NOVEMBER 5, 2013

     We've been derelict updating the blog since we left Tasmania, because our internet service is sporadic, expensive, and slow in Wagga, and for some reason, our laptop wouldn't connect with the internet at the church.  We finally solicited  help from President Hughes, the Branch President, and were able to download pictures.  So, it's time to catch up, at least through September. 

     The morning we left Tasmania, our two favorite Tasmanian Missionaries, Elders Sargeant and Hosman sacrificed precious sleep time and "K's,"  got up before 6:00 am on P Day, and drove from Launceston to Deloraine to help us pack.  It was hard to tell them good-bye, but after hand shakes, hugs, and a few tears from me, we sent them back to Launceston.  We went on a last "Driving Miss Daisy" type run and walk around Deloraine, packed the car, cleaned what is reputed to be the nicest flat in the mission, and headed towards Devonport to catch the "Spirit of Tasmania" ferry that would take us to the mainland.  We had extra time, so drove on side roads so we could see some tourist sites we hadn't seen. 

     The ferry was impressive; we enjoyed a yummy roast beef buffet meal, explored the ship, stood on the stern and watched Tasmania disappear into the night, and settled in our cozy cabin for the night.  Then, the waves started to roll the ship around, causing my stomach to lurch with every roll. As Max snored away, I wondered how I would survive 8 hours before we docked in Melbourne.  But, at some point, the Bass Strait calmed and I slept.  I was thankful to wake up in the morning feeling great again! 

     

How we love these missionaries!  They were both transferred to the mainland the transfer after we left, and Elder Sargeant ended up in the "District" serving in the Wangaratta Zone with us.  Unfortunately, his area is over 150 miles away from ours, but we do still see him occasionally. 

On the way to Devonport, we drove through Railton, a town that features dozens of topiaries.   It was still a bit early in the spring for them to be totally leafed out, but these elephants certainly attracted our attention.

Most towns in Tasmania have a tourist draw, and Sheffield is know as "The Town of Murals."  Spectacular permanent murals are painted on the outside walls of many of the buildings, and each summer, the town hosts a competition in the city park for artists to create original pieces of art.  

 This mural honors one of the many rescue workers who help stranded hikers on Cradle Mountain.  

The "Spirit of Tasmania" nearing Melbourne at 6:00 am.  It seemed to us both like we were coming home! 

We joined the other senior couples from the mission for a two day retreat.  The first day we explored  the "Great Ocean Road."  Because the mission is so huge, we seldom have an opportunity to meet new couples and catch up with old friends, so this was a great mini-vacation.

Seeing koalas in the wild is always a treat.  This mom and baby were perched in a tree near the road on the way to the Otway Lighthouse.  

The "Twelve Apostles" is breathtaking regardless of how many times one sees them. 

President and Sister Maxwell have big shoes to fill, but we know they will more than measure up to the challenge.  We are thankful for them and their willingness to lead, guide, and serve in the Australia Melbourne Mission.

Poor Elder Lacy not only got caught in this picture with the girls, but also had to smile with a missing front tooth!   

   

Sister Lin, Laycocks, Maxwells, Elder Lin, Wardles, Lacys, and Fillmores.  It was not a warm day, as evidenced by the coats.

Since we were familiar with most of the sites in Melbourne, while the rest of the group toured the city, Max and I shopped for items needed to furnish our soon-to-be flat in Wagga Wagga.  This picture was taken from the top of the State Library in Melbourne.

Looking up at the dome in the State Library.

We joined the group for a cruise on the Yarra River and saw the city of Melbourne from a different perspective.  How I LOVE this beautiful city!

 Dinner at the Mission Home.  Sister Horne, Woffindens, Wardels, Curtis',  Fillmore, and Sister Taveti.  

It appears that President and Sister Maxwell are strategizing with Elders Bellon and Bennallack, the AP's.  These two missionaries had a huge responsibility orienting a new Mission President to the AMM.  

After attending a session at the Melbourne Temple, we borrowed the "Big Blue Van," stuffed it with our belongings, including a queen sized mattress, boxes of IKEA furniture needing to be assembled, and kitchen furnishings for the new flat, and set off on our 6 hour journey to Wagga Wagga.

Obviously, there was no wiggle room in this van!

 Sisters Tui, Fameitau, Cook, and Ricks, welcomed us to Wagga Wagga with hugs, hand shakes, and a warm meal.  They had cleaned up dead bugs in our empty flat, wiped out the cupboards, and arranged for Brother McNamara and his children from the Wagga Wagga Branch to come and help unload the van.  We were very thankful for their help and love!

The Sisters made us feel loved and wanted, and no, the chocolate didn't last long!  Max is a real chocoholic!

When we get home, I'm going to get a job at IKEA putting together sample furniture.  It's like building big Legos!

Max is right at home in our new kitchen.  

Another trail, only this time dirt, and another muddy river.  People say the silt floats on top, covering the clean water beneath the surface, but we don't believe it, and we aren't about to get in the water to find out! We don't know how people dare swim in this water.  For sure it must be teeming with poisonous snakes that make Australia famous.

Good luck pronouncing the name of this river, named by the indigenous tribes who have lived in this area for many centuries.  

This spectacular wisteria "bush" is smack dab in the middle of the 8th fairway on the Wagga Country Club Course.  For my birthday, we golfed 18 holes, then hosted the 4 sister missionaries to birthday dinner.  I love having a September birthday, because it doesn't matter if we are living in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere; the weather is generally perfect for golf. 

