April 27 2014 Weekly Letter

Australia Sunday Apr 27, 2014

Happy Birthday Dix, tomorrow.  When we got off the elevator tonight a little after 7 our door was decorated with a Happy Birthday banner and balloons.  We took pictures and will try to get them posted tomorrow.  Our cute neighbor Sister Moore did it.

We have really had a very full week, and a short one at the office, with being off last Monday for Easter Monday, and Friday for Anzac day.  We did send in 11,500 images on Thursday which was more than we expected for 3 days.  One interesting card was for a wedding (we get a few of those) and this was for a Bride 87 yrs old, and the Groom 83, and the theme of the wedding was “For the Young at Heart”.

Monday morning we made the dessert for Family Home Evening, peach cheesecake.  Thanks Tina for the graham cracker crumbs and peach jello.  We have been trying peaches, every different kind they have from several different places, for a few weeks now and did not find one we really liked.  We are definitely missing Matt’s from the market.  Will be glad to get good ones when we get home.  After we made the desserts we ran to the office to call home, we got Deven, Jessica and Amberlie and had good visits.  It was OK because we had seen everyone at the Easter egg hunt on Friday night.  We then went with the Williams to Parametta hoping Vinny’s was open but it wasn't so we took them to lunch at Harry de Wheels.  Last lunch with them.  We went over to Buckland House early and got set up for the program.  Dad had to make sure the projector and computer worked.  I helped Sister Killebrew with the dinner, baked potato bar, salad bar and fresh fruit.   During opening exercises Brother Jeff’s told about how the kidney transplant came about and how he was doing, and how Elder Vatuvei is, He is going out with the Elders again.  The Jeff’s left Saturday to go back to Utah.  The Allen’s also introduced themselves.  We then took a group picture, will try to get it posted this week.  After dinner Dad said for the program he would like everyone to tell something about those that are leaving.  The women were to say something about Brother Jeff’s and the men something about Sister Jeff’s.  Then the same for the Williams.  It was very interesting.  Then Dad showed the pictures he had put together, most that he has taken, and some for Sister Tanner that she sent to us.  It was a good program and I think everyone enjoyed it.

Tuesday night we went to Mark and Melinda Kelly’s for a farewell dinner for the Williams.  Their oldest son was there and their oldest daughter, her husband and baby.  We had chicken, corn on the cob, fresh beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, and a delicious dessert.  We had a very enjoyable evening.  We had fun with Trey, he is the same age as Eli and Brielle.  We love it when Megan brings him to the office. 

Wednesday night we went to the Temple as we couldn’t go Tuesday.  It was different with the different workers there, but we really enjoyed it.  On Thursday they had the Monthly Birthday morning tea and there were quite a few April birthday’s and they all got to get their food first.  They had subway sandwiches, little meat pies, fresh fruit cut up, cashews, chocolate covered nuts, chips and dips, dump cake and ice cream.  We don’t have to take our lunch on those days.  The legal and public affairs departments did it.  They had decorated for Anzac day and so we all sang Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport, with Sister Feil accompany on a guitar.  There are 9 verses so she had us all divided into groups to sing each verse, and then the chorus together.   We were introduced to an intern that got here last week from BYU Hawaii to work in Family Services.  She was raised in Benson, Utah on a dairy farm.  Her name is Allen.  Did you know any Allen’s Tifanie when you lived there?  She is living with a family in Parametta.  Thursday night we went to the Williams and traded TV’s, and got a little table she had that I wanted.  I only cried for a little while.  They are really going to be missed by everyone and especially us.  They left Friday morning.

Friday morning we left to go up North for the weekend.  We went to The Ellenborough Falls and it took us 5 hours to get there with about 10 miles on dirt roads.  We had rain for a couple of hours when we left home but it was dry the rest of the way.  We ate a freshly baked meat pie at the Kiosk at the parking lot.  She was just taking them out of the oven and they were really good.  Then we walked about a ¼ mile to an outlook for the falls, wow it was stunning.  They drop 200 metre’s (218 yards) making them the 3^rd longest Single Drop Waterfall in the Country.  We are really glad we were able to see this wonder.  We left the falls about 4 and drove to Taree and found a room for the night.  We ate at a restaurant called “Fish, Fish, Fish” and had local fish and chips.  

