Solomon's Porch: 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

December 2010

(Echuca Primary Program)

("Active" non-member George)

(After-harvest, round bales of hay, just lay in field until purchased)

(This time, celebrating Shirley's birthday at Brenda's!)

(Finley Fireside singing--"Mary Did You Know?")

(Debbie Burkin & me at Jane Mather's home for lunch)

(Family Home Evening: Barb, Jean and Nellie listening)

(A typical sight driving through towns)

(District Mtg with Elders: Pizza in the park)

(Mather's beautiful cottage in Finley)

(Grapes grown around awning on porch)

(Typical pastoral scene in the district)

(A small town effort at Christmas decorating!!!)

(Dance recital we attended)

(Our Branch Christmas Party-only decorations were the Elders wearing Santa hats!)

December 10, 2010

December has officially arrived,....the beginning of Summer in Australia! This finds this part of Australia at the end of a 10-year drought, so it has rained every other day. It is just the beginning of summer but the mozzies (mosquitoes) and locusts are already impossible!! The flies 'stick' to you and when you try to brush them off, they come right back. The rain has weakened the roads. There is not much gravel under the black top. Actually there is no gravel in this part of the country. It all comes from Western Australia and blacktop is called a 'sealed road.' The shops are full of summer wear and BarBQ's.,(cooking outdoors is called a "barbie") and Christmas tinsel and toys. As you all know, of course, I'm not one to complain!!

However I do wish I was home during this season!

Our Branch took on an Outdoor Christmas Pageant. We have rehearsed for this for 3 full months. The first performance was in a town about 1 1/2 hrs north of us, called Wangaratta. The Branch President hired a big us to transport everyone, to make sure they all showed up, which was such a good idea. Pres. Lauder of the Echuca Branch and his brother-in-law and our two missionaries, Elder Baker and Bartle and of course, the Solomons, all drove up early to set up the stage, lights and sound system. We also had the missionaries from Albury, Benalla and Wangaratta there to help us and be greeters as people arrived to see it. When we went through Benalla on the way there, it was really raining hard. But then a half hour up the road, there was no more rain, and Wangaratta was clear and nice; although there was thunder on two sides and sun on the other two directions. We had all prayed so hard that the rain would be stayed until after the performance that I gave the "go ahead" to set up. And the rain didn't come until we were all home, during which it rained all night! Our pageant was well received and so we geared up for 2 more performances in Shepparton.

We were to do our Christmas Pageant last Thursday and Friday, the 2nd and 3rd of December. Thursday rained in the morning, then stopped, so we went ahead and set up in the afternoon. But 3/4 of the way through the performance, it rained suddenly and everyone carried something and we all ran into the Chapel, where we finished to the end. So Friday, with many hard rains throughout the day, we made an executive decision to just do this performance inside, we set up in the Chapel. We have no Recreation Hall, just a big overflow area. And sure enough, at 7:00pm, the rain came down hard and rained a full hour til 8:00pm. Our audience was small, but very appreciative. The main purpose of the Christmas Pageant was to create an interest in the Branch--a "work in progress," working together, etc., and to be known in the Community. We had ads in the local newspapers; fliers distributed door-to-door, and we have been invited to sing at a community concert in the park Sunday night: "Carols by Candlelight." All in all I think we did very well.

(Christmas Pageant: An angel appearing to Noah)

('Follow the Prophet' soloists--both my piano students)

(Our Pageant Choir)

(Prophet Isaiah prophesying)

(Prophets foretelling)

("O Holy Night" being sung above Mary)

('Mary and Joseph song': Jesus Is His Name)

(Primary singing "Away in a Manger")

("Go Now in Peace"--closing song)

Going back to the rain!! The news on the telly(TV) said "It's the most rain in 50 years! Also on the news is the arrival of "Oprah" where we are following all her adventures. Apparently, she's in Melbourne today! And we are now settling down again, staying in away from the mozzies, preparing to take up missionary labors again. The District (Stake) has caught on to Scotts' talents and are all excited for MORE. And he replies: "Funny you should mention it".....he already has the 'next' production under way, and that would be his Joseph Smith Readers' Theater. Seminary is over until February; school is out for summer vacation next week, and Christmas approaches. We will focus on the spiritual side of this holiday this year, and will surely miss all our loved ones, but will be with you "in spirit and love." The "Reason for the Season" will be foremost in our lives, and we send our blessings to all of you, one and all! Cheers! Elder & Sister Solomon

(Latest Missionary transfer day--including ours!!!)

