Utes in the Paddock

Jane of Condoblin, bought her father a Ute.    What is a Ute, you might ask?    "Ute" is the abreviation for Utility Truck.   This is what they use here in Australia instead of a pickup.   The Ute that Jane bought was on the way to Sydney which would be about a 5 hr trip for her.    We were going to Sydney for a Farewell party for some Senior Missionaries and Elder Tietjen volunteered to drive the Ute back to Orange, then on to Condobolin to Jane and Keith that coming weekend.    So here is the Ute that Elder Tietjen drove.



Here we are a rollin along the narrow roads through the Bush of Australia, heading to Orange and then on to Condobolin to deliver this Beaut of a Ute to Jane and her father Keith. 

For a year now we have traveled these roads to Parkes & Condobolin.  Each time we pass this sign.  

What in the world is  "Utes in the Paddock"?

As I said, a Ute is short for Utility truck.   In the Australian language "A Paddock" is a field.   So my curiousity finally got the best of me and I begged to take the 3 km drive to see what in the world this (Pickups in the Field) was all about.     All I can say is that there are a lot of creative people here.      

                                           So here you go:   Take a stroll with us to see the,

Utes in the Paddock

How interesting

 

There you have it, now you too know what a

 "Ute in the Paddock" is.  

Elvis is alive in Parkes, Australia

Everytime we go visit Keith, Jane and Michael in Condobolin, we drive through the town of Parkes.     We decided to stop off in Parkes and visit the museum to see what all they had. 

Look who I met right there in Parkes, Australia

Elvis Presley is very much alive here at Parkes. 
The second week in January of each year there is a huge Elvis festival.

The Parkes Elvis Festival is an annual event celebrating the music and the legend of Elvis Presley.    The first festival in 1993 was simply a one night performance attracting 300 attendees.  The Festival now lasts for 5 days and attracts large numbers that briefly double the population of Parkes.

Every where you look you see something about Elvis.   

This Funeral Home in Forbes,  45 min S of Parkes,  is designed after Elvis' Graceland Mansion.

Just outside of Parkes to the West,  you see this "Elvis" (with saw in hand) as an advertisment of a Wood Cutting Business.

We know at least 3 people with Elvis collections flooding their homes.    They are so crazy over him.  

Baptisms and Blessings

September 29, 2012  Saturday.   These 2 special little angels, Sean and Patrick from  Walgett, are standing by their Parents, Marla & Chris & Elder and Sister Tietjen     They were blessed and baptized by Elder Tietjen     They too are soaking in the gospel principles.   They traveled 4 hours South to come to Dubbo to be baptized.   That is the nearest baptismal font.




August 11, 2012 Satuday was the baptism for these 3 special angels, Keegan, Nikita & Jamie.  

They were baptized in Orange by Elder Tietjen. 

August 11, 2012 was also the blessing of Mackayla and Nicholas of Orange by Elder Tietjen.   
          Poor little Nicholas had fallen asleep by the time it was his turn for his blessing so was held
          by his big brother Jamie.  

July 7, 2012  Saturday Daina from Dubbo was baptized by Elder Faulkner.
                        Elder Welch and Elder Faulkner from Dubbo were the ones that taught her.

July 1, 2012 Sunday Tim from Dubbo was baptized by Pres. Ryan.         

Elder Faulkner, Tim, Pres. Ryan, and Elder Welch

Tim is the son of Nancy that we used to visit in the hospital.   She has now passed on.    He has made his mother very proud though.



June 30, 2012    Connor from Lightning Ridge was baptized by his big brother Boe.   He is also standing next to his mother, Narida.   

Feb. 24, 2012 Friday.  Samuel of Cowra was baptized by Elder Tietjen and Jacob was baptized by his Uncle

Feb. 5, 2012   Inoke of Orange, blessed by Elder Tietjen

Feb. 5, 2012   Lihai, of Orange blessed by Elder Tietjen

They are the twin sons of Winston and Lee

Jan 15, 2012 Sunday.    Fiona was baptized by Ririwi.  

                                       They are engaged to be married on Sat. Dec 1, 2012.