Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017
Monday, April 10, 2017
Sheila writes in Black, Rick writes in Blue

Autumn" break for the school kids so no Seminary for two weeks.  It was nice to not have to hurry this morning.  After Elder Berger and I took our walks, we skyped and then travelled to Uralla to teach a Church History lesson the the Styles, at their request.  After, we went home, had something to eat and travelled to Ben Lomond to show the Benesch's a video by S. Michael Wilcox, "The Great Visions of the Pearl of Great Price. The Benesch's have great faith and seem to really enjoy in depth discussions of Gospel principles. This talk really gets into Moses' vision and really helps with our core understanding of the purpose of our creation and our ultimate destiny. It was a very spiritual evening for us all.

During our walks we took pictures of the beautiful changing leaves.  It is hard for me to have Autumn be in April 🙂.

The architecture of the cathedral where I walk is lovely.

     In Ben Lomond, a beautiful full moon, what we might call a Harvest Moon at home, again, April...






Thursday, April 13, 2017

Today I made sugar cookies and decorated them with pink frosting and pastel decorations for Easter. We delivered them to the Uryanis, Lacambras, MacDonalds and Lawrences.

We got to see the Lacambra's one week old baby boy, named Kirby.  He was so darling. We had a lovely discussion regarding the need for baptism with one of our branch members about their ten year old child.  We also saw Elder Berger's dentist, who lives next door to one of our members, and we had a nice talk with him.  He is single, very nice and we hope somehow to approach him about the gospel. It is difficult to approach the dentist while in his chair, for reasons that should be obvious. He is in a position to cause me great pain, should he be offended. It can be difficult to express mysekf when my tounge is numb and my mouth looks kind of like Woodstock with all the stuff packed in there. I am sure that the opportunity will come and it will be great. He is really a very good man.

It's been too long since I've held one of these sweet newborns.

Meet five day old Kirby Lacambra!

Friday, March 14, 2017

Today we travelled to Inverell to give Rishaad Ali the rest of the Frosted Easter cookies and see how his family is doing.  They were denied their resident visa after living here several years and have hired an attorney which will cost them $12,000 to $18,000 dollars to fight their case over the next year with no guarantee of winning.  We feel so badly for them.  The issue seems to be totally a result of poor communication and advice from the immigration department when the Alis first came.

The drive was so beautiful with all of the changing leaves.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Easter tomorrow and we will be eating on our own.  I will try to create as close of an Easter meal as possible. We bought a lovely Easter Ham for $15.00 Australian which would be about $12.00 US. It is a little larger than a softball and weighs 850 grams or almost 2 pounds. It is Gluten free, although I personally love gluten and I may make a ham sandwich out of the leftovers, if there are any, using delicious Gluten-Filled artisan bread. There is a picture of the Ham in my hand below.
      Australia has food that is varied and delicious but we do miss some things. I really like Hormel Cure 81 spiral sliced ham for Easter and it is not available here. I sometimes need to remind myself that we are 10,000 miles from home because Australia really is so much like the U.S.  On the other hand, if you like to eat lamb, (maybe you are a wolf or a coyote) you would find yourself in heaven here, they have great lamb. For me, even though lamb rhymes with ham I still find myself missing my favorite ham.

The Checketts came to Armidale today to have missionary interviews and they took us to eat at Subway with the elders which was fun.  We love to be with the Checketts.  The elders and Elder Berger are singing Brightly Beams our Father's Mercy tomorrow so we practiced after lunch. After that, we delivered a Microwave heating bag I made to Sister Clarkson who was in the hospital a couple of days ago with accelerated heart rate and vomiting.  She seems to be doing better.

President Checketts told us that they do not have a replacement for us so they will be letting our flat go and we will need to assist them in getting it ready to end the lease.  We sent a rocking chair home with them that we never use. The flat has a perfect location and situation for senior couples so I am sad that they will have to let it go.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

The day was beautiful, a lovely Easter Sunday.  We had lots of visitors from the Sully family which was good as very few of the branch members were there.  The Missionary Elders and Elder Berger sang, I spoke on "Seeing Without Believing", a topic given to me by Brother Smith and we had a vaguely familiar meal of ham and funeral potatoes.  Neither tasted the way we were hoping but it was a nice day. The Missionary Elders also spoke in Sacrament Meeting on short notice and they were inspiring in their talks. We spent the last part of the block by separating into Priesthood and Releif Society ad the Sisters watched the Women's Session of conference and the men watched the Priesthood session. It was a wonderful day.

Sunday, April 9, 2017
Sheila writes in Black, Rick writes in Blue
Women's Conference at last week's District Conference The cake commemorates the 175th Anniversary of the Relief Society. The Brethern, however, ate most of the cake.



Monday, March 27, 2017

About 2:00 a.m. we were awakened with our smoke alarm screaming us both out of bed.  Two hours later it went off again.  Consequently, we moved through the day a bit muddle headed.  We enjoyed Seminary as usual and skyping with our children and grandchildren which is always such a treat.

