Update from 'down under-sis mac'

Whoa all our wonderful family & friends: Here it goes again, Mrs. long winded/writter: Bear with me,
it has been over a week and what a busy week it has been.
Don't think I'm trying to rub it in, but...... last evening we had 25+ turn out for the movie night, etc we had planned weeks ago, as Instititute has a short time off for the holidays. We had asked one of our YSA's if we could use his house, as he has a big flat screened TV. He mentioned he would have his outdoor inground pool available, also. By time most of the YSA's arrived it was close to 7pm, but again since Summer starts here, starting December 1st that sounded great. It was kind
of a cool summer evening, but I knew there would still be a number of YSA's who would take that
leap into the pool and sure enough their were. By time we had pizza, popcorn (which Dad popped)
and we had pop and we had made them up candy bags for a small Christmas treat, we started the movie "The Nativity Story" and it finished it was close to 11 pm and even the YSA's were tired. But it turned out really great, they were very quiet during the movie, especially close to the end. We were surprised none of them had seen it last Christmas, when it was released in the states. And,
especially since Mary was played by a New Zealander and we had several New Zealanders there.
It is/was hard for me to imagine Christmas is so close, but sure enough it is summer here.
I'm going to jump back to last week, which was wonderful, but so busy we/or maybe more like I
had to make some hard choices.
A week ago Sunday, on December 9th, we attended the First Presidency Devotional, which was
recorded from the week before, but played later here, so wer'e not seeing or hearing it live at
2 or 3 AM in the morning here because of the tremendous time change between here and the states. After the Devotional, the Canberra stake had a beautiful Christmas program, which was just incredible. The First Presidency are a tough act to follow, but the program was so excellent and
added to the beautiful First Presidency Devotional. There is one heck of alot of great music, speaking and singing talent in this small stake. SO, for all/any of our grandchildren taking piano, etc., keep up practicing, etc. We felt so uplifted and entertained in such a beautiful way. Can't wait to hear Haleigh, Ashley, Mekena and others perform in time. Afterwards, around 8 -8:15, they
had a supper for the stake attendees, ie fresh fruits, meat pies, dessert and always some kind of punch, they call them cordials. I still prefer water. Anyway, it was a lovely evening and I didn't have to cook that day. Hooray!! These Aussies know how to party/eat!! That evening, we were invited by a young couple with a young baby (this is the baby named Samson, who didn't get named in the hospital and in fact only got his name months later, just prior to his blessing) for the
following Sat., 12/15; but I tried to graciously decline, as we had already been invited to a Christmas party/dinner that night at one of the stake wards, Belconnen. We (I) admire the bishop
of the Belconnen ward soo much and besides the Polynesians were making the food and doing the
intertainment and we didn't want to miss it.
A week ago Monday, Dec. 10th, we had one of the more recent converts over for a close to one on on BOM discussion/lesson and he had lunch with us; Josh S., a retured missionary and one of our
most perfect attendees at not only Institute, but also UNI (university scripture classes) was along. He is so knowledgeable and could probably teach better than us. Josh told Dad he really enjoys my
cooking and of course Dad said, well he does, too. Guess what, I keep telling Dad, when we return
to the states I want to eat out at Mary's Market and @ Cafe Rio and Rumbi Island Cafe in Utah, along with a few other places. I get sick of cooking every so often. Of course Dad loves not having
to hardly ever take me out to eat!!
The next evening, we taught our last Institute class for the year, we will naturally start up again,
the next Tuesday, after New Years. I always bring, either some home baked goodies; but now with
the warmer weather, I try to take fresh fruits and vegetables with homemade ranch dressing, which
they (YSA's) seem to appreciate. One of the other YSA's brought some meat pies and we ate
after the class, that runs 7-8:30. Like so many nights, we may not get home until 10-10:30PM.
Usually, by then Dad's eyes glaze over, but lucky for him, he can sleep in a little later the next
morning.
Wednesday, after the fact, Dad reminds me he had invited one of our YSA's over for dinner Wed.
night for home teaching. Probably, because the YSA's are single, duh, they like home cooking.
We had a nice evening with Tony, who is a return missionary, but for his work, does a lot of inter-
national traveling.
The next day, Thursday we had our regular flat BOM study group for supper. The first YSA arrives
around 5:30 for the 6 start time, I believe for the one on one time he wants to talk before the others arrive, then we usually have 2-3 others at 6 for dinner, then study/discussion time after
that. The last YSA left at 11, as boy did he want to talk. By they, both of our eyes are glazed
over, but try like heck to give him the attention he so needs and desires. I'm not complaining, just
you all know Dad is not a night person, but he is here.
