Missionary Report No 52

Monday 27th March 2023

This is Margot writing now because Murray hasn't got time as he is so busy doing his interviews. It will not be as exciting to read but will help us remember the details of our mission.

  

Today we went to Innisfail to do an inspection of the new flat for the elders who will be going there next transfer. We have really gained a testimony that if the Lord wants missionaries in an area, He will provide the accommodation. It has happened twice now - once in Atherton where we visited all the real estate agents only to be told nothing available and then the next day we get a phone call from one of the agents telling us they have something and it was the same flat the elders had two years prior. Again in Innisfail, we were told by all the agents that there is nothing available and again a few days later an agent calls to say they have something. But it seems the Lord also wanted a senior couple as well as elders as we also found another flat suitable for a senior couple.

Tuesday 28th March

Today we did some shopping for the flat in Innisfail.  We have found a place in Cairns that sells strong sturdy beds at a reasonable price.  

Wednesday 29th March

Today we needed to drive to Innisfail to inspect the flat for the Senior couple.  It is fully furnished and in a prime spot in Innisfail overlooking the river.  I haven't seen all the seniors' flats but I think I can safely say it would be one of the nicest. We have also been told that the Kings who have just arrived in the mission will be going to Innisfail.  We are very excited because when we were serving as Stake Temple and Family History Consultants, the Kings were the Regional Temple and FH Consultants and we had the privilege of getting to know them.  

Had our Temple Prep class tonight.  We have just one more lesson to teach. We have really enjoyed teaching it.

Thursday 30th March

Today we were able to catch up with Ayako who we first met through Yoriko when she was a nurse at Cairns Base Hospital.  Yoriko approached Murray about giving Ayako a blessing because she was very sick.  Even though she is not a member, she was very willing and we also left her a Japanese Book of Mormon to read. She was in hospital for about three months but we told her when she gets out we want to have a celebration so we met at Muddy's Cafe on the Esplanade and enjoyed catching up.  

Friday 31st March

This morning we had to do a flat inspection for the elders in Cairns.  We then had to head down to Innisfail again because the beds were arriving. We also finished buying everything else needed and got the flat ready for the elders who will be coming next Thursday. 

Saturday 1st April

Today was Elder Wintz's birthday. We had a luncheon for all the elders in Cairns and then we set off to Atherton to do a flat inspection up there and to give them some of the left overs.  Elder Black has been here almost eight months so he is expecting to be transferred. Transfers should be announced tonight.

Then we went to visit Leila and David, who we haven't seen for a while.  David has not been well and is hoping a scheduled cortisone injection this Wednesday will help alleviate his pain. His son, Bill, was also there and his granddaughter, Natalie.  We really enjoyed catching up.  Leila and Natalie said they might go to church in the morning.

While in Atherton, Murray went to the supermarket to buy something and a young guy from Vanuatu, who is a member of the Church, recognized him by his missionary attire and badge and said that he had just arrived in Atherton and needed to find where the church is. Although it is hard for Murray to wear a collar and tie in this heat, he has had several experiences now where it has helped people identify us as members of the Church.

Sunday 2nd April

Today after church, we had Xiochu, who is the member from the Canary Islands, who we ran into at Josephine Falls, come for dinner.  We ran into her twice and the elders also ran into her. She is needing to make some important decisions about her future. She is wanting to get her coxswain license so we told her that she can get that in Geelong which works out cheaper than here.  If she decides to do it in Geelong, we told her she can stay with us.

Elder Black is getting transferred