Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2009

Belated Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, 2009!-from "Down Under"   We are into the last week of our actual service/ mission among the wonderful Australians we have met with, taught scripture classes and marriage classes too, broke bread with and have grown to love more than I could have ever imagined. We have predominately served among the YSA's (young single adults 18-31++) along the high school age "kids"(aged 14 to 18) and young married adults. One of our YSA's would always remind us, here in Australia, "it's all about food, thus the break bread privilege. Just this Monday night we had several YSA's for dinner at 6 PM, they didn't leave until 11 PM. I remember shortly after we had arrived, I told the CES Coordinator we report to, nobody told us, this would be so much night work. We have been saying goodbye for the past several weeks, as we received invites for dinner; and then it really dawned on me(us), that it was going to be much harder to leave these fun loving, sensitive to the Spirit, warm, kind and so incredibly loving people than I expected or anticipated. At one of our missionary meetings we attend weekly, which generally is with the young 19-21+ year old Elders and Sisters, one of these young Elders commented that if when he returned home, if he was met at the airport with an ambulance to take him to a hospital, he would  know he had worn himself out in his missionary service and that it would be acceptable to the Savior. At another meeting, we heard, that missions are the very least we could do. Well, although, we both feel a bit worn out-we don't think we will need an ambulance—and are just hopeful it won't be a hearse to meet us. JUST KIDDING. We typically would pray daily, especially for these beautiful young people and prayed that by small means, we could help to uplift, encourage and edify them. Don't have to tell any of you, life can be hard and the challenges for young people probably were unimaginable years ago. This week has already been a full-out time with them. Up early, go to bed late, but worthwhile. When we came over here, now close to 18 months ago, it was sooooo hard leaving our family and grandchildren, but we knew we would be going back to them. Here, it is almost harder. We are excited to go home and see two new grandchildren we haven't even held, along with our other beloved thirty one grandchildren. But, as we say these ongoing goodbyes, we are aware as we leave, we may or most probably will never see most of the older people we have met & loved  and even many or most of the young people. We feel, as Aussies are truly world class travelers, we may see some of these choice beautiful young people in the U.S.. Our mission has been mostly good, just as life is mostly good with just a few disappointments and frustrations along the way. Our second son, Rob, his lovely wife, Annie and four grandchildren will fly into Sydney this coming Sunday, Dec. 21st and we are thrilled they will spend an Aussie Christmas with us and we will all travel together. Just recently I read again, having read this statement before: "…not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive & nonexistent future when you will have the time to do all that you may want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey-now. What a bittersweet journey this has been in Australia, busy, productive, meeting such wonderful people who are so easy to love and now somewhat bitter leaving them. We wish you a most lovely Christmas with family & friends. A couple of weeks ago, a lady talked about Christmas and gift giving and the fact that as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, He's the only one who doesn't receive gifts. She suggested we think of ways we can give gifts to the Savior:such as services and kindness toward to others. Thus the saying: This is the Reason for the Season.      Love, Elder & Sister MacPherson   aka Doug & Pat

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a most beautiful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Shame on me, I've already lost several attemps at sending e-mails and the've gotten lost out there in cyber-space. The reality is our e-mail is the next slowest thing to snail mail. Oh how I've missed having high speed internet. I need to let Elder Mac, no high speed internet, no future missions. Actually, if I'd have know prior to our mission, I would have said it then. Hope you and your families are well. Rob, Annie and GRANDCHILDREN will be here in just days now. We are looking forward to seeing family and friends when we return. Love, Mom and Dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Doug and Pat, aka sis & elder mac Recent Activity Visit Your Group 10 Day Club on Yahoo! Groups Share the benefits of a high fiber diet. Everyday Wellness on Yahoo! Groups Find groups that will help you stay fit. Get in Shape on Yahoo! Groups Find a buddy and lose weight. . __,_._,___

Am not totally trunky, but in saying goodbyes, it is tougher than I expected.

