Off to Adelaide

On Sept. 20, 2007, we flew to Adelaide to conduct some public affairs training for LDS Church members in that part of Australia. These individuals have been called (asked) to volunteer their time and talents to do a variety of tasks, mainly to establish relationships with important opinion leaders in this part of the world. While there, we visited a conservation park devoted to Australia wildlife including a friendly Koala; attended a session at the Adelaide LDS Temple; walked downtown to the South Australia Scout Shop and bought some scout stuff; contacted an LDS family whose father (Andy West) grew up in our West Jordan Utah LDS Ward. We went with them to Victor Harbor and walked around Granite Island and saw the Southern Ocean which is on the south side of Australia. We also attended Church with the West family at the Onkaparinga Ward. We enjoyed our visit to Adelaide and grew to love this beautiful part of the country. Sister Warby said the place reminded her of Salt Lake City with a great grid system where it's not that difficult to get lost.

Back To Our Roots

On Saturday, September 15, 2007, we traveled with a distant relative, Janice Brooks to the Hunter River region of Australia in New South Wales. Janice joined the LDS Church sometime ago with her husband Ray and discovered through family history research that her great, great grandmother was a sister to Clint's great, great, grandmother (Mary Blanch Warby) in the Hunter River area. Our first stop was to St. James Church in Morpeth where the Warby's were married in 1846. It was wonderful to visit and realize that those two dear ancestors were actually in this building on that wonderful day. They later joined the LDS Church and immigrated to the United States. We went to the Campbell Hill Cemetery in Maitland to search for the grave site of Clint's great, great, great grandmother (Mary Wood Warby) who died at the age of 99 in 1885. We were not successful in finding the site but did find her husband James's gravesite in the East Maitland Cemetery. He died in 1858 at the age of 73. We stayed overnight nearby in a beautiful home in rural Australia near Clarence Town with church member Graham Clark and his wife. We attended and spoke in church at the LDS Salt Ash Branch in Medowie on Sunday. It was a great weekend to experience being at the beginning of church membership of the Warby family. We know there are lots of family members still living there and we plan to come back as often as we can.

Old Government House

We had some free time on Saturday, 8 September so we went with some fellow LDS missionaries to a nearby museum called the Old Government House which is located in Parramatta, a western suburb of Sydney. The Old Government House is Australia's oldest surviving public building. It was built between 1799 and 1818. It is very probable that Clint's distant cousin, John Warby was there to perhaps help build or visit. He was a convict sent to Australia from England who later became an important guide and received a lot a property from Governor-General Macquarie after serving his sentence for stealing two donkeys.

We are staying very busy with office work and meetings. We are enjoying our experiences and have some travel plans in the next month which will take us to many parts of eastern Australia.

Computer Training

It's now September 2007 and we have been here one month. Lots of new friends and experiences we have enjoyed. Last Tuesday, August 28 there was a lunar eclipse that was seen in its entirety here in Australia. Quite the view with the moon totally changing to a red color and then back. Our focus is now learning our responsibilities and duties with our title of Area/National Directors of Public Affairs for Australia. Many great projects have been carried out already with more planned. In order to better ourselves, we have been going to Computer School the last two Saturdays at the Macquarie Community College which has a branch in our area. We have had a great instructor Maureen Christe who has taught us important skills in word processing.

The Inside Look

Now that we have been here in Sydney for about four weeks, we thought we would show everyone inside our modest new "flat", near the Dundas Railway Station. We are on the third floor in adjoining buildings where about 20 other senior missionary couples live. The furnishings are adequate and comfortable. Since it has been cold and wet most of this last month (it's still winter here), the temperature has been chilly inside but we wear warm clothing and use electric space heaters when appropriate. It is now our home for the 22 months and we have grown to love it, a place to relax and enjoy each other's company.

Be Prepared - Missionary Style

We are now into our third week here in Australia. As we learn more about our duties and responsibilities, we are amazed at what is taking place here already. We are little overwhelmed by it all, sort of drinking water from a fire hose. At least, that is the impression we are having at the beginning.

This past week we had the experience of being with the full-time missionaries, first on Monday, Aug. 13 in a Zone Conference of the Sydney North Mission and again on Saturday, Aug. 18 when we participated in a service project. All missionaries in Australia and Paupa New Gunina are to receive a 72 hour kit in case of emergency or possible sudden evacuation. We helped fill about 850 backpacks of supplies including water, food, personal hygiene products, first aid kits, etc. It was fun being with some of the elders from both the North and Sydney South Mission in a warehouse owned by a prominent member to accomplish this important task. The backpacks are to shipped immediately and be available for emergency use only. Thus, we are helping be prepared, a good scout motto.

Getting Acquainted

We are now in to our second week in Sydney. We are learning what our duties and responsibilities are and enjoying the climate (it's really still winter though most days are warm and dry). We haven't seen any kangaroos but the other day one of the groundskeepers brought by a blue-tongue lizard that likes to roam. Sister Warby had a fun time holding it. We also went last Saturday, August 11 on the ferry through Sydney Harbor and saw the famous Opera House and downtown Sydney. We are working hard, learning what we need to do as well as becoming acquainted......