Senior Couples Retreat

There are 4 senior couples in this Mission Zone, so Wednesday morning, everyone met at our house at 10:00, for juice and sweet rolls, then off we went, headed for Cosgrove Camel Farm. I thought, "hope I can swing my leg up and around the hump without losing too much dignity"!?! But the Aussie Guide had a platform we walked onto so we could do that without too much trouble.. My camel, "Cappuccino" kept turning her head to look at me! We went on a LONG ride in a 'caravan' line around the acres and acres behind the farm. Then he demonstrated his 2 "racing" camels around the farm, on his motor bike. "Gunning" the pedal would make them run faster. It was amazing how fast they ran across the horizon.
Then we traveled to Port Echuca, which is Australia's 3rd largest port, which seemed unbelievably way up in the Bush, far from the coast. Here we took a riverboat ride leaving from a wharf that was over a 100 yrs. old. The town was a charming old Colonial Plantation-town. We had a great meal that night at Antonio's, where everyone was entertained by us Americans. We stayed in a lovely motel, that served breakfast through a hole-in-the-wall cupboard, which we ate right in our room.
The next day, we headed up northward again going deeper and deeper into the Bush, destination: The Kooba Church Farm, and 175,000 acres that the church owns. The house was a Colonial Plantation Mansion, from the 1800's that had been added and added onto. It was like taking a trip back through history. It was absolutely gorgeous! Oh, the furniture...to Die for! We had a spaghetti dinner in the grand dining room, then watched a wonderful Australian movie, "The Rivers Run" which was filmed at Port Echuca, then each chose a royal bedroom to sleep for the night.
The next day, we had breakfast, cleaned up, and took a hike back through the river forest behind the houses, then had a heartfelt testimony meeting in the Grand Living room before we hit the road again, traveling for 5 hours back to Mooroopna.
This week, we got to participate in a Missionary Zone Conference in a town called Wangaratta, which lasted 2 days. It was wonderful being with all the young missionaries, and the Mission President and his sweet wife. Us Senior couples fixed their first meal which was Sloppy Joes, green salad and fresh fruit salad. It's hard to fill them up. But I think the Sisters out-ate the Elders!! I played the piano for everything and also got called on to give a 5 minute talk. I was ready because Sister Nielsen coached us to be prepared, just in case. I was just hoping I wouldn't be called on. But this event was very helpful for Scott and me as we are learning the missionary program. And you gotta love all those cute missionaries! We have really grown fond of them, like our 'own.'
Elder Solomon is getting to do his first Choir. We are anxious to see if 'we' pass the test with all these wonderful Samoans and their beautiful voices. They came to our "first" rehearsals en-mass(abt. 50 of them) with their lava-lava's and enthusiasm. It was quite the experience. Our Branch has been invited to sing at the upcoming District(Stake) Conference first week-end in May, so just 2 weeks to prepare. Now about all the Cow Statues around this area. We learned that Shepparton is the No. 1 Dairy-producing place in all of Australia. I wondered what-on-earth? with cow statues everywhere. This is also the largest Orchard-producing area in the South Pacific.
So, time is marching on; we're enjoying the "work" and still missing everyone. Our prayers are with each and everyone of you. Until next time.....Kia Ora!

( Us on our Cappuccino" Camel)

(Steamboat: "EmmyLou" that we rode on)

(Shirley(above) watching the big guy working the wood-burning steam engine)

(Church Farm building at Kooba)

(4 New Zealand Elders in the "Maori Haka" stance! )