Pics and the joy we are finding everyday!

(Scott's birthday dinner at Brenda's)

(Dancing at the Mother's Day Bash)

(Us and little J'beira)

(Maddie and Me....we're friends!)

(The Royal Wives of the Branch Presidency)


Mother's Day a la Samoa
There was great anticipation of this event to be held Saturday afternoon at 4:00, which we are learning slowly that it probably will get going about 5 or 5:30. And then they'll wait til all the dignitaries are here; in this case, it was the 2nd Counselor. Husbands had been instructed to make leis for their wives. Of course, one is suppose to just 'know' this; no announcement. And they weren't all that thrilled about Elder Solomon calling all the inactives to tell them about this party. (Tired of 'feeding' them; so we knew then that it was a Samoan affair. ) Have to learn the signals and customs. So great! Another opportunity to wear our outrageous matching outfits, made previously in Utah for a big Luau. Needless to say, our Polynesian attire was a hit! However, as I waltzed in with my home-made lei around my neck, we learn you weren't supposed to, after clearing all of us "not in the know" out of the hall. Our names and titles were called out to proceed into the room, starting First with the Branch President's wife and Counselor's wives; followed by Br.Pres. Mother-in-Law; followed next by Hilda, the oldest Mother in the Branch; followed by me, Sister Solomon. Unknowingly, Elder Solomon put his lei around my neck(once more!) gave me a sweet kiss, and escorted me in, and sat across from me, right until he noticed none of the husbands were in the Hall, much less "sitting" at a table! So he gingerly sauntered back out of the hall, once again; and all the men ate in the kitchen and waited on our tables(us wives and kids). Scott did get permission to go in and sit with me, as well as our cute Elders. The food was fabulous, as usual; they "loved" the garlic bread. (Ours! Garlic bread isn't a big thing here.) Then with Samoan Elder Prez announcing the rest of the evening in Samoan, we realized tables were dismantled and the hall was cleared for the "Item" Show, which only the Samoans knew about. A "talent show'. Then the DJ started the dance music and Scott and I danced the swing once and a waltz once and Scott was tired out (he turned 72 last week!) so we had fun watching them dance. They did a lot of 'acting out the words' with their partner as they danced. This went on for about 2 more hours then it drew to a close. We did have a good time that night. Then the next morning at church, the speakers were informed they would postpone their talks til next time, and the meeting was opened up to Mothers to bear their testimonies, and the Primary Pres. was informed as she came in late that the Primary was to sing a song for Mothers. That's how they function here. But we're here to strengthen this Branch, and you know Scott!!??

Aussies use the word "item" a lot here. We wanted to share that we're doing a big Genealogy Workshop in June, which will be open to the communities of Mooroopna and Shepparton, where anyone can come to our chapel to learn how to search out their ancestors on the computer. We are spreading at least a thousand fliers out around the communities and hope it will become a great way to get missionary referrals. And Scott has been working on his plans for the Christmas Pageant which will be traveling to 3 different towns for performances. We are really enjoying our time here. With no distractions we have been studying the scriptures and prayerfully asking for guidance to serve where we might be needed. I spend all day Saturday giving piano lessons to Branch members, of all ages. We work with the missionaries, with the members, and are finding joy in our experiences here.

Scott's Entry

Scott here….

To start off this epistle, I want our family to know how much we miss them! Zach and Jamie are getting married without our being there. I never thought a function like that would ever happen without us. And now we are starting to miss Birthdays. Often Grandma tears up and can’t even read the e-mails. But we do know why we are here and I am sure our family will grow closer together with stronger bonds. We miss our friends, that wonderful circle, that surround us and gave us comfort and encouragement.

Our calling has given us much more responsibility than we ever anticipated. We seem to be on GO all the time. We still don’t have a Tellie(TV) or radio in the flat, but they would probably slow us down.

Talking about slang, nicknames and shortened words, the other morning, we stopped for breakfast at McDonalds and on the menu billboard were the words for a “Short Breakie”. They also had a “Large Breakie.”

Anyway, with all this going on, you wonder how we can be homesick? Well, we have been, and we continue to miss our dear ones, so keep us in your prayers and thoughts, and e-mail us a couple of times a month, and that will help keep us going. We have you in our prayers daily, and send our love.

Scott: Entry #2

There have been so many things I’ve wanted to write about, I decided I would, so I have arisen from bed at 11:00pm to do this!

