BYU Young Ambassadors

These past three weeks has been very busy with coordinating and even traveling with the Brigham Young University Young Ambassadors touring Australia. The musical theatre group arrived the end of April in Brisbane and came south to Newcastle, where we met them. Elder Warby has been the Area coordinator for the group so it was great to have them come.

On to Sydney, then Canberra, and Albury where we said goodbye. They then traveled to Tasmania and then back to Melbourne. Nine outstanding performances; Seven spiritual firesides; Appearances at State Parliaments in Brisbane and Canberra; Several radio and television interviews some even live; Numerous workshops with secondary students and some pre-schoolers as well; Consultation with the performing arts faculty at Monash University in Melbourne; Cultural and sightseeing visits throughout eastern Australia including beautiful Tasmania; Billeting and Sunday Church attendance with many members and some non-members; Temple visits at Brisbane and Sydney with endowments and baptisms performed at the Melbourne Temple;

At the Canberra performance and reception, they met and performed before Ambassadors and officials from many countries, some where the Church is yet to be officially recognized, thus planting seeds of goodwill that will sprout blessings in the future.They also personally met and performed before many important opinion leaders from government, business, academia, religion and the media.

With all of the tremendous goodwill these great Young Ambassadors accomplished, most touching is a story of tenderness and mercy performed by a few of them in Melbourne before they returned to Provo. Arrangements were made for a visit Sunday, May 19 to the home of Ron and Tailene Bradey, faithful Church members in the Cranbourne Ward, Braeside Stake. In consultation with priesthood leaders, beautiful Church songs and hymns were sung to Sister Bradey, a 24 year old mother of two, dying of cancer. Such “tender mercies” are part of the Young Ambassador’s repertoire as well.

We look forward to future visits from such outstanding young men and women who represent the Church in such meaningful and significant ways.

Autumn - Scouts - Famous Warbys

The weather is changing now to Autumn, cooler temperatures with rain and some leaves changing colors. It's flu season so Elder Warby got his flu shot. Sister Warby declined. Our duties are busy with final preparations of the tour of Australia by the Brigham Young University Young Ambassadors, a large performing group that will be here the end of April thru mid-May. More in our next post about them. We have also been busy with our Scout work, attending Family Camp in Berrima, which is about two hours south of Sydney. We had lots of fun with great leaders and youth. We also attended a session of Parliament in Sydney, where Scouts were honored and having our picture taken with the Speaker of the House. We also visited the gravesite of one of Elder Warby's distant relatives, John Warby. He came to Australia as a convict in 1790 and later had a large family and was much honored and respected. He is one of Campbelltown's most famous historical figures.

Royal Easter Show - Missionary Work

The weather is starting to change ever so slightly here in Sydney. We are going into the Fall season with temperatures cooler in the evening. In the States, we have "fairs" to celebrate the harvest and such is the case here in Sydney, with the Royal Easter Show. We went two times, first with Elder and Sister Keith Hilbig of the Area Presidency to enjoy the event as well as determine whether a booth about the Church would be feasible for next year. The second time was to help with Scout Day at the Show. We helped set up,work the displays and particpate in the Grand Parade. Clint also videotaped the event for future use by the Scout Association. On Easter, we joined our fellow Senior Missionaries and presented an Easter Program with musical numbers and talks at various wards in the area. We also were able to get away for a day going to the Southern Highlands south of Sydney to a beatiful location called Kangaroo Valley. We then drove back along the ocean coast to Sydney. Clint has had some health issues but got good news about his heart. His back is still bothering him in walking so we are seeing about getting that better. We love Australia and its people.

Elder Bednar Visit - Real Aussie Scout Leaders

The first half of March 2008 has been quite the month for us. We have been very busy with a variety of projects and tasks. We have been busy with our new roles as Aussie Scout Leaders, being fully invested with uniforms and titles as Associate Leaders in the Cub Scouts. We have also attended meetings and assisted with firesides relating to the visit to Australia by Elder David A. Bednar, a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He spoke at a fireside in Sydney which was televised by satellite throughout the country. We also were able to take a short trip north of Sydney to Clint's ancestral home in the Hunter/Williams River area where we met Warby relatives. Clint also kept having his blood checked to regulate the dosage of warfarin needed to help reduce the risk of a stroke because of possible heart problems. He had a stress test that showed his heart was doing fine but still needs to take his medicine. Life continues to be good. We love the weather, the people and this great land!

Heart Problems - Aussie Scouting

On Valentines Day, Elder Warby wasn't feeling well so he went to the doctor and discovered he had arterial fibrillation, or irregular heart rhythm. As a result, he wasn't allowed to go to Papua New Guinea but started treatment with warfarin which decreases the risk of a blood clot. It requires numerous blood tests which are done at a nearby pathology center which we have started humorously to call The Vampire Place. He has since recovered but still requires the numerous blood tests to determine the optimum dosage. He has also visited a cardiologist and will be going back in a few weeks for a stress test. In the meantime, we have been quite involved with Australia Scouting, participating in the 1st Ermington Scout Group, a neighborhood organization with Joeys (6 to 7 1/2); Cub Scouts (7 1/2 to 10 1/2) and Scouts (10 1/2 to 14). We are working with the Cubs and enjoying it very much. We helped with an Open House and are also taking Basic Training to become real Australian Scout Leaders. Though we have taken numerous courses with the Boy Scouts of America, this is a great opportunity to get to know a new system plus make many friends with other adult Scout leaders. We also helped with a visit from an important delegation from Papua New Guinea who were here to learn more about the Church's involvement with Family History and preserving records.

Family Birthday - Church - Visitors - Theatre

The first half of February 2008 was filled with lots of office work plus a Warby family birthday celebrating Joel Warby's 16th birthday. He is part of a family we have met while here (distant relatives) that have made us feel really welcome. We also met Stephanie Rogalski, one of the Church's directors of public affairs (Perth). She came to Sydney to visit her daughter and we had a most enjoyable time being with her for a day. We also continue to support the Fairfield 3rd Ward, mostly Pacific Islanders who are so loving and wonderful. We continue to enjoy excellent weather, some rain and cool temperatures for a summer environment. They tell us this is unusual that it is usually sweltering heat but we have no complaints. We went to a wonderful musical theatre production featuring John Williamson, the Australian folk singer and really enjoyed the program.

Happy Australia Day

We helped celebrate Australia Day on Saturday, January 26, 2008 by going downtown to Sydney Harbor. The date commerates the arrival of 11 ships of the first Euroupean settlers in 1788, later to be known as First Fleet. Most of the passengers were convicts sent from England. This is a day for Australians to celebrate with pride their country. We had a vantage spot midway on the famous Harbor Bridge we walked across. There was lots of activity in the harbor itself which you can see in the photos. We also had a senior missionary couple go home (McMullins) and the arrival of a new couple (Clarks) and we took a photo of our current staff. Joyce also discovered one morning a large spider which we promptly disposed. It is quite warm and humid now with occasional rain to cool down temperatures. We miss the snow back in the States but not the shoveling.