Mission Report No 69

Dinner with the Luki family.

Margot has written up most of this report thankfully. I have added a few words in italics.

Monday 24th July, 2023

We picked up a sister and husband to take to a medical appointment.

Drove Zoe, who is here from Taiwan on a working holiday visa, to various places to drop off her resume in the hope of getting work.

Murray went for a treatment for his back which is fine but just as a precaution.

In the evening we had an enjoyable dinner and FHE along with the sister missionaries with Mark and Shane Luki family.  I said I would bring dessert but when I turned the oven on it didn't work but fortunately the sisters were home and able to cook it there.

Tuesday 25th July

In the morning it was our turn to attend District Council and teach the self-reliance lesson.

We ordered food from Subway for the Missionary Conference on Friday.  We have discovered that Subway platters and salads are a good healthy option.

Not having much success applying online for a new place for the Senior couple so decided to visit different Real Estate agents , explaining our situation and leaving them our standard letter. One that we had attempted to apply for we found out was still available and open for inspection the next day.

We helped Zoe move and then took her and Amoy to Institute.

Murray had District Council.

Wednesday 26th July

Dropped the Subaru off for a service.

Murray and two elders went to the chapel to meet with the technician trying to get the sound system working for District Conference.  During one stage they had no idea what to do so said a prayer and immediately afterwards the idea came to Murray to solve the problem.

I went to inspect the house which is brand new, in the right area and the garden is low maintenance. Told them we would submit an application.

In the evening Murray had his gospel study class. 

Thursday 27th July

Murray spent the morning and part of the afternoon fine tuning the sound system.

We received word that we had been successful in applying for the house for the senior couple.

In the afternoon, the Mission President and his wife and Elder and Sister Meurs arrived. We met them at the airport and gave them the mission car to use and we used our own car. 

The Kings drove up from Innisfail and we went together to have dinner with the Mission President and his wife, the Meurs, and the Talbots, the other missionary couple.  We dined at La Fettucina and later had ice-creams at Just Devine.  A truly enjoyable evening.

The Kings stayed the night as we had our Missionary Conference the next day.

Friday 28th July

L to R. Sister Vongsawad, Pres. Vongaswad,
Sister Taula and Sister Dewis, and Elder Meurs

                                            

We had our Missionary Conference at 10am, being zoomed to the rest of the Mission.  It is usually us  on Zoom, so it was a nice change. Murray was in charge of operating the sound system and Zoom and feeling a little stressed as it can be very temperamental.  We actually had major technical issues. We'd spent the two previous days trying to sort it all out, and thought we had it working perfectly, but then we turned it all on, connecting everything up in the morning and virtually nothing worked like it did yesterday! In the afternoon we got all the tech people together again and sorted it out. There was a problem with a brand new HP laptop running proprietary software that used AI to filter the sound, and that was messing with Zoom, and there was an additional bit of software, a Redback switcher, which didn't save it's settings from the previous day (but Scott figured out that there was an option to save settings, so that sorted that out.)

The Conference went well and wonderful to have Elder and Sister Meurs there to address us.

We then enjoyed our lunch which was made even more special thanks to Sister Dewis and Sister Taula who enhanced it with more food and decorations.

I then had the pleasure of taking Sister Meurs and Sister Vongsawad to meet some sisters. The first sister we went to visit, Sister Stafford, an indigenous member whose husband died last year and together they served several missions was unfortunately at an appointment. We then went to visit Sister Skewes and then Sister Wetzel who is in hospital. While visiting her, we got to meet her son.  We also bumped into several members and one of the members had friends from the UK with her and we had a lovely chat with them and left them with an invitation to attend District Conference.

Saturday 29th July

I went for a swim early this morning at The Esplanade Lagoon. For some reason that evening I broke out in a rash all over my abdomen and back. This also happened after I went kitesurfing two weeks ago, and this was my first time in the water after that. I guess I'm allergic to water now - but I hope not!

There was leadership meeting in the afternoon and then the Saturday evening session. Murray had to help again with the sound system and Zoom as it was being transmitted to the nine other Branches. 

Murray got a message from cousin Glen, who lives in Ingham, to say he was in town. He came to the evening session of Conference and stayed the night.  The sister missionaries were looking for a ride for a family of five and Glen said he could help, but they ended up not coming.

Sunday 30th July

We had District Conference from 10am and again being transmitted to the eight other Branches. Murray again helping with the sound system. Roy McPherson did most of it today actually, and Zoom was the big thing to look after. I was logged in to Zoom and sat right up the back, and so assisted him from there.  We believe the total attendance was about seven hundred (includes all 10 branches). It was mentioned several times that in the near future, they are hoping to form a Stake. The music and talks and testimonies were very inspirational. Afterwards there was lunch.

Then a fireside in the evening for YSA &Youth. Again, Murray was in charge of the sound system and Zoom.