I really cannot believe it has been so long since we wrote on this blog. We are really busy these days helping the young missionaries, branch missionaries and our own contacting, plus our assignments with the district.
One of the things we are doing is inviting people that we can friendship to dinner. We are having some great times doing that and so we will continue doing that, plus it makes us feel like we have a social life so it is really working well and we truly are making some great friends.
On April 25th it was another Australian Holiday. It is called ANZAC Day. It is the commemoration of the first time that Australian troops joined with New Zealand troops in going to war. This first occurred in World War 1. It seemed to be a holiday similar to Veterans day and Memorial Day combined. There were parades and other celebrations and almost all businesses were closed even the major grocery stores. They have special cookies, Anzac cookies that are available only at the holiday time. They are basically just an oatmeal cookie with coconut in them. When people were sending goodies to the soliders years ago they found that these were the only cookies that did not arrive moldy or otherwise uneatable and so the traditional Anzac cookies were adopted.
We had training with Elder Oaks this past week, he was in Brisbane so were only able to join in via the internet but that was better than nothing. The technology is a huge blessing in missionary work. The 18th and 19th we have district conference and President and Sister Langland will be here, we are looking forward to that. The one thing that is different is that there has to be meals provided for all the leaders who attend the afternoon training as there is not enough time to return home before the evening session and then on Sunday they serve a lunch for all attendees, mostly potluck but all the Sisters with district callings are bringing a little extra. After conference then President Langeland will spend 2 hours with the missionaries (just the 6 of us).
I may not have mentioned that I am now serving as the district primary president. That has been a great experience as we have an awesome primary in the Townsville Branch and there is only 1 other Branch with a primary of 3 children. The Townsville Presidency have been visiting less active children with great results, now the question is where will we put all these children as there is not enough classroom space. We have also heard that we have 3 active families moving here in the next 2 months that will bring an additional 17 children! We are all excited though!
The young missionaries are really on fire. We will have 6 baptisms in the month of May - not positive but I think that may be a Townsville record. We love the work and are happy to be a part of it. Especially we are enjoying our work with some recent converts and seeing how the gospel is blessing their lives. This truly is God's plan of happiness.
We send our love and greetings to all. Would love to hear from any of you!
Enoch and LaRue
