Solomon's Porch: February 2011

After 3 fun weeks in Dandenong, close to the Mission Home, Temple and fabulous "markets", we loaded up our trailer with the help of two nice Elders, who certainly had their eyes opened in the "Art of Loading Trailers."

(Our "helpers" loading the trailer for our move to Traralgon)

(Trailer getting higher)

When Elder Solomon said, "OK, now we have 2 tables and some chairs to go up on top of the mattresses, their eyes just bugged! By the time they were done, they had gained a new appreciation of such labor and titled it the :Leaning Tower of Solomon!"

And off we went for our new destination....Traralgon! (which took us about 2 weeks to remember how to pronounce it!) We have been here in Traralgon since January 10th. It is a beautiful town and we seem to be settled in. When living in Mooroopna, we were in the Wangaratta District, with Branches. Now we have moved into an area with Wards and Stakes. The Bishop of our ward has been up in Queensland for a big family wedding for about 3 weeks, and we have been worried about him and his family with all the storms they have been plagued with up there the past few months. Today we heard from him and he's in Melbourne where there is more flooding from heavy rains so he still can't get home. We saw floods in Shepparton and have seen some Bush fires here in the area, but mostly we have enjoyed the 'cool' summer rains. We've been told to expect some hot days, up to 110 degrees.

A couple weeks ago I was standing outside the church in the car park with a young missionary from Oregon. A large plane flew across the sky above us and the missionary asked me if I knew how far away the plane was? I said "Maybe a mile, but that I didn't know in kilometers. He said "No! I think it's about 9 months for you!" Can you believe I got snookered?

I want to tell you all about "round-abouts". In every small city are divided roads for the main drag. The 'Parkway' is 20-100 feet inside the 2 roads, with grass, benches, trees, public toilets and most of them have a large cement water tower. It is so flat here, I guess they build a tower for pressure. At most intersections there is a "round-about." Now, because the center parkways are so wide, the round abouts are gigantic! There are also some round abouts in the range of 20 feet across. We have not seen many Stop Signs. Instead every corner has a "Give Way" sign.

My favorite round-about is in Morwell, the next town. On either side of the train tracks that go through the town there is a two-way street. Also on one side of the track there is one street that comes into the Intersection at a right angle! Then there is a round-about that divides the two-way streets and goes clock-wise up over the train track and down the other side to roads that intersect on the other side, continuing the circle up over the train track again and back down the original side. There is NO way through the Intersection without making the circle twice up and over the train tracks...clockwise!! Shirley always shuts her eyes, and trusts me to do it correctly! And I always do!

Traralgon Ward is one of those wards that have just given up as the members have grown old and people have moved out, leaving but a small gathering of faithful Saints to carry on. There are no other wards near to feed it. In fact, we have found out two families go to the next town because of their Youth program. We have been visiting the members on the List daily to encourage membership growth in attendance.We were "run off" by some gal's 'partner' one day! That was a "first." and quite disconcerting! Another sister, who used to be a Relief Society Counselor said she wasn't interested any more! Real proselyting experiences finally!

AUSTRALIA DAY: January 26th. This is like America's July 4th. We, of course, were involved.

(Australia Day: Traralgon Brass Band)

(Raining on Program)

A "Breakky" in the Park at 8:00am.

(Brother Tainten at the Barbie (BBQ) cooking sausages, mince meat and onions! Yum!)

Some nice people invited us to sit at their table. They were all from Scotland.
The Menu was scrambled eggs, sausages, bacon, OJ, and milk, tea or coffee. We listened to the Traralgon Brass Band while we ate. The Flag-Raising was at 8:30 and the National Anthem "Advance Australia Fair" was sung by one and all (We even sort of know it) All of this took place under very light rain. In the afternoon, the Ward had a Cricket Game and Barbie(BBQ) We both took our turn 'at bat.'

(Cricket game at church: Elder Solomon 'up to bat')

Of course, we were corrected for dropping the bat and running, because in cricket you carry the bat with you to the next wicket. The members got a kick out of the Senior Missionaries playing with them. Sister Solomon, after 4 bats and running back and forth, talked a cute Maori 10 yr. old girl, into doing the running for her.

