Our beautiful grand daughter, Tacey Johnson, begins her mission! Oh, how lucky are the people of Chile.
Miriam and Dane's little trailblazer, Tacey, on the right, begins her mission March 6, 2023, on her cousin, Maylee's birthday.
These are her paternal grandparents serving a mission in Texas. How cool is this???? I wonder how they pulled this off, since they are in Texas.
So, compared to the Dazzling Blockbuster Winter in Utah, during December - March . . . .
It's been an equally stunning and beautiful summer in Western Australia
Perth City from King's park
A very old tree , the Baobab, that was brought in a big truck from another part of Australia and planted here and survived.
Our produce has doubled. Ha Ha
The moon at the beach at sunset
Coming home from Narrogin Branch after a speaking assignment. A fun mansion in the middle of the bushland.
Emotional Resilience LESSON #4 (cont.)
Lesson #4 Dianella Zone (Ballajura) Elder Judd (ZL1) Elder Arrieta (DL) Elder Saipa'ia, Elder Bailey (ZL2), Elder McDowell, Elder Allen, Elder Deskins, Elder Neumann, Sister Platt, Sister Shipley Mar. 1, 2023
Lesson #4 Dianella District in Dianella Zone Mar. 1, 2023 Elder Manning (He reminds me so much of Devin), Sister Sialeipata, Sister Smith, (STL's), Us, Elder Bennion, Elder Platt (Tech. Elders), Elder Tehaamonana.
Get a kick out of some of these names we have to learn! Holy Cow!
Lesson #4: Rockingham and Mandurah (March 22, 2023) Elder Jensen, Elder Bradford, Elder Chin Koun Cheng, Elder Wheeler, Elder Mayeda, Elder Wolfgramm, Elder Faleali'i, Elder Moala, Elder Alfred, Sister Speelmon, Sister Johnson, Elder Arbutante, Sister Hermann, Sister Sakalia
Lesson #4: Mar. 29, 2023 Thornlie and Cloverdale Districts: Southern River Zone: Elder Mapa, Elder Faleali'i, Elder Myler, Sister Loseli, Sister Burt, Sister Tonas, Sister Kuru-lakopo, Elder Putman, Elder Linder, Elder Gore, Elder Switzer, Elder Rea, Elder Hymas, Sister Faupula-Taufa, Sister Olson
Lesson #4: March 29, 2023: Como District, SR Zone: Sister Willcocks, Sister Larsen, Sister Wasden, Sister Mafi, Elder Kennedy, Elder Masima, Elder Barbrook, Elder Swenson, Sister Sanft, and Sister Joyce.
On March 5, I passed off all my 42 doctrinal points to President Stone. I wanted to recite them all at once to him, so that he would know I had them down, just in case I choked during the real plays in zone conference. On the 4th of March, I did my record time in 12:19. Elder McDonald reminded me that a transfer is 6 weeks, which is 42 days, so I could do one a day and get them all done in a transfer. Something so cool dawned on me for the first time on March 4! 42 doctrinal points within one transfer of 42 days, and we have 42 grandchildren! Oh my goodness!
4 DAY ZONE CONFERENCE
Day 4: (The Rest of the Story of Belle from February Blog post)
The last 3 days, they have done the doctrinal point quiz at the end. For this zone conference, President Stone had to leave early to fly to Melbourne to meet with Elder Soares. I explained to him that part of Belle's healing and growing experience needed to be her doing the quiz in front of him as well as her peers just as she did in the last zone conference. So he and the Assistants rearranged the quiz times to be throughout the day, rather than at the end. They had Belle's district go first, before President Stone had to leave. I had talked to Belle before the meetings started. She was nervous. But she said, something like "It's in God's hands now." I was so proud of her. Elder Kahmann and I had a special prayer for her earlier that morning. The sister giving the opening prayer prayed for everyone to be able to remember their doctrinal points. Belle's district was called to the front. Belle got the longest doctrinal point (8 points). She positioned her body sidewards to face away from the group, to maintain focus, but spoke clearly into the microphone, reciting each point with clarity and perfection. She nailed them!!!! We were on cloud nine for her. Everyone cheered loud for her. Each missionary did their best and the majority of them did super well. I participated in the testing each of the four days, with the young elders and sisters. I was the only senior missionary, so the President and assistants were stoked. I experienced the anxiety and fear, the brain freeze and the panic, but I was able to stumble through the four different doctrinal points that the wheel landed on for me. They included: Enduring to the End (lesson 3, 4 of the points, pg. 72 of Preach my gospel (PMG)), The judgment Lesson 2 pgs. 57-59) , and kingdoms of glory (6 of the points), Our Life on earth (the longest one 8 points, pg. 58 of lesson 2. and The Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith (6 points from lesson 1 pg. 43 of PMG. The robust cheers from young missionaries made all my work and efforts feel rewarded and appreciated. Here's a picture of the 42 doctrinal points.
