Mission Report No 74

Us with Elder Bergeson.

 
 

Monday 28th August 2023

I did my first live interview today with a person who is a Christian of another faith. I met Sam Korinek while on Instagram, after he had made a comment on someone else's post, and it seemed to me that he could learn a bit more about the Church and our beliefs and make some better comments in the future perhaps. We had a preliminary chat a couple of weeks ago, and we got on very well together, so planned ahead for a live chat., which has now been uploaded to YouTube and Facebook and as a podcast.

Here's the YouTube video - 

Tuesday 29th August 2023

Rode the bike to the Lagoon Esplanade pool this morning to do some laps.

Got home in time to do another interview, this time with Tim Cabal, who is the actor playing the part of the lord of the vineyard in the upcoming Book of Mormon movie based on Jacob 5. Really great interview, I thought anyway, although I did waffle a bit at the start. But Tim was great!

It is available on YouTube and podcast and soon as possible on Facebook.

Here's the YouTube video

Tonight, we had a fantastic Youth/Seminary activity, where the seminary teachers used various rooms in the meeting house to teach the plan of salvation. They asked us to assist, which was fun.

Wednesday 30th August 2023

This morning we caught an early flight down to the Sunshine Coast, with the Kings, the Carrs and the Talbots, although the Carrs had to go on a separate flight. We were all heading down to Brisbane for the Senior Missionary Conference. We were picked up by Elder and Sister Peterson and they drove us to their home, where we stayed for a few nights.

It was great being able to catch up with some of our former Cairns missionaries down there. Here is a photo of us with Elder Schick, who is doing really well in the North Lakes area.

I was standing on my toes for this photo :)

Thursday 31st August 2023

This morning we were able to go to the Temple for the first time in 6 months, which was really nice. IN the evening we went to the Munro's place for dinner. They fed all the seniors 6 months ago at the last conference and they wanted to do it again, which was very generous of them.

Friday 1st September 2023

We had our first conference session this morning and then all of us went to the Temple again this afternoon.

The conference included presentations from:

Pres Garth Pitman - a counsellor in the mission presidency

Elder Wayne Maurer and Sister Maurer - Area Authority Seventy

Elder Craig Raeside from South Australia, who is also a forensic psychiatrist.

All excellent presentations. I didn't even doze off!

Oh, do you know the No 1 reason that seniors don't go on missions? If you ask me I'll tell you, which will prove to me that you have read our blog! :)

After coming out of the Temple this afternoon, we bumped in to Elder Mathew Walmsley, whom we had never met, but I know his sister well (Jenna is married to Luke Grbin) and his older brother, Ryan I think, served part of his mission in Geelong.

The very exciting thing coming out of the Temple this afternoon was that there was a RAAF flyover as part of the Brisbane Festival. No photos - they were too quick for me!

Saturday 2nd September 2023

This morning we heard from both Elder and Sister Vongsawad, and they used a video from the 2023 Mission Leaders seminar, with Elder Uchtdorf of the Twelve speaking. Great presentation!

Breakfast with the Petersons.

Us at the Temple

The Kings and the Greenhalghs
at the Botanic Gardens

All of us except me at the Gardens.

Sr Jan King with the city behind.

Margot with the city backdrop

Yep, that's me.

In the afternoon we went with the Petersons, the Kings and the Greenhalghs to Mt Cootha and the Botanical Gardens.

Sunday 3rd September 2023

Margot, me, Taufelele and Black

Before going to Church, we had some time in the morning to visit a couple of "our Cairns Elders" Black and Taufelele who are in the same flat with their companions. Black is the Zone Leader and Taufele is the District Leader and they both seem to be doing very well. 

Today we attended Church at the Redcliffe Ward with the Petersons. We arrived as the North Lakes Ward, who share the building with Redcliffe Ward, were leaving. An older gentleman, Hans van Asperen, spoke with me. Turns out he was in the Branch Presidency with our friend from Geelong, Bob Lyons. I told him that Bob is still alive and 101 years old. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)

We also attended a YSA Ward with the Petersons, which was interesting. We were able to see Elder Key there, who served with us in Cairns. (can't find a pic - I thought we got one) 

This evening, after a beautiful fast breaking dinner (a real breakfast!) with the Petersons, they drove us up to the Sunshine Coast Airport Motel. Elder Bergeson (pic at top of page), who also served with us up in Cairns, came to visit us, and then an old friend of ours also came to visit.