(Sister Solomon 'up to bat')

And as for Australian Sauage, I'll be glad to get home to an American Hot Dog!!!

Last night, we drove to Yarram, about an hour south of Traralgon to visit two families in the ward. Yarram is pronounced with only one R, is near the coast of Australia. We taught a lesson on the Priesthood with the Olsens and had dinner and got acquainted with the Jacomas, To get to the Jacomas, you pass through town on the main road, turn left on Pound and pass by two 'milk sheds' and then turn right at the green mail box.!!! With those directions and a chuckle, we did find their place which was a very old but charming farmhouse on a 'paddock' that has many snakes!?! Although we have yet to see a snake.

(Jacomas Family; Steve and Tierisa and baby sister)

We are still enjoying words and phrases here in Oz, ...like, tortilla is tortula; Hyundai is pronounced with the 'Y' first =Yunday; curb is spelled Kerb; herbs is pronounced with the 'h'=' huh'; smash repairs for body work on cars;

BARK ART: Most of the trees we have seen here have 'bark' that they shed each year, like a Sycamore tree. One of the senior sister missionaries, who is actually from Traralgon, took pieces of bark and arranged them on her floor one day. She said it was like an 'inspiration' while she was meditating. Then she glued the bark to a backing snd created a beautiful landscape design. When she had it framed, the framer offered her $1000 for the art piece. Instead she donated it to the Cancer Unit at the La Trobe Hospital here in Traralgon where it now hangs.

(Sister Johnson's 'bark art' hanging in the hospital)

We went and visited the hospital and took a photo of the landscape and in visiting with patients and nurses, learned of how much they enjoyed it. Shirley had quite a visit with a cute Greek man who sat beside it while receiving chemotherapy and he told of how much he enjoyed it. We are sending an enlarged snapshot of it to the Mission Office for them to see. This sister is working in that office on her mission and is a very special lady.

(Plaque beside Landscape in Hospital Oncology Center)

CYCLONE YASI: I'm sure many of you know about Cyclone Yasi that came on Australia's northwest coast and inland quite a distance. It hit as a Category 5 (!) and destroyed the banana plantations, other crops, houses, businesses and of course, three days later there is still no power anywhere. Now, the Good News____ there was only one death, a 23-yr old young man had a generator with him in a small room and of course' it asphyxiated him! Two days before the storm, they announced the storm would be the worst ever to hit Australia, worse than Cyclone Larry in 2006, and they instructed everyone how to prepare for it. They either left the area or prepared their houses by protecting windows and sand bags for the water and prepared water and food for the long haul. At a certain time, they announced it was time to take shelter. People took some food, bedding, etc. and went into big malls and camped out in the hallways. Later that day they announced that no one was to leave the area. The time for evacuating was over. There would be no police help and everyone prepared for the storm wherever they had chosen to be. It was Zero time. Anyone who called at this time saying they had changed their minds about leaving were told, "Too late! The time was past. No one was going out anywhere. The communities were well organized; 3 babies were born; NO ONE was injured. It was really an inspiration, after witnessing Katrina, how everyone worked together for the good of all. Good on ya, Australia! This north area of Australia, called Queensland has had its share of flooding, and cyclones.

So in the end, we are "safe and sound." We here in Oz have survived floods, bushfires, cyclones, snow! We hear all the news about Pakistan...Egypt...2/3 of US crippled with snow.....and if that's not enough, to top it all off, the Crawfords are moving to Arizona!?!?!

With Cyclones and disasters on our minds, all around us daily, we strive to always remember Satan's influence and decadence as he tries to blow out our lights and the need to build 'shelters' in our lives to protect us and our families in these last days. Family Home Evening, prayer and scriptures are the shelters we need and we pray for our families to be able to withstand the storms of life; to stand in Holy Places. Our love to one and all!! and God bless us Everyone!
Elder & Sister Solomon

*Enjoy some more pics!!!!