Our "First Time" Day

Tuesday October 18, 2011                　
Today we will label as our "First Time Day". This was our first day for a lot of things.
I got up and fixed a lunch for our "First Time Day" . Why do I call it a "First Time Day"?    Because it was a first time for many things today.

First of all I will start off by telling you about this really nice elderly gentleman in our Orange Branch. He is really devoted to the church. I would guess he is in his 90's. Norman Aukland lives in an assisted living center. He comes to church every Sunday with the assistance of the Branch President picking him up and taking him back home. He is very hard of hearing and can’t see details enough to show him a picture, but he still comes.    Every Sunday he is faithfully there in the chapel seat.   

He asked us one day if we would come and visit him.    He is lonely and I think only has 1 daughter that comes to visit him.    The sisters were telling us that it was a long time that his daughter didn’t even come.    He was very sad.    So we go visit him every Sunday now.

When we first went into his tiny little mentholated smelling room, the walls were covered with large photographs of trains. Very old steam trains.   Elder Tietjen asked him about them and he told us that his life’s occupation was working with trains.    His main job was the switching of the tracks or switchman.     We talked trains a lot that day.     We asked if he would like to take us to the railway station and show us around.    He lit up.     The next time we came to visit he said he had a better idea about the railway visit.    He wanted us to take a little trip on the train to Dubbo.     And he would come too.
Monday Oct 10we took Norman Aukland to the Railway Station to have him show us around the station.    He knew it all and seemed pleased to be showing it to us.    We were there to see 2 trains come in and go out.    He wanted us to buy tickets.    He said he had a pass to get on the train for free.     We went in to check on the tickets.     It turned out that his pass had expired back in 2008. But the station man asked if he had a pension card.    He did, and could get his ticket for $2.50.    We had planned on going on Tuesday Oct 18 but it turned out that he could only use his card 7 days before the event.  Since this was Monday Elder Tietjen had to come back the next day on Tues Oct 11 to get the tickets.     It cost us each $45 round trip for our tickets.Norm still has a very sharp mind.    It is just hard to visit with him because he can’t hear too good.  You have to get up to his right ear and talk very loud.    On Sunday he reminded us of the train trip to be on Tuesday at half past 11.     I think he was really excited.    Almost as excited as Elder Tietjen.
So Tuesday Oct 18 finally came.    I fixed a large sack lunch of sandwiches and the normal junk foods for trips.    We then went to pick Norman up.    He was ready and waiting in the foyer.
We drove to the station and waited for the train to come.    11:50 am we boarded the train.
This was a "First Time" for Elder Tietjen to ever in his life ride on a train.
We were assigned 2 seats together and then 1 seat across the isle.    The train was pretty packed because a school group of kids were going on an field trip to the Dubbo Zoo.    That same zoo that we saw the $46 a ticket per adult zoo.    Elder Tietjen sat with Brother Aukland because there was a lady that needed to sit there.    So we had her sit by me.

We visited and I showed her my family photos.    She kept saying that I was so blessed to have such a wonderful family.   

At one moment, and I still can’t believe that it was at that very moment, that I looked out the window. The track was built up and down below on my side the ground had a flat trail running along side of it. And right at that moment, there was a kangaroo running along the trail going the same direction as the train.   I could not hardly believe it that I got to see another kangaroo and so close.    The train moved faster than the kangaroo could run and therefore we over took it in no time.   I could not get my camera out fast enough to snap a shot at it.

