Jess, Caitlin Woods and I went to a lecture at UQ called "Merrurki and King Teti' - Egyptian Pharaoh from about 2300 bc. So much fun - once again we were hopelessly out of place - I looked like a teenager relative to the rest of the group and they all had a tweedy professor look happening. Too gorgeous.
Driving to school Max announced that he knew how high you'd have to count to get to two minutes.
Kim: How high
Max: 120
Kim: Yep
Max: Do you want to know how I figured it out?
Kim: Yep
Max: well, one minute is sixty seconds, so you have to do two lots of sixty seconds, so you add 60 and 50 and that gives you 110, then you add another 60 and that makes 170 then you take off the first 50 and that makes it 120.
Simple as that!
Peet is now the grade 8 discus throwing champion of Kelvin Grove State College - and is off the districts - he is incredibly excited - I guess he was always destined to be a tuba-playing, discus-throwing boy!
Jesse completed her english assignment on Hamlet - it was an oral presentation and her teacher said it was the best she has ever seen and that she had never seen anyone cover the topic within the assigned time. Jesse figures it's because she talks so fast - the teacher said they'd need 1200 words for a 10 minute presentation and Jesse managed to squeeze in 2200!
Roger is going to have an eye operation in July - to have a tridgeon removed - apparently no big deal but 10 days of lying around follow.
The whole family is in love with blender whole wheat pancakes - just throw the wheat whole into the blender with milk and so on - delicious.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thomas News
Firstly, I should tell you that Alexandra was not surrounded by people in white. She was in a beautiful white building, in a beautiful white room wearing white. Also I made it a point after a while that Jesse and I should NOT talk about Hamlet this time around. Finally, it turns out it wasn't a doco going around here, but an actual member of the "Fundamental church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", who joined when he was visiting America from Russia and then continued those sinful practices when he got home. There's been a lot of focus on those kind of groups lately, which is why people are so inclined to hatred against us- cause after all, we're all "mormons".
That was actually more the reason why Elder Berrihill got sent here. A few months ago police- assisted by a camera crew- busted in to their apartment and arrested them trying to get "information" out of them (which means they want them to say they are raping kids). The whole fiasco has recently meant that the city where Elder Berrihill was last serving in has had missionaries totally removed- There are now people who straight up want to kill them. It very sad, but the church currently has lawyers attacking the documentary makers trying to stop the film from being shown all around Russia. I've got to say, it's a little worrying, because for all we know it could make it's way into the Baltics.
But for happier news, Alexandra is going wonderfully. She warmed up to Elder Berrihill very well and she seems to like me a lot more (which is great, I was worried about whether she'd stay as strong without Elder Cavender). She's been pretty sick for the last few days, but she's still very happy every night when I call her. And she always thanks me for calling.
Oleg has a working baptismal date for the 14th. It's going to be a battle,but I think we can do it. He said he prayed to know if he needs baptism, but that he didn't feel like he got an answer, he said he would continue to pray, though. So that's encouraging.
Peet, why on earth did you kick a basketball? It's not making a whole lot of sense, buddy.
Alec's motorbike looks nice. I can see why Dad, Peet and the little boys liked it so much.
You may as well make Honey into hamburger. She's already seasoned herself with herbs and relished herself with tomatoes. HA! the joke's on her!
Well, that's all from me. I need to write to president now. I hope you are all well and not worrying about me. I am loving this mission. The Joy here is unmatched.
That was actually more the reason why Elder Berrihill got sent here. A few months ago police- assisted by a camera crew- busted in to their apartment and arrested them trying to get "information" out of them (which means they want them to say they are raping kids). The whole fiasco has recently meant that the city where Elder Berrihill was last serving in has had missionaries totally removed- There are now people who straight up want to kill them. It very sad, but the church currently has lawyers attacking the documentary makers trying to stop the film from being shown all around Russia. I've got to say, it's a little worrying, because for all we know it could make it's way into the Baltics.
But for happier news, Alexandra is going wonderfully. She warmed up to Elder Berrihill very well and she seems to like me a lot more (which is great, I was worried about whether she'd stay as strong without Elder Cavender). She's been pretty sick for the last few days, but she's still very happy every night when I call her. And she always thanks me for calling.
