A very busy time in Perth!

April 25, 2020

Like all of you, our lives have been changed over these past couple of months in ways we could not have imagined. In some ways things are much more challenging & difficult...like meeting new people in community areas/projects, teaching face-to-face, baptisms, attending church, etc. In other ways life has improved for many people...more time together as a family, more personal reflection/self-improvement, developing better communication skills, learning discipline, etc...

The work of gathering has continued moving forward in surprising ways. We are blessed to be working w/some pretty awesome young missionaries. They are faithfully following the council received to pray for personal revelation, following through & having faith that the Lord will bless their efforts. They call dozens of people daily to check in; teach discussions online everyday; & are discovering for themselves how Elijah's promise can bring them blessings right now through FamilySearch...teaching it to others almost immediately; they are bearing testimonies in song on FB & through mighty fasting & prayer. Their roots of discipleship are going very deep.

Here are pictures of some of our wonderful missionaries!

           Sister Matakiti & Sister Tukuafu

               Sister Acosta & Sister Pei                   

       Elder T' Vili & Elder Tiaeki

                                                             Sister Vincent & Sister Seng

                                                              

Elder Ungo'ungo & Elder Tuddenham

                             

There are still over 55,000 full-time missionaries serving in some capacity around the world. They may be among the 2,000 at home preparing to serve full-time in online MTC classes or the 2,500 full-time, temporary missionaries who get moved from one area to another every week or so as borders open/change; or they might be doing FamilySearch/indexing preparing for when the Temples reopen; they might be service missionaries engaged in humanitarian/welfare projects or studying/teaching a foreign language in preparation for when they can begin their service; taking new Pathway Connect college courses...the opportunities are pretty endless for ways to be serving/preparing.





Here are some pictures of what we've been up to. Elder Tate has been busy fine-tuning all the bikes the missionaries use. Oftentimes he scavenges parts off one bike to rebuild others & he's been making sure they all have working lights, bells & locks. He had no idea he would be spending so many hours collecting & repairing bikes, but finds he enjoys the quiet & new-found skills. Then he & his cohort, Elder Vawdrey, test each bike. I believe Elder Tate could probably challenge the bike expert back home, Kenny Gilson, to a quick fix draw. 

Then there's the vehicles...as you can see below, there's quite a few of them. We only have three missionaries who can drive...three! So all the cars had to be brought in, cleaned & then parked. That took a week. Nice picture of the Temple, too! Now we are gearing up to drive them all to another location where they will be behind locked gates under surveillance until we have more drivers....makes for lots of driving for us senior missionaries. Driving beats riding a bike everywhere here in Perth....there's lots of big hills! 



















I've been spending my days helping organize the thousands of pamphlets, booklets, pass along cards & Books of Mormon that we've gathered from the dozens of empty flats. We love our over zealous missionaries who took armfulls of items with every intention of setting the world on fire with their preaching & handing out of Books, missionary pamphlets & cards. Unfortunately, when they all left we had to box all those items up & bring back to the mission office for inventory & are now putting generic boxes together for each new set of missionaries to take with them when they arrive. Trying to keep everything as simple & organized as possible. Takes time & the efforts of all of us working together. Here I am w/Sister Britton & Sister Vawdrey, both from the SLC area.  

The General Authorities have provided missionaries with a wonderful opportunity to receive powerful, uplifting messages every week in Wednesday evening devotionals. So far we've heard from Elder Vinson & his wife & Elder Gong & his wife. They have been sooo good!! We wish we could share them with everyone, but they do not allow that as the talks are not vetted like General Conference talks or articles from the church magazines so they are only available for a few days. 

I loved these quotes from Elder Gong...."Social distancing does not mean spiritual distancing"..."Amid uncertain times, some things remain certain." Elder Tate's favorites: "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together"..."Unchanging Gospel truths during changing times."  He emphasized that whatever the times & circumstances, the Church will continue to proclaim essential Gospel ordinances & doctrines.  The truth does not change, but the way we present it is ever-changing...improving.

As we continue to experience life & all it's change, we are ever mindful of the blessing we have to be full-time senior missionaries & representatives of the Savior in assisting to spread the good news of the restored Gospel. May you all feel the peace the gospel brings & find joy as you press forward in faith. Our prayers are with you/your families & we know the Lord is aware of each of His children & their needs/desires. We've enjoyed so much the messages of conference & the ongoing messages sent out by the Brethren to strengthen & edify us...especially Elder Bednar's short #HearHim message. They are so powerful & true! Please share them w/all your family & friends to bring them encouragement & hope.

Have a wonderful rest of your week! Hugs & love to you all...Elder & Sister Tate.  

 

Follow the Kangaroo Road...to Perth!

April 3, 2020

Hello!! Well, many things have happened since our last post. Everyone, except perhaps the Sentinelese natives, know the world has been hugely impacted by the COVID-19 virus. With about 36 hrs notice we had to pack up our belongings & head south to Perth last Monday before Western Australia shut down all interstate travel, except for those essential services like truck drivers, emergency personnel, etc. Tuesday night. The gov't instituted a $50K fine if caught without the necessary papers showing permission to be on the roads for work...even though saving souls should qualify! 

Although we felt much safer in Karratha, the Area Presidency requested all missionaries return to Perth in case we had to leave the country quickly. Our Mission President told us to bring our personal belongings & drive down w/the other senior couple from Port Hedland...he assures us that when things return to 'normal' we can go back. But for now, we'll be helping the other senior couples as they are in desperate need to get all our missionaries from other countries on their way back home & everything up & running as smoothly as possible with those of us remaining.

So, we packed the car to the gills & headed out on our first long-distance road trip. Randy had hoped to be able to go out on a charter boat to fish, but due to the time constraints, he'll have to wait until we make the trip back. Here's a couple pictures of our trip Monday to the small town of Carnarvon (Ca-nar-von). 