The lady rode for 1 hr and got off at Wellington.    Then a man had to sit by me.    He was a young man probably in his 30's.    He was black and very nice looking.    Elder Tietjen introduced himself and because of "our" accents he asked where we came from.     After telling him we came from America he asked the popular question of why were we here.      (Now isn’t that suppose to be our question as a missionary?) We told him we were missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.    He said he had seen several other missionaries walking around.    Then the lady in front of Elder Tietjen turned around and said, "No you probably saw Jehovah Witness Missionaries, there are a lot of them".     Elder Tietjen commented that there were probably a few of them around too.    And she let him know that she was a Jehovah Witness and there were a LOT of them.     The man then started to ask me questions about the church.       As the lady was talking to Elder Tietjen so I was on my own.  I could not answer all of his questions.     I was telling him about Joseph Smith and he asked how do you know his story is legitimate and not just some other fairy tale.    The train then stopped.    I gave him a pass along card that gave the mormon.org web site. He went away acting like he wasn’t too sure of me.     I felt like a real failure as a missionary.
Hopefully he will go to the website and read more.     I also gave him our card with our name and address and phone on it.
So this Day was:

A "First Time" ever in his life that Elder Tietjen got to ride on a real life size train.

A "First Time" ever that I got to see a Kangaroo running along side a train.

A "First Time" ever for me to talk the gospel to someone all alone.

A "First Time" for Elder Tietjen to talk to a Jehovah Witness and she did not want to hear about the Book of Mormon. The Bible is all there is.

Now the train ride was something else especially for here in Australia.   It was smooth and straight.   shocking huh?    Elder Tietjen was amazed at how smooth a train could feel.    He always imagined that they would be very bumpy and go clank clank as it went over the rails.     It was a very enjoyable and relaxing trip. (Except when I was put on the spot).

We rode to Dubbo, sat in the station for 15 minutes and then boarded the train and came home to Orange.    Dubbo was the end of the route as far as this train goes.    They push a lever at the bottom of the seats and turn them around backwards.    The engine that was pulled is now the lead engine.    Very cleaver.    On the way home the train was almost empty.    Very very relaxing.

Brother Aukland said this will not be our last ride. I hope not. It was a total of 4 hrs for the round trip.

As I walked him towards the home, those that saw him coming asked him about his train ride.    Everyone seemed to know about it.    The manager lady of the place walked by and said to me "thanks for doing that for him".    That made the day complete.
Now most of you have been told the typical missionary story like the following. "Overeating."

5:40 pm -To top off our wonderfully ecstatic day, we had our "First Time" barbeque with W........., L...... and kids.     We gave them a short missionary lesson first and then Winston dished up the plates and oh, my goodness.     Each of our plates had two pieces of chicken, a steak, a huge sausage, a scoop of cooked veggies, and a scoop of fresh veggie salad. Which consisted of large chunks of fresh onions, green and red peppers, whole peas, corn and avocados. Before we hardly even got started, he was offering us more. They were all finished eating before our plates even looked like we had started on them. And he kept offering us more. I did not see him go back for seconds. I ate almost all of it. But if you know me very well, I will probably go into Uric Acid shock tonight along with onion breath. He wants to have another barbeque again this Saturday out at the Lake. I will be sure to dish my own plate up.
We played 2 rounds of Phase 10 and then said we had to go home.     It was 8 pm and there is school for the kids tomorrow.     We both went home to explode.