Saturday morning we left early for Wauchope, about an hour drive towards Port Macquarie.  We knew there was a farmers market there.  We found it and parked and walked around.  Most of the booths were vegetables and fruits, and a few crafts.  We talked to the farmers of course, bought some avacado’s, homemade chocolates, a few of the flavors we got were wild lime, plum and coconut, lemon myrtle, hazelnut and almond.  There were tons of other flavors but we just wanted to try these.  I tried the lemon and Dad tried the hazelnut on the way home and they were creamy and good.  We will see about the other flavors.  We bought some fresh macadamia nuts, the farmer is harvesting them now and Dad talked to him for a while.   Then we drove about 10 minutes to Timbertown, a recreated logging town from 1880.  It has Australia’s biggest wooden waterwheel that was working, 4 hp steam engine that was also running.  Lots of old buildings, we went on a horse and carriage ride, watched bullock’s (oxen) pull a loaded logs wagon, went on the Heritage Steam Train, and the engineer asked me to ride in the engine with him and be the brakeman if he needed me to.  That was really fun, I got a history lesson about the train and the area.  There was a woodworking shop, a blacksmith shop, lots of old machinery around, some of the buildings were barber shops, printing shop with all the equipment.   Dad also panned for gold.   They have an ice cream shop so we had a cup of ice cream and then just before we left about 3 we had lunch at their restaurant.  It was a fun day.  We then drove to Port Macquarie where we checked into our motel, right on the ocean.  After taking everything to our room we walked along the beach and then sat down and watched the water and the boats.  We saw a couple of dolphins right close to the shore, and several birds in the water.  We then walked a couple of blocks and found something to eat and then went back to our room to study our talks.  We went to the Church early to talk to Deven and Tyson.  We are wondering about the roof at the farm, Deven is tired of emptying buckets and Tyson is trying to get a hold of someone to put a new roof on.  The Church is on about 5 acres of grass and trees and is beautiful.  It used to be an art gallery before the Church bought it.  Sacrament Meeting is in one building and the classes are in another building that used to be a house.  There were about 30 people there, they normally have around 20.  The Branch President was in an ambulance uniform because he had to leave immediately after for work.  The meetings were wonderful.  After the block, the President’s wife said she had fixed us something to eat, pumpkin soup and bread and butter.  It was really good and she only fed the two of us.  That was so sweet of her.  We left about 1:45 and should have got home by 6 but with the traffic we didn’t get here until after 7.   It also rained all the way home.   It is good to get back home.  It is now after 9:30 so I am going to close and get things ready for work tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Crew on Friday here, and Saturday in Arizona.  We miss you. 

All our Love and Prayers go with each of you.

Mum and Dad

April 20 2014 Weekly Letter

Australia Sunday Apr 20, 2014    

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!!     

It is 9 pm here and we just finished getting everything put back together from our dinner.  We had so much fun and everyone just wanted to stay and visit.  We moved the couch and chair over where our table usually is, and moved the table and chairs over by the sliding glass door.  We got the big glass picnic table from the Moore’s and their chairs and had everything set up by 3.  It really looked cute.  The Moore’s and the Allen’s had a meeting at 4:30 until 7 so she brought her salad over early.  The Smith’s, Archibald’s, and William’s came, then the Killebrew’s so we went ahead and ate.  We had ham sandwiches, with lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese, green salad, fruit salad, chips and dips, and cheese and crackers.  For dessert Sister Archibald made a cherry dump cake and ice cream.  We had the marshmallow eggs on the table on little plates for everyone.  They were really good and no one had had homemade marshmallow.  I would not try to make them here again, they just don’t have all the good ingredients.  We just sat and visited and laughed, then the Moore’s and Allen’s came and we visited more while they ate.

When we got to the office on Thursday there were chocolate eggs on everyone’s desk from the service center.  They are so fun!

The Allen’s got here Wednesday and they are from Mutton Hollow Road so they know a lot of the people we do.  Deven and Tyson if you see Jerry Stevenson or Noel Flint tell them Ray and Pat Allen are here to serve in the Public Affairs.  They are going to be a lot of fun.

