30 August 2020 More mask making and a birthday

Another year, another birthday.  The best post-it I ever received was on our door when I returned from my walk.  Don leaves around 6:45 every morning and is already gone when I get back. But his note, "Happy Birthday, You don't look a day over 40" was all I needed.   I wish I had those 26 years (plus about 20 more) back knowing what I know now, right?  It was a great day with lots of wishes from home with family and friends.  The best part- celebrating two days due to the international dateline!  So here in Australia I was surprised with some  gifts, cake and ice cream and a great dinner out with some friends.  We also had an all Australian mission conference Zoomed from Salt Lake with Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Brent Neilson of the Seventy, and Bishop Dean Davies and their wives on my day.  I thought I might get a shout-out, but apparently not as it was primarily for the younger missionaries anyway, so I just enjoyed the messages.

A Birthday portrait

My walking buddies and fellow senior missionaries:  Elise Christensen, Nina Anderson,

 and Theresa Thomas

Our birthday gift arrived from our daughter Alison earlier this week.  True to form, she has remembered her Dad's favorite team, the Atlanta Braves and what would life be without our all-time loves the Chicago Cubs?  Don always told our kids that if the Cubs ever got to a World Series, we would go to.  Well, last time that happen we were serving in Germany though Alison was able to go to Wrigley Field for part of the series without us.  So maybe it would be best if we took one for the team again.  They seem to do well when we are out of the country.

Some of our young missionaries even were familiar with American baseball and I duly impressed them with the masks.  But the last mask-making project went so well and the masks so well received, that Elise Christensen organized another Friday sewing day.  Another group of missionaries arrived and jumped right in.  They love learning how to use a sewing machine which just warmed my heart to watch them.  And like our last efforts, lots of masks were made for a Cancer Center with lots of joy going into the effort.

I love these smiles and their laughter; it is contagious.

Elder Kaburara told me he had never used a sewing machine but wanted to learn.  I smiled every time I went by as he stayed with it all day.  Sister Christensen is amazing as she had everything organized, set-up, and and prepared the materials.  Of course she was running from one station to another keeping everyone engaged. I supported her as best as I could which is generally to help with the machines, cutting, ironing, and keeping the missionaries on task.  Elder Williams asked me about three times to fix his  machine! Several broken needles had to be replaced and jammed threads cleaned out, but overall, we were able to still get the masks made.   

 Lots of happy faces.  Sister Tamara wasn't sleeping. She was just laughing every time Elder Orro corrected her efforts.  He took delight in pointing out what he thought she needed to do or re-do.  It was a great afternoon of service and fun for all.

 A few weeks ago, Don and I went with Christensens to the South Head so this time we headed to the North Head Sanctuary on the other side of Sydney Harbour by Manly.  A warm, late winter day where one could just feel that spring is coming.

 A bit hazy when we began our hike as fires were being set to clear out some bush in preparation for the coming summer season.  No one wants a repeat of last year's devastating conflagration. With the rains and some drought conditions ended perhaps that will not happen again. 

This is the entrance to the Australia Memorial Walk which commemorates those Australians that have served their country in wartime and peace.  Along the way are five monuments explaining the various times of conflict and the Australian involvement in each.

The monuments along the walk recognize the Colonial Period of conflict, World War I, World War II, Post WWII which includes the Korean Conflict, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq.  Each monument along with the final one for Peace Keeping include information regarding the conflicts and allow for pondering and reflection.

Hiking through the North Head Sanctuary also took us to the North Fort where it was once part of the defense system used in World War II.  The tunnels were closed due to Covid so we couldn't go down on this day. The gun emplacements are still there as this one is in a process of restoration.

This is the Close Defence Battery Observation Post that was manned primarily at night.

We finished up the Loop hike by walking through the grounds of the Barracks Precinct which were part of the defense system to protect Sydney with anti-aircraft and the massive guns to fire at invading enemy ships.  We also learned more about the 1942 "Battle of Sydney" when the Japanese Imperial Navy launched three midget submarines to attack Allied and Austrailian cruisers in the harbour.  

Another great day to be living in Sydney and learning about this wonderful country we are calling home for another year.