Mission Report No 36
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| Our coconut delivery from Paul. |
Monday 5 December 2022
I don't know if I have mentioned this before or not, but I have a little project underway for studying The Book of Mormon. I have set up a study plan in the Gospel Library app to finish this project by 4 October 2026, which will be my sixty-ninth birthday. The project is quite simple. I am making a "note" for every verse that I read. I usually only do 3-4 verses a day to keep up with the study plan. I started back on 19th October, and I am now halfway through 1 Nephi Chapter 11. It's been a good exercise for me, forcing me to look deeper into each verse. Some verses a very plain and straightforward e.g. "My father dwelt in a tent" and I might read and re-read a verse several times before I think of a note to write about it.
We had Seniors council via Zoom this morning. Lots of training from the Vongsawads and the Grangers, mostly about how we can best help the young missionaries.
Had a bad sleep last night and fell asleep on the recliner this afternoon, but then I woke up and the wind was blowing, so I met Paul out at Yorkey's. Got all our gear set up, into the water, and the wind died! There was still enough for Paul, he's 10 kg lighter than me (imagine that!), but I just could not quite get going. Craig was also there, and he struggled too.
Tuesday 6th December 2022
This morning was our District council meeting, the first run by our new District Leader, Elder Hamilton. We had the Zone Leaders and the Atherton Elders attend via a Messenger video call. Margot taught the financial self-reliance lesson. After the meeting the 4 local Elders came back to our place for lunch.
After lunch we visited Sr Skewes who had recently had knee surgery and wasn't feeling particularly, so when we asked if there was anything we could do for her, the first thing she said she asked for was a blessing. We chatted for a while, but both Margot and I were quite sleepy, and the heat in Cairns doesn't help there of course.
I took a call from my friend Paul, who said he was about to deliver "a lovely bunch of coconuts" to our place, so we went home so we could be there for that exciting delivery. He will be away for 5 weeks or so, and since we have become addicted to drinking fresh coconut water (it's nothing like the stuff from the supermarket) we asked him to deliver some for us. We have been doing a barter - almost every time I go for a kite session I will take some bread out there for Paul and he will give me some coconuts in exchange, but with him going away and there being not much wind now, I thought it best to buy some from him. I should have got a photo of his delivery method. He parked about a hundred metres down the road and then came up to our place riding a OneWheel behind a wheelbarrow full of cocnuts!
Wednesday 7 December 2022
Off to an early start to help John out on his boat this morning, moving his boat from one mooring to another and also pulling up a huge anchor. Fortunately, there were a couple of other old guys on a boat nearby who were able to help us pull up the anchor.
On the way home, I went and bought a machete (at Nuleaf - great shop, way cheaper than other places for a machete too) for peeling coconuts. Fresh coconut meat is beautiful to eat and very good for you too. You just throw in in a blender prior to making a smoothie and it adds a lot of nutrition.
Thursday 8 December 2022
This morning we helped out friend Deb move house. The mission car, our own car, and a trailer borrowed from a kind sister at Church was all we needed, plus some short-term storage offered by another kind Church member and we were good to go!
Tonight, I taught the YSA Institute class again. We had a surprise visitor from our Stake, Cody Campbell, which was a nice surprise, as well as our recently returned missionary Josh Walker here for the first time since returning, plus most of our usual crew in attendance as well. Quite a contrast to last week when no YSA turned up - only the young Elders.
Friday 9th December 2022
Quick visit to the Elders for a flat inspection this morning, prior to a real estate inspection this coming Tuesday.
We also did some shopping for our friend Hana who has been hit by some bug that has knocked her around a bit. She and her kids were most grateful when we dropped in with some food and medecine for them.
We went home for a short rest (ie a "nana nap") before our 90 minute or so drive up to Mt Molloy to see our friend Shawn, who is a recent convert in the Atherton branch. It was a great spiritual boost for all of us, and we will try to see Shawn on a more regular basis. He is fairly isolated from all the other active members of the branch, with it being an hours drive to Atherton, where most of them live.
Saturday 10th December 2022
Tai Chi class at 8.00 this morning. We have a few regulars attending from 2nd Branch. Thinking about opening it up to members of the public via the Cairns Facebook group for Cairns. Maybe I need a bit more practice with my small group?
This afternoon 2nd Branch had its annual Christmas party at the Fun-E-Farm down at White Rock. We took Hana's kids Andreas and Emmabet, and Yoriko, with us, and the kids had a really good time. The Primary Presidency and others I guess, had set up a fantastic nativity scene in a real stable with donkeys on the side and chickens wandering around. Not often you see real donkeys in a nativity scene!
Sunday 11 December 2022
Attended the two Cairns branches today. In Branch 2, our two young Elders, Ricks and Spackman, spoke with only a couple of hours' notice. Someone who had been assigned to speak was not able to attend. They both did a fantastic job! Very proud of these two fine young men!
Tonight, we attended the seminary and institute graduation ceremony. There were several seminary graduates who will move on to institute next year - Eliza Gardner, Aina Luki, Ezrom Luki, Marcellus Luki - hop I didn't forget anyone! Will be great to have them come to the classes!
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