Watson Bay

After a week of stomach flu (Dad) a barbeque lunch to greet the new counselor in the Area Presidency and the new director of staff here, we finished this long week with an outing to Watson Bay. We hopped onto our ferry here at Rydalmere, rode to Circular Quay (in the city), then quickly found the Watson Bay ferry for our ride.

We arrived at one of the most beautiful, picturesque little villages we've ever seen. The sky was vivid blue, and so was the water! White sailboats bobbed in the bay, and white seagulls swooped overhead. Just beyond the opening to the bay was the skyline of Sydney--and it was spectacular!

We all hiked around a trail near the village to the lighthouse marking South Head. Just across the water, we could see the rocky bluffs of NorthHead--and realized we were at the mouth of Sydney Harbor.

Beyond the heads lies the Tasman Sea--and history has recorded many shipwrecks on the rocks of those heads, trying to make Sydney Harbor. What a beautiful world we live in--and what a beautiful day!

Olympic Bikers!

Wow! Off we went on Saturday, August 12, to bike at the Olympic Park in Sydney. It is a huge complex, with restaurants, parks, picnic and walking/biking areas, ponds, forests, stadiums and fields, and beautiful views of water and the city on every side.

It was a beautiful Saturday, as we donned our helmets--and off we went. We even biked to the top of a huge lookout, and made it all the way to the top without having to walk. Amazing! We missionaries were quite proud of that!

Our days are full of lots of contact with lots of mission presidents in the area--and, hopefully, lots of help to them. Lonnie helps them, at least, and Kaye tries to help Lonnie!

But we are situated on the campus of a former boys' school, with beautiful grounds and old, lovely buildings This building is "Buckland House," where our office is.

Sharing the grounds with our office complex is the beautiful Sydney Temple. In fact, we can see the spires right out our window!

We have been warmly welcomed by everyone, who is bending over backward to help us get the "stuff" we need to operate--ant it is a lot of STUFF! But the birds sing, the sky is blue, winter is not so bad in Australia--and the gospel is true here, so all is well!

Saturdays in Sydney

We work hard all week--in an office (with office hours), handling all kinds of issues with Mission Presidents throughout the region. We drag in the door each night, tired and worn out--but glad for the opportunity to serve. But on Saturdays--we usually go with the other senior missionary couples to see this beautiful part of the world where we are lucky to be! On our first Saturday here, we boarded a ferry near our flat and went down the Parramatta River into Sydney--and this picture was shot of the Sydney Harbor Bridge as we neared the wharf. What a beautiful sight!

Fresh off of the ferry, an aboriganal band was playing on the wharf, and we took a minute to pose. We were jet-lagged--but so happy to be in this land. We actually feel llike we never left! (Someone from here whom we know says we're like a boomerang: off we went (3 years ago), but back we've come!)

Meat pies for lunch--an Australian staple! This one had roast beef and gravy inside, then was topped with a pile of mashed potatos and mashed (yes!) peas. Yum!

And to top off the day--ice cream cones on the wharf before the ferry ride home. A FUN day!

In 'n' Out Farewell in San Francisco

Off we flew to Sydney--via Los Angeles, where several of our family members just happened to be: Jessica and Mark are there for the summer--with his internship with NFL.com, and Libby, Brandon, and girls had flown there for a weekend with his family (before their move to New Jersey. Soooo, we had a mini-reunion/picture-taking event for a bit--at an In-n-Out close to the airport.

Here we are--and with Lauren, Libby, Keira, and Brandon.

And with Jessica and Mark-----

So hard to say Goodbye to these dear ones!

But the Lord has called, and we have faith in Him! And we also know He will watch over us--and our family. How we appreciate His love for us, and the tender mercies He extends to all of us every day!