Now tomorrow we have the dessert and lesson for Family Home Evening.  We are going to make the Peach Cheesecake for in the morning, and we have a farewell program for the Williams and Jeff’s, and celebrate Dad’s birthday.  Dad has also put together a picture program on the computer for the Williams.

Friday was Good Friday, and they really celebrate it here, everything was closed, all stores and Costco.  We had Friday off, and Monday for Easter Monday, and next Friday off for Anzac Day.  I don’t think we are going to get too much done at the office this week.  Friday we went into the Blue Mountains, the back way to Bilpin which is the apple capital of Australia.  There were acres of apple trees wherever you looked and they are all covered with white nets so the birds won’t eat the fruit.  We stopped at a stand called the Fruit Bowl where all the apples had just been picked, about 8 varieties, and they also had potatoes, onions, avocados, tomatoes, all raised there in Bilpin.   We got some pink lady apples, avocado, and each had a piece of fresh baked apple pie, Dad’s with ice cream and mine with whipped cream, it was really good and we hadn’t had breakfast.   They were making the pies right there in the store so we decided to buy 2 and share them with the missionaries.  We then drove on up the road and found a sign that said walnuts and chestnuts for sale.  We went up a dirt road for about a mile and there was a little place with a stand where you could buy them already bagged or go pick your own.  The lady told us how to roast the chestnuts and for us to go pick some.  We got a couple dozen to try and she wouldn’t let us pay for them.  We need to find the time to roast them, the lady said they are really good, she puts them in salads and in the kid’s lunch box instead of potato chips.   We then went up the road and stopped a couple of places for pictures.  It was really a beautiful drive.  About 1 we found a little restaurant on top on the mountain with great views all directions.  It was called The Monkey Creek Café.   We got home about 4.

Yesterday we went to the meat market early and got ham for today, some pork, chicken, beef, and sausage to put in the freezer.   It feels good to be stocked up again.  We put it all away and went to the office to talk to the kids at the Easter Party at Vaun and Mandy’s.  It was fun to see the kids finding the eggs, and to talk to everyone.  Looked like they were having fun.  Then we went to the store, wow, it was packed, good thing we knew what we wanted and got in and out.  We did eat lunch there because we missed breakfast again, well we did have a piece of apple pie and a marshmallow egg.  Then we came home and cleaned and did laundry and got ready for the party today.

Last Monday we went to the store after work and got a certificate for free hot cross buns but they were out until Tuesday so we went over for lunch Tuesday to get them. They had raisin and chocolate chip, so we got 3 of each kind, and shared with the Williams before we went to the Temple.  They were good, we don’t think we have ever had them before.  We had the last 2 for breakfast on Wednesday.  We also went with the Williams over to the Mall for lunch on Wednesday because that will be the last time they will be in the office for lunch.   They have zone conferences Tues, Wed and Thurs, and they leave for home Friday morning.  Wednesday afternoon at 2 Mark had an afternoon tea for the Williams.  There was the 5 of us, and the Paul Pardon’s who have worked with the Williams in Family History.  Mark had a caramel cake and tarts.  They were really good.  We just visited for 2 hours and it was fun. 

We got a letter from Ann and Dan this week, also one from Mike and Suzanne Moss.  We LOVE getting news from home.  Now I need to find time to answer them. 

Happy Birthday Grason on Saturday.  We will try to call on Sunday while we are at Church.  This weekend we travel to Port Macquarie and we will leave on Friday and find something to do and someplace to go because of the holiday. 

Love you all and you are all in our prayers!

Mum and Dad

April 13 2014 Weekly Letter

Australia Sun Apr 13, 2014

Dear Family and Friends:

This has been a pretty busy week and we still had a good week capturing cards.  We sent 15,500 in on Friday so we are still right on schedule with our goal of at least 3,000 a day.  A couple of interesting things on the cards this week.  One man in 1871 was found under his horse at the bottom of a shaft, and another man in 1920 was found dead with both hands missing and they didn't know if he was born that way or it was an accident, is name was Wingie Moore, hence the name it said.  These cards are really interesting.

The update on Elder Vatuvei and Brother Jeff’s.  Elder is doing good and expected to be released tomorrow to go to a relative’s home in Manley.  Brother Jeff’s was released Tuesday or Wednesday and is doing well.  As we said last week “Just a Miracle”.

