Mission Report No 30

Halloween in the carpark

I didn't mention in my previous report that on last Thursday I received a friend request on Facebook from a young lady who I was a carer for back when I worked for MacKillop Family Services. This was a real thrill and I must admit that I shed a tear or two. She is now a young married mother of 4 kids and about 26 years old. She is reaching out to her old carers to say thank you, as she feels that we all "helped her become the woman that she now is". She was a young teenager when I looked after her and I guess she was "in the system" as she had suffered neglect and possibly abuse (same thing really). It's probably over ten years since I last saw her, so, as I said, it was a real thrill, and a big surprise to hear from her.

Monday 24th October 2022

We had a very brief visit with Yoriko to see Ayako in the hospital today. Ayako's husband and her daughter arrived at about the same time, so we went into Cairns Central to kill some time and so that I could by a couple of Tee shirts. We then went back to the hospital and had a slightly longer visit with Ayako. Ayako is reading the Book of Mormon and learning about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It has given her hope, and that is a start to her getting well in a more holistic way, you could even say, in a holier way.

Tuesday 25th October

We had District Council meeting this morning with the young Elders, during which Margot taught the lesson on financial self-reliance and did a very good job of it too.

I went for a kitesurf in the afternoon. The wind has changed now, from the SE to the NE and it is not as strong, so I don't expect to be doing much kiting until next May. Maybe in cyclone season we might get a few windy days. I guess I'll be doing more laps at the pool to keep fit, but I find it so boring. Any advice on how to make swimming laps more exciting?

I met up with Paul at Yorkey's Knob and I gave him some homemade Turkish bread and he gave me the biggest coconut I've ever seen. I love drinking fresh coconut water!

Wednesday 26th October

We had a longer visit with Ayako today. We were able to sit at a small table, so we had just a little more privacy. We were able to pray with her and to show her a short video that we downloaded from the Church website. We also helped her install the Gospel library app to her mobile phone so that she can watch as many videos or read as much as she wants to, in either English or Japanese.

There was a 10 knot wind from the North forecast for Yorkey's Knob again this afternoon, so I thought this would be my last chance for maybe a couple of weeks to get in the water. The funny thing with a northerly blowing instead of a southerly, is that everything is backwards. I take off with my left foot forward instead of my right, which is my natural stance on a surfboard, and yesterday was my first chance to do that. I had probably my longest run ever, but the wind was so light that at the end of it I dropped my kite and then struggled to re-launch it. Well, I did eventually re-launch and get back to shore, I ditched my board and foil and just started body dragging practicing kite loops, which I had never done much of before. I did the same today, not bothering to try to get up and ride at all, just practicing the loops. It's a technique that I need to master for this light wind foiling business! Good to learn a new skill. (If you're not a kiter, you can wake back up now)

Thursday 27th October 2022

Today was a day of missed opportunities.

We were on our way to Atherton to visit David (without Leila, she is in Ethiopa) and Gypsy. We called David as we were leaving and he told us there had just been a huge thunderstorm in Yungaburra. I wanted to drive there up the Gillies Range Road, but we could see heaving cloud down that way, so at Margot's suggestion we turned around and headed up the Kuranda Range Rd instead. Well, we got to Kuranda to get dumped on by a huge thunderstorm there, so I checked the weather radar (why didn't I do that earlier?) and there were storms everywhere, so after a phone call to David we turned around and went home.

We did get to have a nice visit with Shirley Skewes who has recently had a knee reconstruction.

At 7.00pm we were meant to have a YSA institute class with Sister Taula, over a video chat. No YSA were able to be there, which was disappointing for Sister Taula as she would have spent considerable time preparing a lesson.

Friday 28th October

We went visiting with our friend Yoriko again today. First, we visited Bro and Sister Stafford at an aged care facility. Bro Stafford is suffering from dementia and was asleep when we were there, but we had a nice chat with Sister Stafford. They were the first indigenous couple to serve as workers in the Sydney Temple many years ago. She is now blind and has limited ability to do very much, but mentally and spiritually she is still very strong. She asked if we could help her get a copy of the Book of Mormon audio recordings on CD, which will be difficult as they are no longer produced.

After visiting Sister Stafford, we visited the Poa family, whom we had never really met before. They have a 3-year-old son, Zion, so Yoriko, being in the Primary Presidency, was keen to meet the family. We had a really nice visit with them, getting to know them and their history.

Saturday 29th October

This morning was a farewell breakfast for Jadah Luki, the Young Women President in the 1st Branch, who is going to get married next weekend in the Brisbane Temple and then live with her husband on the Gold Coast. Many of the YSA and the young Elders met at the Taula home for the breakfast. Jadah will be missed - we are all hoping she and her new hubby come back to live up here in Cairns!

This evening was the Trunk and Treat activity for the kids at Church. I've never been particularly in favour of celebrating Halloween but having just read a bit about the history of it (it has Christian origins in Great Britain, I think it's fairly harmless and the kids (and some adults) had a bit of fun.

Sunday 30 October 

We left home about 6.40am to go to Port Douglas to pick up June to bring her to Church today. She had not been to Church for 35 years, so it was a big day for her. 

We attended both branches, and I spoke in the 1st Branch meeting. I've become the unofficial back up speaker for when someone who was assigned calls in sick or otherwise absent. I don't mind at all of course - keeps me on my spiritual toes, so to speak.

Being a fifth Sunday, the Branch President in each branch taught the joint Elders Quorum and Relief Society meeting, and each Branch President taught an excellent lesson.