Sunday, May 7, 2017


Here are a few more pictures from last week's Zone Conference.





Elder Childs, Elder Dransfield, and Elder Moulton going after the ice cream.





If you look closely, you can see Sister Berger and I in the back.



Elder Dransfield and Elder Moulton ready for their flu shot. Mr. Universe is not worried.

Monday, May 1, 2017

After seminary we looked for Op shops with materials I need for the Queens Tea that we are hosting for the Primary girls next week. We skyped with our children and then spent an hour with a lovely sister who asked if she could talkd to us about some of the struggles she is having. She wants to give up bad habits and become fully active and committed in the church.  It was a lovely talk and the spirit testified of the need she has to be loved, listened to and encouraged.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

I held a Primary in-service meeting with the leaders tonight at 6:30 and showed them everything in the closets and file cabinets telling them if they all know where everything is, they can be a support to each other.  Elder Berger had his branch presidency meeting at the same time and then we had the branch correlation meeting.  President Sully told everyone that we would be leaving in June and said how hard it would be without us.  (We plan to spend the next 7 weeks getting things in place so it won't be that hard) I made ginger snaps and chocolate chip cookies for the refreshments.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

For the last Primary Girl activity, I am giving them treasure boxes and putting some things I consider treasures, inside particularly of a religious nature. (I have button doves that I will attach to "on the wings of a snow white dove" and explanation of the Holy Ghost)  We have found two of the boxes in Op Shops here but need one more so today we travelled to Gyra and looked there but no luck.  We arrived home to have our District Training meeting by phone.

Friday, May 5, 2017

After teaching seminary we dressed for a walk and hiked up the hill in one of the green space parks near the church.  The autumn leaves had that great smell that is so enjoyable at home in October.  We found beautiful trees to take pictures of and enjoyed a few moments watching a school athletic event at the park.

We took one of the Microwave corn bags I made (heating pad) and some cookies to Ssiter Mueller.  She is a 76 year old divorced sister who travelled to SLC to see General Conference all by herself.  The Hokansons, the previous senior couple, live in Missouri and after conference, Sister Mueller visited them and they took her to see many church history sites.  We enjoyed talking to her and hearing about her experiences in the States and how she felt about America. Everything seemed positive.

There are many birds, including waterfowl, in Armidale.

Our flat is located just to the right of the Catholic Cathedral in this photo. Below are more views of Armidale in this Autumn season. Almost all of the trees that are green are eucalyptus trees that keep their leaves all year. There are also many pine and fir trees here.

One of the local schools was holding a track and field meet today.

This is our favorite cashier at the grocery store we most often frequent, Woolworths, known here as Woolies.  This lady, Coralie, lives here but is from New Zealand and has been friendly and efficient.  We asked her if she had ever been visited by the Mormon elders in New Zealand and she kind of grimaced and said yes.  We hope to drop off a pamphlet or something, maybe a Mormon Tabernacle CD before we leave.

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Fast Sunday.  Everyone in the branch were asked to add the Benesh family and the Ali family to their fasting prayers.  The Benesh have a farm they lease that is being sold and they have to move.  We have been praying they can stay in our branch.  They are very much needed here.  The Alis have lost their visas and have to move back to Fiji in 30 days if they don't have success appealing to the Immigration department.

The testimonies were lovely today.  There is such a wonderful spirit in our small branch.  We practiced a song for Mothers Day in Primary.