All in a Days work

Friday Oct 14, 2011

Every morning now for a few weeks, across our front room carpet, we have seen shiny shimmery slivers of what looks like threads of Saran plastic Wrap.    But when you go to pick it up, it disintegrates to the touch of your fingers.    What in the world is this we thought?    We could see it strung across the room and back and forth and around here and around there.    Under the table over by the couch.    Some places had bigger spots rather than just thread like shimmers.   I looked it up on the internet as having shiny streaks on carpet and all I could find is some articles about Slugs. Slugs? I thought.    Where in the world would a Slug come from?    The lines went straight to the corner of the sliding glass door. Well, not really straight, but they made their way back to the corner. "We would rub them away each day and each morning they would come from the same corner. OOOO, a slug in the house?,    oooooo gross.    We hunted and hunted everywhere not being able to find any critters that might be making them.
Last night I told Elder Tietjen that we should sleep on the couch in the living room to see if we could see the slug ball going on.   He just laughed and we went to bed.
Today we stayed home most of the day.   We had scheduled 4:00 pm to go to W.........'s home and teach our 1^st lesson to the family.
We studied and got pictures and such all ready for the lesson.
We did get a shopping list together and went to town for car parts and a lot of groceries.   We were out of a lot of things.   We shopped Woolsworth's today.    I don't know any of the grocery stores well enough yet to find things and so it takes so long.    Elder Tietjen  gets so worn out shopping at a grocery store.    I don't like going shopping with other people.   I like to take my own time trying to find things and not boring others.   But he is enduring.
We then came home and had some lunch and Elder Tietjen fell asleep on the floor.   With the slug? Oooooo.
I studied and got more pictures ready for my lesson that I will be teaching Monday evening at Lisa's home with her 4 yr old Rhys.
At 2:30 Elder Tietjen took our car into a car dealer repair place just down across the street a ways to get it inspected.   We are suppose to have it inspected before we can get the final registration for it.   We have been fearing that because the cover over the air bag is curled up that we may have to have that replaced and it may cost us a lot.    It was to take the man about 45 min to do the inspection.    Elder Tietjen walked home and again fell asleep.    I don't mind, it gives me more time to study at my speed.
W......... called and cancelled our night together.    After teaching the lesson we were going to have a barbeque with them.    He said that L..... was not feeling well.    I don't think I would feel well either with expecting Twins in December and so overly over weight.
So we spent the rest of the day organizing our lessons and visual aids.   At least me, Elder Tietjen was still asleep.    Elder Tietjen will be teaching Lu, Li Li and Halery on Sunday nights and then at Tasha's home on Monday nights.
Elder Tietjen was awaken with some strange message on his phone that we could not figure out.   Something about covering the Payneham and weather permitting will uncover at 9 am.   Well, I do think they got the wrong number.    I looked up Payneham and it is a town.   So I have no idea what that was about.  It was now 4:15 pm. He commented that the guy had not called about the car being done, so at 4:30 pm he finally got up and walked over to the place.    The guy said he was just about to call him.    Whew, the air bags passed.    But we do have to replace the rubber bushings that hold the sway bar in place.    That will cost about $200.    Charles where are you when we need you?
We then spent more time on our lessons and pictures until 9:30 pm.
We decide to rest and take a break by watching a movie.   I know we should have gone to bed right?    We watch "The Inheritance".    Thanks to Wayne he put  a whole bunch of movies onto my external hard drive.    We did not know what this one was so we decided to watch it.
We slid the couch up to the desk and played the movie on my little tiny lap top.   For some reason Elder Tietjen's computer will not play the movies.    So we endure with my little one.    I don't mind it so much.    We are close enough that it is like sitting in the back at the movies.    Well, maybe, not, but it isn't too bad.

It was a very enjoyable movie.     It got over around 11:30pm  and as I was gathering my blanket up off of me, I happened to look down at the floor.    In the dimly lit room, from porch and computer light only, I could see a little dark spot on the floor under the chair that I had my legs resting upon.   It kind of looked like a cat had come and done it's thing.    Since we don't have a cat and I knew there was no dark spot under my chair before, I reached down and touched it. OOOOOOOO, it was so slimy.    I grabbed my hand away and told Elder Tietjen to hurry and turn on the lights.    He did.   

Oh, my goodness,right  there was our party animal, the SLUG.    AND I TOUCHED IT!!! Gross.    Was he big or was he big.   They grow things BIG here in Australia.    Remember the mushroom that was about 8 or 9 in across.    Well this thing was about 3 in. long.    I told Elder Tietjen to hurry and get a napkin or paper towel.    He did.    I was thinking "down the toilet this critter is going" but I did not say it out loud.  Elder Tietjen can't even kill a spider so I knew he could not drown a slug.    He gathered it up and took it outside someplace.    He said clear across someplace to throw it into the grass.    Well, we have no grass at our apartment so I don't know where he took it.    But at least it is finally out of our house. Good riddance. Ooo shudder shudder.

All's well that ends well

October 5th-9th trip to Dubbo, Cobar, Gilgandra, Mumbil

The birds are HUGE here.    That Ewu that we saw could probably carry you away.