Oleg has a working baptismal date for the 14th. It's going to be a battle,but I think we can do it. He said he prayed to know if he needs baptism, but that he didn't feel like he got an answer, he said he would continue to pray, though. So that's encouraging.
Peet, why on earth did you kick a basketball? It's not making a whole lot of sense, buddy.
Alec's motorbike looks nice. I can see why Dad, Peet and the little boys liked it so much.
You may as well make Honey into hamburger. She's already seasoned herself with herbs and relished herself with tomatoes. HA! the joke's on her!
Well, that's all from me. I need to write to president now. I hope you are all well and not worrying about me. I am loving this mission. The Joy here is unmatched.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
12 Angry Men
Jesse, Joan and I went to see a 'rehearsed reading' of 12 Angry Men in the Banco Court. It was part of law week and the cast included a couple of actors from the Qld Shakespeare Ensemble, lawyers and judges (including Paul De Jersey and Terry O'Gorman). It was so much fun. We were seriously, irretrievably under dressed. We rolled up in jeans and fairly ordinary tops and sneakers to everyone else in good clothes - suits for the men and very stylish, very lawyer clothes for the women - we quickly got over it quickly and had a great night.
Thomas News
Mothers Day is one of two days Missionaries can take a phone call from home (Christmas Day is the other) - so we got to talk to Tom on Sunday. It's a relief to hear that he still has an Australian accent - well to the extent that he ever had one.
He chatted to Jesse about Hamlet - again - and to Louisa about pets and Max about budgies and Peet about the Tuba. Alec asked how he was finding his companions and Tom replied that everyone has been great and he doesn't think you can get a bad one (typical Tom - always sees good in everyone). Roger talked about missionary stories and Tom told me about Alexandra.
Alexandra is an investigator who has set a baptismal date for June 7. She had a marvellous experience. Tom and his companion (Elder Cavendar) asked her to pray about whether she should be baptised. She did but felt nothing and went to bed. That night she dreamt that she was dressed in white, in a white room, surrounded by people in white and a voice said 'you need to be baptised'.
Tom also told me that he has a new companion who is coming from Russia - he's an American missionary but has been serving in Russia and they just can't get the visa stuff worked out. Apparently the missionaries there are having a hard time since there is a 'documentary' going around that says the Mormon missionaries are kidnapping kids and skinning them and eating them. Apparently in Rostovo(??) in Russia it's still frontier enough for people to believe that! Tom said that recently he was called into the apartment of a fellow when they were tracting to be shown a video of another doco that says that the missionaries are kidnapping kids - but at least it didn't say they're eating them!
Now his most recent letter:
This will probably be a fairly short email, since I'm only really telling you guys the results of the last three days, after all.
Firstly, I can't believe I forgot this when I was talking to you, but HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! I was so glad to be able to talk with you on Sunday. I think it might have been even better than it had been on Christmas.
Elder Berrihill took a long time coming here. He actually arrived about midday yesterday. That said. He's a VERY hard worker. He's been out about two transfers longer than I have (We even had the same teacher in the MTC- Brother Wright). Turns out the Missionaries in Russia get a LOT of hassle from the Police- often the only options with them being to pay them money or go to prison. Hopefully here they won't have the same trials.
We spoke to Alexandra yesterday. She continues to be wonderful. There is such an amazing spirit about her. She also happens to be like a television grandmother. Every time we come there is fruit tea, biscuits, and some sort of cake for us to eat while we speak to her. After every meeting we even get fruit to take home. I get the feeling our apartment is going to be littered with oranges for the next few weeks.
Oleg we haven't had as much luck with. He couldn't come to our last meeting with him, but we've re-scheduled for tomorrow night. We also want to try and meet Igor this week, likely on Saturday or Friday.
Today I intend to actually buy a souvenir (well, I already have a deck of Russian playing cards, but that was VERY cheap). Just a clay mug with a picture of all the Baltic countries on it. It's so far the only souvenir that really looked like a worthwhile buy. I don't remember it being that expensive, as far as these kind of mugs go.
The 12 angry men thing sounds very interesting. I would have loved to have seen it myself.
Kill honey off. (This is for eating all of my herb garden and about thirty tomatoes that were close to ripening and looked wonderful.)
You're right about the doco seeming a bit hard to understand. In the west most people against us tend to twist the truth. These people use out and out lies.