We delivered the picture of Jesus we put together for ten year old Devika.  She seemed to like it.  I chose the Del Parson picture, "Christ with the lamb"


Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Both of us have colds, mine started first so I am at the coughing stage and Rick is having bronchial coughing so neither of us slept well for the second night. It seems that even a lowly cold can bring on an increase in humility these days.  After Seminary I made microwave corn bags with sheep decorations on the flannel.  I'm giving them to the branch members and since this is such a sheep ranching area, I hope they will like the flannel.

After, we ran some errands and then decided to listen to the Womens' Conference.  Due to the lack of sleep, even though the messages were very good, I dozed.  I finally realized that I had dozed 4-5 times and each time been awakened by the exact same thing.  I heard a sound I would describe as two wooden shoes or two large wooden blocks being knocked together. (I was awake the entire time, I wonder if I had anything to do with it.) Why in the world would I have "dreamed" the same sound each time I slipped into a doze?  (Maybe my mother, my sister, my grandmother, or someone presently unknown thought the messages important enough to keep me awake). 🙂

Our little courtyard with our clothesline is being carpeted with moss because of all the rain

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

After Seminary, Elder Berger worked on scanning some tax documents for home and I started cleaning out the Primary closets that no one has taken ownership of in several years.  I will need several more hours to complete what is needed.

I have lots on my mind.  I found a free LDS sheet music websight and printed up music for prelude on Sundays and want to have Kristen Smith and her dad play a guitar piece from that sight on Easter.
I have been asked to speak on Easter, the subject being blessed are those who believe without seeing, I have sharing time Sunday, I teach again in Seminary tomorrow, I need a Primary girl activity planned as soon as possible, I am still working on microwave heating bags.  Sometimes my brain refuses to think of another thing and I read an easy book or run through Facebook.

Frequently I have taken roses from our complex to Sacrament meeting so Sister Betts knows I love them.  Today at Seminary she brought me some from her bushes.

When we are back in St. George's desert climate, and I am trying to water enough to keep a little marigold alive, I will enjoy thinking of this plant in my garden in Armidale, thriving becasue of so much water.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Two days ago a cyclone hit the north-east coast of Australia and it shared its rain with us from very early this morning.  After Seminary we picked up a few groceries and went home.  Elder Berger's cough kept him awake most of the night so he was glad to relax and wait for our teleconference Zone conference which we enjoyed.

I completed two more microwave bags and made a loaf of French bread to take to the MacDonald family tonight.  It was their turn to be recorded for our Facebook movie.  They were really cute and added a great part to the video.

Friday, March 31, 2017

We spent some time with Brother Smith creating our video for Facebook and then ate Chinese food with them.  It was a lovely evening. Brother Smith is one of the Great people who we have met here. Anytime that we need help with almost anything, and we have gone to him, he has given us the answer or help that we need. He has an important job and is very busy but he is always very gracious and generous with his help.


Sunday, April 1, 2017

Our Tongan brethren who work here at the Tomato factory for six months and then are required to leave the country and go home for a few months, are now back.  We are looking forward to having them sing in Sacrament meeting. The Brother in the middle with his hand on his chest has the biggest hands I have seen while I have been here. I bet he could really handle a basketball. Almost all of these brethern bore their testimonies in our meeting today.

                  

                Here the Tongans are at President Sully's.  He gave them a wild pig to roast.

                

Finally finished the CTR armoured Primary children pictures with our Primary kid's faces
in the armour and hung them in the Primary room.

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Sister Tan asked the elders to stack her firewood that was delivered and then asked us and them to eat Tea with her.  She made a delicious meal with crumbed chicken, something I intend to make frequently.

Elder Childs taking a whack at it.

                                                   Elder Berger showing them how

Elder Dransfield is a born foreman.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Elder Berger spent the day with Frank Benesch helping him on his farm with cattle and machinery repair.

We need to disconnect the sprayer from the PTO.

Brother Benesch insisted that I take his 4 wheeler for a brief ride. I got on top of the hill and took the picture above of his home at his ranch.

Saturday, Sunday, April 8-9, 2017

We downloaded Saturday and Sunday conference sessions to a USB and showed them Saturday and Sunday at the branch.  We fed everyone pizza between sessions both days.  It was very nice.  The talks were so wonderful.  I think the thing that stayed with me was "Look up" toward Christ, don't let your surroundings, challenges or other people interfere with your faith and testimony and the talks on seeking to following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  I liked the quote by the prophet Joseph Smith that when we have an impression, act on it the first time and 9 out of 10 times it will be from the Holy Spirit.

We love this little Branch. The members are so warm and loving. I have been in much larger groups, Wards, and Stakes, but the spirit has never been stronger than in our little Branch. We had a small attendance today because of school break and conference, but what a great feeling there today.