We got to see many Emus on the way from Cobar to Gilgandra but we were whizzing by to fast to get a good picture.   Plus it was cloudy and rainy.  They are huge birds.  

We also got to see a large turtle crossing the road and what we thought maybe was a Wombat waddling across the road just ahead of us http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombat

but someone told us that since it was waddling it was probably a Echidna  http://australian-animals.net/echidna.htm   What ever it was, we saw it waddling into the grass along the side of the road before we got to it.     We were just glad we didn't hit it.

Motel in Gilgandra that we stayed at

This is the cabin we got to stay over night in at Gilgandra.  There are about 36 cabins at this motel. 

 The Dubbo Branch President and his wife (from Utah) owns it.  

Even though there are so many cabins we still had to share our room with another guest. Economical, right?

We will be coming here to their motel for Thanksgiving.   They have a big dinning room for their motel guests to eat at.    The guests let them know what time they want breakfast or dinner and they are served there in the big dinning room.    We are excited since Australia does not celebrate Thanksgiving.    But the wife is from Utah and she likes to celebrate still so we are having a real Thanksgiving dinner.   

Our apartment in Dubbo

Here is our set up.   There is no central heating in homes or apartments so we moved into this one room.  

Ate, computered and slept right here on the floor with one heater and the door closed. 

The lovely roads of Australia's Outback (it seems like it)

Here is the type of roads we travel on a lot.   

I just figured out a good way to describe these roads here in Australia.  

Remember in the 1st "Cars" movie.   Lightning McQueen had to pave the road that he messed up.  

Do you remember how he did it the first time?   

Madder went riding down it bbbbooooooooooouncyinnnng aaalll tthhhe wwwaay.  

Well, that's the country roads here in every direction  the second you leave Orange.    And these are just the main roads.   Get off the main roads and they are dirt.     

 

All the roads are lined with trees, even the main roads.   You have to look close to see the country side through opening in the trees.     

Here is one of those times.

It was raining hard and we were driving so the picture is a little blurred in front but you can see how flat it is on this trip. 

Now does this look scary or does this look scary?   Cars coming at you on the right side of the road. 

Let me tell you from experience.   It is scary.  

And that truck up in front of us took up 2 lanes.   All the cars coming towards us had to pull clear off of the road.   Many places there are not sides of the road to pull off onto.    So a police car with lights flashing goes ahead to warn people so they can find a place to get off.    

There is a lot of mining that goes on here and so I assume that this is some kind of mining equiptment.

We are starting to get comfortable with the driving now.   But  like wild animals, our instincts kick in and we find ourselves making  mistakes.   Going to the wrong side of the car to get in.    Reaching for the break on the left side, now the passengers seat, when it is not there.    Not looking to the right before taking out.   NOW THAT WAS REALLY SCARY ONCE.    And those "Give Way" signs?    I yell stop at every one of them now when Elder Tietjen is driving.   We went through one of those one to many times.   We had cars honking at us coming from both directions.       We have learned to not get to comfortable as we drive. 

YET!!!

We met lots of nice people and made new friends.   We also got home safe in our apartment in Orange without any exciting episodes. 

Picnic cancelled with W........n and L....

We just found out that L..... is sick and therefore the hangi picnic is cancelled.    It is also not a real good for a picnic.   It is cloudy, windy and cool.

We are now loading up a day early to take out to Dubbo.   Wish us luck on these roads.  

Going to Dubbo actually has the best roads.   They are like driving down the Lyman Highway to Ririe.    Real nice huh?  

 We are anxious to meet these members of the Dubbo branch.   

We meet a lot of good people

I have been surprised how welcoming the people have been here in Orange.   They all seem so gracious and friendly.     Even the in-actives will invite us in.     I think mostly to tell us why they don't go anymore.

One lady yesterday told us that she has her own life and family that keeps her busy but still lives the gospel principles.    BUT!    Her and her partner likes to go away in their camper and see Australia. You call that living the gospel principles?     Not hardly.   But she was still very gracious and visited with us.