This is the reward given to all the missionaries who memorize the doctrinal points. President and Sister Stone gave me one. This little wooden box contains the most adorable cut out wood-burned parts to the plan of salvation, 22 minature pieces, including our bodies and spirits, and is an awesome teaching tool. We will reward any of you grandchildren one of these if you would like to memorize the 42 doctrinal points. Really good for your brain. Memorizing these has even improved my tennis game. I'm not kidding. It would probably help with track and basketball, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, academics, violin, piano, etc. etc. etc. even cooking. . . . But the best part of all, is that I understand the plan of Salvation and appreciate the gospel of Jesus Christ more than ever.
Just a sneak peak of 3 of the pieces
THE PIANO GUYS
Oh goodness sakes! This was worth every penny and every minute. They are a combination of humility and confidence. Emotional resilience shone through. They were having trouble with their speakers making a buzzing noise during the 1st half of the concert. So when they took an intermission, and it lasted more than 20 minutes, even 30, Steve came out on the stage and said how the behind stage was like a mechanic shop with parts spread all over. He told the audience that they had prayed during the break. They were going to continue playing unplugged. So John and Steve played "Song of the Ocean" one of my favorites, and just towards the end of the song, everything became loud and started working again. They went on with the concert. It was spectacular far beyond our expectations. So uplifting, inspiring, and filled with the Spirit of God. Perth has been labeled "A Godless Country" by several Australian people that we have met. As we witnessed this concert, we felt like The Piano Guys brought God into this country in a remarkable performance. They inspired the young people who are learning an instrument. They honored their parents, and their wives and children, and most especially God, who has led them every step of their journey. The audience was so impressed.
A dinosaur made out of Legos at the concert hall where we watched the piano guys
This is the longest jetty in the world located in Bussleton Western Australia. We enjoyed walking all the way to the end and back. (Just over a mile in length)
Bussleton at night by the Jetty
This is the quaint church where Bussleton Branch holds services. It used to be a catholic convent for nuns, and the Church rents this from the Catholics. The branch invited us back 9 days later to do WSR training. We really enjoyed it.
Self-reliance and Ministering Insights from Elder Kahmann
We did some self-reliance training in Busselton Branch this month. We first attended their branch presidency meeting (counseled with the branch president and his first counselor), then spoke in their sacrament meeting; and that prompted a request to go back soon to provide some training not only for their branch leadership, but to all interested members as well. That was truly humbling for us, that members, other than leadership, would want to attend a weeknight meeting for 90 minutes and discuss self-reliance! We had 15-20 total members in attendance, which was impressive to us, given that some of our stake leadership training meetings have garnered similar numbers.
In any event, we were afforded this wonderful opportunity to share and discuss some principles, essentially on an “open canvas”, so to speak; Pres. Hannan and Bro. Pettigrove (first counselor) gave us full license to address whatever we felt impressed to share. Sister Kahmann shared a practical tool on Healthy Thinking, and related, in wonderful context, the story of her son Hyrum’s experience when he was stressed (close to a breaking point) in his dental residency, and overcame it with humility, prayer, a family fast and effective use of Healthy Thinking principles and skills.
One of the things I shared in our Busselton training, which I’m including in our blog, is an insight I learned from 1 Corinthians 12:5-27. The majority of the verses deal with spiritual gifts, and compares them in their diversity to different parts of the human body, and how each part is both distinct in function and valuable as a complement to other parts of the body. I have pondered and been impressed particularly by verses 22-24, in which Paul teaches us not only the value of, but the essential roles, of “those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble…”;“And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable…“. While I don’t have all the answers, I do think the following questions are worth pondering, particularly in relation to our responsibilities in ministering to others:
Question: How are members of the body (i.e. the Church) that “seem to be more feeble” necessary?
Question: Upon those members of the Church that we “think to be less honourable”, how can we “bestow more abundant honour”, so that “our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness”?
So what have I learned this month? A few things:
· As we speak and teach of principles of self-reliance and emotional resilience, the inquiries and feedback we receive come disproportionately from those who are in need; those who by and large feel unheard and/or unappreciated in their challenges of life.
