Kangaroo park

Kangaroo park with Lee and Loa Simbert.  Spent all day Saturday.  Hiking 6-7 miles with big hill and rocks.

More flowers.  Don't know their name but so pretty.

 These are camelias.  they grow on bushes everywhere.  Red, pink and white.  The bushes are big.  We have a white one in our backyard.

 We saw 50-60 kangaroos jumping all over.  Babies and huge 6-7 feet ones.  They ran every time I got close.  We will keep trying to get close up.

 Calle lily flowers grow wild and are almost like a weed.

 Huge, huge trees

 Huge cattle farms

Dear Family,

The weather has turned nicer, actually sun both days and we were able to remove one of our layers of clothing.

We had a wonderful day yesterday withtwo lovely ladies in the ward, Lee Smibert and her mother Lola Smibert, who is 84 years old. They wanted to take us to see herds of kangaroos. We thought it would be relaxing walk through the countryside.  It turned out to be a 7 mile walk, hike is a better word in the mountains. We climbed up and down mountains for 3 hours.  Lola stayed with us the whole hike. The country was beautiful.  On our web site; cannonsisterscalledtoserve.blogspot.com.au has a number of pictures we took while hiking. We saw about 50-60 kangaroos and every time I tried to snap a picture they jumped away.  Some were as big and tall as 7 feet. We saw babies feeding.  We took one picture where they were staring at us. 

On the drive back we stopped at a little village called Sassafrass. It is a very popular place to visit especially on weekends.  They have a quaint eating and tea establishment called Miss Marples, after the show on PBS.  There is always a waiting line. We are going to drive back there and arrive when it opens.  It has a great yarn store and we took a picture of a scarf/necklace and sent it to Suzette. She wants the pattern.  Good reason to go back.

We also saw beautiful flowers which grow wild everywhere. We sent pictures of the camellias and another tree with pink flowers but don't know the name.  While we were hiking we came upon several bushes of calla lily flowers that grow wild.  They are so expensive in the states and here they consider them weeds.

Sundays are turning into long days.  We just got home from the mission president's fireside.  We help with food, dishes, cleaning after serving snack food to approximately 150 investigators and missionaries.  We will be in charge of the fireside from now on. They are held every fast Sunday.  Sister Maxwell talked about journeys.  She started with the story of President Uctdorf''s family. They knew they needed to leave East Germany and planned it so they left in different groups. President Uctdorf's father was considered a dissent.  He left first on a train going north, the quickest route, two sons went a different direction and crossed the border, his two sisters took a train and convinced the porter to open the door and they jumped to safety.  Pres. and his mother were the last to leave.  They packed a picnic started walking and thought they had crossed the border.  While they were eating on the grass they realized they had not gone far enough. They quickly packed up the lunch and ran.  She tied this journey into Lehi's dream of the tree of life.  Then said we all have journeys and we must hold onto the iron rod with both hands.  Great fireside.

We had a Samoan or Tongan, they don't liked to be mixed up bear his testimony and has only been a member a short time. We have many Samoan, Tongan, Vietnnamese, Chinese(lots) Japanese etc. serving in the mission. We have 73 different languages of the Book of Mormon in our mission office.The young oriental and islander sisters love us and kiss and hug us each time we meet.

In closing I am going to write about Sister Chen.  Adrienne wrote this down in her journal and so I am copying it because she was so special to both of us.

"We have gotten to know and love a very sweet young missionary from China, who went home Tuesday night.  She has been out only 4-5 months.  Her name is Sister Chen.  Her mother is very ill.  She is the only member in her family.  She has a younger sister and feels she needs to be home to help her mother.  She is very shy and doesn't speak great English, but she knew we loved her.  When she came on her mission she had to come straight to Melbourne because the Chinese government would not let her go anywhere else.  She came on a work visa (working for the church).  She came with a small carry on and was wearing levi's and a tee shirt.  That's all.  When she came several people in the office gave her Missionary Prep Classes.  They took her shopping and she also received her Patriarchal blessing.  She also didn't have a temple recommend.  She has since gone to the temple for her endowments. She has been serving in the city where there are Chinese branches.  They also have Vietnamese branches. There are so many missionaries here from mainland China.  She is about the same size as Isabelle Epperson, tiny.  We were so sad to see her leave, but she states she wants to come back. (Pres Maxwell seems to feel she will return) Her life will be forever changed because of what she has learned and how she has grown"

We love you dearly and pray for all of you 

Sister Higginson and Sister Cox

Hello

I am writing to see if anyone can face time today or tomorrow. It is now 8:30 here on Sunday morning. DeeDee is going to face time with Jacob at 9:00 am because Keaten was baptized, yesterday our time but today for you. I would love to talk with any of you this am. We are 16 hours different so I could call on Monday morning. I have a meeting from 9:30-11:00 on Monday mornings. I could call at 8:30 which would be 2:30 or I could call at 11:00 which would be around 5:00pm. Let me know if that works for anyone. Also how is Elsie doing? 
>>> Love,Mom

