September down under brings on Spring with warmer temperatures, longer days and more beautiful flowers. We look forward now to this second change of season, though backwards it may be from what we are used to back in the United States.
In early September, we were privileged to travel north from Sydney to Cessnock and Newcastle. We stayed with another missionary couple, Elder Larry and Sharlene Jenson at their rented home. Clint spoke at the Newcastle Stake Conference about his Warby ancestors joining the LDS Church nearby. On one of the back roads in the area, we also had the experience of hitting a large unseen pothole with the left front tire, which bent the rim, requiring a change with a spare.
We also went south one Saturday to Wollongong, to a Scout Shop and then stopped at various scout camps on the way back to Sydney. We bought several items at the shop and enjoyed the camps which varied in climate with a rain-forest environment at Mt. Kiera and less vegation at Camp Cataract which will host the 2010 National Jamboree.
Mid-month, we spend some days far across the country in the Perth region, doing training, attending the Perth Temple and meeting and talking with Church leaders and members. We enjoyed our stay, though the weather there was somewhat cold and windy. We got to see the Indian Ocean which really looks like any other kind of ocean.
We find ourselves now on the downhill side of our two year mission, wanting to increase our efforts in what we can contribute and do....
