Elder Mac's Aussie Aboriginal Adventure Account

Dear family and old, old friends,
Things are slacking off a bit as the winter break season is here. Our university classes are done for 6 weeks, the institute class 1st semester is over next week and we will be off for 3 weeks. The only class still going is our married Eternal Family class.
We decided to take the day off after last nights institute class. So we drove to Tidbinbilla nature reserve about 30 kilometers for where we live. It is about 15 square kilometers of wilderness area nestled next to the Brindabella mountains. (mountains that look like the Appalachians mountains in Pennsylvania). There we saw dozens of kangaroos, and wallabies( smaller kangaroos) and emus (ostrich-like flightless birds). All are native to our area. We walked along paths through woods and wet lands and visited an ancient aboriginal camp site whose main feature is a huge 10 story high and wide round boulder. They would camp under it to protect themselves from the rain. They came to this area to hunt for native mammals, birds, and huge moths which they ate in great abundance during the moth season. They would roast them by covering them with fire heated sand and then eat the whole insect. Yum, Yum, doesn’t that sound delicious.
The Australian aboriginals have lived in Australia for 1000’s of years and pure bred aboriginals are very dark skinned. They have great respect for their elders, and I have been told by one of them that it annoys them when they see our young LDS missionaries with badges on that say Elder so & so. He said they are obviously not “elders” that need to be respected. I wanted to tell him that I begged to differ.
The land of Australia was & is divided into 100’s of aboriginal tribal areas and many times when a celebrity or especially a politician performs or speaks, the custom is to say “ I want to express my respect to the such & such tribe (the Ngunnawal tribe in the case of the Canberra area)” before they perform or speak.
At one of our YSA outings a part aboriginal YSA , who was about to play the didgeridoo but was not of the Ngunnawal tribe said “ I wish to give my respect to the Ngunnawal tribe before I play”
As I said before, almost all the animals, birds, and plants are different . Also the sky, especially at night, where the constellations are totally different, No north star, big and little dipper that I learned as a boy scout, but directly overhead is the Southern Cross that is also displayed in the Australian Flag. We are in the middle of winter and many of the trees, usually gum trees, like the eucalyptus tree, have their leaves on. They don’t loose their leaves each year but shed their black bark in big long sheets sometimes 15-20 feet long. This leaves a trunk that is a white as a birch tree but very shinny. The temperature ranges from a low of 30 degrees to 65 here in Canberra but in Sydney 3 hours north and on the ocean it is between 45-75 in the winter and the trees and flowers are in full bloom all winter long. Here in Canberra they planted the pansies a month ago and they are a winter flower here.
I understand that you have had a little rain in the Midwest. The Aussies are jealous and wish some of that rain would fall here. Canberra is in an almost decade long drought. Our water reservoirs are only about 45% full, and we have water restrictions all year around.
Rugby, Australian football league, and soccer are in full swing now. Cricket (BORING) is finally over. Cricket matches can last for up to 5 days(morning to Sunset). Not even a diehard Cub fan could handle this game.
Well, we have had another missionary transfer period and we still are in the same area as we started and I still have the same companion. The mission president must think I’m married to my companion.
My scriptures look like they are 20 years old even though I bought them in late 2004. We are in them every day, and many days for hours. I am, however, getting pretty good at knowing where various scripture verses are. Sister Mac & I are currently reading in Proverbs in the Old Testament. We have read the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price and most of the D& C since we have come out on our mission and I read and wrote a verse by verse summery of the New Testament right before I left for our mission. I have also completed a written interpretation of Isaiah in my own words. Well so much for the bragging.
I miss you all, but I do love being here and serving the Lord in at least a small way. It gives me joy that the Lord has chosen Mom and I to serve him here in Canberra. Hopefully we have had some positive influence on some of the people living here in Canberra. To Geof, Ryne, Josh, Jordon, Nathan and soon to be Brandon, my Aaronic priesthood grandsons, WHEN you go on your missions you will find some of the greatest happiness you will ever know, especially when you realize that you have brought the opportunity for eternal salvation to at least 1 soul. I realized just now that I have 15, and soon to be 16, “Sons of Helaman” that will have the great opportunity to serve the Lord on full time missions.
Love Elder Mac aka Dad & Gandpa