Ceff Mission Blog

Monday 10th July, 2023 In the morning we had Seniors Council. In the evening we went to visit the Taulas. While visiting the Hargraves, a senior couple, in Townsville, we were inspired to buy a copy of  President Russell M. Nelson's book, Daily Joy. For every day of the year there is a scripture and a quote from President Nelson relating to the scripture. It's a really useful little book for sharing an uplifting message when visiting people, and we used it tonight at the Taula's. Tuesday 11th July In the morning we went to visit the Wilferts. Poor Donna broke her ankle just recently, so she is not very mobile. Bargain of all bargains though - they found a wheelchair at the local op-shop for $10.00! In the afternoon, our kitesurfing friend, Paul, delivered coconuts. I have learned how to peel coconuts with a machete and drink the water and then make coconut cream. It will be a very useful skill to have once we are back in Victoria.  In the evening, I had District Council mee...

Monday 3 July, 2023 Dinner at the Taula's. Elder Bergeson is to my right. This evening, we had dinner with Nai and Brigham Taula, which we enjoyed very much and then the rest of the family came home and the missionaries arrived and we had the opportunity to say "goodbye" to Elder Bergeson who was leaving early the next morning. Tuesday 4th July The fish exchange. We had a teaching appointment with the sisters in the afternoon but that fell through.  It's been raining a lot lately, but it was a bit drier this morning, so Murray went to mow the Etheridges lawn. We had a call from the Gilbert family who were visiting from Victoria to meet them down at the Esplanade to pick up fish that they had caught. They kindly gave us two whole Trevally and one that had been filleted.  You can guess what we had for dinner that night. Beautiful fish! Wednesday 5th July We invited Yoriko to come for dinner as she eats fish but not beef or chicken. I had never cooked a whole fish before...

Who is the odd man out? Monday, 26th June 2023 In the afternoon I had time for a kitesurf. I am getting much better at foiling and not having so many crashes now. Although at the end of the session I did crash and my right foot didn't come out of my footstrap, so the end result was a slightly sprained ankle. This evening, we were invited to the Taula's for dinner which we enjoyed very much. We shared a message, which their son's non-member girlfriend, Nai, enjoyed and asked a lot of questions about. It was a good discussion. She's a lovely girl with a genuine curiosity about the Gospel. Tuesday, 27th June In the morning we had District Council Meeting which we take in turns as Seniors to attend. In the afternoon, Murray went for a walk and after passing a couple, he realized he knew the lady, Lorraine Fimmel, who is from Geelong but living now in Cairns. He waited for them to come back and was able to talk with her.  They are heading off overseas but will be back in Aug...

Me with Margot's hat on. "The battery is in the boot!" Monday, 19th June, 2023 This morning I mowed Nimai and Marcella's lawn for them. I offered to do it for them until they return in August.  Up here at this time of the year, it would need to be mowed about every two weeks. In the wet season it would need to be mowed every week - glad they went away now! We went to buy a bike for the elders to replace the one that had been stolen. Also some even more sturdier bike locks from Bunnings. We've bought 6 bikes, 5 of them have been stolen. We feel like we are running a "bicycle welfare program" here in Cairns, where we supply bikes to the local population free of charge. We then received a message from Tara saying that she was parked at a shopping centre and was needing a new battery and wondering if we could assist her.  She bought a new battery across the road at Super Cheap Autos and I then attempted to install it but didn't have the right tools and w...