We come to the church to do our e-mail as we have no internet at home. One Monday morning just after we arrived a young man came to the door looking for someone to talk to. (There is no one at the church on a regular basis except for scheduled meetings.) This young man had made some choices that were weighing him down and the burden had become almost too much to bear. We met with him everyday for a week and taught him of Our Father in Heaven's love for him, that he is known to God as are his choices and other hard circumstances he bears. We assured him of the Savior's love and that his load is not his to carry alone, that the Atonement is for him. Each day his face became a little brighter and his eyes a little more responsive. We pray that he will continue his journey for peace. This is one of the small things that happens in everyday missionary life. We are grateful for the blessing of this service.
We teach an adult class called "Institute of Religion" one night each week where we study The Book of Mormon. We help with a singles Family Home Evening one night a week. This includes a spiritual lesson and games and dessert (of course). One night a week we facilitate a program called H.O.P.E, Helping Ourselves Progress Eternally. It is based on the 12 step addiction recovery program but is for people with any kind of problem or addiction that is preventing them from living the kind of life they wish to live.
We enjoy some community volunteer work which includes sorting donations at Vinnies (St. Vincent de Paul), playing piano for "Happy Hour" at a rest home, helping make quilts for a cancer support group, and singing in the Armidale Chorale Society. We also visit the rest home daily. There are other things that come up from time to time for which we are happy to assist.
Armidale is a quiet town of about 20,000 and is advertised as the highest city in Australia. Supposedly winter starts in June but so far autumn has been fabulous. Cool at nights and 60-70 in the daytime. Winter can't be anything like St. Louis, or Idaho or Wyoming for that matter.
We look forward to new opportunities everyday. We are thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and know it is the way to happiness and peace.
A Primrose in our garden
When it cooled off the roses bloomed again
One of the quilts I bound for
the charity
The autumn leaves were wonderful
Many have fallen now and it is
about to turn into winter
We had 4 Dahlia plants, which froze about
a month ago. We will give two of them to
a neighbor. Elder Hokanson planted some
stock and poppies and some other flowers
Terry Wright, a descendant of Joseph Smith, who
lives in Diamond Head, has been building a
wonderful rain forest for the last 17 years. This
is one of the images in one section. His place is
wonderful, with many species of plants. His
footpaths are covered with moss, as he brushes
away the leaves.
If you have time please e-mail us at julinah@gmail.com or pmhokanson@juno.com. Love to hear from you.
