Four weekends in a row we were able to attend four different stake conferences. Each was amazing and life changing and each time we thought it could not be better but it just seems to get better. We were well fed and inspired.
One of the weekends we drove up to Newcastle which is a couple of hours north for their Stake Conference. On our way we stopped at The Entrance and went to the Pelican Plaza in time for the daily feeding. I had been wanting that experience so it was fun that it worked out. The pelicans are HUGE, so much bigger than those that swam in our resaca in Texas!
We arrived early which was nice as we had a place to sit on the steps affording us the chance to take some photos. The pelicans have gathered here to be fed for almost 30 years and know exactly when to come.
It all began when a restaurant employee fed them scraps every day. Apparently one day when he was late a pelican went up to the restaurant. Eventually the city took it over and volunteers come every day to feed them and to check them out. There is even one that has only one wing and they keep an eye on him.
There were 2 yellow lines which marked where we could not sit between. Because we were early we got seats right by the lines. But front row seats also meant we got beaten with pelican wings as they went back and forth waiting to be fed. You can see how up close and personal this one came to my husband.
I enjoyed watching them and it appeared that pretty much all of them got fed. The whole process lasted about an hour. I was glad we experienced it. I took a TON of photos but I think I am posting enough.
Afterwards we continued on our way to Newcastle for the Saturday evening session of conference. We had decided to check into a motel so we did not have to drive back and forth 4 times to attend on Sunday as well. While we were checking in we met a young man who was very troubled. When he learned we were missionaries he asked if we had a bible. Well, we had forgotten to bring extra scriptures with us but at the meeting we asked some young missionaries if they had a copy of the Book of Mormon which they had with them.
After the meeting we saw this man again. We spoke with him for a few minutes about the Gospel and explained the Book of Mormon. Before we gave him a copy I read him Moroni 10:3-5.
3. Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.
4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
He got very emotional having felt the Spirit as I read. We asked if he would like to come with us to our morning meeting and he said he would. He is a troubled young man who feels he has made too many bad choices and that God cannot possible want him. So we tried to help him understand that he is a child of God and as such is loved.
Sunday morning arrived and our new friend did come with us to the morning session of Stake Conference. He sat and wiped tears from his eyes as he listened to the music and the earlier speakers and then he left. I think he was uncomfortable feeling the Spirit as this was something new for him. It seemed he did not know what to do with the emotion he felt. After the session we brought the missionaries with us back to the motel and chatted with him. We will soon visit him at the rehab place he was preparing to enter. But our schedule will not allow it until mid October. He just needs to understand that he is a Child of God and that he is loved regardless of his past choices.
It was our privilege to help with a departing missionary seminar for more of our special missionaries who had finished their service and were leaving for their homes. We tried to help them understand some of the things they need to do for work and education after they got home. We love them and wish them well in their lives. It is sad to know that we will most likely not see most of them again as they scatter back throughout the world.
We were invited to Coffs Harbour which is about 5 hours north. The invitation was intended to be sort of a vacation during which we did a little training about self reliance and especially the new Eat Healthy and Be Active course. We also gave the Michigan test to 3 of the young missionaries who are assigned up there and cannot come down on our regular testing days. This was the 3rd try for one of them and this time he passed! 75 is passing and his first 2 tries resulted in scores of 73 and 74 but his time he got 83! When I saw his results a few days later I cried, I was so happy for him.
After those responsibilities we spent some time with some lovely people. We had a very nice walk by Emerald Beach where we saw kangaroos. It was fun to see them in the wild one more time. Then there was an impromptu supper with 3 other couples.
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| It was kind of windy! |
The next day we were driven to Dorrego Rain Forest which was so pretty. Sadly we could not walk very much because Elder Jenkins has had so much trouble with his hip. But when we got home that evening our host suggested he get on the their vibration machine. 4 minutes on that machine did something which eliminated the pain he has felt for many months. It has been 2 weeks now and he is still doing so much better. It really is a miracle! Today the physio told him it was because the vibration got his circulation moving better. We are planning to look into buying one when we get home. He still has to increase his strength but the pain is gone.
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| Dorrego Rain Forest Lookout
The day we drove home our host guided us along several look out points around Coffs Harbour. It is so beautiful up there - like paradise. So here are a few photos of the coast and also of us.
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| Coffs Harbour |
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| Someone decided to add color to the jetty. |
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| Windy again! |
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| The Watarah flower - Australia's national flower I believe. |
We have held meetings to try to find a unified approach to teach the missionaries who do not have English as their first language. We and 2 other couples have been teaching English for some months but there are many areas where the only English teaching has been by English speaking companions or self study. It was only last week that we learned that we will be replaced with a new missionary couple coming in mid January. We just hope we can get things set up for them.
Some of our Stake Self-Reliance committees have been forging ahead which is exciting for us to observe. Lots of productive meetings and trainings.
And while all of that has been going on, our house in Blaine, WA was sold closing the end of August. It was a difficult time since we had to worry about the water damage in our walls. We are very grateful for our good realtor who worked so hard in our behalf. And we can see the Lord's hand in the blessing of it being sold in a manner that has given us 'enough' to move forward. There is not a day that goes by when I do not express gratitude.
It is a strange thing to be homeless though. That house held many good memories for us and it is so strange to know that chapter of our life is over. When we finish our mission we will still return to our home Ward and Stake but only for a few days since our daughter and her family have been transferred and will not be there to house us. Some dear friends have offered us a place to stay for a few days. Then we will move on to visit family in Oregon before we head to Utah. We have seen the Lord's hand directing our lives to find our new home.
We are very amazed at how we were led to the area and to the home which is currently being built for us. Our children there keep us updated on the progress. Georgetown Construction has been very good to us as we have worked through all the modifications and details that must be organized to get a house built. We will be down sizing but will still have enough room for an office for our family history work and a guest room for those who come to visit. Our new home is located within an hour's drive of 5 of our children that live in Utah. We look forward to spending more time with them and our grandchildren. And we will be only 10 minutes away from the Mt. Timpanogas Temple which will allow us easy access to continue the work for our ancestors.
Our time here in Australia is busy and we love working with the lovely people we get to meet. We will miss them and this lovely country so we will hold on as long as we can trying to serve as well as we can and help move this great work ahead.
So we spend these remaining weeks with one foot in each world trying to hold it all together. Next week we will have a 'retreat' and training when the self-reliance missionaries from the Melbourne Mission will come up and join us. It will be fun to meet those with whom we have been Skyping for some months. Life is certainly interesting and we have been well blessed.
