The Choir Goes On the Road!

The Toukley Ward invited our humble little Senior Missionary Choir to come up to their area (an hour north of the city), and volunteered to host each of us couples for the day. We took the train up, and the hosts assigned to us were Peter and Genny Barr. We met them while we were in Perth--just before they left for him to be Mission President in the Baltic Mission. It was so good to see them. Sister McLaughlin came with us--as her husband was sick and couldn't make the trip.......


They fed us pasta, we laughed and visited, and then they showed us around the area. Down to the sea we went--but it was a windy, stormy day, and the waves were incredible. No surfing for anyone today!

Not too stormy for us all to pose for a minute--just before the rain really hit!

After a fun afternoon of sightseeing, we headed for their chapel for dinner and a program. We were so excited that our new friend, Kylie Giovanni, came to join us. She is a schoolteacher, and we met her at a fish and chips place a couple of weeks ago........

After a chapel tour for Kylie and dinner for all--the program began. There were a variety of different performances, and then it was our turn. Our first number was "Waltzing Matilda." What were we thinking--all of us Americans singing "their" song for a bunch of Australians??? But they told us we gave it a "nice try!"

All the men are really into it--Dad and Elder Osborn singing tenor--right on the front row!
(Sister McKnight is our conductor.)



Dad smiles........................


Mom plays...............

And we ask the audience to join with us as we sing our last chorus of "As I Have Loved You."

Then---Malcolm--the one who invited us, and our emcee for the evening--stands up to say they have a special surprise. They have "lined up" a violin for Sister Nally to play! O my--it was a "clunker" that belongs to the community theater, had been in a moldy case for ages, and had only been played (years ago) by the guy who did those famous notes in "Fiddler on the Roof."

"Da-DAH-da-da-da-daaaaa"--you know--that part?

So---Mom played. ("I Know That My Redeemer Lives"--in two keys.) Thank goodness there was a little pianist who could get through our last-minute "arrangement!"

It was a fun evening, though. And Kylie--visiting here with Peter Barr (our host--and now serving as Bishop of the Toukley Ward) made a lot of friends and seemed to enjoy the evening.