I even made myself a German Chocolate Cake, and we ate every crumb!  

That pretty much wraps up September 2013. 

More to come.

MORE FROM THE "APPLE ISLE"

September 15, 2013

One of our jobs as missionaries in Tasmania is to inspect the missionary flats every transfer. We like interacting with the missionaries located around the state and seeing the sites on the roads less traveled, as we drive to their locations.   This transfer, after inspecting Launceston, Devonport, and Burnie, we drove on the north and west sides of the island to Hobart.

We were a bit disappointed that the lavender farms weren't in bloom, but could see that acres and acres would produce blossoms in a couple of months. 

So, we took a picture of a post card and can imagine how beautiful these fields look before they are harvested.  

Lilydale Falls was just a short walk from the road. (I tried to get Sharla to get closer to the Falls but she would not do it)

Elder Hurt watches in anticipation as Elders Hosman and Whitehead have a contest to see who can polish off the last two pieces of cheesecake first.  Elder Whitehead won.

We booked a cruise on the Gordon River on the Lady Franklin II, but were interested in the piles of Huon Pine on the dock.

Strahan, Tasmania is described as one of the most unique places in West Central Tasmania, located on a spectacularly beautiful harbor at the end of the world.  

This is more than water....it is the Southern Ocean.  Heading this direction, the nearest land is Argentina. 

Hell's Gate is the narrow channel that links Strahan to Macquarie Harbor and is only 60 meters across.  It was named by the convicts imprisoned on Sarah Island.  Escape was next to impossible, and they thought it was the gates to hell on earth.  

A large expanse of water to the left of the lighthouse island is shallow and dangerous.  A captain of this lighthouse lost his entire family, when the ship they were on tried to cross at the wider area. 

Rainbow Trout and Atlantic Salmon by the tens of thousands are farmed in these enclosures in Macquarie Harbor.   Fish food is being sprayed into the pond.  

The water in the Gordon River is  stained dark brown by the tannin in the tea trees in the forest.  Supposedly the water is pure and safe to drink.  We didn't try any.  

The water is so calm that it is difficult to tell where the forest ends and the river begins. 

The vegetation in the cool temperate rain forest is very dense, yet prisoners tried to escape. 

This is a 2000 year old Huon Pine that has toppled to the ground, because the roots are shallow and the rain forest soil is thin.  This tree may be down, but it isn't out; as it drops seeds and new shoots grow from underground root stock.  

Huon Pine is famous around the world as an extremely durable boat-building timber and as a beautiful, golden colored, easily workable furniture timber.  It is impervious to rot and insects and is very slow growing.  

The isolation of Sarah Island made it an ideal place for the worst convicts, many who had escaped from other settlements.  

Looking across the Macquarie harbor are spectacular mountains.  (yes that is snow, and yes they reminded us of the Three Sisters in the Tetons.)

Nelson Falls, one of many in Tasmania.

We stayed at Derwent Bridge in a funny little cabin that was really cold.  

Only in Australia!

Lake St. Claire reminded us a lot of Glacier Lake in Montana.  

The three tiers, framed by lush vegetation, make Russel Falls in Mount Field National Park the most photographed waterfall in Tasmania.  

The Swamp Gum tree is the tallest flowering plant in the world.  This one is 79 meters high.  

Max is craning his neck to try to see the top of this giant tree. 

When they fall, the Swamp Gum Trees seem to go on forever. 

"Homeless in Hobart"

 Actually, we stayed at a serviced apartment just a block from the waterfront but had to park 3 blocks away.  Thank goodness, we were traveling light.  

Greg Duncan is creating a 100 meter wall, carved from Huon Pine, on 3 meter high panels, depicting the history of the harsh Central Highlands region.  It was an amazing display.  Unfortunately, taking pictures was not allowed.  

The Deloraine Ward sponsored a great evening, where the youth of the ward were honored and received  certificates for their achievements.    The Walters family is joined by Graham Brown.  Lionel Walters is a member of the stake presidency.  

Most of the young women in the ward, from ages 12 - 18. 

Abby and Adam Rousse.  Abby is Sister Hornes niece.  

Emily Triffit is one of  many Triffits who comprise the ward.   We have often commented that it seems everyone is related.

Edna Scicluna, Bev Scott, Phyllis Moores, and June Bounds

Mike and Phyllis Moores have been great friends to us since the day we arrived in Deloraine.

Angelo and Edna Scicluna live in the Devonport Ward, but have been assigned to the Deloraine Ward to provide additional support.  

On September 16, we leave this beautiful island of Tasmania and will sail across the Bass Strait to Melbourne.  We wonder what adventure awaits us in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.  

It has been our good fortune to have served in Deloraine, if only for a few short months.  When we came here in June, with six months remaining on our mission, we were sure we would finish here.  But, someone has something else in mind. Wagga Wagga, New South Wals is where we are headed.  What do we know about Wagga Wagga?  Not very much.  It is a long way from Deloraine.  It is in the "district" part of the mission (not part of any of the stakes,) and 450 - 500 K's north and east of Melbourne.  There are four sister missionaries serving in the branch, and we will be the first senior couple to live and serve there.  We probably will get to set up one more flat for ourselves to live in.  We know that it will be a much hotter summer than Tasmania would have been and even hotter than it was in Melbourne last year.  We know that it is a city of 50 - 60 thousand people rather than a town of 2500 people.  We know we will  miss the beauty of Tasmania, the people, and especially the missionaries with whom we have served, but we know we will come to love the people and missionaries in Wagga Wagga.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.