Well, that's all from me. more next week. I hope you all are well. Know that the Father does indeed love his children and that only through the grace of the Son can we receive the greatest joy.
He chatted to Jesse about Hamlet - again - and to Louisa about pets and Max about budgies and Peet about the Tuba. Alec asked how he was finding his companions and Tom replied that everyone has been great and he doesn't think you can get a bad one (typical Tom - always sees good in everyone). Roger talked about missionary stories and Tom told me about Alexandra.
Alexandra is an investigator who has set a baptismal date for June 7. She had a marvellous experience. Tom and his companion (Elder Cavendar) asked her to pray about whether she should be baptised. She did but felt nothing and went to bed. That night she dreamt that she was dressed in white, in a white room, surrounded by people in white and a voice said 'you need to be baptised'.
Tom also told me that he has a new companion who is coming from Russia - he's an American missionary but has been serving in Russia and they just can't get the visa stuff worked out. Apparently the missionaries there are having a hard time since there is a 'documentary' going around that says the Mormon missionaries are kidnapping kids and skinning them and eating them. Apparently in Rostovo(??) in Russia it's still frontier enough for people to believe that! Tom said that recently he was called into the apartment of a fellow when they were tracting to be shown a video of another doco that says that the missionaries are kidnapping kids - but at least it didn't say they're eating them!
Now his most recent letter:
This will probably be a fairly short email, since I'm only really telling you guys the results of the last three days, after all.
Firstly, I can't believe I forgot this when I was talking to you, but HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!! I was so glad to be able to talk with you on Sunday. I think it might have been even better than it had been on Christmas.
Elder Berrihill took a long time coming here. He actually arrived about midday yesterday. That said. He's a VERY hard worker. He's been out about two transfers longer than I have (We even had the same teacher in the MTC- Brother Wright). Turns out the Missionaries in Russia get a LOT of hassle from the Police- often the only options with them being to pay them money or go to prison. Hopefully here they won't have the same trials.
We spoke to Alexandra yesterday. She continues to be wonderful. There is such an amazing spirit about her. She also happens to be like a television grandmother. Every time we come there is fruit tea, biscuits, and some sort of cake for us to eat while we speak to her. After every meeting we even get fruit to take home. I get the feeling our apartment is going to be littered with oranges for the next few weeks.
Oleg we haven't had as much luck with. He couldn't come to our last meeting with him, but we've re-scheduled for tomorrow night. We also want to try and meet Igor this week, likely on Saturday or Friday.
Today I intend to actually buy a souvenir (well, I already have a deck of Russian playing cards, but that was VERY cheap). Just a clay mug with a picture of all the Baltic countries on it. It's so far the only souvenir that really looked like a worthwhile buy. I don't remember it being that expensive, as far as these kind of mugs go.
The 12 angry men thing sounds very interesting. I would have loved to have seen it myself.
Kill honey off. (This is for eating all of my herb garden and about thirty tomatoes that were close to ripening and looked wonderful.)
You're right about the doco seeming a bit hard to understand. In the west most people against us tend to twist the truth. These people use out and out lies.
Well, that's all from me. more next week. I hope you all are well. Know that the Father does indeed love his children and that only through the grace of the Son can we receive the greatest joy.
Peet
Peet is a fiddler extraordinaire! We're forever saying 'Peet put that down before you break it'. In fact Roger heard someone saying that the wheel was probably invented by someone fiddling with a rock for a long time and figured that described Peet. So it was really no surprise that our first ever broken window was from Peet - he kicked a basketball and hit the bathroom window. Why was he kicking a basketball? Who knows.
Tractor
Anne has a new tractor and since Roger attended the one hour induction he got the first drive - and looked like he was trying to destroy my herb garden - which Honey actually did a few nights later (there'll be lots of hamburger at our house soon!) - and gave the kids a ride.
