16 - 22 February

There are signs that summer is starting to wind down, like some of the leaves changing and temperatures dropping a little.  Summer hasn't been as bad as many made it out to be, which we are grateful for.

Monday mornings are usually reserved for a staff meeting, but this week it was certainly different. Due to a scheduling conflict, President and Sister Henderson plus two assistants needed to be on the road at the appointed hour, but our meeting went as scheduled just at two sites - the office conference room and the backseat of a car, through the miracle of modern technology.

Serving in the office brings many opportunities to interact with our young missionaries, in person and on the phone.  It is always fun to meet and put a face to a name, especially our "Goldens" whose names we have been seeing and wondering about for several months on the list of upcoming missionaries.

Thursday evening, we were invited to share dinner with these "Goldens," the new missionaries who arrived last week.  It was decided that there is more memory retention if no teaching occurs immediately after 15-20 hours of airplane travel and so they are assigned a trainer and go to their new areas.  They return the following week on Thursday afternoon and evening, for review and practice of missionary work.  There is lots of excitement on their parts as they talk about their first week in the field.  One sister made the comment, "I didn't know missionary work was going to be so hard, but is so worth it!" They spend the night and are up at 6:30 am the next morning for Snap Gravity (exercise), breakfast and then more teaching until lunch.  Our dinner that night was at the Northern Thai restaurant where we really enjoyed sampling five different dishes, served family style.  When we were finished, President asked the waitresses (two) and the cook to come out and we sang, "As I Have Loved You" to them.  It took a few minutes for them to come from the kitchen, and we wondered if they thought we were going to complain about the meal.  These new Goldens are from the Philippines, Kiribati, Australia, and China and the sisters are seated on the left side of the table. At the top of the table are the two new elders, along with the office elders and two Assistants.

Earthquakes, a hurricane and now a cyclone are forces of nature that we have experienced in our lives.  When warnings were posted for Cyclone Marcia, we weren't even sure what that was until we did some research.  A cyclone is formed in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans and is the same as a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday we experienced unbelievable amounts of rainfall and some wind in Brisbane, but there didn't seem to be too many problems. We don't know how much rain we got, but up to 300 mm (about 12 inches) was predicted.  President's mission office ceiling had a couple of leaks, but we were lucky.  Unfortunately to the north of us in Rockhampton there was severe flooding, trees blown over and power knocked out which might not be restored for a week or two.  Our young elders had their flat flooded and will need to move, but were insistent on staying in the community to help their investigators and members do whatever might be needed to help get life back to normal.  If was difficult to maintain contact with the elders, because their phone battery was dying and they couldn't find their car charger to use since there was no power in their flat. 

Even though these surfers and others were warned to stay out of the water, they didn't heed the warnings and experienced quite the rides.  We borrowed these pictures from a website. This is the Gold Coast, where we spent Christmas Day, which is about an hour drive south of us and the cyclone did most of its damage north of us several hundred Km's.

Saturday, Sandy was finally able to find a new "stylist" (Kristie) for her hair and added some new terms to our Australian vocabulary.  As the hair cut was proceeding, Sandy warned not to cut her bangs too short.  Kristie indicated she would just shape up the "fringe" and finish by "tidying up the neck!"  Another bit of terminology comes from the Sydney Service Center Fleet Coordinator for all of Australia who also helps with the visas - two very big jobs.  When he has some piece of email information to send and is speaking with Arlo or Sandy on the phone, he tell us that he is "flicking" the mail over.

So we will close for this week and "flick" our letter on over to many parts of the world.  Thank you for the love, support and strength that we feel from each of you.

9 - 15 February

The weeks events included adding six new missionaries to our mission,  having 17 missionaries depart for their homelands and going through 45 assignment changes at transfer meeting.  The group of missionaries who departed are beginning to represent the first groups of missionaries who arrived when President and Sister Henderson began their mission in July, 2013.   Our car knows the way to the airport very well, after making three trips on three different days, taking a senior couple so they could return to Cairns, picking up a new arriving elder and checking on a sister returning from the New Zealand Mission on her return trip to Cairns.  Elder and Sister Johnson were in Brisbane to attend the temple marriage of their daughter from Utah.  The couple decided to come here for their wedding and then are honeymooning in New Zealand!

Our parking area outside of the office building that the mission shares with five other businesses has spaces defined for each business.  After going many months, without an occupant across the hall from the office, Loud Events has moved in and this is their sign designating their parking space. Never have we seen one quite so "clear" about the consequences of parking where one shouldn't be parked! 