Another man, S.........e K........n was not home, but the lady he is living with gave him our information. He called us and actually made an appointment and came to see us at our apartment.    He told us all about why he does not go anymore.    He is angry with the Lord for letting so many people suffer in the world.     Ron talked to him about free agency and how the Lord can't take that away from people.    Some people have to suffer terribly because of those choosing to be wicked.   

He was basically a millionaire and lost it all with the collapse of the economy.    He was building homes and had about 15 going at one time.    He lost it all.   He says he has prayed and prayed and felt like he has gotten no answers. 

Ron talked to him and challenging him to pay his tithing and he said he would.    He said he had no problems with the principle of tithing.    We are anxious to work with him.
Those that are strong in the gospel are really devoted to it.     They love it.    We are meeting many many good people here.   
Ron and I are going on a 3 day trip to meet some people in the Dubbo Branch that we are also assigned to.    We will stay in our summer cabin (shown on the blog) and maybe go to Lightning Ridge North (North) and Cobar (NW) of Dubbo.    They are both 4 hrs farther away from Dubbo. Dubbo is 2 hrs away from Orange.    So we have some traveling to do.
 Back out on these lovely country roads.   hehe

Afternoon - Preparation Day with the Sister Missionaries

Sept. 26, 2011
After a fun time at the races, we took the Sisters back to Orange.   They usually do their e-mails at a library on Mondays so we let them spend time on our computers.   The for more fun.   We took them to Lake Canobolas.     We first found a picnic table and had our lunch on this cool breezy sunny day. 

After feeding ourselves and the ducks we hiked the trail all around the whole lake.  

This is what we got to do.

climb in the trees 

 Sisters Pearce, Utai, and Moses (front)

Stand in front of beautiful smelling bushes

Hug a Tree (well sort of)

Swing from branches

Cross the great and mighty Lake Canobolas Dam

Rest from all our worldly cares

(the sisters wore him out)

ponder and enjoy the beauties of the Earth

What we got to SEE

Kangaroos

Beautiful Ballerinas posing in the sun

missionary badges hanging in a tree

and the best of all, the beauty of the Lake itself

Morning - Preparation day with the Sister Missionaries

On Mon. Sept. 26th, 2011 (preparation day) we went to Bathurst to pick up the sister missionaries and take them on a picnic.    Before we left town they wanted to show us the famous Mount Panarama Motor Racing Circuit.   They directed us where to go and all of a sudden we realized we were ON the actual race track.    The race track itself is actually a part of the city street system and there are homes along the track.   The land in the middle of the track also has home located there.   The residents use the track to get to their homes.    The track is only closed on race days for 24 hrs at a time.

The sad part is that for residence it still has the city speed limit of 60 km/h (37 mph) except on race day.   

Dad had a hard time holding back.   

    It goes up the side of the mountain and has many sharp turns.    

We drove the entire track and stopped and took many pictures.  

 



The sisters warned us of cameras tracking the drivers speed limit.

After driving the full race track we stopped at the information center. 

We took more pictures

  Yay, we are all champions for driving Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit

Parked outside on the road by the visitors center was a bright yellow 1946 Ford.    Dad wanted to get his picture taken by it.   Just as we were heading for it a pick-up stopped and let a man out.   He went straight to the Ford to get in.   The sisters ran to him and asked if we could get a picture by his beautiful truck.  He was very nice and we visited with him and got many more pictures.

Leave it up to dad to find out that it has an origional Ford front cab and fenders but an Australian Ford back section.     Also, a Holden front suspension under it and a Windsor 402 V8 with an automatic transmission.    The owner says he  does not race it but drives it every day.    He said there is no sense keeping it only for car shows.      He built it to enjoy.  Dad agreed with him whole heartily.

We had an exciting time at the races this morning. 

one website for the racecourse is:
http://www.bathurst-nsw.com/MtPanorama.html

Actual movie racing footage at:
http://www.bathurst1000.com.au/

Well, back to missionary work.