(Our loved Elders Baker and Bartle bidding fond 'farewell'.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Elder Solomon's turn!!!

(Downtown Echuca)

Cheers, Matey's: It's Elder Solomon here; my turn:
In Australia, they only have half as many days in October as we are used to.....it seems as though it went awfully fast!
During the month of October, we had General Conference the last Saturday and Sunday of the month. It is called "Video Conference." The second Saturday and Sunday was Wangaratta District Conference. I was called the Saturday before and asked to be the District Music person and had to put all the music together for the conference. Also I was assigned to talk on Sunday morning. The special number for the Sunday Morning Session was the popular EFY arrangement of "As Sisters in Zion/Armies of Helaman" which had been assigned to each Branch to teach their youth. Shirley felt comfortable right up until Thursday when the District President called and asked her to talk at the Saturday Night Session!! Her topic was "What She Had Done to be a Missionary". She told how her music had been her missionary tool, her Preach My Gospel. It was really a good talk. Saturday morning I waited for the troops of Young Men and Women to show up for the one and only practice. A pleasant group of young women and leaders arrived, however just a few young men showed up. So I rounded up all the Elders who were there for a Missionary Conference, to help the young men. Anyway, I "staged" the song. And because there is no room on the stand , I had the young women sit on the far side of the chapel, and I led them through their Sisters in Zion. Then during the 'interlude' between the songs, the young men and missionaries stormed into the chapel and stood against the opposite wall for a rousing Armies of Helaman, after which the 2 songs were sung at the same time. And everyone was absolutely amazed, and crying. The audience almost jumped up clapping!...it was so exciting! ( It, of course, was a real "Scott.")
The Friday before District Conference, the Mission President had a missionary conference and interviews, so we were in Wangaratta 2 nights. In the Lobby of the Motel, they had a huge photograph that had been taken with a Brownie Camera. It was a 1st World War photo of Military leaders, sitting in a row in front of a Middle East pyramid. As they prepared to take the photo, all the Australian Soldiers climbed the pyramid to get in the photo. There must have been at least 4 or 5 hundred soldiers; some were just 'boys', age 14 and 15. One was even dead and held up by 2 buddies. There was also a father and his 4 sons. They crossed their arms in front and held hands. Most of the men in the photo never came home. We were certainly 'touched' to look at this photo.
Also during the month, we went to Melbourne to hear Sister Julie Beck, General Relief Society President and Pres. Callister, of the Area Presidency, speak. They had a special Missionary Conference in the morning, and in the afternoon a Leadership Meeting for Ward and Stake Relief Society Presidencies. Then in the evening, just for 'sisters', Julie Beck spoke again. I sat in the foyer with the crying babies and heard the whole thing. Each meeting was two hours long. I could not get over the stamina of those leaders. We stayed at the Mission Home with Pres. and Sister Lifferth. They are truly wonderful people. Needless to say we ran up over 3,000 K's on our Toyota this month!
The missionaries out in the Bush where we are serving were not allowed to go to the Melbourne one, because it would cost too many K's; so Sister Solomon took extra good notes; then typed them up for all the missionaries in our District. Then last week, when we did "Flat Inspections" which took us two days and 700 More K's, she handed out the 'notes', as well as large cndy bars banana bread. This month we ran up 3,000 K's but the good news is the petrol is so much cheaper here than at home. It is only $1.25/litre???!!!
We had a baby die in our Branch and it was so very sad.

The funeral was lovely; Scott was asked to speak, so he spoke on the Spirit World where we go after we die. It was excellent, and we hope it brought comfort to many. There are pictures of the unbelievable Cemetery, where the little casket was buried.

We're so grateful to have the knowledge we do about the Great Plan of Life and Happiness.
We are now in the throes of "rehearsal" for our outdoor Christmas Pageant. We are well, feeling the blessings and time is rapidly moving along. It won't be long before we finish and return to Utah. Happy Day!!! Cheers!

Enjoy the pics!!!