Pride and Joy
Alec has a motorbike! It's a trail bike that will be road registered tomorrow - 'don't worry Mum I'll only drive it on the road to get to the bush tracks' - a Kawasaki KLX 250. It's green and he has a matching green helmet.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Larsons
Pat Larson was down in Brisbane at the Prince Charles hospital after a heart attack, and Rich and Natasha came down and stayed with Lee and Joan for a few days. Michael and Jay also came over from Canada. Sadly I missed taking photos but it was lovely to see them all again after so many years - even if it was less than ideal circumstances. Pat is back in Townsville and the boys have gone home to Canada. Rich sent a lovely note to Lee and Joan and included a few memories which are here:-
"I was thinking lately (back in the day) – as our Michael would say ‘back in the day Dad’. Back in 1939 when I was 11 years old. My mother had a lump on her breast and my parents were worried about it. Auntie Ruth was her sister and they wrote back and forth. I guess there were phones in those days, but I don’t ever remember them using one. Anyway if it wasn’t for Ruth and Gordon we probably wouldn’t have gone to Merritt BC. We lived with them till Lee was born, then they went back to Alberta for a few years. When Uncle Don came home from the war (1946 or 1947) the Walkers got a team of horses and a truck and started logging. Wendall and I and Vern and I had our first job in the bush pulling and crosscut saw. We felled the trees and cut them into logs.
Gordon drove the team skidding the logs. Don drove the truck and Grandad Walker drove the team when they crow hauled the logs onto the truck. Auntie Ruth did the cooking and us kids had a fair appetite after pulling the saw all day.
If it wasn’t for Auntie Ruth writing to me I would never have gone to Australia. I worked with Lee and Wayne fencing for the first three years in Australia and we used to stay with Ruth and Gordon in between jobs. Then when I struck out on my own I still came back and stayed with them between jobs. I was there when Patricia came over to visit Auntie Ruth. Patricia and I started going out together and we were married a few months later.
Gordon got me a few jobs on the trains, going out west, picking up cattle and looking after them till we got back to the meatworks. There was always plenty to eat at Ruth and Gordons. I think we kept them poor but I never drew a hungry breath as long as I was at their place."
"I was thinking lately (back in the day) – as our Michael would say ‘back in the day Dad’. Back in 1939 when I was 11 years old. My mother had a lump on her breast and my parents were worried about it. Auntie Ruth was her sister and they wrote back and forth. I guess there were phones in those days, but I don’t ever remember them using one. Anyway if it wasn’t for Ruth and Gordon we probably wouldn’t have gone to Merritt BC. We lived with them till Lee was born, then they went back to Alberta for a few years. When Uncle Don came home from the war (1946 or 1947) the Walkers got a team of horses and a truck and started logging. Wendall and I and Vern and I had our first job in the bush pulling and crosscut saw. We felled the trees and cut them into logs.
Gordon drove the team skidding the logs. Don drove the truck and Grandad Walker drove the team when they crow hauled the logs onto the truck. Auntie Ruth did the cooking and us kids had a fair appetite after pulling the saw all day.
If it wasn’t for Auntie Ruth writing to me I would never have gone to Australia. I worked with Lee and Wayne fencing for the first three years in Australia and we used to stay with Ruth and Gordon in between jobs. Then when I struck out on my own I still came back and stayed with them between jobs. I was there when Patricia came over to visit Auntie Ruth. Patricia and I started going out together and we were married a few months later.
Gordon got me a few jobs on the trains, going out west, picking up cattle and looking after them till we got back to the meatworks. There was always plenty to eat at Ruth and Gordons. I think we kept them poor but I never drew a hungry breath as long as I was at their place."
Monday, May 12, 2008
Trivia from Natalie
Three bits of trivia via email from Natalie - prompted by Joan and Lee's trip to Clermont for Mothers Day.
"I have a photo somewhere of Sue and me sitting in the cemetery - Mum thought the name UNIVERSAL PROVIDER was perfect name for her grocer store - remember the dusty old place on main street - and the men's club - Mum took us through the back door - we would have lemonade she had a shandy and Dad would visit us through the men's bar - I am sure it is much changed."
"This may be printed in the Clermont history - but I recall the story - of Grandy Bacon being the judge of local horse race - instead of photo finish pole - Grandy would stand up in his dray or cart and announce the winner as he saw it - a couple of local lads did not like his decision - crept up behind the dray and tipped it over - with Grandy ready to judge next race."
"I sometimes wonder if the stork made a mistake dropping Mum into a household of ladies - traditional, toe the line, do the established accepted thing, always neat and not a hair out of place - Mother was a rebel compared to Vi, Molly, Phyllis - she did not fit the mold for her generation - all outstanding women in their own way."
