Alec

Alec has just been transferred to Armidale. He was in Dubbo before that - and Narooma before that. He and his Mission President seem to have reached an agreement about Alec staying in the country. Actually the Mission President emailed Alec a few weeks ago to ask him where he'd like to go next. Alec told him he'd get back to him!

It's no surprise that Alec works well in the country.

I spoke to his Mission President's wife and she said that every missionary wants to serve with Alec - and when we look at the photos he sends home we can see why - apparently life is one big party when you are working with Alec.

But it seems to be working - he had two baptisms in Narooma.

Alec ...

.. is in Narooma - about 260 km south of Wooloongong. The new mission president told him to be creative and have fun - and to wear street clothes and go hang out along the river banks and jetties to contact people.

You'd have to believe in inspiration.

He spent about 3 weeks in Chatswood (Greenwich Ward) which he really enjoyed - he was with the Chinese speaking missionary and so the lessons were simple - just Alec's style. Then a new mission president took over and he's in heaven again.

Except that it is bitterly cold -and because the Sydney North Mission and Sydney South Mission merged the rules got a bit confused. South missionaries took their blankets with them to each new area and North missionaries left theirs in the flat - so he arrived to icy conditions with no blankets. All part of the fun.

Alec

Apparently Alec subscribes to the 'a picture paints a thousand words' theory - he sent this picture with no explanation - so we have no idea why he is holding a duck in a house. But we'll take what we can get.

and Alec...

Alec does not write long letters - they're to the point (and the spelling leaves something to be desired) - so I present herewith a summary:

• He enjoyed the MTC more than he expected to - which actually doesn't mean much since he was dreading it. There were missionaries from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia so they held their own tri-nations rugby comp. There were also missionaries from PNG - Alec really liked them - one of them had to leave the family marijuana farm to go on a mission.
• His first area was Orange. At the airport the assistants to the President asked where he would like to go - he said 'as far west as possible' - and pretty much got his wish. He liked it very much and had a baptism there. Because he was in orange the district included Dubbo and out to Lightening Ridge on the NSW/Qld border and he got to visit all of them.
• He really likes his Mission President. When Hunter died hew mentioned it to the MP in an interview and it turned out the MP's dog also died and it's name was Hunter too.
• Saw a fight in Penrith when he was visiting - so they hopped in the car and followed it around the corner and found blood on their car bonnet the next day.
• Was transferred to Werrington - apparently it's a pretty dangerous area but Alec says it has been fine.
• Had another baptism.
• Has given quite a few talks and seems to be coping with the trauma.
• Didn't much like his current companion but now says they are getting on really well.
• We talked to him on Mothers Day - a lot - apparently his MP said they could talk till the Spirit told them to stop and the Spirit never did tell Alec to stop. He sounds like he is missing home but dedicated to the work and making the most of it.

All in all he seems OK - and I don't think he is missing us as much as we are missing him.

One more photo

Too gorgeous for words actually!

Sydney

Photos arrived today from Alec's Mission President's wife - I think a gracious wife must be essential to the call - along with a lovely letter.

These are the two missionaries who will be training Alec in Orange. (Note the rolled up sleeves!)

Setting Apart

Alec was set apart by President Gilkes to serve as a missionary the night before he left.

Louisa wept.

Max too.

Both loudly enough that I opened my eyes mid-prayer to see if they were going to make it - and saw Peet and Jesse wiping their eyes too. It was a hard night.

We tried to take the edge off the tears by looking at Christmas lights on the way home - and I had lots of fair trade chocolate waiting for dessert - but nothing really worked.

Only some of us could muster a smile for a photo.

Airport

Saying Goodbye to Alec was actually not much fun. But we're smiling on the outside.

It's funny to see such a little group compared to when Tom left - we're missing Daniel, and ANne was home recovering from her hip operation - but that's only two leftand it looks much smaller.