This past week-end, we travelled to Wangaratta for District Conference. In the mission field, it is like a Stake Conference. Our District is comprised of 10 Branches about 1 hr to 3 hrs. apart, except for Griffith which is about 41/2 hrs. away. Gas is about $1.35 per litre, which is about 1 ¾ pints, or $60-$70 to fill the tank in our Toyota Corolla. The District Presidency comes under the Mission President.

He has two Counselors and 4 Councilmen. I was sustained as a Councilman at this Conference. However, I was not Set Apart. My calling from the Prophet covers that. Presiding over the Conference was an Area Seventy by the name of David Hoare. Elder Hoare lives in Melbourne, and covers this part of the world. In our Priesthood Meeting, Sat. afternoon, he talked about Church Government. Many people out here in the Bush are new to the Gospel and have not learned many Principles. Elder Hoare explained that he holds no keys. He is on assignment from the Twelve Apostles. If a Stake needs to be re-organized, etc., he is called to officiate and represent one of the Twelve. There are 8 Quorums of the Seventies in the world today. Also the Temple President and Matron of the Melbourne Temple were there.

I couldn’t help remembering when Las Vegas had 3 small wards and Moapa Stake included Moapa Valley, Virgin Valley, Henderson, and Kingman, Arizona. How small our membership was back then!

I am sure this area here in Australia will grow; maybe not quite like Las Vegas, but they are really good people here.

Scott’s Entry #3

Our little Branch has not been growing. Our members are sweet, with wonderful spirits, but are not outgoing or doing missionary work. I suggested we have a Live Nativity Pageant to draw attention to our Chapel. Everyone so far has liked the idea. We called the Mission Office for permission. They called back and said they would like our Branch Choir, that I had mentioned being a part of the pageant, to sing at Saturday night’s meeting. We sang a striking rendition of “Come Ye Children of the Lord”. I slowed the tempo down towards the end, then picked the tempo up for a majestic ending! We also did an arrangement of “I Need Thee Every Hour” which really came off well. At the end of the Conference we were given permission to do the Pageant with an agreement to fund the expenses.

Bro. Magleby, of the Church Music Department in Salt Lake wrote back that “we were real pioneers”, when Shirley wrote that our Branch was mostly Samoans who struggle with the English Language!!

If anyone has a script or music for a Live Nativity, please send ASAP> Shirley’s saying, “It’s a fine thing you got us into .” But I’m sure there is help out there. I want to focus on the Prophecies, and the Manger- easy music and Children’s songs.

Saturday before Mother’s Day, our Branch is having a Mother’s Day Dinner. Each Brother is to make two leis(?) one for his wife and another for a Sister, and to bring a ‘plate.’ ( it’s Potluck, in other words.) They suggest I make a lollie lei. I think that’s connecting candies.

Entry #4

Now let me tell you what it is like to drive on the Left side of the road!!! You cannot imagine the ‘vibrations’ that go through your body when you see a large Semi truck on a very narrow two-lane road, coming at you on the Right side!! The embarrassment when one gets in the car when it is parked in a large Parking Lot only to discover one got in on the wrong side and there is no steering wheel!! The people in this area seem to gather when one is trying to parallel park in the painted box along side the curb. So, yeah the Rear View mirror is on the ‘wrong’ side. However I have just recently discovered a mirror on each side of the car. (Doesn’t take me long!) The basic speed on most roads is either 60, 80, or 100 kilometers. On divided highways, the speed is 110 K’s. I was told by another Elder that 110k’s is about 68 mph. No one ever goes over the limit because they will ‘ticket’ for going even 1 or 2 miles over.

Another interesting challenge is going through a “round about” clockwise instead of counter-clock-wise. Australia uses a lot of round abouts, even when major roads cross. Most traffic travels the same speed so the cars weave through the round- abouts without slowing down. Shirley is constantly having ‘heart attacks’ sitting in the passenger’s seat!

But, of course, I couldn’t do any of this navigating without my co-pilot. Shirley reads the signs, helps me judge traffic, and keeps me on the side of the road I’m supposed to be on! Shirley has yet to drive in Australia. So unlike her. Maybe when I quit turning on the windshield wiper instead the the blinker, she’ll gain the courage to try it!

Shirley gets a kick out of road signs, because they use whole sentences: here are some examples:
* It is time to SLOW Down.

