Sheila writes in black, Rick writes in blue
Monday, March 21, 2016
Mondays are great because after we teach seminary we get to skype with the kids and grand-kids. We took a preparation day so not much to report.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Sunday, if everything technological works, the women will be listening to the broadcast of the Women's meeting in SLC. The men said they would handle Primary so today I am putting together treat bags for them (Actually, the treat bags are for the children, we will see how well the Priesthood follow through with their promise of taking care of the Primary before they get a treat bag). After church,, we are taking sacrament to the members in Inverell and surrounding areas, a two hour drive from here. President Sully and the elders want to go. We will take treats and snacks to have after the Sacrament meeting and lesson. There are two children there so I'll try to provide something of a Primary nature. We will take a CD player and the hymns CD and Primary songs CD. The Inverell members are really looking forward to the sacrament being brought to them.
I visited with a member who has been slipping into inactivity and told her how much she is needed in the branch. She has two darling girls and they need the gospel and association with the branch members too. There is much apathy in regard to religion in this c and they will teach ountry. It is not that people oppose it, it is more that they see no need for it in their lives. The younger adults are particularly affected by this attitude. Most of these young adults will claim to be atheists.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Today I taught the lesson about Joseph of the coat of many colors fame. What a marvelous person Joseph was. After Seminary I started putting together treat bags and lesson materials for Sunday as well as determining what food to make and take to Inverell. It is hard because we don't have a way to keep things cold or hot while we travel. Elder Berger arranged for the elders to help one of the less actives who lives an hour away, with some heavy yard work. We were so happy when they reported back that the family has decided to take the missionary lessons from the elders as one of them is not a member and they committed to start attending church. They also have an 8 year old who is not baptized and they will teach her also.
It is cold here today (about 48 degrees Fahrenheit) and I really don't have warm clothing. I hope to find some when we are in Sydney. We turned on the heat during Seminary at the church. Tomorrow we are going to be substitute grandparents for Lucy MacDonald at her school's grandparents' day.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Seminary, District training meeting and grandparent's day with the MacDonald children. We were impressed that they still have school prayer in Australia and parents can decide whether their children are taught religion or not. Jeremy, the five year-old, received an award for getting along well with others and decorated an Easter Hat for the Easter hat parade. Lucy thinks she is too old for decorating a hat, she turned eight this month.
They sold sizzle sticks which is another definition of a sausage in a piece of bread which we did not partake of. The kids seemed to enjoy them.
As I looked for candy for Primary Easter treats it seemed Easter candy is not anywhere near as big a deal as in the United States. There was a small part of the aisle with some chocolate bunnies and eggs. I asked Sister MacDonald about it and she said that I was correct, less sugar was encouraged here and other kinds of treats or gifts were preferred.
Smart TV is pretty cool
Crocodile skull one of the kindergarten kid's grandparents donated, Kate and Tessa with Jeremy.
Jeremy, the kindergartner's hat is the one with dinosaurs, back middle
This is the prayer that the children going to this school recite. It is posted above the stage in this auditorium where we are watching the Easter Bonnet competition.
Jeremy in line to accept the award for getting along with others
Lucy, newly eight and missing several teeth, She looks like she plays in the NHL.
Substitute grandparents watching the hat parade with Tessa and Kate.
The interior of a local Chinese eatery. What is the deal with the fish tanks in these Chinese restaurants? They all have them. This place has 4 of them.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Good Friday and everything was closed in town. This is not an exaggeration, the only places that were open were McDonalds and KFC. We took a walk after Seminary and most streets were empty. The Clarksons invited us for dinner and we enjoyed a wonderful pork roast with homemade applesauce and a chocolate self-saucing pudding for dessert.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Sister Mueller, a previous branch member moved back so Elder Berger and our two missionaries helped her move into her apartment while I worked on making a huge beef stew for Sunday dinner and chocolate cupcakes and vegetable tray for our Inverell Sacrament meeting meal. As we are taking Sacrament meeting to Inverell after our block of meetings, we are having the Sullys and the elders come to our flat to eat lunch before we leave for Inverell.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
It was a lovely, full Easter Sunday. It was amazing as we had nearly 50 attend Sacrament meeting. The elders found 5 Tongans in Gyra who were members and they all attended. Sister Betts invited her Hindu friends and they came. Our investigator, Joanne, attended. The investigators from the Sudan attended. Brother Benesch brought two friends. We hooked up to the live Women's Meeting broadcast from Salt Lake City and the men were "supposed" to be handling Primary but I ended up taking care of nursery (no candy treat bags for the men). I will have to listen to the broadcast another time. We had 5 children in the nursery and nearing the end of the hour we took them outside and had them run races and climb trees. They were very happy.
The beef stew that I thought was huge was completely eaten along with all of the salad. We had artisan bread and for dessert an ice cream bar which was the easiest dessert we could come up with.
The wonderful six members in Inverell plus two children and Sister Ali's husband, who is Muslim welcomed us sweetly to their home where President Sully spoke on the resurrection and Elder Berger used material from Elder Uchtdorf's talk "Be not Afraid, Only Believe" for a lesson. We took the Sacrament, and sang hymns and tried to make it a good experience for all.
Lots of good food was provided by everyone. Elder Peterson and Rishaad had a good time playing catch. I think it was a success and all were interested in scheduling another meeting. President Sully asked them to try hard to carpool and come to Armidale once a month to church and said we would take a Sacrament meeting to them once a month.
The Elders and I gave Sister Ali a blessing after most everyone left. She will be having surgery next week and needed some comfort from our Father in Heaven. We left later than planned and kangaroos seem to come out in the dark. We narrowly escaped hitting two of them.
Una, daughter Angie, mother and grandmother, Lisa
A really nice evening in the front yard. My name tag is on my jacket.
Elder Kehler and Sister Sully
Quite the wind-up from Elder Peterson playing catch with Rishad
Sister Ali and her husband enjoying the meal.
Sister & President Sully
Sister Sully, Lisa Chambers, Eugene Tero, and President Sully.
Rishaad Ali
Eugene and Michelle Tero and their baby who has an anxiety disorder and screams constantly if around strangers. They were married ten years and told they would never have a baby when this miracle baby was born so they patiently wait for him to outgrow his fear of others. Michelle is unable to join and stays a distance away to try to calm him.
