25 April 2019 - Cowra Food Hall

We volunteered at the Cowra Food Hall today. Those in need come for groceries at reduced price and they receive a little refreshment as well - morning tea - a morning snack as we would say at home. It was so fun to talk with everyone and learn more of our mission language. 😆 I was told there was "plenty of tucker this morning" - translate - plenty of food! Tucker means Food. 🍒 Also, while working someone asked me if I had a texter. I reached for my phone - nope - see the picture below that is what they wanted.
Ron at the Food Hall today

 A Texter!!

Ron at the Food Hall today

5 April 2019 - Trip to Mudgee!

So, after living in 3 places in one month – we finally have a place to unpack our bags and stay for a while.  However, the next day, Friday, we unpacked our carry-on bags and repacked them so that we could travel once again this time to Mudgee.  

Mudgee is a small community of 10,000 people almost 3 hours northeast of Cowra.  Mudgee is an aboriginal name meaning “nest in the hills”. 

It is a beautiful valley surrounded by forest covered hills.  Another Senior Mission Couple lives there.  Mudgee has monthly community markets the first Saturday of the month.  The Challis’ (the senior couple) set up a family history booth and offer free family history assistance.  Cowra and Canowindra also have monthly Saturday Markets and we wanted to observe what they do and how they do it.  

We had an enjoyable time exploring Mudgee and spending time ( and money) at the Market.  We learned so much from Elder and Sister Challis – much more than how to run a family history booth. We learned considerable about how to do that and got some good training from them on how to do missionary work and increase good will in a small town.

On Saturday, we traveled with the Challis's to a cafe at a winery in a picturesque setting.  The Bush of Australia has fertile farmland.  Vineyards and Olive orchards abound as well as sheep and cattle ranches.

After a lovely lunch we went for a walk in a beautiful park.  And like everyone told me before we left for Australia - Watch for Snakes - everyone is watching out for me.  Ha Ha

We could not resist this picture!  What a fun idea for a park bench!  Aussie's know how to have fun!

4 April - Cowra - Home at last

The best news of the week!! WE HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR A FLAT IN COWRA!! We have a nice flat in Orange – but as you can see, it is just a bit too far from where we have been assigned to serve.  It is not the flat that I told you we looked at in the last letter.  We liked the flat and thought it would be perfect for us – but Heavenly Father had something better prepared for us.  

Sunday, 17 March, the Branch Presidents wife told us that her daughter works at one of the property management companies in Cowra.  She talked with her daughter and learned that they had a couple of flats for rent and that we should go check them out.  The next day, Monday, 18 March we were certain we would hear on the first flat we saw, but by the late afternoon, when no word came we decided we had better get an appointment to see the other flats.  We were told we had to fill out an application first and then they would show us.  Again, we were certain that by the next day we would hear on the first and there would be no reason to spend time looking at another flat.  But Monday came and went and no word.  

So, Tuesday morning 19 March we filled out the application and drove to Cowra.  We drove by the 2 flats and decided we were only interested in one of them.  We even spoke to the first property management company and they told us they were still waiting to hear for approval from the owner.  But once again we decided maybe we better go see the other flat.  When we turned in the application within an hour they met us at the flat we decided we had better see just because…  We discovered that this flat was so much better!  Within less than 24 hours we had approval for the second flat – the flat we almost did not go see!  

We came to know that Heavenly Father is in the details and he had something even better for us.  We are waiting now for them to set up the account with the Church for the rent payment; and for the Senior Missionary in charge of flats to come down and sign the paperwork on Tuesday and then we will have the key to a place in Cowra.

 On Monday, 1April, appliances were delivered to our new flat and by Tuesday most of what we needed was in – but since the bed was still in Orange we continued to drive back each night to sleep.  Finally, on Thursday 4 April the bed and other furniture arrived in Cowra.  The Senior Elder in charge of Flats in our mission delivered loads of IKEA furniture and since we are not very handy not to mention we do not have any tools; I sent out an SOS on the Cowra Branch Facebook Messenger group.  We receive lots of help and tools and got everything put together.  We finally slept in our bed in Cowra tonight!

 Pool Park in Cowra - White Cuckatoo's

Overlooking Cowra

Overlooking our home in Cowra.

2 April 2019 - Another Mission Language Spelling Lesson

Another lesson today as I continue to learn my mission language. Take a look at this box of Cheerios! There are 3 words for today's spelling lesson. Flavour vs flavor, colours vs colors and fibre vs fiber. 

 Kerb vs curb. It's so fun to learn a new language.

1 April 2019 This is no April Fools Joke - this is an Aussie Spelling Lesson!

Every day I'm learning my mission language and getting a spelling lesson along the way. This is how we park by the Kerb in Cowra.