2 - 8 March

Hard to believe that we are entering into the seventh month of our missionary service, but the calendar tells us it is so.  Supposedly the calendar also shows that we are entering Autumn and the clothes shop windows are showing sweaters and jackets, but the weather outside says another thing - hot and muggy!

It is always fun to feed some missionaries and we had the office elders to dinner on Tuesday. Sandy made sloppy joes which was a new experience for two of the elders.  Elder G (standing) is from Iceland and gives the cook a challenge because he needs to eat gluten and lactose free. Sandy was able to find some gluten-free bread for him to put the sloppy joe mixture on.  These are great young men, who are so patient with some of us that aren't as computer savvy as we would like, plus they are hard workers keeping the supply room current and preparing reports as requested by our President or his Assistants!  Sandy shared a discussion she had with the young woman operating the Brumby's Bakery across the street, when buying some buns for our sloppy joes.  She noticed the missionary tag and asked if Sandy was a nun (Sister Mickelsen) and this lead into a 15 minute discussion about the church.  It was exciting for Sandy to have this experience, so she told the elders to go over to the bakery after dinner and see if our new friend was there.  The next day,  the elders told us about visiting with her for an hour over the counter, and they set up an appointment, plus she asked to come to church!!

These two elders are the newest members of "the trying to extend their visas club," and are serving in the Mandarin Chinese portion of the mission.  Saturday morning, we met up with Elder Low (right) to get some signatures and give him some paperwork/passport for his visa physical. Neither Arlo nor Sandy had to go to the medical appointment because he is part of a threesome, so there was a companionship still in place during the exam.  Elder Wood was giving us information concerning some aspects of his visa.  None of our elders or sisters want to leave the mission early because their visas expire, so it takes special efforts and patience at times to make the process work.  It was anticipated that after the visa physical, Elder Low would be approved. But out of the blue, came the request from Australia for a police clearance letter from Singapore (his home) to finish the application.  We are up against a March 21st deadline, but we have faith it will all workout.  Elder Low always has a huge smile and is so happy to be serving as a missionary. 

After meeting with our two elders, our Saturday afternoon task was to check out the South Bank on the Brisbane River for restaurants.  During our walkabout of the area, we learned that this was the site of the former Brisbane World Expo '88.  We found a smorgasbord of restaurants, with food from many different countries, museums and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, where we are going to see Wicked as part of our Senior Couples Conference in two weeks.  

Heaps of street vendors at the Parklands with quite an array of merchandise, but no purchases since nothing caught our attention.

Streets Beach is Australia's only beach in the middle of the city - a man made lagoon, complete with sand, several splash pads and different textured floor bottoms. The place was very crowded and everyone seemed to be having a great time cooling off on a hot, end of summer's day!

The Nepal Peace Pagoda is a remainder from the World Expo and is one of the most significant heritage items in Brisbane from the hosting of the Expo.  It is the only international exhibit remaining on the site.  It took over two years to be constructed in Kathmandu by160 Nepalese families and then shipped to Australia in three containers, where is was re-assembled by a handful of Australian workers under Nepalese supervision.

and 

The Wheel of Brisbane at the Parklands.  All of the gondolas are fully enclosed and air conditioned and gives the riders a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view of Brisbane.  It takes a rider almost 60 metres (about 200 feet) above the ground.  Maybe Sandy will get brave enough to ride it when company comes later this year!

Each week offers new challenges which come on a daily basis, but this is a mission of miracles and another came on Wednesday.  Sister Hansen, one of our St. George senior couples, was returning from the United States, after attending the funeral of her brother.  Shortly after landing, the office received a call from her telling us of an elder who was on the plane with her.  Through an oversight, we didn't realize he was coming that day, so immediately the Mickelsen's tore down to the airport to find him, while President and Sister Henderson came from another direction and met us at the curbside to gather him up.  It is important to our president to always greet his elders with a hug and he was not going to let a new elder arrive without receiving one from him!  Sandy made the comment, "We have just had another miracle, President and he smiled back with his great big smile. A backseat interview was done on the way to the office, where he was left with us to be oriented. President made it to the quarterly Chinese Leadership Council Meeting, plus assigned a companion, and didn't miss a beat.  All this happened in about a one hour time span giving us further assurance that Heavenly Father continues to watch over us each day. But for the future, we hope to avoid such a challenge again!!