David Gray - who has been Alec's friend since they were in preschool - and who grew very tall - left on the same plane.

Not sure who's cuter - Alec or the little boys.

We gave Brenton a copy of this photo for Christmas - and made him cry - you can count on us for a merry Christmas!

Goodbye Alec

Alec's mission farewell was a happy affair, shared with David Gray who he has been friends with since they were five and who left for his mission on the same day.

Lots of friends and family, baked potatoes and toppings, five hundred home baked biscuits (Jesse worked all day and talked Beth into making her delicious honey biscuits), a fire with marshmallows to roast and a balmy starry night.

Alec was there too - photos will follow.

Temple

Alec attended the temple prior to his mission on Friday 13 November. It was a good night and Alec said he loved it (phew) and couldn't wait to go back.

These photos don't actually show how happy Roger was!

(I was there - just taking the photos - David and Beth and Joan came too.)

The hardest part of a mission.

It's different for everyone I suppose - but for Alec it's going to be sleeping in doors for two years in a row.

A few times a week we find Alec in his swag sleeping on the verandah, or on the pavers, or in the paddock, or near a fire.

The early mornings on a mission will be a sleep-in for Alec, the walking/biking will be a piece of cake, constantly talking to strangers might be tough, and wearing a white shirt day in day out could be a challenge - but sleeping indoors will be the hardest of all.

Medieval Dance

The YSA had a medieval dance - Tom left early to set up so I have no photos of him - but here are Jesse and Alec.

Mission

Alec's mission call arrived - he'll be going to Sydney North on 3 December 2009 - better blogging will follow.

Alec is happy as can be - he was hoping for Australia and thinks Sydney North is great - he hopes he gets to serve somewhere in the country areas - because he might be able to find a good hunting property!

I think it will preferable to Tom's mission - but two years is two years and when Tom went I had no idea how long that would take. Now I am wiser and know that it's a long time.

Two balls

Alec and Tom have been to two balls - the YSA ball at church and the Abbey Festival Medieval Masqued Ball.

The church ball was easy - suits with patterned shirts.

The Medieval ball needed costumes - Alec had arranged go before Tom got home - he was going with friends - Samantha, Anastasia and David - Samantha and Anastasia made the costumes - bless them.

I made Tom's costume - clearly Samantha and Anastasia cared more - but Tom looked good anyway.

Apparently they had a great time - even without the complimentary mulled wine offered with the ticket.

There's a YSA dance coming up in September - Alec and Anastasia are ward YSA reps and on the dance committee - the theme is Medieval. Which sounds good because the boys have costumes - but Jesse will be YSA by then and we'll need to get out the sewing machine again.

Swine Flu

Alec has a cough - Louisa says he has Swine Flue - and she can tell because his room is a pig sty.

And that's the pretty clean version - we are trying to find a place for Tom to lay his head.

Sky diving

Sitting at dinner last night Alec nonchalantly asks 'so what are your thoughts on skydiving?'

Roger said 'not till after your mission'.

I said 'not when you have a family'.

Alec reckons that's a pretty good window of time.

Big Kids

We're reaping the benefits.

An apprentice carpenter comes in handy after huge storms cause the door to swell:

Jesse has finished everything for high school and has time on her hands - on the last day of school she went to GoMA with her friends and since then has been available for kitchen, babysitting and swimming pool duty. She is going to Toowoomba for a few days each week to work with Lee - which has Louisa breaking into tears often enough that Max asked 'why is it that everytime I go into a room Louisa is crying?' I just told him to get used to it!

Just One Day!

Alec asked for and Roger agreed to give him - for just one day - a mullet. Max helped.

Then Roger decided Alec should have fringe.

We laughed so much at the fringe that Roger agreed to get rid of it - leaving Alec with a classic mullet - which he wore proudly to a soccer game and then for the rest of the day.

Then, because he didn't look bogan enough already, he threw on a flanny to complete the look.

It was all safely cut off before church the next day.