Palm Beach NSW

Palm Beach NSW
We like it like that!!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Just Stuff!

Well, dear ones, our tramatic week is over! We survived our week of church and visiting less actives on Sunday, FHE on Monday, Ward temple night on Tuesday, teaching Peter on Wednesday, Missionary Correlation meeting on Thursday, Friday we rested (we both worked on our lessons and talks), Saturday was shopping and Saturday evening we hosted 16 seniors at a BBQ at our place, and Sunday we gave our talks - mine on the Atonement in Sacrament meeting and Elder McRae gave part of the lesson in High Priests, then we both taught our lessons in Primary/Sunday School. We did that in addition to working 45-50 hours at the office. I don't think I have been that stressed for a long time. I guess that's good for me - I don't know. But it is behind us now and we can move on to our next adventure!

The seniors are planning a trip to Featherdale Park next Saturday, which should be fun. It is a wildlife park not too far away. I'll take lots of pictures and next week try to figure out how to post them.

The weather is beginning to change. I know everyone at home is thinking I've lost my marbles for posting on a fall theme, but it is fall here and is surely beginning to feel like it! We had our coats on this morning when we took our walk, and we were grateful for them! It is about 10 celsius at night. I think the way they figure it is add 30 degrees to celsius and then something else..... - oh, it doesn't matter does it? Let's just say it is getting colder!

I have my electronic photo frame going every day and it is so fun to see all of you! I guess it's both good and bad, it sure makes me homesick for all of you. I have pictures of Mom and Dad (thanks to you Diane) and many other old pictures, and then the ones that were taken two years ago in Kaysville. We miss you!!

We have talked with Rick a couple of times in the last few days and it sure was good to hear his voice. I'm glad he and Mike were able to get together before Mike headed out to Iraq. I guess Mike left on Monday. In a way, it's both easier and harder over here - easier because our time is filled with other responsibilities and we don't have time to dwell on their absence, and harder because we rarely hear about Iraq in the news - which is both good and bad. We want you to know sons that we pray for you every night and ask Heavenly Father to watch over you. We are very proud of what you are doing to serve your country and your attitudes. We also ask Heavenly Father to watch over Lisa and Julie and the kids as well. We also pray for Nick and Britney - as we pray for all of you. We send you our love.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

McRae Matters

Hello America! It is time we wrote and updated everyone on our life in Australia. We have been busy as usual. We were excited about our last transfer, out of 48 companionships, 37 of them changed! It was more than a little crazy! There were four missionaries up north coming down to transfers and three of the four were being transferred. It made it pretty crazy for the Elders to get 6 suitcases, plus three bikes loaded into one car. And that happened in almost every zone. We were picking up sisters and delivering them all over the place. It was really fun though.

The Church is running TV spots here in Australia during the Easter season and throughout the next few months and are offering a free copy of "The Lamb of God" DVD. We have received well over 200 referrals from these ads and it will be going for a while yet. It has become a full time job for Sister Heslop in the office. I am still doing the mail every day and getting missionaries arrivals and departures all set up, but the referrals have been really exciting.

We are holding FHE every Monday night at our house for the less actives in our ward. We have done it for the past two weeks and they will be coming again tonight. We have included only single members who don't really have family to join with. We have the missionaries over weekly at least and our social life is pretty much limited to Elder McRae's best mate, Elda Tayla (Elder Taylor). They don't pronoun "R's" here so it's pretty fun to talk with them.

Elder McRae is turning 65 this year (yikes! where did the time go?) and is having a rather difficult time trying to locate the right people to get it done. We have been working on it for almost three weeks now, so hopefully this week he can get it taken care of.

We have both been given an "assignment" in church - not a calling mind you - just an assignment. I am teaching the 8 to 12 year olds in Primary, and Elder McRae is teaching the young single adults. It's fun to teach again, I really like the kids. Elder McRae last Sunday was teaching "The Plan of Salvation" and the three kingdoms of glory. The young single adults didn't seem that interested in the lesson, so he stopped and ask them if they would like to talk about something else. In talking with them, he found out that five of the six had just returned from missions and they really knew pretty much all there was to know about the Plan of Salvation. They spent the rest of the class time visiting and getting to know each other.

I have been asked to speak on Sunday on the Atonement. I have begun to prepare but that is such a deep subject and I don't feel like I have much time to prepare. If anyone has any ideas, please email me ASAP!

We talked with Rick and Lisa on Monday. Rick leaves for Kuwait on Tuesday. Michael is already over there. I am very sad to have two of our sons in harm's way, but I am so proud of them and their willingness to serve their country. Our love goes out to Lisa and Julie and their families for their support and love. May Heavenly Father look out for you and bless you in their absence. We pray for them and for each of you every night. The Gospel is true! We love you all.