Week March 21 - Email

G'day,

It’s been a crazy week and we've done heaps it seems like. It feels longer than a week, honestly.

I loved Colin's before and after pictures from getting his wisdom teeth out.




Editors Note: Post-surgical Colin did not have an “inside” voice. He was talking a lot and very loudly.


It seems too early for spring break but then again it doesn't seem like Easter and General Conference are coming up as well.


Well, I guess I'll start at the beginning of the week with the Zone Conference. We had a nice flight over to Townsville and when we got there, 20 other missionaries from the Northern Zone which covers everything from McKay to Cairns, were already there. They were all at a member’s house who had agreed to feed all of us dinner. It was good to see other missionaries and get to meet some new people. That night we all slept at the Townsville flat which luckily was a big 3 bedroom, 2 bath house but still it was crowded. Fun times though, I grabbed a bed and had a good kip (sleep).




The next day was the Zone Conference and it was really very good. Elder Hamula from the First Quorum of the Seventy was there and his wife as well. As it turned out we didn't have to do the role play as we thought we would but another set of missionaries did. It’s always good to see how to teach things different and all. The meeting centered on faith and how we build that faith for both ourselves and our investigators. It was amazing. It’s crazy having a general authority that close to you and even just getting to shake his hand. But that’s just me… After the conference we had lunch at the chapel and then Elder Hamula interviewed a couple of missionaries. My companion got interviewed and he really enjoyed just being able to ask Elder Hamula some doctrinal questions. After that we ate some more...what missionaries do… and the next day we flew home. It was raining most of the time so we didn't get many pictures but I did get a few. It was fun and a very fast trip. It was unbelievable how fast it went.

We did some service (in Townsville) near the chapel which, ironically, is located in the worst part of town. The place is called “the Bronx” by locals and is basically where all of the aboriginals live. In this town, sadly, very few aboriginals have jobs and most sit around, yelling at each other and drinking (literally) all day long. It’s sad. Anyway the chapel is surrounded by bush on the edge of town and that’s where, besides their houses, the aboriginals generally go to drink. Six Elders in our group filled two trucks with rubbish comprising mostly of beer cans, wine bags and other things that go with that. It was sad but good service for "Clean-up Australia Day".

As for questions about our Mt. Isa Branch… it is small with about 30 active people, including kids, with a good deal of less actives members as well. They're great members though hands down and they really take good care of us. Transfers are coming this week and Elder Parkinson has been here 6 months now so I'm about 85% sure that he'll be leaving and I’ll have a new Elder companion by Saturday morning. I'm hoping the new Elder has some experience and isn't newly green but it will work out in the end.

Thanks for the email and the news about Japan heaps of the members have been asking about missionaries there. It is great to know they were good and safe. Well, until next week, good luck to you. Love you and hope you enjoyed Spring Break. Thanks for the emails.