Ron and Diane's Blog

Over the week-end of Sat & Sun Mar. 17 & 18th we had a fabulous District Conference.   Mission President Simmons was there along with the new missionary couple that will be in Bathurst.  They are Elder Sister Lindmark from Tooela, Utah.   Pres Barr and Sister Barr, the Sydney Temple Pres. was here.   Conference was held in our chapel here in Orange because it is the largest building and the district center.   The chapel was almost full.   It was a wonderful sight.   It was so good to see these dedicated people that have to travel so far to come and worship.   One lady is 6 hrs away if she does not stop.   People were really encouraged to get their recommends because the only one that can sign it for the stake signature is the Mission Pres.   And he is not close to any of them very often.

Just for a side note.  President Barr was Ashley's mission President in the Baltic Mission back in 2002

We had 2 full days of spiritual uplifting.   Meals were served both days of Saturday and Sunday.   The Orange Branch sisters are encouraged to bring the desserts because they don’t have to travel. I took a Pretzel layered jello salad. I haven’t really seen them do anything with jello (which they call jelly). It was a real hit and several wanted my recipe. One lady said that several years ago another Sister missionary used to make it. This ladies son loved it and has been begging for more ever since. But she did not know how to make it so he never got it until now.    She of course was one begging for the recipe.

The Theme for the Conference was "Finding the One" The speakers spoke of Temples, doing our family history, and missionary work. We were encouraged to get out and do missionary work as Branch members and make these branches grow. If they got turn down by someone once, maybe this time they will be ready and accept the visit. Don’t give up. One inactive family that we have been working with was there at the Conference. So you never know when they are ready. The messages were so good we wish others had of been there. But we will work with them as they are ready.

That afternoon after the conference we made our regular rounds up to Dubbo. Teaching the Chinese family. We were just sick when the wife told us she had gone to church today and no one was there. She has not gone for so long that we did not even think to give her a flyer about the conference. Everyone had gone to Orange to church. We encouraged her to come next Sunday there in Dubbo.

Monday Mar 19^th I helped Josephine download Rootsmagic onto her computer. I tried to transfer all the information that I already typed into my computer onto her computer, but I haven’t learned how to do it and I couldn’t figure it out. So I will have to learn that and do it next week.

Monday evening was our 6^th Family game night.   We again had 21 people.   Most are regulars but tonight we had a man that had never come before He came with his wife that has come before.  It was good to visit with him finally.
Karl told me that he got off work late but he is always anxious to come and taste of my dishes that I bring. This time I brought a BIG Tator Tot casserole.   He just barely got a little taste by scraping the pan.   It went fast.

Patrice is asking more and more questions about baptism, marriage, Temple marriage, etc. I hope she is our next baptism.   We don’t really feel like we had a hand in her or Fiona’s interest in the church. But it is sure exciting to see these sisters choosing for themselves to come into the church.  The work is moving along, but slowly.

Ngatuakana sisters playing ping pong

Kotchell's in back, Fox brothers and Fiona in front playing Phase 10.

Elder & Sister (not pictured) Tietjen, Josephine and Boyd playing Dominoes.

Others outside playing basket ball, climbing light posts and playing on a scooter as seen in back ground