Tuesday was transfer day meeting after the departing missionaries were dropped at the airport.  The elder on the left came in a day earlier than the regular arrivals, so we had the privilege of retrieving him from the airport, since the Henderson's were involved with transfers.  Our elder is 26, the only member of the church in his family, comes from Kiribati and required 1 1/2 hours to get through customs.  After one hour, we started to panic a little, but with prayers and patience, he finally walked through the entry doors.  This elder was one of our visa waiters and has spent five months serving in another mission, until the paperwork was approved.  He comes from humble circumstances and on Saturday, we were blessed with the assignment to get him properly outfitted for missionary work, which he is anxious to get going on again.  Whitsunday and Bowen, in the northern zone, will be his first assignment, something very, very unusual for a brand new elder to the mission.  President Henderson commented about this, but said that it was confirmed to him that this elder should be in Whitsunday.

This is at transfer meeting and these two elders are going different directions.  Elder Goddard (gray suit) has been training Elder Parker, who comes from Tahiti and has made great progress learning English.  We are amazed at how many missionaries we have in this mission who are serving a foreign language mission learning english.  Elder Goddard's father died two weeks ago, but continues to serve so diligently.  Each mission car is outfitted with a bike rack, because every missionary has a bike and it goes with them wherever they might be assigned.  Although many have use of one of the 90 cars we have in the mission, they are till expected to use their bike when they can conserving Ks on the cars.  The parking lots was so full of laughter and happiness, as missionaries spent time with past companions and just enjoying being together.

The Brisbane Ward which we attend, held a baptism on Saturday evening.  Much to our surprise it was for a sister in the Gospel Principles class whom we had figured was a member and maybe just gaining further understanding of the gospel.  Elder Goddard (above) had taught her and was given permission to come from his new area to attend the baptism.  Her son baptized her and other children spoke, gave a prayer and presented a musical item for the program.

Monday evening before the departing missionaries leave on Tuesday, there are interviews, dinner and a testimony meeting held at the mission home.  We have the opportunity to attend the dinner sitting at one table with missionaries and there is another table even fuller than this one with the Henderson's. We are there to collect their mission support credit cards and Aetna insurance cards from them and go over travel itineraries with each missionary.  There is lots of enthusiasm as they see each other,  but some sadness as most will not ever be together again.  One of the two sisters in this picture is from the Philippines, but will be studying nursing at UVU in Utah Valley.

Well, another busy week has flown by taking care of routine office business but always dealing with many unique and challenging issues as we assist these 270 wonderful missionaries.  We feel greatly blessed each day to be part of this work.

Hope you each had a Happy Valentine's Day!!

2 - 8 February

Howsitgoin mates?  Things are "goin" just fine here.  This past week has been our Deliberation Week, in preparation for Transfer Week!  Monday through Thursday were spent praying and poring over the companionships and areas in the mission by the assistants and the Henderson's.  The seniors in the office (two sisters and the Mickelsen's) took turns preparing a lunch to be shared together with the deliberators. This week Sandy made chicken salad to fill croissants, along side chips, veggies and fruit.  On Friday, they all go fasting to the temple  to confirm the decisions and changes that have been made during the week.  This transfer was more difficult, due to the fact that 17 missionaries are returning home and we are only adding six. There are twelve visa waiters on our mission rolls right now, and it was hoped that some would receive their visas in time to come now, instead of later.  All are serving temporary missions in the United States.  President shared with us at our weekly staff meeting, that the mission would be downsizing over time to no more than 200 missionaries, which will be a standard for all the missions in the church.

The four assistants to the president - three from the US and one New Zealander.  Because of the size of our mission President Henderson has decided to have four instead of the normal two assistants. They will all return to their homes in the next three months, three in one transfer.

Saturday we were able to have our first real p-day! at Emundi Market, located about 1 1/2 hours from our flat heading north up the coast.  Our companions for the day were Elder and Sister Johnson (from Jordan, Utah), who are serving with the Self-Reliance program in Queensland.  Quoting from the brochure, "Every Saturday and Wednesday this otherwise sleep hinterland town springs to life in the early hours of the morning, transforming into a vibrant mecca for shoppers looking for something different.  A plethora of most things locally handmade, the market sells everything from delicately constructed craft to organically grown produce, living up to the them at the bottom of the sign."  The market has over 500 booths, all excellent presentations.  We are trying our best to follow the locals example and always wear a hat when out in the very hot sunshine, to help combat skin cancer.

Shared the walkways with heaps and heaps of people!

Lots of local talent were entertaining throughout the market with a wide variety of music.

The first shop,  as we entered the market, had these intriguing little bottles of pickled onions with an interesting name. 