· Even faithful members of the Church, regardless of their callings, have challenges that often go unnoticed, because they soldier on in spite of the challenges they are facing; and that way too often we see them and make the mistaken assumption (which I have come to call the “blindness of false assumptions”) that they don’t need any help; and/or they do everything right; and such assumptions limit us in our potential to serve and bless others.
· Finding and ministering to those are either uncomely or less honorable may seem, initially and superficially, to be inefficient and less productive in building the Kingdom, but in such conclusions we are SOOO wrong! Not only are their souls as valuable and precious to our Heavenly Father and Jesus as any others, but in the process of finding and serving them, we (especially me) learn so much; indeed, “Also the body hath need of every member, that all may be edified together, that the system may be kept perfect” (D&C 84:110). Ah, another question: what is the “system” that may be kept perfect? Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think it’s the Church; and that we need every member, including the uncomely and less honorable (which we will all be at some time in our lives) in order to be perfect.
This big second week of March was followed by 4 BIG days of training Stakes. Our leaders from Melbourne flew over and spent every day and evening with us. We trained 3 stakes, met with a 4th Stake President who was just barely called, met with our mission president to tell him about the change in getting missionaries started 6 months before they leave the mission to start their career plan. It was stressful as we were asked to present along with them, the day they showed up. But we felt like it went fabulous and was very productive and well received.
The new initiative that the pacific area presidency wants started is Careers Pacific. They are super concerned about Young adults between ages 18 and 30, single or married, or divorced. Not only do many of them leave the covenant path they began, but they are working at jobs, rather than careers that will not lead them to self-reliance and progressive lives. So we are officially beginning a pilot program system of training and matching coaches and mentors to individual young adults or couples to guide, help and provide resources to them on a trajectory of progress. We will be flying to Sydney in May for 3 days of training ourselves.
We also had a potluck dinner with our WSR Stake specialists.
Cindy with her 3 church mums. We drove to Northam Branch to listen to Cindy give an outstanding talk. She bore her testimony of her knowledge of God's love for her. It was so special.
The following Sunday, we attended our 4th and last stake conference this round. Dianella Stake. It was beautiful. Great music, talks, and a wonderful spirit.
This is the Pinnaroo Cemetery about 1 mile from our house where we visit the mob of kangaroos often. We love it here.
There are about 30 kangaroos in this mob.
We found Cindy's paternal grandparents in the Pinnaroo Cemetery, one FHE, with her.
By the way, here is a picture of Cindy's beautiful family that came to dinner at our home last month.
Got super close to this Kangaroo at the cemetery. He was starring us down good.
Traveling to trainings gave us the great opportunity to spend the night with our dear friends, the Morris's who were just released as housing coordinators in the mission. They have a beautiful home in Mandurah. They have been wanting us to visit and swim in their backyard ocean. So we finally took them up on this. This is a red letter day for Elder Kahmann. He finally made his first plunge into the Ocean since being in Australia. Pretty wonderful.
Should we do this?
YES!
YES! OK! Ready. . . . . Set. . . . .
GO!!!
Oh my goodness! That was epic!!!!
The next hard thing we did is swim to the island. This freaked me out a little. I had to stay close to Brother Morris's kayak.
What wonderful friends! The Morris's.
Marcie Mitchell is proud of me! I got my own names to take to the temple! Thanks to Elder Kahmanns encouraging and helping me with his passion and skills for family history. The new temple changes bring such clarity and simplicity. We love them.
We are looking forward to general conference! The 14 hour time difference is kind of a bite because the Sunday designated to watching it comes two weeks later, because of Easter. So we will be watching in segments all during this next week.
One last sad thing that goes along with our Come Follow Me study Matthew 13, (and Jacob 5.)
Our tomatoes were doing so well! We watered them, dunged them, digged about them, and even sang to them.
And then this just happened. "What could have we done more in our vineyard? Have I slackened mine hand, that I have not nourished it, and I have digged it about, and I have pruned it, and I have dunged it. And it grieveth me ! What is it that has corrupted my vineyard ? (I wanted more than a cup of small tomatoes so I could have some tomato juice)
We have decided that the seed can be good, and the one who sows the seed, but if the soil that receives the seed is stony or weedy, or as in our yard, mostly sand, it may not endure. Waah, Waah! Maybe the sun scorched them. Or maybe I drowned them. Still not sure. One thing is for sure - it's definitely not bringing forth "thirty, sixty, or an hundredfold."
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