G'day Mates!!

G'day, Maties!!! As each month flies by, our lives keep gaining momentum! We have survived another extremely busy, but productive month with barely any time left over to 'think', ponder, plan?
We just returned from the Printer's with our completed Christmas Pageant Script, which has been 6 weeks in writing and developing, the Christmas Story, complete now with narratives, choir, children's voices, soloists and pageantry. Now we have to put them, with the accompanying music, into these nifty booklets that they all use here in Australia that have plastic sheet covers inside. And I'm still having trouble relating to doing this massive production in the hot summer month of December!!! Seasons are reversed here in the Southern Hemisphere. Yeah! While you're all sweltering right now in July temperatures, we are chilly and in the midst of winter-time! Supposedly, it has been reported and proclaimed all over the news that this winter has been the coldest winter since 1976. MY kind of weather, actually!
We've been to a Zone Missionary Transfer, had another Zone Conference with the new Mission President, held our Genealogy Workshop, which was open to the community; planned a Music Fireside; taken over the reins of Missionary Flat Inspections; and being the Chief Cooks and Bottlewashers for the Thursday Night Dinner at all Zone Conferences. Our two Sr. Couple Missionary Couples have finished their time and returned to the good old USA, so our tasks doubled with their departure.
On Monday, Scott picked up and escorted a single guy in our Branch to the hospital to have a prostate biopsy.
Since they were going to 'put him out' to do the procedure, Scott left, thinking "Hmm, when I had that done, I had to go cold turkey so I could drive myself home!?!" When he called the hospital to see if John was ready, the voice said "Let me pop you over to the service desk." and when he picked him up, the nurse said "Oh, are you here to collect John Liddy?" Scott and I both get a 'kick' out of their expressions.
On June 27th, we drove down to Melbourne for transfers and Farewell for the outgoing mission president, Corey & Janis Lindley. It was absolutely wonderful. In her farewell address, Janis, mother of 8, bore a fervent testimony of the truth of the Book of Mormon, saying: "I know it's true because the Spirit bears witness to my heart, my mind and my soul." And she encouraged the missionaries present to continue on with the "one-a-day" and focus on Christ-like attributes as they read. Pres. Lindley, a business tycoon of world-wide fame, was asked what he did to be so successful with his family, his job and he listed the following:
1. Develop a strong sense of 'family'
2. Pursue dreams (but if they conflict with your standards, change pursuit.)
3. Get an education. It opens doors; pay the 'price'; listen to the Spirit.
4. Put in an honest day's work. When you're busy, you're happy!
5. Keep up Temple Covenants.
6. Marry someone who motivates you to do 'better."
7. Set Goals: (a) Be a good Father/Husband (b) Serve faithfully in all your callings. (c)Re-read the Book of Mormon with your 'calling' in mind. (d) Be a good Home Teacher (f) Serve a Mission (g) Help others: financially, spiritually; influence for good. (h) Keep up reading schedule (i) Keep up physically (j) Read several good books each year
I wanted to share these with you because I felt them to be so vital in today's world.
After the talks, the Lindleys moved everyone into the Recreation Hall and presented each missionary(including us!) with two recipe books, large Australian tablecloth and a nice white apron, and she encouraged the missionaries to get married and make 'mealtime' a 'family time', with these gifts as a "reminder”. Then the entire mission of Elders did a rousing "Maori Haka" as their final good-bye.
Our Zone Conference welcomed President and Sister Lifferth. What a lovely couple. Coming into this mission at a time of reorganizing and consolidating the 2 Melbourne Missions, must be overwhelming! Scott and I prepared the meal for the first night, with an all-American entree of..."Sloppy Joes". The missionaries really loved them! And for dessert, another all-American delicacy: Apple Crunch with home-made custard, topped with berries. Yummm
We are finding anew, when the Lord asks us to do some little thing, He in turn, blesses us a whole lot! And to quote Sister Lindley,
Don't cry because it's over....
Smile because it happened!

Yes, the "Bush in on Fire!" with missionary activity "down under" and we continue on, steadfast in our calling, being blessed with health and strength, loving the people, this beautiful country.
Signing off now to go prepare our Seminary Lesson!
CHEERIO!!!

More pics!

(The lovely Melbourne Temple on a cloudy day)

(Our Elders after a Session)

(Our friend, Barbara, the Terror of the Church Library)

(Sr. Sisters and I having a little "Brekky" with Pres. Garth's wife)

(Lovely house where we stayed on Temple trip)

(Another 'transfer' day, including cars being swapped!)

(Lunchtime at 'Transfers'---yummmm!)

(Driving in Bush)

(A typical Aussie bridge)

(A Shed Erector U-Truck)

(Our Zone Leaders with the Lifferths...new Mission Prez and wife!)

(New President at Zone Conference)

(Our American meal at Zone Conference: Sloppy Joes!!)

(The cute Racines, Sr. Couple who just left to go home.)

("Signing Quilt for outgoing Pres. Lindley and wife)

("English-as-a-Second Language" lesson with Saa, Branch Member)