Tasmania letter

Dear Family,

 Pres and Sister Maxwell and 10 couple missionaries went on a retreat to Tasmania.  Yes, it is a state in Australia.

Day 1

     Went to a cheese factory, no such thing as mild cheddar.  Cheeses are all white,

     Went to a raspberry farm and had lunch and dessert with raspberries.  Yum

     Went to a honey factory run by the United Brethren, similar to Amish.  Bought lemon honey and it is delicious.  They had over 50 kinds of honey to taste.

     Went to a wild animal park.  We were the only people there because of the pouring rain.  Adrienne and I are not animal people but we decided to be brave for the gran kids, to touch and pet all the animals we saw.

          PICTURES ON cannonsisterscalledtoserve.blogspot.com.au

          PLEASE SHOW THE GRANDKIDS.

     Went to some caves.  It is amazing how long it takes the stalagtites and stalagmites to grow together, thousands of years. The two guides were very funny.

A a couple from mainland China went with us.  They speak no english.  There were two sisters missionaries that went with us as translators. They are the first couple ever from China to serve a mission.

Day 2

     Went in a bus up to the top of Mount Wellington, very high mountain.  It started to snow.  I was scared to death and rode with my head down, never looking up or down to see how steep it was.  I hate heights.  Adrienne and the others got out to look over the edge and the winds were blowing at 50 mph.  People had to hold onto the railings.  The bus driver said we had to leave because the bus started shaking.  As we were driving down the ice was cracking under the wheels.

     On our way down to Hobart, two hours from the mountain we stopped at several small towns that had very cute boutique shops.  The old houses were fixed up and all were very quaint.  We bought our first Christmas ornaments in Richmond.

     We had our second fireside with the President.  It was specifically for senior couples.  The stake presidents were in charge but some couples spoke trying to encourage other couples to go on missions.  The church is really searching and seeking out senior couples and sisters.  If you know of anyone interested President Maxwell would like to know.

Day 3

     Drove to Port Arthur, a #1 visitor site in Australia.  It opened in 1836 as a prison.  England sent all their prisoners here, even those that only stole a loaf of bread, like Jean Val Jean. Children as young as 9 were sent here also.  It is depressing and the way they treated the prisoners was unbelievable.  They beat, killed etc but made them read the bible and go to Sunday services.  There is a depressing aura all around.  Years ago the government years tried to burn it down so there would be no evidence that it existed.  But it didn't work.

We will never return. 

We were happy to get home Friday night to our little comfortable abode.

President Maxwell talked to us on the bus ride and told us many interesting things from the Area Mission Presidents meeting.  I am just going to list them.

1. Elder Packer, "No such thing as enduring to the end.  We endure because there is no end.

         Missionaries are to FAN the FLAME of the light of Christ that is in everyone.

         Spirit will guide us.  We are ordained and set apart as missionaries to move forward in the right direction and we will be warned if we are moving to the left.

2.  Book of Mormon is SO important.

      Investigators need to know     JOSEPH SMITH SAW THE FATHER AND THE SON,         THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE

3. 51% of all missionaries serving come from homes where neither parent is a member of the Church.

4. Before Preach My Gospel came to be the lessons were memorized.  90% of those remembered only the Plan of Salvation and the First Vision.

         Those lessons are still taught first.

5. Elder Christofferson,  WHAT IS THE WORTH OF SOULS

            Capacity to become as God.

            No greater work, "For behold this is my work and my glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."

            Act with full appreciation of the divine nature of all we meet.

            Have a heightened awareness of ourselves and our potential.

6. Elder Oaks,

             Don't assume everyone knows about us.  Spiritualism is dying.  PONDER,  IT GIVES US DIRECTION TO THE SPIRIT.

We have two visits this week with our in-active members.  Please pray for us and them that they might return to Christ.

In closing a quote from our lesson today by Joseph Fielding Smith.  It is Adrienne and me.

      "I know that the work I have been called to do is the work of God.  But I know that our happiness is dependent upon my faithfulness while I am here.

       I should be willing to do this much for the love of all mankind when our Savior could suffer as He did for us.... I am in the hands of our Heavenly Father and he will 

      watch over me and protect me if I do his will and he will be with you while I am away and watch over you and protect you in all things."

Love you all,

Mom, Mother, Grandma, Adrienne, Dee Dee