Hi beloved family and special friends: ELder Mac and I spoke in two wards today and the members were exceptionally kind with their hugs and gracious things they said. We continue to know that life is indeed bittersweet. I missed our family and friends for longer than I expected to, when we were in the beginning months of our mission/ service. Now I find it is harder again to leave these extremely loving and kind people who really know how to party in church activities. I second guessed each time how bitter it was to leave behind our family (okay, grandchildren for sure). Now I  know  how bitter it is to leave so many of these warm Aussies--pure and simple, because when we left our family & friends behind, we knew we would come back to them/ you. There are some of the young Aussies, that we feel will look us up in their many travels. If you ask an Aussie if they have been to the states, the will many times say yes-- several times and more. Even though our service was mostly  with the seminary and YSA's, the longer we were here the more we got closer to many of the older members. We will have so many sweet memories of the members here. When we were baptized into the church 45+ years ago, it was in a Milwaukee ward. I cried when we moved away, after having our 2nd and 3rd babies there. I remember thinking, I will never meet people as special as the saints were in Milwaukee. By time we left Madison where Doug finished his master's degree--it wasn't as difficult as I KNEW we would be meeting wonderful people as we had known in Milwaukee and then Madison. Well, the church is the same, I believe wherever we go in the world. Wonderful members who are so loving, kind and such kindred spirits, who are the next best to family. I am so grateful for the gospel in our lives; as the gospel totally connects us as brothers and sisters of our Loving Heavenly Father. One of the sister's here who happens to YW President in the first ward we spoke at, came up to me when I was at the back of the church. She is blessed with 4 young children under the age of 8( this sounds like Mariah's life, right?) Anyway sometime in September she asked how soon before we were going home and it took me off guard and I remember thinking, the members have had enough of us. Of course, all the young missionaries are only here for short times and frankly up to  6 months is a long time. Also the young missionaries, even if they stay, may have new companions. Anyway, they've had us in their midst for the whole time, NO TRANSFERS AND NO COMPANION CHANGES! But getting back to this YM president, she is really tall, incredibly slim and actually very beautiful. As she hugged me, she said I always made her feel good or better about herself. She's such a beauty and with a lovely family and then she has an incredible singing voice, I was surprised how I could make her feel any better about her self. But I knew she was being very sincere and it dawned on me, we all deal with certain flaws and shortcomings and need to encourage one another. Even when we think others have it all together, they may not as much as we perceive. Her hug and loving comments sure gave me a boost. Years ago, I came to the conclusion-- really only 3 things really matter in our lives: our relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, our beautiful families and great friends. I'm not going to pretend it has been like a bowl of cherries over here all the time, because there were a few difficult times here and there; but just as life is mostly good, so has our mission been. I do KNOW it has been a privilege to serve and it has been the least we can do. Contrast the Savior's mission which was a mission where He did the most he could do perfectly. We have worked diligently and hard, but the blessings have truly been out of this world. Remember the neat saying I believe, by Erma Bombeck, which was; if life is such a bowl of cherries, how come I feel like it's the pitts every so often? At this most special time of the year when we commemorate the birth of the Savior in such humble circumstances, I KNOW that our Loving Heavenly Father sent His beloved Son here and that they each love us more than we can comprehend. May you all have a blessed Christmas and enjoy being with your family's & friends. Love and miss you all, Mom/ grandma mac aka sis mac  Recent Activity Visit Your Group Y! Messenger All together now Host a free online conference on IM. Yahoo! Groups Stay healthy and discover other people who can help. Weight Loss Group on Yahoo! Groups Get support and make friends online. . __,_._,___

Down under is done

12/10/08 Dear friends and family; We are done! No more classes. Last night we had our last Institute class and  many YSA showed up. We are teaching Doctrines of the Gospel and the class was on prayer and its great importance in worshiping God, and there was a great spirit there.    The summer institute class takes a Christmas break that will last until the 2nd week in January. As we leave on the 4th of January, some one else will finish the course, which lasts until the 2nd week in February. Rob and his family come a week from Sunday, and in the interim we have much to do. The mission has decided to keep our flat and move some young missionaries into it. I believe we told you that the church has decided that no more American CES missionaries will be sent to Australia.  They have been advertising for an Australian CES couple but there have been no takers. Though we are done teaching we still have a pre-seminary teachers training  class tonight for the new teachers that will start teaching in Feb. However, the CES coordinator is coming down from Sydney to teach most of it. After that  all there is are the  "goodbye dinners"  we are putting on to have one last ministering shot at some of the YSA who are struggling, and also 3 ward and stake Christmas parties. This is the party & food part of our "CES, Food & Party: mission. Many under estimate the power of food has to draw people closer to the gospel. One of the YSA's who has fallen away and we have only seen once or twice in months, called us yesterday and asked if we were still  going to invite him over for dinner before we left,  as we had promised months ago, when he basically rejected my plea to come back to church. Mom said "We loved to have you over, if you will make your famous Pavlova dessert." He willingly agreed. During this time we have to get ready to leave and be semi packed as we only have 1 day  between when Rob's family leaves and when we leave. This has been a bitter sweet time for us. Gradually saying goodbye to people we will probably never see again. Yesterday we returned from Sydney where we met with ½ the missionaries in the Sydney South Mission in a giant combined Christmas zone conference. We said goodbye to a lot of good young missionaries that we have worked with in the past and who have been transferred outside of Canberra. Some of the YSA have returned home for the summer and many of the adults are going on their month long summer Christmas holiday and we will not see them again. What is sweet is that a lot of people have come up to us and said they will miss us and many have thanked us for our work here. We will take a cruise for 2 weeks starting Jan 4th along the east coast of Australia and then all around New Zealand. We end up in Auckland on Jan. 18th and fly out the same day and arrive at O'Hare Airport 1 hour before we leave as we are a day ahead of you. Could you all please pray that spring comes to Rockford by Jan. 18th, as we have not experienced any snow and real cold for almost 2 years  and would be unable to tolerate it.        Thanks &   Love Elder and Sister  MacPherson