Unbelievable Experience

We have arrived in Australia. The trip was 15 plus hours long. It was not as bad as I had expected. Thanks to Michael and Jaime I had a nice sleeping pill to take and slept about 6 hours. Our Mission President and his wife, President and Sister Lee, met us at the airport. We were taken to the Mission office and met everyone there and had a little orientation about driving. Then off to the mission home where we had an interview with the President and a lovely lunch prepared by Sister Lee. In our interview President Lee explained what we would be doing. He said we would be serving in the Language Zone. The languages are Chinese and Vietnamese. These missionaries live outside of the city but do all of their finding in the city around the University. There are many Chinese students. Their parents send them here to get further education. We have a flat in downtown Melbourne. It is used by these Elders to teach. They make their initial contact and then the next meeting they come to the flat to teach. Some days it is very busy. If they are teaching young women we need to be here. We already love these young Elders. They are very dedicated to the work and their Chinese is amazing.
We are responsible for keeping track of the new members so they don’t get lost. They are in the boundaries of two different wards. We will be attending both wards. We are also to work with the wards, helping with their less actives and new members. It looks like this could take the majority of our time. We are starting slowly and picking up speed.
We had a day and a half orientation from Elder and Sister Griffin who were going home. They gave us a wonderful city map and some other pertinent information and off they went. Elder Urmston has adjusted to the Right hand steering wheel quite well. My first batch of cookies did not do to well. Measuring was a little off. I will keep trying.
We have been here a few days over a week and are able to find our way to our church building and a few homes. In the city we are finally understanding the lay out and haven’t had to ask for help more then about twice. So we are feeling pretty good about that.
We are told in the scriptures that the stone will role forth out of the mountain and that every kindred, tongue and people will be given a chance to have the gospel before the Savior comes again. I was never sure how that would work. Pres. Kimball in 1975 said that Australia would be the door to China. We are seeing that work. These Chinese students are joining the church and accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. They will return to China. They may not have an active branch where they live. However when the door is opened they will be in place. These young Chinese Elders will be able to be mission Presidents or just called to serve as mentors to the beginning branches and ward.
One of our Sister Missionaries is a convert from China. Her aunt found the church in US and went home and taught her family. Sis. Teng was one to accept. She made her way to Hong Kong and was baptized. She is now serving a mission here as an English speaking missionary. The Gospel is true and the work goes forward. We are happy to do are part. We will not come home Chinese speaking, but we will know a little. Ni Hao (pronounced knee how ( how are your) That is it for now.
We will be celebrating this Christmas holiday with some young people who have never known the true meaning of Christmas. This will be their first time to recognize Jesus Christ as their Savior and the little one born to Mary and layed in the manger. It is a joy to be a part of it.