Monday night was Family Home Evening, the Williams had dinner, their last one.  They had taco soup with chips, cheese, sour cream, avocados, tomatoes, and lettuce to put on top.  It was really good.  The Barr’s had dessert, caramel crème with cherry sauce and a chocolate candy in it.  They played trivia about the Prophets, he read statements such as their favorite song, favorite scripture, and how many temples were built, etc.  Really interesting and fun to guess.

We are still trying to get used to the time change, it was really dark when we came out of the Temple at 8 on Tuesday.  Actually I don’t think we ever get used to time changes.  It has been cloudy most of the week and we have rain almost every day.  A couple of evenings we had real downpours.  Everything is sure green though so we don’t mind it.

Thursday the managers at Buckland House, 5 of them plus Mark, and the manager from Family Services, gave a luncheon for the Sr. Missionaries as a thank you for all they do.  It was really nice.  The secretary to Mark Allen, the boss manager, fixed chicken, baked potatoes, a rice salad and a green salad.  There was bread, and different kinds of crackers and dips on the table to begin with.  We had sparkling grape juice to drink and also water.  After Mark Allen welcomed everyone, Mark Kelly said a few words and then the managers served the missionaries.  They brought about 4 desserts out on a table and we got our own.  It was all so good.  It was really nice of them.  They also had a little box of chocolates on the table for each one of us with our names on them.  The men got Lindor assorted, and the women got Ferrero Rocher, yum! The tables were set with linen cloths and we had real dishes.  We all felt really special and it was a lot of fun.  They announced that this is the first annual luncheon they intend to have each year.

Friday we talked to Ruston for his birthday and that was great.  First time we have talked to him personally since we came.  We usually e-mail.  Now we need to get him and Sarah on our video calls.  For lunch we ran across the street because we were tired of fixing lunches, and I wanted to look for Easter decorations for the tables for our lunch next week.  We were just getting ready to go to the dollar store when I looked at my watch and it was after 1, and we have to have the shuttle to the mail room by 2 so we just went back.  We will look tomorrow night when we go to the grocery store.  We just want a little something and not spend too much money.

Yesterday morning after getting the flat cleaned and starting laundry, we drove to the Sydney Olympic Park for the Sydney Easter Show.  When we were working at the Art Show in December we met a lady who teaches Agriculture at a High School in Windsor and when she found out we were farmers she told us we had to come to this show.  She wrote her information and the dates of the show and told me to contact her about it.  Last week I emailed her and she told us where it was and we told her we could come on Saturday.  First time Dad had been to the Olympic Park, I went to Time Out for Women there last year, and Mark said it usually isn’t very fun to drive there with the traffic.  We left home about 9 and had very little traffic.  We parked in a huge parking garage, paid $25.00 to park, and walked over to the show, it cost us $77.00 to get in but it was worth it.  It is just like the State Fair, on a much bigger scale.  They expect 90,000 people to visit over the next 2 weeks.  We went to the Agriculture part of it and they had one building dedicated to teaching children about Australian Agriculture.  I got lots of handouts to send to Belva.  I was having so much fun asking questions and watching the kids.  It was totally a hands on experience from digging root vegetables out of moist sand, real vegetables and then the kids had to identify them from pictures hanging on the wall.  They had a bakery where they were rolling out dough and making little pies you could buy, and the kids had a little area where they could grind wheat, and roll out their own dough and cut it out with cutters.  The vegetable farm with little equipment from tractors, implements, trucks etc, in sand they could play with.  They had little baskets with food in it, cereal, peanut butter, vegetables, fruit, dairy, etc. and the kids had to guess which basket to throw it in with the pictures of grains, etc on the wall.  They were having a ball, it was fun watching them.  Throughout the building they had hand washing stations and were teaching the kids proper way to wash their hands, and one place where they could wash and then put their hands under a special light to see if they had done a good job. 

