25 November - 1 December

Our weather has had its ups and downs in the last week, clouds rolling in and out, bringing some relief (shade) from the unrelenting heat of the rays of sunshine.  There was lots of teasing about whether or not some much needed rain might fall and it usually didn't happen.  Wednesday evening as we returned home from Institute the skies became filled with white lightning and thunder creating a beautiful show.  Shortly some rain began to fall and then became heavier and heavier - yea!!  Then we had the brilliant idea to back the car onto the driveway and get a free carwash if the skies kept deciding to deliver the rain.  So after 30 or so minutes of downpour, we pulled the car back into the garage and Arlo toweled it down and viola, a shiny blue Corolla was now in our garage, where a slightly dirty one had been there before.  This particular evening, we were able to open the three sliding doors in our flat and enjoy some cool, balmy breezes moving throughout, instead of having the air con unit going and that was a nice change!

Sandy has also had her ups and downs this week with her asthma and it finally required that she visit a doctor. Dr. Mitch, as he introduced himself, is a FP/anesthesiologist and his wife is a FP/gynecologist. He is a wonderful young man, probably in his late 20's or early 30's, who along with his doctor wife are practicing in Emerald, a rural area.  They will spend three or so years working here and when finished it gives them a boost up the seniority latter when they decide to return to the city, plus their housing/utilities are subsidized.  Dr. Mitch decided Sandy needed a chest x-ray, handed her the order and sent her to "duck over" to the x-ray department.  Several days later, he even called to check up on her breathing.  Elder (Dr.) Madsen from the mission has also been of great help in speeding along the recovery process over the telephone and we feel like things are finally headed in the right direction.

During the past weeks, we have shared about our opportunity to perform some service for the community at the Neighbourhood Centre (shown above).  On Thursday evenings, we arrive at 5:15 and get things ready for serving dinner at 5:30. This past week, our Institute class again provided the meal which was spaghetti noodles/sauce, green salad and garlic bread.  

This picture shows the serving cart from which we dish up the food and then take it to those coming for the meal.  Every chair was filled this night and there is a big diversity among the people - some regulars looking for company and a meal and itinerant laborers seeking a nourishing, warm meal after a long day in the fields.

These are part of the regular bunch, who are always in their seats (no one had better try to take their seats!!) before we arrive.  It has been fun to get to know them a little bit as we try to visit after they eat.  The woman with the hat, is a real tease and she has tried to pull our chains every so often, especially the time we came upon her in the grocery store.  Don't know her age, but she had spent 11 years out in the gem fields before moving to Emerald several months ago after losing her husband. She showed us her rings and necklaces, all set with stones she had found fossicking. The pink hues on their faces are coming from the reddish colored canopy over the table.

 One afternoon, we stopped at the Visitors Centre which is adjacent to a park and were very surprised to "notice" this piece of artwork.  This is a giant reproduction of van Gogh's "3 Sunflowers In A Vase" and while Cameron Cross was teaching in Manitoba, Canada, he started The Big Easel Project to reproduce up to seven sunflowers portraits and place them throughout the world. So far there are only three paintings - the first being in Canada, the second one was placed here in Emerald in 1999 and a third was put in Kansas.  The work of art which is a 24 by 32 foot reproduction of the painting on an 80 foot steel easel.  Every year during the Easter holiday, there is the Central Highlands Easter Sunflower Festival and it is really a big deal.  There are numerous activities which span a week's time, such as a rodeo, family day, amusement rides and the crowning of Miss Emerald Sunflower.

In the last few weeks, much of the produce grown here in Emerald has ripened and is being picked. These are green grapes, of which there are miles and miles, all covered with the white tarps, which we figure are to protect some from the sun.  Most of the grapes are being picked and packaged to be shipped somewhere, but we did get to taste some at the home of one of our members and they are really good,  Watermelons are really plentiful right now also.  With the temperatures so hot, the workers take breaks every 20-30 minutes for water and if they want they "crack" a melon open to help quench their thirst.  If any melons roll off the wagon, they are just left there for some lucky worker or neighbor to pick up.

Thanksgiving Day not only gave us our service opportunity at the Neighbourhood Centre, but the branch mission leader and his family, prepared a turkey day dinner for these Yankee missionaries. Their kindness was so appreciated by us, and never have we eaten outside with a few palm trees swaying in a little breeze on Thanksgiving.  We shared a turkey roll, roasted sweet potatoes, white potatoes and pumpkin along with some gravy, peas and corn cobbettes and ambrosia salad.

Friday afternoon, we were so pleased to finally be able to share some English learning materials we received from the mission office with Hiro, a newly baptized Japanese young man as of last July.  He is struggling with his English and wants so badly to gain a good command of the language.  He works at KFC cooking chicken, he tells us with a big smile.  His desire is to earn and save lots of money and then go to university somewhere in a country that we can't understand the name of and study IT!

Our Sacrament Meeting speakers Sunday spoke with an emphasis on the Savior, one was a single senior sister preparing to serve a mission in the next few months and the other was our Branch President.  He shared about an accident he had while serving a mission in Indonesia, which took his memory from him for several months.  He spoke about not wanting to write in his journal before the accident, but how grateful he was to have those precious pages filled with his understanding of the gospel and his testimony of our Elder Brother.  It was through his re-reading of his journal while in re-hab that his mind was able to bring back some of what had been taken away by the accident. Thought we would share this to reinforce the value of journal keeping in all of our lives.

As we close another week, we are grateful for so much - in fact, we should be grateful for everything. Family and friends who mean everything to us and especially we give thanks for our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It is a privilege to serve together and be together 24/7!