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