An Apostle Visits Australia

We had the wonderful opportunity this week to be in company with Elder Bedner and his sweet wife. Our first meeting was on Thursday. Both missions met together to hear what he had to say. We first heard from Sister Bedner. After she spoke I new why he was able to be called to be an Apostle. She was very sweet and humble in her ways. She spoke of how she met him and her love for him and how she knew that he was an Apostle. Then we heard from an Apostle. He was dynamic, brilliant, funny, personable and very spiritual. The meeting took the format of Questions and Answers, both ways. First he asked the Missionaries questions and we had the opportunity to ask him. He told us first that there are no bad questions, but some are better then other. For instance. Where is the Sword of Laban? bad question and he would answer I don't know and I don't care. He asked how often are you going to have the chance to be this close to an Apostle and be able to ask him any question. He said a good question would be. What is it like to pray in the Quorum of the Twelve. We had that question.Answer was The prayers are childlike. Unless you become as a little child, you can not enter into the kingdom of God. Mostly the prayers are prayer of gratitude. We attended two more meetings. One was single adults and we were able to get 9 of our young Chinese new members and also three of the others that we see. They were thrilled to be there. The Questions were all good. He told us to begin with, that this was to be a Revelatory Experience and that we were to take no notes of what he said. We were only to write things that came to our mind that would tell us something to help us. It was a great experience. The third time was Sunday evening. That one was an Australia fireside. He was in Sydney and each Stake center received the broadcast with telephone communications to each building. Questions came from each area. He visited Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne. Every mission and every temple and other in between. I was touch by the spirit and received some answers for myself.

Another sweet experience we had this week. We were out visiting some of our older members and had plans to go see one sister. I said lets go and see Merrel Stephens she was not a church Sunday. So off we go. When she came to the door, her eye was swollen almost shut and was every color possible Asked what happened and she told she had eallen and hit her face on the end of her bed. She said she had fainted and that she does that often. She said she was unable to sleep because of the pain. A blessing was suggested. She liked the idea. We left. She was not at church on Sunday, she said she wouldn't be. I called to see how she was. She was so sweet, telling be to tell Elder Urmston that she had been able to sleep every night since the blessing. I reminded her of the great faith that she has.

Great experiences like that tell us that we are here doing what we are suppose to do, even if it is not what we might have thought we would be doing.


Had a good p-day except we walked to far and had sore legs. We went to Federation Square. A great gathering place across from Flinders Station. Then over to the South bank for lunch. Then a long trek to the Shrine of Remembrance. The Shrine is for all the war hero's of World War I. It was built with donations from the people and school children donated thousands of dollars. Rode the tram back and then went to the IMAX movie an African Safari. Good day.

Southbank Flinders Train Station

No Baptisms this week. Monday Deniz Sun and her mother Feza came over and taught me how to make Borek and Turkish dish. Her moms a Muslim. Fun time and great food.

Sunday was Fairfields ward conference. Bishop spoke and when the intermediate song was sung he got back up and said President Dudfield had changed the program and would like to hear testimonies from Elder Perkins and Sister Urmston. I was shocked. My heart flipped. That hasn't happened to me since I can even remember. I like President Dudfield we have spoken a few times. He is very down to earth and unaffected by being Stake President.

Well rambled enough, one last thing. If you think your gas prices are high check this out. A little over 4 liters in a gallon. We have been buying gas weekly so the total does not seem quite so bad


We love you all and hope you have a great Easter Break. Be sure to share you pictures with us. Hope the beach is not to cold. We are having a heat wave here. Way over 100 for the past four days. Its the hottest it has gotten