Heaps of people have told us that we needed to indulge in a cronut at least once during our stay here. In case you are wondering what in the world this is, we will tell you.  This is a deep fried cross between a doughnut and a croissant.  Our choice to share was one drizzled heavily with white chocolate, and raspberry jelly filled!

This portable ATM was being well used in the short time we stood by it, visiting with the owner.  He has 45 in Australia and takes them all over to many outdoor venues.  His profit comes from the $3.00 service fee.

Sandy walked into one of the stalls, which was featuring African goods.  What a surprise to come upon this display and see the Ngwenya Glass signage which has come from Swaziland, the small kingdom that borders South Africa.  The glass animals are all hand blown and made from recycled glass that people collect from "every corner of the country."  During one of PEF trips to Swaziland, we were able to visit the glass blowing facility and see first hand how the pieces were made. While looking at the pieces, fond memories of good times had in Swaziland filled our minds.

Even though we were tired from all the exploring at Emundi Market, we couldn't come so close to Coscto and not stop.  Looks just the same on the outside, except for the spelling difference on the side of the building.  So many words are spelled just a little differently than we are used to.  Our computer in the office spells correctly for Australia, but sometimes throws us Americans off!  We couldn't believe all the people lined up for a rotisserie chicken to come out of the ovens - it is a real deal.  The chickens are about the same size as the U.S. and sell for $6.99, as compared to $12-13 for a smaller chicken in the local grocery stores.  One thing that is different about Australian rotisseries (except Costco) and ours, is that they are filled with stuffing.

The set up in the store is similar enough to any we have been in the States and even the food court signage is the same, just a few different menu items.  As we entered the parking lot and store, one would have thought it was Christmas by the massive amounts of people.  There are rumors that because of the success of this store there are plans to build a second one on the opposite side of Brisbane.  

We are busier than we have been for many years and the days are long with a new challenge every hour, it seems.  But we are enjoying every minute of it and appreciate the opportunity to serve as missionaries in this part of the world.

26 January - 1 February

It is a beautiful day in Oz, with temperatures around 29-31 C.  The weather is warm during the day, but cools down nicely around dusk and through the night, making things very pleasant.  Arlo walks each morning and added a new route by the Brisbane River, where he commented that it was very cool, almost cold as he walked.

The 26th of January is official national day of Australia.  It marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove, New South Wales by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.  In Sacrament Meeting the Sunday before, we stood together and sang their beautiful official national anthem, Advance Australia Fair,  Hymn #342, which is added in the Australian LDS hymnbooks.  

Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free;  
We've golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girt by sea.  
Our land abounds in nature's gifts of beauty rich and rare;                                     
In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair.  
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross we'll toil with hearts and hands.                                                 
To make this commonwealth of ours renowned of all the lands.  
For those who've come across the seas we've boundless plains to share, 
with courage let us all combine to Advance Australia Fair.  

Chorus:  In joyful strains then let us sing, "Advance Australia Fair."

This special day was the last official day of the school holiday and everyone made the most of it.     Our missionaries had their P-Day switched to later in the week so they could take advantage of people being home celebrating, much like we would do on the 4th of July. 

During one of our outings to the store looking for office supplies, we found a few more signs for our mission sign collection!

No where could we find any additional signage that would tell us if we might qualify for this parking spot!

Sign designating crosswalk ahead - very self-explanatory!

A popular place in Fortitude Valley on a hot summer day.  This building was constructed in 1925, maybe accounting for the name.  As we drive past, there are always patrons in the "bath", even early in the morning.

The senior missionaries are currently trying to get all 110 mission flats inspected in the next three weeks.  This was our first one of the day, with a threesome from the United States, Tonga and Tahiti as the occupants. This very old and dusty plastic model of the Titanic was sitting on top of a wardrobe and we suggested they add it to the "rubbish bin".

These are sweet sister missionaries from China and Taiwan and their flat was spotless.  They are serving in the ward that we attend and always are looking for hugs when we arrive.  They are assigned as Chinese speaking missionaries, but are expected to master English while here.

Two current companions who knew each other during their high school days at Olympus High in Salt Lake City.  They received their calls (both to learn Mandarin Chinese) within a month of each other and were surprised to be going to the same mission.  Now they are enjoying serving together, never thinking it would be possible!

Technology never ceases to amaze us.  This week we had a mission-wide phone conference call, that also included the the Pacific Area President in New Zealand.  He was praising the missionaries in our mission for the fantastic work that occurred this past year.  Our week seems to be a blur as we think back over it, but we are grateful to be a part of keeping things going in the Brisbane Mission.