Golden Orientation September 2016

Go Get Em' Goldens

If you ask any missionary of the Australia Brisbane Mission, and ask them to describe their feelings on Golden Orientation, likely you'll get happy smiles and warm memories. It is a fond time to be excited to be young on the mission and get excited to get em! Filled with 2 days of training, and street contacting, intense exercise, it is not for the faint of heart. For all involved in the September 2016 golden oriention, WELCOME TO THE MIGHTY ABM!

Elder Cheuk and Elder Meyer plan out their next move.

Bikes won't stop these sisters!

No biker will go unspoked to

Sister Tamanivalu, Sister Butler, and President McSwain

Sister Richins, Sister Bean, Elder Bean, and Elder Richins. Without these faithful seniors the mission would likely grind to a very slow pace. Thank you for all you do!

Onward ever onward!

Sister Costa, Sister Sawatdeenaruemol. Sister Sau, Sister Tamanivalu, Sister Salu, Sister Tavivongpaiboon, Sister Butler, Sister Day, Sister 'Aloua
Elder Afable, Elder Malobago, Elder Tiaihau, Elder Cheuk, Elder Meyer, Elder Johnson, Elder Hansen.

Blast from Tonga

 Papitaiso in Logan Tongan!

You may think that Australia is full of the wallabies and kangaroos, but there is quite a diverse group of people that live in the Brisbane area, which makes it such a unique to serve and live in. Over the weekend President and Sister McSwain were invited to attend a baptism down in the Logan Tongan branch. In typical Tongan fashion they were made guests of honour and enjoyed a spiritually charged baptism and a wonderful cultural evening. Malo!

Two pigs, is it enough?

The McSwains as guests of honour with the priesthood leaders of the Logan Tongan branch, with Elders Tenney and Hausia

Golden Rays of Sunshine arrive in the Sunshine State!

Welcome Goldens September 2016

As the primary song sings "On a GOLDEN spring time..." new missionaries entered the field! As a Queensland winter rolls over into spring the ABM welcomes in new batch of missionaries alive and aglow with their testimony of our Saviour. They come from all walks of life and after this most recent intake of missionaries, the ABM has a missionary serving from every continent making the ABM truly a global family.

Sister 'Aloua trained by Sister Tuatonga

Sister Butler trained by Sister Galang

Sister Day trained by Sister Enero

Sister Salu trained by Sister Custan

Sister Sau trained by Sister Kanwid

Sister Sawatdeenaruemol trained by Sister Malau

Sister Tamanivalu trained by Sister Esekielu

Sister Tavivongpaiboon Trained by Sister Gale

Sister Costa trained by Sister Alldredge

Elder Cahoon trained by Elder Cadiang (not pictured)

Elder Cheuk trained by Elder Hartvig-Hansen

Elder Hansen trained by Elder Gali

Elder Johnson trained by Elder Harvey

Northern Miracles

Baptisms up North

The north is a tough place to serve. You are far away from the mission, it is hot, and the lifestyle of those up there make it a difficult place to share the gospel, but that doesn't stop miracles from happening. These precious souls entered the waters of baptism and have been blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost! Miracles still abound!

Record for farthest trade off goes to Elder Mthabela, Elder King and Elder Soakai. From Townsville to Mt. Isa!

Departing Missionaries September 2016

A Hymn to the Fallen

Departing Missionaries of September 2016

18 months to 2 years is a long time to be away from home. Yet as Jacob states so poetically, "The time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream..." (Jacob 7:26). These elders and sisters will be missed but they have far grander adventures to attend to. The ABM wishes them good luck and pray they will take with them the mighty change of a life time.

Elder Tivles, Elder Siliili, Elder Johnson, Elder Johnson, Elder Paulis, Elder Palmer, Elder Sunagawa, Sister Blanchard, Sister Paulo

Sister Paulo

Enjoying a final feast before they end. The dinner is filled with tender testimony and spiritual insights

Elder Siliili

Elder Johnson and Elder Palmer ready to go!

Elder Palmer

Elder Johnson

Elder Tivles

Elder Paulis

Elder Sunagawa signing off

Sisters Conference September 2016

As Sisters in Zion

Learning to become Covenant Keeping Women

They do not happen very often but when they do, they really happen. Because of the large amounts of new sister missionaries in the mission, a special sisters conference was called to teach and train the sisters on how to become, as President Nelson taught, "Covenant Keeping Women." Though there were many laughs and smiles, there was also true doctrine taught. Overall it was a spectacular opportunity for all to be uplifted and encouraged as they go back into the field.

The sisters of the ABM

President McSwain presided over the conference and taught powerfully the doctrine of Christ

The Goodna Region

The North Pine Region

The Pacific Pines Region

Once a sister, always a sister

Sister McSwain (center) with the Sister Training Leaders of the Mission. (Sisters Grawrock and Campbell-purple, Sisters Kunz and Evans-white/pink Sisters Bowen and Whatcott-bright pink, Sisters Fakatava and Sweet-yellow)