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Thomas News
Last week's letter
My scar
I thought you should see it. Other missionaries have been duly impressed
Firstly, my sorrow goes to Max for having lost bunny. I think that makes for 125 pets killed off by the Kelvin Grove Royalty. Crush the mutiny, I suppose. I love Max's game where you can palm off bad cars to other people. Very clever.
Secondly, while you didn't actually ask this time around, I think a good time to call (on 10th of may) will be around 5:00pm your time. By my calculations that would make it 8:00am here. I'll give you the number to call next week. On mothers day you will be calling the day after transfer calls, so I'll get to tell you what's happening there.
Well, we've been continuing to meet with Oleg. He seems genuinely interested in the discussions and wants to find truth (well, that's the way it seems to me). We were talking to him about reading the Book of Mormon and he tells us that when he reads, he will have to pay attention to every word. That has been VERY encouraging- We didn't even mention that before. Its a little hard to see this guy purely as an investigator, every time you talk to him, it's like seeing an old friend. We're going to have a member come with us for the next meeting (Vitaly, who was baptised about a transfer ago).
Last week was the Russian Orthodox Easter (Provslanaya Paskha- if you're wondering how to say that in Russian). This was a sore point because it meant that none of our investigators came to church- they all went to the Orthodox temple. What made it worse was that the week before that was the Orthodox "preparatory service"- to get them ready for Easter. So none then either. But now that that roller coasters over, things should be fine. I told president about meeting Oleg, and he thought it worthy to put in his weekly letter to the field. He usually writes his own comments and then leaves a section where he puts in the experiences of missionaries. This is the second time he's put one of my experiences there in the past two weeks. I'm almost getting a big head.
Well, today is culture day again. We intend to go the Daugavpils Zoo (which, I'm informed, has a monkey and a crocodile- a zoo if I ever saw one), and we want to go to one of the Lakes around here. It's not exactly a castle, but this part of Latvia is notorious for having nothing to do. It actually sounds better than the P-day we had in Riga (which I don't think I told you about- mostly because we didn't do anything).
As for other Investigators, Igor, our man with a baptismal date, has had his date pushed back, he hasn't exactly quit smoking totally, and needs to understand some things better. Alexandra we want to baptise on the 9th. We are going to extend the invitation this week. Good to hear about how interviews went- good on ya Jesse and Peet. Well, that's all from me. I hope you are all well. Know that the Lord loves all and blesses those who follow him.
This week's letter:
Re: I hate this computer
Just as I had finished this email myldsmail messed up and signed me off, I have therefore lost my entire emails and have to start over again. So I'm going to give a shorter version of what I said, and will explain more in the phone call.
Culture day will be explained in the photos I will send you. A trip to the Daugavpils Zoo and then a barbecue at a lake.
Oleg is going well, he is reading the brochure we gave him about quitting smoking and is coming to church and reading. We just really need him to pray to know the truth. He prays often in lessons, so that is encouraging.
Alexandra is going to pray tonight to know if she needs to be baptised. We had a wonderful mini-zone-conference on Friday about urgency and getting fired up to work.
Okay, I'm worried that I am going to be kicked off soon. I'm sorry that this email is so short, But I really look forward to your call on Sunday.
Photos - captions by Tom:
My scar
I thought you should see it. Other missionaries have been duly impressed
Puppy -one of our less-active member has this few-week old puppy. I thought Louisa might like it.
Warning: Our lighter fluid told us that if we swallow this stuff we 'might become a candidate for the Darwin Awards' True story
Springtime in Daugavpils
I'm not even kidding, this was the middle of spring.
Preparing food - that is what we are doing
Look - we're even making hot dogs
The real meal
But this is what it was all about- Shashliki. It's kinda like shishkabob, very tasty.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
One Year
Today marks one year since Tom left Brisbane for Provo at the start of his mission- we're on the downhill stretch now!
Rooster
After the Deer butchering post we are really going to look like carnivores ... we killed a rooster on the weekend and will eat it for dinner tonight.
David had a rooster too, so he did his at the same time.
There was a little bit of squeamishness and lots of laughter.
Followed by Dunking,
Plucking,
Gutting,
Bagging the scrawny rooster, and
Playing with the tendons.
Beerwah
Jesse and this group of boys from church climbed Beerwah early on Monday morning - the Labour Day holiday.
They left home at 4 am and were there for the Sunrise.
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