  

These are ant hills & covered hundreds of kilometers. Don't know what they found so appealing in this arid place, but the ants evidently like whatever it is!  And more red dirt...sigh.

After arriving in Carnarvon, we enjoyed a lovely evening sitting in our cars on a beach, eating fish n'chips while listening to the gulls & ocean waves coming into shore. We couldn't sit together because there's a limit of 2 people being together in public places. There's a $1000 fine if caught congregating... social distancing & all that... 

Since getting to Perth last Tuesday evening, we've been very busy. We spent Wednesday & Thursday driving all around the areas that were still accessible meeting our young missionaries who are still here & inspecting their flats; picking up food items/bedding to be stored until the mission is fully up & running again. Wednesday afternoon two young Elders showed up w/two large mission vans filled to the brim w/food items. Elder Tate & I were sooo relieved they came over & stayed, as we didn't relish the thought of making dozens of trips up & down the narrow winding staircase w/loads of heavy bags & boxes. 
Here's a few pictures of what's things look like in our garage & flat...and it will only get more crowded as we get the rest next week. 

There was a neighbor watching out his upper
window as we were taking things out of the 
car & stacking them in the garage. He finally
couldn't stand it any longer & came out to ask 'do you know something I don't?' Of course, Randy said, 'Yes' then explained what/why we were doing & then the guy was like ...okay. But not the least bit interested to know anything about who we were or how we knew more than the average person. 

We'll take him over some fresh baked pina colada bread & just be good neighbors... perhaps that will warm his hard little heart!      

Even the upstairs bathroom is not safe                                                                                                    from the massive food storage!! The tub is filled w/bags of rice. In Australia, most of toilets are not in the same room as the tub/sinks, etc, but are located in their own little closet...hense, the water closet. So, of course, we don't stack anything there. Wouldn't be prudent! 

It is now been a week since we arrived & we're exhausted by 7 pm every night! Every weekday we've done three-four flats then inventoried & moved food upstairs or around in the garage into some kind of organized mess. Tomorrow we have four sets of missionaries that need food deliveries, so one of the other couples will be picking up the 'care boxes' we put together. This is partly because all missionaries received extra $$ to purchase/store emergency provisions then got sent home or moved all over the place & couldn't take it w/them. So we've gathered it all up & will redistribute it when everyone is where they're going to be staying for the time being. And who knows how long that might be? 

Here's Elder Fulcher (from Brisbane...out 6 weeks! & Elder Tang, from Melbourne, who lived in San Antonio when he was in his teens & was in the same ward as our dear friends the Gosslings!! They've put their shoulders to the wheel & have been working hard to help us get everything organized. Love our missionaries sooo much!! 

They're actually teaching a 19 yr old gal who wants to be baptized, but due to the restrictions now in place, that will have to wait until at least small gatherings can be held again. But thank heaven for technology!! We can at least keep in touch; ask/answer questions; discuss topics of interest; do online school; call those we love...so much is still available to us at our fingertips. 

We also have Sister Missionaries who are teaching two people now waiting for baptism. So even though things are challenging, the work still moves forward & those whose hearts are prepared will be willing to do whatever is necessary to receive the Lord's saving ordinances. This is Sister Tukuafu from Samoa & Sister Makatiki from a very small island in the South Pacific called Iribis.

Elder Yavala is going home to Fiji...just found out he leaves tonight!(On right) So sad to lose him & he's not very happy about it either. You'll remember him from his time serving w/Elder Poxon in Karratha, so we know & love him a bunch! Hurrah for Israel, Elder Yavala! See you in Utah in fall of 2021 for our mission reunion! 

Look how lonely the beaches are! It was like this in both directions as far as we could see. Beach patrols out enforcing the rules pertaining to gatherings...a good thing, but so strange to see. 

We don't usually take P-days as there's to much to do/see, but we did take some time to go to Scarborough Beach. It's usually really crowded w/surfers, beach goers, people driving fancy cars, & just lots of people watching going on. But, as you all are experiencing yourselves, the virus has changed all that. No one allowed on the cool playgrounds; limited numbers allowed on the beaches; & very few people just out wandering about. We did see a bright yellow Lamborghini through...went too fast to get a picture though! 

So, what can we do to spread the good news of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ? As we've seen this past week at General Conference...the brethren lead the way & show by example what we can do. We can always ask...what would Jesus do in these circumstances? How & to whom would he minister? There are countless memes/messages of hope & peace & videos of the Savior to share; start up a scripture study group/or Come, Follow Me using video conferencing w/friends & family across the miles; we can pick up the phone/text & let others know they are missed & we are thinking of them; become engaged in family history work w/our children & grandchildren; look for opportunities to connect on social media w/others of like minds & share experiences & testimonies. The Spirit will inspire you as to what you can do when you pray for guidance & are willing to do something a little out of the ordinary. Like this for example!  

As many of you & millions of others around the world, we will join together on Good Friday to fast & pray for relieve from the COVID-19 virus & other devastating disasters causing so much sorrow & distress in the world. We have been amazed at the outpouring support & encouragement from people of all walks of life & their willingness to put aside personal differences or animosities to join together in supplication or simple meditation to seek heavenly assistance at this time.

We are very grateful to still be serving here & assisting the Lord's latter-day army of missionaries...Pres. Nelson's army! It might be small right now, but it is powerful! And when the bans, social distancing, precautions & boundaries are finally lifted...& they will be...well, look out world, because missionaries will be out in even greater numbers than before! Their hearts & testimonies are being forged & refined by the fires of adversity & they will be even more dedicated in preparing the world for the Savior's return.

May your families be safe & filled w/peace. We love & miss you all...Hugs from the two of us!

Elder & Sister Tate