Down Under : Flip Side

Whew! I feel like I've been through a whirlwind!

I've left beautiful Australia with only half my heart. What a wonderful experience & blessing! But when I touched down, I thought "it may not be all that physically beautiful (in that particular spot!) but it's home, it's America, it's my family; it's where I love to be". It's good to be home! God bless America!!!and Australia too!

It's been quite a shock to me trying to adjust to 'life' again; lots of tears & 'wondering' what to do next. Quinn & family did a beautiful job fixing up a room for Grandma Dory, of which I am so grateful; #1 immediate stress taken care of!

I got home just in time to repack, after unpacking boxes to find 'civilian' clothes, and drive to Colorado for my Cami's wedding in the Denver Temple. What a wonderful event! To top it off I was able to see all of my children! I've missed them so much; for me the hardest part of serving a mission. Cami & Wes will live in Ft. Riley, Kansas, which is only about 5 hours from me. Caleb recently started Chiropractic School in Iowa and is only about 6 hours from me. With Quinn & Brady in Springfield, it's pretty central for me to all my children here.

I'm going to do a little catch up now of my final adventures in Australia. As you may know, my calling as a missionary was 'fellow-shipping' not proselyting. But Sister Brooks & I were able to have the opportunity to continue teaching a young girl from the Congo, Leticia Bandibombe, after Sister Ruwhiu completed her mission. It was our blessing to see her baptized! My last month in Australia we had the opportunity to go on several 'day trips'. Our 1st was just we 3 sisters going to the Aboriginal Museum at South Bank in Brisbane. Their history is fascinating and sad. I really grew to love these people and their traditions. One evening we were also able to attend a 'cooboree', which is a ceremony of song & dance. An Aborigine man was teaching young aborigine children a traditional song & dance.

I had hoped to see him play the didgeridoo but that didn't happen. I did bring a small didgeridoo home though. I only got to hear & see it played on video except for one of the Elders played one for me.

On another day trip we went to Mt. Warning & Byron Bay, which is the most eastern-ly point of Australia. There we did 'whale watching' and actually saw one! It was way far out though.

We had Fish & Chips, which is one of my favorite meals; if they have vinegar for the chips.

Elder & Sister Cannon arrived to replace the Grants in the CES office so we took them out to Lone Pine; my favorite place in Australia!! It was so fun because the Kangaroo & Koala had Joeys! They had a sheep sheerer as part of the 'sheep dog show' and that was really fun to watch. Boy was he fast!

Elder Cannon is the cousin of another Elder Cannon, who was in my district at the MTC!!!!!!!!!!! The following week we took the Cannon's up to Montville again and stopped at the 'Big Pineapple' on our way to the Beach along the Sunshine Coast. Sister Ruwhiu is a young sister missionary who I worked closely with in the Brisbane Ward. She was allowed to drive with me, LEARNER , when we went out on visits. She completed her mission in May but came back to visit before I left. She & I went to Lone Pine, again, because she never got the chance to go while she was here on her mission. There was a new little red Kangaroo that actually was 'playing' with us. It was so much fun! I love Lone Pine; I love the animals! They are amazing!

Sister Stokes took us on a ferry trip over to Stradebroke Island. The ferry dock is close to Cleveland Point, where she accidentally went first. What a pleasant surprise to find the Point roped off because of a magnificent ship.

Upon closer investigation we discovered it was the set for the new Narnia movie & we got to visit with Captain Darnian! My grand daughter, Meghan, had been asking if I had heard anything about it so she was delighted when I told her all about our adventure.The Cannons picked me up and we spent one day walking around the city of Brisbane, checking out all the tourist & historical sites there. I especially wanted to see Anzac Square.

The bell tower at City Hall was also amazing. We got to go right up into it!

I also spent a day at Elephant Point on the Gold Coast with a friend, Jo Vinen. I love the beach! I didn't come back with an Australian accent, although I did pick up some of the words & phrases. I did come back with a love for a gorgeous country, amazing animals, wonderful people and the gospel of Jesus Christ, which I was able to share with many. I also came back with the realization that we share the gospel in so many ways that we don't even realize.

Never be afraid to share the gift of the spirit with others. It's there! I love my Heavenly Father and his son, my Savior and the blessings of His gospel in my life. I testify that they live & his gospel has been restored to the earth through Joseph Smith, a prophet. I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and we can come closer to Christ by reading it. This I know to be true and I bear this testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Until next time, G-day mates.
Love ya!

