Walkabouts & Wallabies

Happy Australia Day

This week we celebrated our first Australia Day (Australia’s “4^th of July”). We had a great time with the branch at a breakfast BBQ along the King River. We enjoyed some yummy food of grilled sausage dogs and eggs and enjoyed beautiful scenery and great company. One of our friends even taught us how to play cricket. We are going to need some further lessons.

After the BBQ we visited the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial which commemorates the Australia and New Zealand soldiers who died in WW1. It is perched on the top of a hill overlooking Albany and the ocean. It was heartbreaking to read the stories from soldiers and the suffering they endured as they fought for the cause of freedom.

It offered beautiful views of the ocean below with its cargo ships waiting for their turn in port to load grain. (These ships fascinate me and we have lots of pictures of them) We had the opportunity to visit with some nice people who were visiting from Perth and had the opportunity to explain who we were and why we are in Australia. Hopefully some seeds were planted.

Tuesday we were busy helping with a funeral of one of the branch members. What a blessing the gospel is to have the plan of salvation and know that families can be together forever and that we will see our loved ones again. Dave had the opportunity to dedicate the grave and consecrate the ground as the final resting place until the resurrection.

Throughout our short time here we have had the opportunity each week to go with President Duffield and take the sacrament to some sweet members who are unable to get out. President Duffield is so caring and dedicated to his little flock and spends many hours visiting with countless members who are struggling. He is a great example of Christ-like love. There are many in this little branch who care for, support, and serve one another. They are great examples to us and we are grateful for the opportunity to serve beside them.

The missionaries have been working so hard. This month they have 2 baptism dates set. This little branch has not had a baptism in 2 years. We are so excited for our new friends and the covenant path they are on. The font has not been used in two years, and we found our stripling warriors (Elder Jones and Elder Taylor) cleaning and scrubbing it so it was ready and sparkling clean for the baptisms.

Wednesday is P-day (preparation day). We spend the day cleaning the house and yard, doing laundry, and preparing for the rest of the week. In the afternoon we went and visited Albany’s historic whaling station. The Cheynes Beach Whaling company was the last whaling company to cease operations in Australia, closing in 1978. It is now home to an interactive museum on whales and whaling. Looking out from the whaling station the view of King George Sound and its island is breath taking. Cheynes Beach is a beautiful white sand beach that looks like it came straight off of a postcard. The quiet tranquility is in sharp contrast to the noisy, steamy, and odorous scene from its past. Stories were told of the large amounts of sharks that were in the waters at the site because of the processing of the whales…No swimming for us! The whaling station operated here from 1952-1978. The stories of men who worked on the whaling ships and processed the catch brought the place to life and we even were able to go inside the last whaling ship. It was amazing to see a huge whale skeleton. It is so large that a car could fit inside of its ribcage. At the end of the tour, we were able to go see some of the Australian wildlife.

Warning Whale Processing pictures ahead. (Sorry Rylee)

Back in safe territory Rylee

Friday we were invited to dinner by our first friends in Albany…..Brother and Sister Chenery. The first day we arrived in Albany they brought us over some vegetables. It reminded me of my dad and all the many vegetable deliveries he made when I was a child. (Thanks Chenerys) They are a hoot to be around and the dinner was delicious! It was the first time I have ever had lamb. It was great. We love listening to all their stories (Sister Chenery’s mission stories are hilarious) and Brother and Sister Chenery have strong testimonies of the gospel. We will see if we can get a picture next week with them.

This week we were also able to visit some members and help a sweet member with broken ribs move some of his things from his house and car into a sea container. We were also able to go with Elder Taylor and Elder Jones on some teaching visits. It is amazing to see what great missionaries they are. Their testimony and knowledge of the gospel is amazing. They truly show the love of Christ and bring his light to all those they come in contact with. We love them and are in awe of them every day. It is flat inspection week so we paid Elder Jones and Elder Taylor a visit and inspected their flat. It was spotless! Their moms would be proud.

Saturday, we woke up at 5:30 a.m. and went down to the pier for a walk to see the cruise ship come in. We met a friendly man walking his dog and talked with him for a bit about who we are and why we are in Australia. He invited us to go out to Emu Point later in the day and watch the lawn bowling championships. We watched the cruise ship come into the port through the tiny Ataturk channel which was amazing to see.

Dave and his Gilligan hat

We then ate breakfast at the park by our house and were joined by many new friends. (We couldn’t resist asking our son Curtis how his duck hunting at home was going). He said “not a well as yours”.

Someone had even left a cute rock on the bench for us to find. We love this little town.

We joined the missionaries at our friend’s baptism walk through and are so amazed at his eagerness to learn and grow. I told him he was like a sponge and a great example of dedication to us. He loves learning and has spent countless hours listening to the church podcast and studying the scriptures.

Next adventure for the day was going to support and watch one of the members (the Winter’s daughter Misty) play footy (Australian rules football). It was a super fun game to watch. Kind of a cross between rugby, football, and soccer. It brought back the memories of watching all our kid’s games. We can’t wait for the next game.

We ventured out to Emu Point to watch the lawn bowling and were so excited when the new friend we met on the pier earlier sought us out, sat down with us, and explained the game. It was very interesting, and he invited us to come watch him next Saturday when he competes. The Australian people have been so kind to us and we love learning of their culture.

On our way home we watched the cruise ship Pacific Explorer sail out of the harbor for her last time. She will end this cruise and be retired and converted to a floating hotel in Singapore. While waiting for the cruise ship, we had the opportunity to meet a couple who had been touring Australia for the last year and a half in their caravan. We shared with them our missionary purpose hopefully planting some seeds for the future.

Sunday was fast Sunday and in the evening our branch has a gathering called Fast Breaker where we all bring potluck, share a spiritual thought, break our fast together, and eat dinner. There were a lot of fun stories shared and of course yummy food.

One of our favorite things that we have found here are Tim Tam cookies. The members have been telling us for the past few weeks about the correct way to eat them, called the Tim Tam slam. It involves the Tim Tam cookies and Milo (Australia’s version of chocolate/hot chocolate milk) After the fast breaker we came home and had our missionary planning meeting and Elder Taylor and Elder Jones demonstrated the Tim Tam slam. Yes Sister Paisley……you are right…they are delicious.