, but at times like these, they seem like the wonderful teenagers that they are.

              These three are such good friends, being together for Zone Conference was lots of fun


After Zone conference in Maitland, we drove to Coffs Harbor amid tons of rain and arrived at our motel at Woolgoogla Holiday Park.  It was after 10:00 p.m. and still raining.  Inside our cabin it rained and the wind blew as hard as an Idaho snowstorm.  I was unable to go to sleep.  About midnight I noticed the side of my bed was wet and Elder Berger had a wet foot and upon investigation the end of his side of the bed was sopped with water.  We got up and saw the rain coming through our ceiling.  Needless to say, we didn't sleep that night.

The only part of our bungalow that leaked was right over our bed. For a few seconds, when the wet sheets woke me up, I thought one of us might be ready for adult incontinence products. My fears vanished with much relief when I saw that the roof was the source of the moisture.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

We were asked to help with the Youth Activity this morning and drove to the chapel where it was decided they had enough adults.  I was asked to fill in for the pianist who was to accompany the choir and play for the congregation during the conference as their pianist was having heart trouble.  That gave me some stress, especially the thought of doing the choir but I used the time to practice and then attended the Womens' meeting.  After, we were served a light lunch and picked up a few groceries for our cabin before the Priesthood Session at 2:30 and then choir practice and then the evening adult session of conference.  Neither one of us had slept last night so we were quite tired.  I managed to play okay for the choir evening number and the congregational singing.  The speakers were wonderful.  Some of our Armidale members were unable to get to Coffs because the rain resulted in closed roads but the Beneschs and Sullys made it.

Sister Benesch holds court with the elders.

Elder Moulton with President Sully

Sister Berger struggled a bit with a different organ than she is used to, but she did a great job on short notice. The regular organist had a heart attack the night before. She is doing fine.

The new District President, President Alfred, always looks like he is having the best time of his life.

It was the 75th anniversary of Coff's Branch and the Relief Society 125th anniversary so a lovely cake was served to us along with dinner just prior to the evening session.

Together again, Elder Moulton is sad because his two buddies will be going back to Armidale soon.

Sister Checketts, Sister Benesch and Sister Berger enjoying a chat.

Sister Mackay cutting the cake.

Brother Benesch setting the record straight with Elder Denning.

Elder Dransfield trying to look "Buff" while Elder Childs is amused.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

After a wonderful Sunday full of inspirational meetings, we joined President Owen and his wife, President Alfred and his wife and President Mackey and his wife at the Owen residence for dinner with the other senior couples.  The food was lovely and we really enjoyed good conversation.

Sister Brown with Sister Alfred

Elder Swain, President Owen, and Elder Brown

Sister Swain, listening, is a very lovely person whom we respect and enjoy.

President Alfred seems to be at peace with what is being said.

Indoor conversation with President Mackey, Sister Mackey, Sister Owen, and Sister Berger.

Monday, March 20, 2017

We got up after another damp night with huge humidity and took a walk on the beach before leaving for home.

When I see these selfies, I really miss facial hair.

Views of Woolgoogla Beach.

On our way home, into the Dorrigo rain forest

All the rain added to these impressive waterfalls in the Dorrigo Rain Forest

Ebor Falls was huge after the major rainstorms and we were glad to arrive safely back at Armidale.  MacDonalds invited us to come to dinner for Lucy's 9th birthday celebration which was a welcome event.

Yes, definitely need the facial hair.

It was a foggy, wet ride home

Cupcake time for Lucy's birthday dinner