MERRY 'CHRISTMAS IN JULY' FROM AUSTRALIA

I now know where that phrase comes from. It's July and feels more like Christmas than December/Christmas did! We had a big 'Christmas in July' feast this week, tree & all. Turkey, beef, chicken & pork; 2 kinds of sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, beans, peas, carrots, squash, pumpkin, potatoes and 4 different desserts, including Pavlova, my favorite! It was another 'Hungi' where they cook the food in the ground all day. I've gone to several now; it's a Samoan tradition.

It is winter now and the weather has really cooled down. I was told I wouldn't need a coat here but I do! The nights & mornings are cold but once the sun comes up, it's usually beautiful. They don't have central heating/cooling here so we each have a little space heater, which I don't run very much. There isn't nearly as much in bloom but there still is some. I was working with the young sisters of which we had 2 pair in our area. They didn't have a car so between the 2 sets of them, we were able to go out on visits regularily. I bring my companions to the temple at the beginning of the day and then come back to pick them up. I absolutely love being able to begin my day at the temple! This is our Visitor's Welcome sign at the front of the temple or center as we call it.

Unfortunately, all 4 girls were transfered! That really changed what my day looks like. I now have to depend entirely on members to go out visiting with me. When I don't have a 'companion' for the day, I spend my time in the office and helping Sister Brooks with Referal calls. Change is growth so look at me grow!!!! This is our district's going away party for Sister Ruwhui. I love being here and can see so many things that I can do when I get home.

They also changed our assignment a bit. The 'center' is now closed in the evenings for safety reasons. The sisters give tours by appointment only at night. We are also closed on Tuesday's since the temple is closed so we go to the Mission Office and work on Referals. I'm ok with that; I love working in the office.

We've been on a couple more day trips with the Senior Missionaries. We went bush walking in Mt. Glorious & Mt. Nebo. Last week we went to Cleveland Point, Wellington Point and took a ferry from Victoria Point over to Russell Island for lunch, stopping at Macleay and Lamb Islands on the way. What an amazing trip! I love the water!!! On our way to Victoria Point we stopped to pet a couple of camels!!!!!!!

It was the highlight of the trip for me!
I have now experienced sending missionaries home; very sad. We had the opportunity to have sisters stay with us and take them to the mission home or airport on a couple of occasions now. What a blessing to be able to meet and get to know such wonderful young friends.

Here are some more Australian phrases: rugged up means bundled up; a rug is a blanket, a jumper is a sweater and a duna is a deuvet, blanket, bedspread, or quilt - it's actually a white quilted duvet without the covering. I love the subtropic weather and the beautiful flowering everything! But, unfortunately, it doesn't love me. I've had severe sinus problems because of these things that I've grown to love so much.

I also love the wildlife; Kangaroo, Koala, Wombats, scrub turkeys, lace monitors, water dragons, Imu, Cassawary, Lorikeets, Kookaburra and all kinds of other birds. It's just amazing and so much fun.

I also love all the different people I have met. There's Chinese, Korean, Tiawanese, Japanese, Chilian, Samoan, Tongan, Sudanese, Indian (from India), Kiwi, American and good ol' Aussie. Australia is very multi-cultural; people come here to live from all over the world. We see a lot of students going to 'Uni', which is the University. I love to listen to them talk and really feel like I'm learning a foreign language.

The city of Brisbane is beautiful and they have a City Cat ferry that is an amazing trip at night. They have a beach right in the city and they also have the Sunshine Coast & Gold Coast. The site where the temple is is amazing. Australia is still new and exciting to me. There are so many beautiful things here to see and enjoy. As much as I love it, I realize more and more that America is my home; God bless America. But I'm definately an adoped Aussie!!!!!!

I love being here and love the work, the people, the missionaries, the animals & nature and all I experience here in Australia and feel so blessed to be able to be here and experience this!
Until next time: G'day mates!!!!!!!!!! Love ya!

Happy Fall and Easter from Australia!

Happy Fall and Easter from Australia!!!!!!!

How's that for a contradiction. The weather is still hot and humid with lovely breezes now and I love it. We did actually have a cool night the other night. Everything is still in beautiful bloom; Poinsiana, Frangipani, Gardenia & Hisbiscus everywhere. I guess the leaves don't turn orange & red here in the fall or fall off; everything just pretty much is in bloom all year round.

I have settled into my new area. I'm still in the dining room but I love my assignment at the Brisbane Temple. It is such a beautiful, peaceful place to come everyday. Both of my companions, Sister Brooks & Sister Shaw, are from Texas so we are a flat of all Americans. They are great!

