Outstanding October (Spring has Sprung)

In Australia it's spring in October, not fall like in Utah.

Australian Flowers cut from a ladies yard in Albany. Can you believe this?

New little Joey's in the pouch! Heaps of them! One mile away from our home.

ZONE CONFERENCE: Most outstanding zone conference yet!!!

Janet: One thing that I was inspired by in zone conference was the directive given from Preach My Gospel page 20: "Your use of technology should be centered on your purpose. Turn on your device only after you have identified the missionary purpose for which you will use it. Then turn it off when that purpose is completed."

Dr. Bennett, visiting from New Zealand, taught us how to be healthy in zone conference: Avocados are prime food. A yummy breakfast!

Look at these good looking missionaries!

The North Coast and Dianella Zones

The Southern River and Rockingham Zones

A special group session was devoted to and included all the senior couples. This was very spiritual and powerful as each person was given an opportunity to share with the others what they have learned about themselves and about their companions.

We had a special dinner after at the mission home. We presented our gift to the Grinceri's hoping to give them continued comfort in the loss of their sweet daughter.

The next day we did a senior couples outing. We went to the Perth Mint, lunch, and then to the temple together.

This huge coin is worth over $1,000,000! This is a one-of-a-kind, made in celebration of a visit by Queen Elizabeth. Every night it is lowered into a vault (it weighs over 2,000 pounds).

This was so cool to watch him melt down a gold bar and then form a new one.

After a session in the Perth temple.

Some Emotional Trainings in October.

October 2, 2023 North Coast and Yanchep Districts

From left: Clockwise: Sisters: Willis, Johnson, Tanielu, Larsen, Speelmon, and Ballantyne

Elders: Back: Tavui, Quesne (pronounced "Caine") Smith; Front: Masima, Platt, Mchaffey

October 2, 2023 Heathridge district

Elders: Hymas (DL), Batiri, Steers, Tupa, Jensen, Kennedy, Bradford, Guillermo, McDowell

Sisters: Gillins, West

We did 9 groups in October. My blog got messed up and wasn't working for a while. So I'm a little behind, and a little mixed up about all the dates and groups. I am missing 1 group.

Tony and I both got the flu, and had to lay low for a week.  It was perfect timing, however, as we were able to watch general conference.   We didn't miss any responsibilites. Only a couple of dinner appointments that we had to reschedule. And 2 wonderful friends brought us meals. Way over the top treatment to us from these incredible Aussies. One, was the Sinclairs, whose dinner appointment we had to reschedule. So they just brought dinner to us. Angel Cindy's contribution was more like the whole week of meals.

Oct. 11, 2023 Pilbara, Wheatbelt, Albany, and Geraldton districts:

Elders Back row: Elders: Vaka, Myler (DL), Neumann (DL), middle row: Elders: Faleali'i (DL), Deinert, Putman; front row: Elders Wolfgramm, Nonu

Sisters: Tahaafe, Sakalia, Grant, Whitney, Singh, Frey, Smith, Crockett

October 16, 2023

Como District and Cloverdale District

???? They may have been one that we did a video of to sing Happy Birthday to Kedrick and didn't get a still shot.

Some sweet missionaries in our ward.  Elder Jensen and Elder Tupa from this district

Rockingham, Mandurah, Baldivis districts (October 30)

Left: Elder Bingham; Back row: Elder Deskins (ZL), Elder Niutupuivaha ( 7 syllables), Next row: Elder and Sister Kahmann, Elder Ginn, Elder Tuilimu (DL), Sister Tupou, Sister Fehoko; next row: Elder Gillespie, Sister Platt, Sister Heelis, Elder Stabler, Elder Barnbrook, Elder Valdez; bottom row: Sister Herrmann, Sister Sanft, Elder Tehaamoana (DL), Elder Thomas (DL), Elder Tamaiti.

Thornlie District October 23

Sister Rogers, Sister Bartchi, Elder Wright, Elder Sefuiva, Elder Swenson (ZL) Edler Staley, Elder Tafiti (DL), Elder Hutchins (ZL), Sister Shipley, Sister Aiono

Ballajura and Bellevue Districts

Elders Williams (ZL), Mayeda (ZL), Laulu, Wright, Wilding, Moala (DL), Tanag, Arbutante (DL), Burke, Aritai David, Talbot, Ambrose

Armadale District

Elders Payne, Kirby, Allen, Chin Koon Chen, Johnson and Robison.

Bunbury District

Sister Olson, Elder Hill, Sister Paletu'a, Elder Wade, Elder Gore, Elder Hittle, Elder and Sister Metcalf, Sister and Elder Kahmann, Sister Burt, Sister Baker

We visited Albany and stayed with our wonderful friends, the Albrecht's.  They were wonderful hosts.  They had the most wonderful bathtub.  We spoke in church, attended ward council, and trained the ward about family councils in the 2nd hour after sacrament meeting. Quite the whirlwind of missionary work and fun.

Ward Council with the Albrecht's, Sister Sakalia and Sister Tahaafe

So many beautiful places in Australia

The next week we visited Kalgoorlie.  We had a wonderful dinner and evening with the Gericitanos.  In many of the wards and branches this past few months we have spoken in sacrament meeting along with a 2nd hour presentation on family councils.   This has been super fun.

Kalgoorlie Chapel

Sister Frey, Sister Singh, the Geracitano's and us.

We had fun visiting one of the biggest gold mine pits in the world

A darling couple we are mentoring with the Careers Pacific iniative:  Conner and Oliva Dowe.  She is an attorney and he is working on his education in interior design.  Both very talented and brilliant. 

FAMILY NEWS

Our outstanding, talented Isaac returned safely and a new man from his 2 year mission in West Virginia. We had a lovely hour chat with him, peppered him with questions and could have talked for hours longer. We were inspired. Among his highlights he spoke of the brotherhood and connection he felt with his companions, how he loved inspiring and teaching his fellow missionaries in district councils. He loved praying for what could be the most benefit and preparing for the district meetings. These were some of his most spiritual experiences. He loved how much he learned from his companions. He testified of how LOVE is the biggest influencer. He loved his mission presidents. President Lindall made him feel "so believed in," and appreciated. Some of the take aways from his mission president are: "Be happy everyday" "Find joy in Christ." Continue to "be the white shirt guy" for the rest of your life. Isaac felt Christ became His greatest companion and expressed an overwhelming sense of peace about being able to navigate the future.

My beautiful mother passed away on Oct 29th, 2023. Her temple recommend expired on the last day of October. She had had her interview with the Bishop for a new one , but was unable to meet with the Stake President. My mom stayed worthy and held a current temple recommend her whole life after she was endowed in the temple. She fought the good fight, endured to the end and left a legacy of faith and love. She is loved and adored by all that knew her. (More to follow in November post)