* Keep left unless overtaking.
* Open your eyes. Fatigue kills.
* Please do not use noisy ENGINE BRAKES.
* Drive 50k in built up areas.
* Right lane must turn right.
* Wrong way. Go back.
* Slowing down won’t kill.
*Secure your loads. Penalties apply.
* Emergency stopping lane only.
* Only sleep cures fatigue.

Fun Mission Pictures

(Branch Pres. piano lesson)

(District Conference Auxillary Sisters)

(Ned Kelley Artwork)

(The White Fleet at Zone Conference)

(Tongan Sisters)

(The 'Ute' Truck)

(Typical Quilt)

Happenings!

INTERESTING HAPPENINGS IN OUR MISSION ZONE
(1) There is a lovely young Tongan, Sister Pasina, fresh over here from the islands, who has learned English so fast and so well, that she sounds as though she's lived here for 20 years. Well, during Transfers, she was given a brand new missionary, who is also Tongan, Sister KiniKini, who was born and raised in West Valley, Utah. Her parents are both Tongan but none of them speak the language. THey discovered, to their great delight, that they were actually related; that one's grandmother was a sister to the other's grandfather and they are cousins! And the story ends with Sister Pasina teaching KiniKini how to speak Tongan. And they are so thrilled to be together.

(2) Another interesting story was told by our Mission President's dynamite wife in an address during the Zone Conference. She was talking to the young missionaries about how laws that are eternal and can't be ignored or broken without a consequence. She related an experience her brother-in-law had just the week before. Sister Lindley was received a desperate call from her sister in Salt Lake, who was on her way there, but needed her to please hasten to Sydney and be with her husband who was in the hospital. He had been in Sydney for a Business Convention and had been run over by a truck and was in serious condition in the hospital there. He had stepped off a curb, looked to his "left" as we do in America; but in Australia traffic comes at you from the "right." There apparently was even a warning sign on the curb that said "Look to the right." She flew to be by his side, and everyone at the hospital there was saying "It was so sad it happened to such a sweet man!" But as Sister Lindley explained "When it comes to natural laws, it doesn't matter "how nice" a person is, if you step off the curb into a truck, the resulting outcome cannot be changed and he was thrown 20 feet into the air, resulting in serious skull fractures. Interesting enough, though, he received no injuries "under his clothing." Life is very interesting here in the Mission Field!

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! )

Our Mission President

Here we are with our wonderful Mission President!
He and his wife were very gracious when we got here. We appreciate all they did for us when we arrived and for the wonderful breakfast his lovey wife made our first morning in the mission home!
Stay tuned for another blog coming soon, and we'll explain the funny cow/fish statue!!

We Made It!!!

(In front of our house)

G'day, mates! We are finally here in Mooroopna, Australia. We had a wonderful flight over, considering how we dreaded it. It only took 15 hrs, unlike the 22 hrs we were told; we slept most of the time, with the flight following the moon across the wide Pacific. We were met by a handsome Mission Prez who took us to his lovely home for a nice lunch that his lovely wife prepared for us and about 15 Elders and Sisters. Then to the Mission Home where we received instructions and then home with his Assistant and wife to spend the night. We were pretty much Zombies by then. They did take us out to dinner at a very nice restaurant where we decided the food was gonna be no problem-o! Then the next morning, 2 Elders showed up with 2 trailers and 'our' white Camry and we journeyed up to Mooroopna with trailers loaded with furnishings for our new above. A lovely 3-bedroom brick house with ac!! That's a good thing because it's HOT in Mooroopna. We were greeted by 2 Sr Couples: the Nielsen's from Henderson(!) and the Racines from SLC. And our two local elders, hand-some Maoris from NZ, who have been so good to us. Scott has done really well with driving on the wrong side of the street, as well as in the wrong side of the car. I, myself, haven't tried it yet. We awake each morning to a chorus of birds singing. The Aussie accent is still challenging, but we find ourselves saying words like they do. Things are a LOT more expensive here than back home, so we're learning to simplify and reduce the amount of spending now that we're settled. We are going out everyday to members homes to meet and get acquainted. We live behind the nice chapel, and last week, I played for a baptism on Sat. and for Church on Sunday. They put me right to work! Most of the members are Samoan, and we were treated royally.

We have been quite homesick for family and friends, but still glad to be here. We can keep in touch with e-mail and FB. We are looking into a cell. Our new address is:
| 1-11 Homewood Drive
Mooroopn VIC 3629
Australia

Landline Phone # - 0410 496 382

Cheerio from Scott & Shirley

(Had to get a picture of this!)