....AND MORE CHRISTMAS!

OUR WONDERFUL ZONES created some very entertaining and uplifting performances during our Christmas day of celebration.  

We are so blessed with talented, creative, musical, inspirational, humorous, happy, full-of-the-SPIRIT missionaries!  It was fun to share with each other as we gathered together for a day of Christmas cheer....

MORE CHRISTMAS....

The missionaries had a wonderful CHRISTMAS feast....

THANKS TO THE MUNRO FAMILY & FRIENDS!

They sacrificed their Christmas Eve day (and many days before) to plan, prepare and serve 245 missionaries a delicious dinner; we are so grateful!

MISSION CHRISTMAS

We enjoyed a wonderful CHRISTMAS on the 24th of December with all the missionaries who are serving in the surrounding areas of Brisbane...we missed our great missionaries who are far away in the Northern Zone, but know they were taken care of by our great Senior Couples!  

Our missionaries were able to enjoy the day together sharing the Spirit of Christmas in many ways: 

                                                        SERVICE

Several groups of missionaries went to some local Rest Homes to sing Christmas carols and share a Christmas message.

Some of the  missionaries helped with service projects for Project Love & Care who provide love and care for foster children.  It was such a wonderful feeling to do something to help these children.  The missionaries made labels for care packages and bead bracelets for the girls.  

 

  

So many hands made light work!

 

MARVELOUS MANGOES

It is MANGO SEASON in Australia and we are enjoying the abundance of this delicious fruit. We love fresh mango with lime, creamy mango yogurt, smooth mango puree on Pavlova, mango salsa, frozen mango in our smoothies, and mango just poked fresh on a fork.  The secret to cutting mangoes took me a few tries, but now we can cut it, score it and eat it straight from the skin.  

The mango has a flat-ish oblong pit in the center of it. Your objective is to cut along the sides of the pit, separating the flesh from the pit. Holding the mango with one hand, stand it on its end, stem side down. Standing up the mango up like this you should be able to imagine the alignment of the flat, oval pit inside of it. With a sharp knife in your other hand, cut from the top of the mango, down one side of the pit. Then repeat with the other side. You should end up with three pieces - two halves, and a middle section that includes the pit.   Take a mango half and use a knife to make lengthwise and crosswise cuts in it, but try not to cut through the peel. 
I have made an interesting discovery since moving to Australia about mangoes after receiving a phone call from one of our missionaries who was experiencing an itchy, red rash that he learned came from picking mangoes.  Who would have ever thought that this delectable fruit would have a dark side?  

Mango Sap

When the stem is removed from the fruit, the mango releases a highly caustic sap, this can burn the fruit and your skin.

We have had a couple missionaries call about this problem, some who have had it more severe than others.  They tell you here in Australia that you can avoid sap burn by using good picking and de-sapping practices:

• Always hold stem end of fruit away from your body.
• When picking mangoes – wear long pants, long sleeved collared shirt, wide brimmed hat, 30+ sunscreen, closed-in shoes, gloves and sunglasses
• When sorting or packing mangoes – wear gloves, closed-in shoes, a long-sleeved shirt and sunscreen.
• If your skin does come into contact with sap, wash with fresh water immediately
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching eyes, face and going to the toilet

Just thought you should know!

MISSION MIRACLE

This wonderful man just got baptized this past Saturday and all that I can say is that the gospel truly changes people.  Elder Fifita and I were tracting one day and saw an older man walking down the sidewalk towards us, he didn't look too interested so we decided to keep knocking.  Elder Fifita then turned around and said I will get this one because we made a goal to never let anyone pass us without trying to talk to them.  We contacted him and he invited us back the very next day.  Within the next two lessons we invited him to be baptized and he accepted.  When we met him he had no idea who Christ was except for a small, basic idea that he heard while growing up.  Over the month or so that we taught him we saw his understanding grow and his desire to give up smoking and anything else increase.  As he received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday there was a light in his eyes that I had never seen before, he truly was letting himself come unto Christ.  His very nature has been changed and I am thankful and blessed to have been placed in his path. 
Talk to Everyone, miracles will happen!!
Elder Nelson and Fifita found him and Elder Nelson and Elder Beveridge baptized him.

MISSION MIRACLE

THE WORK OF SALVATION is alive & well in the Brisbane Australia Mission.
"We have been working really closely with members. As we encouraged ward members to be member missionaries we started seeing great success.  A wonderful member of the Tweed Heads ward is one example of a member missionary who invited two of her close friends to learn more about the gospel. She gave us the contact details and we responded quickly to the referral we had received. That first visit was very successful; they agreed to learn more about the church.  As we continued to teach them, they were able to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and were willing to keep all commitments extended.  One evening we felt prompted to discuss with them the power and the importance of the priesthood authority. The lesson was powerful and as we concluded bearing our testimonies another miracle occurred. Three priesthood holders in our ward chose to come visit this great couple that evening. They came at the most perfect timing. One of the priesthood holders asked if he would like to receive a priesthood blessing and they readily agreed. It was the most beautiful blessing and the spirit was strong in that room. That evening he received his witness that the things we had shared were true.  They agreed to be baptized on November 2, 2013. The baptismal service was beautiful . We know that miracles are in store as members and missionaries, together with a concerted effort, labor in the Lord's vineyard. We are so grateful for the blessings and miracles we have been able to witness as we have served in the Tweed Heads ward.
Sister Merrill and Sister Boekweg

GOLDEN ORIENTATION

We LOVE our Golden Missionaries!

DISTRICT CONFERENCE IN ROCKHAMPTON

It was a wonderful weekend in Rockhampton!  We enjoyed a spirit-filled District Conference with the Saints from Rockhampton, Gladstone, Mackay, and Emerald in the Rockhampton chapel.  So many amazing things are happening in this great District....

PICTURES CAN SAY SO MUCH!

FIVE OF THE NEWLY ORDAINED MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD BRETHREN in Gladstone

NEW MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH IN ROCKHAMPTON