Dear Family,
Monday night started the week on a high note. President and Sister Maxwell asked us to go see the new Avengers movie. We all loved it and had a great time.
Tuesday was a free evening which was nice.
Wednesday night we were invited to the President's home for dinner. Sister Hemi was going home. It was not a transfer day. In attendance were the AP's, President and Sister Maxwell and Adrienne and me. It was so we could say good-bye to her. Her wonderful companion, Sister Greenhalgh was also there. Sister Hemi's father passed away the day she was supposed to arrive in the mission. She has had a hard time. In spite of her struggles she was an outstanding missionary and she will be missed. Adrienne and I had gotten very close to these sisters. It was very emotional.
Thursday I woke up with an eye infection. Adrienne drove me to the doctor who sent us to an eye specialist. We then went to the pharmacy for 2 prescriptions. We finally got to the office and within minutes we were in the car again. A companionship of elders had locked themselves out of their flat so we needed to take them a set of spare keys. This kind of thing is NOT unusual. We have to remember the elders and sisters are still young.
Friday was a great day of exploring. Fourteen of the senior couples with President and Sister Maxwell rented a bus and spent the day touring the Mornington Peninsula. It was overcast, a little bit of rain, and cold BUT we saw beautiful beaches and countryside. We went to Fort Napean which is right at the bottom of Australia, on the water.
Fort Napean;
"The first shot fired by the British Empire in WWI was not on the battlefields of Europe. It came from a windswept fort south of Melbourne
half a world away. It was at this fort where a 24 year old Australian soldier fired on a German Merchant ship, the SSPflatz. It was on
August 5, 1914. The ship was carrying German officers and contraband. It was ordered to stop but ignored the orders. The remains of
fort are still standing. We went down in the bunkers and through the caves. It was kind of eerie!
Saturday we went shopping at our favorite mall, Chadstone. We all saw the movie, A Royal Night Out. It is based on a true story about Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret. When they are both still princesses on VE day they leave the palace incognito and celebrate. It really was
enjoyable.
Yesterday we drove to the bush for church. We went to Benella which is about 3 hours north. These small branches are always to excited to see missionaries come and visit. We as missionaries are just as excited to visit. They actually have a building which is nice. The branch is basically older couples. There are only 2 children and no youth in the branch. The one 17 year old has gone inactive because he is alone. The missionaries are quite close to him so we will pray that they can be a good influence for him. They had soup and bread for the ward after all the classes. One of the only problems with their food is that they do not season their food, no salt and no pepper and no garlic or onion salts. It is hard to eat such bland food. But we do eat all they cook for us and in the members home they usually will give us salt and pepper. We are very grateful when we get invited to a member's home. Our ward has been very kind to us.
Back to our ride to Benella. The stations or farms or ranches were sooooo green. They looked like fairway greens. It was a gorgeous site. Golfers would enjoy just hitting ball after ball on this land. Even the tall rolling hills were lush and green. This bush is so different than traveling in the mountains. The mountains are so thick with trees that it is like being in a jungle. Australia is BEAUTIFUL!!!
On these long stretches of road, while we explore, they have very unique signs.
OPEN YOUR EYES. FATIGUE KILLS
LOSING CONCENTRATION? POWER NAP
YAWNING? A MICRO SLEEP CAN KILL
ONLY SLEEP CURES FATIGUE
BELT UP OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES
DROOPY EYES? POWER NAP NOW
DROWSY? DON'T MAKE IT A KILLER RUN
We also learned that government owned land is called CROWN LAND. Australia is still tied to the Crown in England.
We have included in our pictures today a couple of huge Cypress Pines. They are used to block the wind and to border of the owner's land.
We have never seen such unique trees. We really will miss these long drives.
D&C 18: 23-24
Behold, Jesus Christ is the name which is given of the Father, and there is none other name given whereby man can be saved;
Wherefore, all men must take upon them the name which is given of the Father, for in that name shall they be called at the last day;
Love to you all,
The mom, The grandmas, The sister sisters
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