Mission Experience

 Missionary experiences:
> 
> 1) We have gotten to know and love a very sweet young missionary from china who went home Tuesday night. She has been out only 4-5 months. Her name is Sister Chen. Her mother is very ill. She is only member in her family. She has a younger sister and feels she needs to be home to help her mom. She is very shy and doesn't speak great English,but she knew we loved her. When she came on her mission she had to come straight to Melbourne because the Chinese government would not let her go anywhere else. She came on a work visa(working for the church). She came with a small carry on and was wearing Levi's and a t shirt. That's all. When she came several people in the office gave her Temple prep classes. They took her shopping,and she also received her Patriarchal Blessing. She has been in the city where there are Chinese branches. They also have Vietnamese branches. There are so many missionaries here from mainland China. She is about the same size as Isabelle. We were sad to see her leave ,but she states she wants to come back. Her life will be forever changed because of what she has learned here and how she has grown.
> 
> 2) All week long there has been an area conference going on in the city. There have been area authorities and mission presidents from all around the pacific area. Today they all came to the temple. They all got together for a picture in front of the temple. We were outside watching get ready for the picture. There was such an unbelievable spirit that came over me as I watched these men and the power and authority they carry. If only the world could see and understand what the Power in the Priesthood really is. I am so thankful for all my sons and grandsons  and the priesthood that they hold. Always honor that great gift you have been given!!!
> 
> 3) the last thing I have to say,one of the AP's was Telling me he was from south Jordan and said he knew someone from AF. He said he was his coach in high school. He asked me if I knew Brock Knight. Here I am in Australia and I meet someone who knows Brock Knight. Anyway call him and tell him a Elder McCleary says Hi. 
> 
> I love you all and miss you
> Love Mom

Hello

Dear family,

First,I need Steve's email. I feel guilty not sending this to him. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Please send pictures. Patti and Steve was Bear Lake warm? I loved the pictures of the kids riding the horses. That is not as easy as it looks to stay on it. I loved Jimmy's comment about Robbie. Andy and Jeni,how was the cabin. We're your Grandparents up there? Tell them hello from me. Erin and Rod, how was St George? Loved the video of Ruby doing a back flip. She is not afraid of the water. That is good. Alex ,it sounded like the car wash was a success. Tiffany and the boys are in my prayers every day. I'm so glad you got that job. Hopefully there will be some great people you will work with. What are you going to be doing? Jimmy and Linzi, the train picture was darling. Where was that? Everyone is growing up too fast. Has Hannah gone home yet?
How is school for everyone?
The weather here is now more like spring. It will probably rain a little every day. Saturday and Sunday were great days. The sun was out.Yeah.
Sundays are turning into long days. We were at church from 12:00-after 6:00. They are long but good. We were involved with our first baptism after church. The ward really supports the baptisms.and then there are treats after.
We are heading to the temple tonight. We have started going Wed night at 6:00 before we go home. It is a beautiful temple and we love it.

I love you and miss you.
Love Mom

Happy Birthday Sarah

Dear Family,

Tuesday  was  transfer day.  What a zoo.  We had 10 come in, because 2  waiting for visas, 2 had health issues, 1 father died.  They all come for supplies which I do, Adrienne had ordered extra badges, that they have to pay for so that was crazy.  The day was very long but it is always good to see the elders and sisters.  Several elders were 18 and looked it. They are so excited and so happy. On Wednesday the elders and sisters went home.  They were happy and scared and sad.

Adrienne had to take a sister missionary to the doctors because of serious health issues. We could be separated because she was with sister missionaries.  I went with Sister Maxwell to do somethings.  We don't go anywhere without each other.  Safety but we depend on one another.

Friday we went to dinner with the office and President and Sister Maxwell for her birthday.  SURPRISE, of course we got lost again, even with our GPS.  One of the senior elders stood on the sidewalk, after calling and saying we were lost, to get our attention so we could get to the restaurant.

The new senior AP has an interesting story.  He is an islander, left home at 14 went to Sydney and found a cousin he had never met.  The cousin was a member and while staying there for two weeks he met a Tongan family asked him what he wanted to do with his life and he said he wanted to finish high school.. He stayed with them til he was 16 than went an lived by himself.  Got a job and started going to church. When he came on his mission another missionary and talked with met this boy's father in another area in Australia.  Talked to him about the church. Elder Howard has now baptized his dad, they aren't real close but he is a super super missionary and fine young man.

Yesterday, Saturday, we were churching all day.  Spent 4 hours at a family history fair at the ward, missionary making new contacts giving out Books of Mormon and then last night had a cottage meeting with and investigator and the husband, non-member, of one of our members.  It was very good and good discussion.

Sunday, today we went to our Ward mission weekly meeting, church for three hours, including mission class with an in-active member, with some weird ideas, then had a baptism right after for our Chinese lady friend, Susan Siew Yen Lim.  Lovely lady.  Her son joined 6 years ago and a served a mission.. He baptized her.  It was a wonderful evening. 

By the time we get home from work and  extra church we put on our jammies because we are so tired, have a late dinner and bed.

Not complaining because we are being spiritually fed often.  We feel the spirit so often at the office and especially as we meet and greet the missionaries.  We love it when the President is around.  He will be gone all week because all area mission presidents and wives are coming for leadership training.  He is a great man.

We got our back porch  and garden cleaned and weeded yesterday because the sun was out all day and it got to about 60 degrees.  Warmest day ever, Cold at night but so good to see the sun shining and feel it's warmth.  We also went for a long walk in our neighborhood.  We are going to take pictures of all the beautiful flowers.  Bushes of calle lilies.  Mind you it is winter here.

This  country is so sports-minded that 3/4 of the papers are sports.  We imagine with all the casinos and pokies that there is lots of betting on the games.

Sister Booth, we were at the cottage meeting at her house, grew up in Naples, Italy.

One of our new elders lives two away from Christy Peters Wagstaff in Fruit Heights.  

Elder McCleary lives in So. Jordan and Brock Knight  was his coach in high school.  Brock Knight bought Adrienne's home.  It is a small world where the church is concerned.  One of the members of our ward by the name of Knight has a daughter serving in Holladay, Utah on her mission.

Well, it is time for bed.

We love you all and miss you so much, but are doing the Lord's work and love it.

We love pictures on email cause we can print them but of course still instagram and facebook.\\

Love 

The Sister Sisters