We left that building and got a cup of gelato and sat down for a few minutes.  Then we went to the dairy barn, where they milk the cows behind a glass enclosure, and the spectators have stadium seats to watch.  It shows the lines where the milk goes into a tank.  They were cleaning everything when we walked through.  They had a little store where they were giving samples of milk and where you could buy dairy products.  We then went into the barns with cows, at least 4 times bigger than our State fair.  We saw cows we had never heard of.  They were also judging them in another building so there was a lot of activity of people washing them and blow drying them.  Then we went to the horses, lots of them and they also had Clydesdales and you could pet them.  They were really calm and big.  We saw goats, chickens, sheep, ducks, pigs and some with babies.  We then went to a stadium and watched kids on horses cut out a calf from a herd and herd them around 3 obstacles.  One little boy looked like he was about 8 years old.  Dad took a video to show Gerry when we get to the office tomorrow.  We had a corn dog and left to come home.  First corn dog we have seen here.

At 4:15 we walked downstairs to meet the Smiths to go to the Rugby game in Parametta.  We had to park about 6 blocks away, they take their Rugby very seriously here.  The Parametta Eels were playing the Sydney Roosters.  We wanted to see Will Hopoate, a returned missionary play.  He was the second youngest to ever play in the “State of Origin”.  Will scored a try helping the New South Wales Blues to defeat the Queensland Maroons before a crowd of 92,000.  This unproved teenager did a man’s job in the grueling match.  Turning down contracts exceeding a million dollars, he became a worldwide sensation with his decision to put his career on hold to take on a significantly more spiritual assignment.  He served in the Queensland Mission. He is now playing in Parametta since he came home a couple of months ago.  It was a lot of fun to watch him play, and watch Rugby for the first time.  It is really an interesting game.  Another player on his team is from Fiji and came this year as a walk on having only played pickup games on his island.  When he got here to try out for the eels he refused to sleep in a bed, opting instead to sleep on the floor telling people that he had never slept in a bed, and until his family had a bed to sleep in he would sleep on the floor.  When he was signed with the Eels and got his first check, he bought a house and furniture for his family and now he sleeps in a bed.  He is only 18, little but really fast.  It was fun to watch him.    As we were walking down to the game it started to rain so the umbrellas came out, and in the first half it rained pretty good but we were prepared.  Then it cleared up and was nice for the rest of the game.  The Feils met us at the game and we had fish and chips at half time.  They were pretty good for being at a game.  We got home about 8:30 and it was a busy day but very enjoyable.

This morning we went to the office to watch General Conference, there was no Church except going to the Stake House to watch conference.  We watched all of Saturday sessions and then came home and fixed dinner.  Then we decided to make the Marshmallow for the Easter Eggs.  I must say I have been worried they wouldn’t turn out.  Tina sent the unflavored gelatin and wax, and when I opened the glucose syrup it was so thick it wouldn’t pour out, I was really worried then.  We also do not have a double boiler so I used two pans and Dad beat it with the hand mixer.  It turned out great and I had to use a chocolate egg as a mold because they do not have plastic eggs.  We made 18 large eggs and they are in the freezer.  We will dip them tomorrow night and maybe make another batch seeing as though we have enough stuff for one more.  Now we will hope the chocolate turns out.  It will be fun having them for all the couples next week at the dinner.

We want to wish Jonas a very Happy Birthday next Saturday here in Australia.  Hopefully we can talk to him on his Utah birthday on Sunday.

We love you all and Pray for you!

Mum and Dad

   Some Missionaries and Employees at Buckland House.  The Seventh Day Adventist makes the cereal being held.  Elder and Sister Moore are meeting with their officials tomorrow.

April 6 2014 Weekly Letter

Australia Sunday April 6, 2014    

Dear Family& Friends:

Today we changed times, we fell back an hour because we are going into winter.  It is 6:00 and it is already dark.  This is going to be a change for us.  It is also rather cool tonight, probably about 60.  We have also had rain most of the day.  We went to the office this morning and Dad watched Priesthood meeting and I watched the Women’s Conference, then talked to all of you that were at Tyson’s.  That was great!  Made our day.  We came home and I made banana bread, I had a couple of overripe bananas and Jan had a couple also.  We ate dinner, I had it in the crockpot and then we delivered the bread to Killebrew’s, Archibald’s, Williams and we will get the Moore’s when they get home from a meeting.  They are usually home right after 7.  Sister Archibald sent us home with chocolate cake.  It is so fun living here.  Monday night the Killebrew’s delivered Chocolate cake to everyone, and on Thursday Sister Archibald brought warm cinnamon rolls to the office to everyone.  That is why we need to walk to the office as often as we can.