W.........n T..........o, L.... and children

Friday September 30, 2011

We had W...........n and L..... for dinner again.    W........n seems to love the food I make.   I fixed hamburger Stroganoff.      He kept saying that he wanted to have the recipe it was soooo good.   I already gave them the recipe for the caramel corn that they all love so much.     After dinner the kids all colored.     They loved that.    I felt as if at home with my grandkids. 

   

W..........n likes to cook food the Hangi method. 

Hāngi (pronounced [ˈhaːŋi]) is a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven still used for special occasions.   I can't pronounce it like W......n does.  

He is going to cook for us Wed. Oct. 5th, 2011.    We are excited.   He says there will be lots of food.  

He has asked Ron to bless the twins after they are born.   He wants to have a big barbeque for the occasion.     We are really enjoying them.   And the kids never want to leave when coming here.   Sounds like some grandkids of mine.

September summary of Mission

1st Month in Orange, Australia

We have been in the Orange District for 1 month now and are loving it.    Besides loving the country atmosphere, we are loving the people.

On our 4th day here we decided to walk around the neighborhood and see just who we might meet. We saw a large man walking down the sidewalk and when he saw how we were dressed and our missionary badges he stopped to talk with us.    His name is W........n T...........o.    He is a member of the church from Tonga and said that he wanted to have his step sons baptized.    He has not been attending church because he cannot drive.    We offered to pick him up on Sunday and he accepted. He and one stepson attended with us.

We invited the whole family to dinner at our apartment the following Thursday and had a very good time with them.  The following Sunday, W.........n and two of his step daughters went to church with us and seemed to enjoy it.   We had them to dinner again and the children's Mother is also interested in getting them baptized.   We are hoping that while the children are being taught, that she will gain a testimony and want to be baptized also.   

When we 1st arrived at the mission office, we were given two referral slips for P........r P.......o in Orange and his mother, D.......s P.........o in an assisted living center in Forbes.    We have not been able to make contact with P.......r but have been visiting D.......s once a week.   We have left her copies of the Ensign Magazine and she seems to enjoy our visits.   We don't know what will come of it as she is on oxygen and not in good health and it would be a 2 hour ride one way to bring her to church. We hope she will accept the gospel, if not in this life, possibly in the next.

Tuesday evening we invited A......n P....i to dinner and spent a great evening with him.   He is making a come back after a period of inactivity.    He was able to go to the Temple Thursday Sept 29.

Wednesday evening we had dinner with Bro & Sis. D......e.  Sis. D.... is very active, but Bro. D....... has not been going to church.   He loves Genealogy and has shown us how he does it using 5 monitors.    We are hoping that he will decide to come back to church before we leave the area.  Their son, M......y was there from Taiwan.    He is looking for work so his wife and daughter can join him here.   

 

Thursday we tried to contact various branch members throughout the day but found no one home except J........y B........n who is from the Philippines.   We had a good visit with him and invited he and his family to dinner on Tuesday evening.    He mentioned that one reason he quit going to church was that everyone kept asking him if he had passed the test to be able to work in Australia yet.   

Later that evening we tried to locate S...........e M.........n on National Ave. The lady at 13 National Ave. said that he comes around sometimes and so we left our phone number with her to give to him when she see's him.

We also visited Sister N......n and her children. They were waiting for her husband R.......t to get home later that evening.   

Friday afternoon, S.......e M..........n called us and we arranged to meet him at our apartment.  We visited with him for about an hour.   He is struggling with his testimony.   We challenged him to pay his tithing and he said he would.    We explained that the Lord promised that the Windows of Heaven are opened to those who pay their tithing and in his case it may include a stronger witness of the Holy Ghost that God is in control as S.........e is struggling to believe in God because of all the suffering he see's in the world.

We ended the evening with dinner at our place for W........n T..........o and his family.    They said they would be to church on Sunday.  

Next week, we will probably be working more in the Cowra Branch.