I'm also still the designated driver but getting much more comfortable with it. One of the younger missionary sisters has a 'learners' and is allowed to drive if I'm in the car. I have my previous 'fellowshipping assignment back and go out with 2 pair of young sister missionaries and members to visit and teach. I love it! I also do Temple Ground Tours every once in a while. The Temple is opposite a popular Brisbane 'tourist' spot so we have a lot of tourists come over from the tourist busses; Chinese in particular. It is exciting to be able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with them and others.

Our senior missionary group went on another day trip to the Sunshine Coast area again. We started out at Deception Bay and went through Glass House Mountains again to Maleny, Montville, Nambour, Mooloolaba, and then ran on the beaches at Mooroochydore. Then we stopped at Bribie Island for dinner. What a wonderful day it was!

Then the sisters & I were blessed again to be taken sight seeing with a sister in our ward. We went to Stake Conference in Cleveland first and the she showed us around Rabe Bay, the historic lighthouse at Wellington Point and Cleveland Point where we could see Morton Island, the worlds largest sand island. Sister Stokes is in her 80's and served in the Royal Navy and told us the most wonderful stories. Another great day!

Some more 'Australia' lingo: They say "How you going?" or just 'How going?" for "How are you doing?", chooks are chickens, you eat a slice of cake instead of a piece or it's a 'lemon slice' instead of a 'lemon cake' and when you have a good meal someplace they say "We got a good feed there". They also say 'heaps' a lot, or should I say 'heaps'.

I love being here in this beautiful place and sharing the gospel with these wonderful people and feeling the sweet, strong spirits of the great members who have been so kind and helpful to us.

Until next time: G'day mates!!!!

Love ya!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

January 2009 finds me in a new area - the city of Brisbane. My companion has gone home on a medical release so I am in a 3 way companionship with sisters Shaw & Brooks, both from Texas. My assignment is doing tours at the Brisbane Temple gardens.

What a whirlwind this past month has been, for all of us. My bedroom is the dining room in our 2 bedroom flat, just blocks from the temple. It is a nice walk but not one that they want us doing at 9:00 PM at night so se still have the car. And, you guessed it, I'm the designated driver!!!! Scary!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas came and went in a whirlwind. Just before Christmas we took a trip to the beautiful Gold Coast & Tambourine Mountains. Then we ended the trip riding the City Cat ferry down the Brisbane River at night. Beautiful!!!!!! On Christmas Eve we attended a Hangi, which is a Tongan luau where they cook the food in a big pit. So much food!!!!!

The real highlight of Christmas though was the safe arrival of Madison, our second Christmas baby in a row. Savana came just after Christmas last year. I am so thankful for Madison's safe arrival.

Happy Birthday Savana & Madison!!!!

Hopefully I can get some more pictures up soon, with my companion & Quinn's help.

Adventures in Australia

Several of us senior missionaries went on a 'road trip' and got to see some of the beautiful countryside of Queensland, Australia. We went to the Australia Zoo; home of the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin. We also went to the Sunshine Coast and I ran along the beach. We saw about 50 kangaroo in the neighborhoods along a beach town! They have "beware of kangaroo" crossing signs on the roads there!! I've also seen "beware of koala" crossing signs too. They say there are also ‘beware of alligator’ signs! It's so funny!!

They have lollies here called bullets. Lollies are candy and bullets are chocolate coated black licorice pieces. Yum! Yum!!!!!

I saw 2 gorgeous parrots in a neighborhood tree the other day; it still amazes me the things we just 'see around'. They have these ‘bush turkey’ all over. They are so scrawny they wouldn’t even be in danger at Thanksgiving, if they had Thanksgiving here. That’s going to be weird!

We went to Mt. Coot-tha forest and it was beautiful. We took a lunch and ate it by the lake. We saw the Fern House, Cactus House, Botanical Garden & Geodesic Dome of Tropical Rain forest Plants and Trees. My favorite tree, of course, was the chocolate tree. Then we took a mini-bus tour around the whole place. Wow! We will go back to see the Japanese Garden and take a closer look at the Rain forest area, Pine tree Area and the lookout over Brisbane.

I finally got to try 'Vega mite' and I didn't care for it. It's a yeast spread, used like peanut butter. Don't know why you would want to eat a yeast spread!! But I HAD to try it; it's big here. I opted for the Nutella!! Surprised??