Seeing as though I have started at the end of the week we will just work backwards of the activities.  Yesterday we went to Parklea with the Williams, they needed a few things to take home and we wanted a few things.  That is our last Saturday together.  They are traveling the next 2 Saturdays and then they leave the next week.  That is going to be a very sad day.   We ate lunch at Parklea, a kebab and then came home.  They had a meeting at the Temple so we went to Vinny’s and dropped off 4 garbage bags of donations.  We have been sorting and getting rid of stuff we don’t need, and Jan has been passing down what she isn’t taking home so I am just re-donating. We then went to the store, we went to the Cole’s in Parametta that we used to go to when we lived there.  I think we are going to go shopping there more, we really like that store.  Last night we went to the Ranch restaurant for dinner.  The Williams had been there before and we wanted to try it.  It was really good, very busy.  Another good weekend.

Friday was a great miracle in our mission.  I forwarded the emails to the kids but the rest of you need to hear the story.  I will be quoting most of from the emails from Greg Wilson, the Welfare Coordinator, at Buckland House, and one from Elder Archibald.  From Greg at 8:35 am, “For virtually the last two years the Welfare Department has been assisting the Area Presidency and Sydney North Mission President to enable Elder Vatuvei to obtain a life-saving kidney transplant.  Well, at long last the day is here.  The transplant will occur today 4 April 2014!  I’m sure all prayers and faith exercised today in behalf of Elder Vatuvei and his marvelous donor will be most appreciated!

Elder Archibald:  You may also know that Elder Vatuvei’s mother died in Tonga about 1-2 months ago.  If he were to return to Tonga without this life saving surgery, he would most certainly die.

Yes and talk about a marvelous donor

…Who “happened” to be here in Australia on sabbatical leave from BYU for a year,         

…Who is NOT related to Elder Vatuvei and never knew him before coming to Aussieland. (Elder Vatuvei was in the Jeff’s ward.)

…Who “happened” to be a perfect donor match,

…Who is willing to go through the pain and suffering for Elder Vatuvei, and

…Who is willing to put his life in jeopardy for this fine Elder.

Yes, marvelous!!

May our Father in Heaven be with both of them and their Families.

Also I would like to add.  The transplant was going to happen in December but Elder Vatuvei got sick and had a parasite and it has take this long to get rid of it.  The Jeff’s (the donor) time is up and they have to go home the end of this month.  Brian and Karen Jeff’s have been in our Family Home Evening group.  Elder Vatuvei’s Aunty came in Thursday night to be with him.

We got an email from Greg at 2:03pm.  Good news…The donor is now out of the operating theatre and all is well.  Elder Vatuvei’s operation is about to commence.

Then at 5:45pm. Even better news…The transplant is complete….Elder Vatuvei is in Recovery…awake, smiling and with a functioning kidney!

It was a very emotional day around the mission, everyone loves Elder Vatuvei!!  There were tears of joy shed by a lot of people.  He has been in our ward in Blacktown since Jan and he is always smiling.  He is going to be released from his mission here because he will have to stay here for a while, if not forever.  His island does not have the medical care and medicine he needs.

We had another good work of capturing the cards.  On Thursday we went to the warehouse and got the last 9 boxes of cards on the pallet.  When we get these done we will be 2/3 done, we are doing a box and a half each week if we don’t have meetings.

Monday we decided it would be fun to have Easter Dinner at our flat for the Sr. Missionaries so I sent an email out to them all.  We will make it easy with us doing the ham for sandwiches and everyone bringing salads, dessert, etc.  There will be 16 if everyone can come, and we get the new couple in to replace Tanner’s.  They are supposed to be here on the 15^th.  Sometime next week we are going to try to make the marshmallow Easter eggs.  We went to the store yesterday to get white karo syrup.  Nope!  We found small bottles, about 1 ½ cups of Glucose syrup.  They also do not have Easter baskets, plastic eggs or Easter grass.  They have plenty of chocolate eggs though in different sizes.  Haven’t even found any Easter candy like jelly beans, etc. weird!!

Guess that is all for this week.  A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ruston on Friday.  Hopefully we will get to talk to you.

All our Love, Mum and Dad