Sunday, January 4, 2015

Dear Family,

This week we had transfers and 15 new missionaries.  There were 70 companionship changes.  That means new phone numbers, new areas were opened and cars traded.  It has been difficult getting everyone situated in the right place.  Some areas are 7 hours away in the bush.  Traveling is difficult. 

Our new arrivals came; 1 sister from France which is unusual, 1 Chinese elder who was born and raised in Germany, 4 very cute and very petite Phillipino sisters, 2 Americans, 7 islanders and 1 elder from Moldova.  They all seemed very sharp and most spoke English.  They are all on English speaking missions.  

One of our new elders, last transfer, came from Vanuatu.  This is an island off Tonga.  He never learned to read or write.  He has the most kind, thoughtful, great missionary as his companion.  He is willing to help him learn to read and write.  We have made educational packets for him with flash cards and we are ordering the Book of Mormon on cd so he can listen in the car.

We had New Year's day off. We took a nice long walk, put away all the Christmas decorations, pruned trees and cleaned up the yard.  We went and bought a new house plant because our other died.  Went out to dinner at Salsa's.  They have the BEST tacos ever.  We  had an hour to kill til the movie Annie started.  We watched people, sitting outside at the shopping center.  It is a great area for eating and watching.  The Annie movie is not a children's movie.  It was somewhat funny but not cute and childlike.  Just so you know we also saw Night at the Museum 3.  Yes, we can see movies but PG.  They rate their movies differently than we do in the United States.  

Yesterday, Saturday we drove to St. Kilda beach about 45 minutes from our flat.  We DID NOT SWIM.  We did walk around in 100 degree weather with huge, strong winds pushing as we walked.  The waves were roaring and choppy. The boats were anchored. Finally found a fun restaurant where we had fish and chips.  We ate inside so we could cool down.  When we eat fish and chips we never know what kind of fish we are eating but it is always good.  Maybe it is better not to know.

We realize we have complained because we have been sooo cold. Well, now we will start complaining about 100 degrees with humidity. The weather changes hourly.  Today it  was raining about 60-70 degrees.  It is hard to choose an outfit to wear each day.

Friday we had to rescue two sisters from the heat.  They had locked their keys in the flat.

Tonight we had our President's monthly fireside. The missionaries are often late but the groupies waiting for the elders are always early.

We have a new senior couple, Brother and Sister Linder who arrived on Monday from the states.  They will be working in the office with us.  The Kings are going home and we will miss them especially Elder King.  He has such a great sense of humor.  Back to the Linders.  They came to the fireside and she got sick and I took her to the emergency room.  Thank goodness we are starting to know our way around the city.  

We went to bed early on New Year's Eve.
We love seeing Instagram pictures.
We try to take pictures when we can.  But office pictures are boring. We will try to be better but all week we are in the office.  Weekends are the exploring day.

The Gospels.
    Matthew  was written to persuade the Jews that Jesus is the promised Messiah.
    Mark appeals to a gentile audience and is fast moving emphasizing the doings more than the sayings of the Lord
    Luke offers his readers a polished literary account of the ministry of Jesus. Favorable to the gentiles.
    John was writing to the members who had basic information about the Lord.
   
      Our love to you always

       The Moms


The Office staff.

No comments:

Post a Comment