Friday, it was supposed to be a fun day of driving into Sydney(3 hour drive in and back) to be with
our mission President & his wife and the other wonderful senior missionary couples, who we had only once previously had the opportunity to attend the Sydney Botannical Gardens and have a wonderful dinner at the Gardens, in a lovely resturant, where we had the best food since we've been over here, but that was months ago. This was supposed to be more of a Christmas activity. Well, by Thursday, after prayerfully pondering if I could hold up, I knew as much as I wanted to go
in and just have some fun with the other seniors, I just didn't think I could take the drive and the
walking because of this right leg bum knee. We knew, we still had a long day Sunday with an equally long day. I knew I had to do, what we are here for and naturally that is to be with our YSA's and also do our seminary "kids" assignments. So, I took that Friday to slightly recoup.
The bishop, Bishop Shay from one of the stake wards, had noticed Dad favoring his left leg and
in fact Dad came over here with that bum left leg of his. Anyway, Bishop Shay, as a chiropractor,
told Dad he knew he could help him with the bum left leg, so for the first time in Dad's life, he
went to this kind bishop/chiropractor and he really worked on Dad's leg and it seems to help. Dad
also, went back this week and the bishop worked on his leg again. We work with the bishops to
get seminary teachs cleared thru the stake presidents so we can appoint them and get them the
materials and do some inservice training. Well Dad had fairly patiently kept on this bishop to get a
seminary teacher for his ward and he just couldn't seem to get that person. So while this same
bishop/chiropractor was working on Dad's bum left leg and was applying some pressure on some
parts of Dad's leg, he(the bishop said as he was applying pressure, questioned Dad, so are you going to stop pressuring me about a seminary teacher? Then, Bishop Shay, said he is where he is
now, as a bishop, etc. because of good seminary teachers.
This last Saturday, we attended the Polynesian ward Christmas party previously mentioned and it
was great. One of our soon to be appointed seminary teachers, a YSA-young woman, a returned
missionary danced at the party. I believe she is Samaon and althoug she isn't overweight, she is
a good sized gal, but her dancing was just so darn graceful. They use their hands so beautifully.
Well, that day, prior to attending the party, we were there 2 or the 3 hours. When we left at
about 7:30, a couple of the Polynesians asked us to stay longer, but we still had much to do for
Sunday, as we would be up early and on the road to Nowra.
So, before attending the party I baked two batchs of homemade brownies and a large, what they
call a slice cake. It was fattening, but yummy.
Sunday, whoa talk about not a day of rest: Dad had set the alarm for 5:30, his alarm didn't go off,
but my body's natural alarm went off at 6, so we were off a bit, but not bad. We had a close to 3
hour drive through some really scary mountain pass and I mean scary. Going thru the mountains, narrow, narrow, but deep drop offs, I was having a hard time. My darn knee could feel the sharp
turns and went we went down, drove my knee nuts, too. And to top it off, it was raining and the
visibility wasn't good. But we made it for their Nowra meetings starting @ 9:30-12:30; then we set
up a nice lunch for the attendees and families, while another ward was traveling to share in our
last seminary graduation for this year. Dad spoke in the Seminary graduation. It was a nice day.
Then at 4PM, we jumped back into the car for the 3 hour return trip, again through those same
scary mountains, only now it was later, still raining and visibility was even worse. By this time of the day, my leg/knee was hurting like heck. We made it back to Canberra 5 minutes to 7PM, just
in time to meet with our new seminary appointee here. While we were in Nowra, we did two additional seminary appointments. We had a great meeting with the seminary appointee here, she is the Polynesian gal, who danced the day before and she has the most beautiful spirt about her;
she will bless the lives of those great youth she will teach, as they will bless her likewise. SO,
by time we got back to our flat, Sunday, we had been gone for 13 1/2 hours and we were both
edified by the beautiful Sabbath and exhausted. What a great week and the only thing I just knew
I couldn't manage, was the the fun activity with the Mission President and senior missionary couples. After that long day on Sunday, it only re-inforced the wisdom of not making 6 hour drives
both day. My knee wouldn't have held up.
Well, Dad has already told you; after seeing the surgeon who did my first surgery, he has scheduled me in for Jan. 5th for a second surgery. WIll, you pray for me, that this surgery will end the tremendous discomfort of my right leg, so I can better serve? I appreciate your prayers.
Just want you all to know, we love the Lord and are trying our best @ this moment in time. We
totally love these wonderful YSA's. And if I have to be away from all of you, I'm grateful it is to
work with them. You are in our daily prayers are so missed.
One of several things I miss here, I have only seen one nativity here, and that was at the stake
center, just a home sized one in the foyer. At the two Christmas parties we have attended no
decorated Christmas trees. But, mostly, I just miss my nativity's. The members are deeply spiritual,
but certainly celebrate and don't decorate for Christmas as we do in the states. Hardly, even see
many Christmas lights.
We have had 4 invites to Christmas dinner and Christmas Eve, so maybe I won't have to cook.
much. Even, if invited out, a person usually brings a plate (could be salad, or dessert or ?). I think
it is their hospitality, coupled with the expensiveness of food.
Love you all, mom/grandma mac aka sister mac