November 4, 2020
Sorry for the delay in posting updates the past couple of weeks. We've been very busy & I just have been too tired come evening time to make a concerted effort to keep up. But that's ok... we have lots of news to share.
Meet Jason, a true Crocodile Dundee! No kidding... Jason's a full-time gold prospector & lives in his rig out in the bush for weeks at a time even when the temperatures are in the 100's. This would be like living out of your four-wheeler in the middle of nowhere Nevada, without cell coverage & no people for many, many miles in every direction.
We spent a delightful evening listening to his stories...tales of sleeping w/spiders; coming across dens of deadly king brown snakes; taking helio rides scouting for potential gold fields; being contacted to help find people lost in the bush & other amazing adventures. Not long ago he was the advisor on a TV show about finding gold in the outback. When the directors saw how personable he was with everyone & good on camera, they offered him the lead in a new TV series to just play himself. They offered him a lot of money & couldn't believe it when he turned them down (we couldn't either)! He's just not interested in money or fame, just loves the simple life & is a very humble man who recognizes when he 'has sufficient for his needs.'
However, he's helped others find treasure! One friend asked him to take an acquaintance out prospecting & this guy found three nuggets...one worth about $230K, another worth $40K & a smaller one worth $5K. Of course they were pretty excited. Jason didn't expect to be paid anything for helping the guy, so wasn't disappointed when he wasn't. I think it was pretty cheap of the guy, but that's on him, not Jason. He just goes about his business doing good & helping others.
Below are a few of the nuggets he's found recently...the worth of these three small pieces was around $4000. The largest piece is only about an inch across & worth about $2200...so he does just fine for himself. Elder Tate is antsy to get out in the bush to d0 a bit of gold prospecting for himself. I hope when it comes time to leave for home he doesn't decide to stay behind, but one never knows when gold fever can hit...kind of like covid-19!
Jason started taking the missionary lessons & was progressing very well. He has no religious background or upbringing; no concept of prayer or preconceived ideas about life in general. In other words, he is a clean slate upon which the Spirit can work & write. Jason's very happy w/what he's learned so far & hungry to continue this spiritual journey. He recognizes how those he's loved & lost have actively been directing his path towards us in order to learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. However, please keep him in your prayers as the adversary has been working overtime to prevent him from coming to the waters of baptism. It's been our experience that as blessings start to come, so do temptations/trials & if these good souls are not prepared & understand what's happening, they get confused & pull away.
Here are pictures of our last P-Day w/Elders Maguale & Winter. We spent several hours showing them around Kalgoorlie & went up to the Super pit gold mine. They are wonderful missionaries & we love having them here.
Elder Winter at our Friday game night playing 'Murder', which has quickly become a ward favorite! Even the younger kids are getting ruthless & love the game. Can you see how the marbles for the two teams are at the exact same place? He may not look too happy, but Elder Winter & I won! Getting ready to make our weekly jaunt out to the Boulder camp, one of many places the government provides for Indigenous people to stay when they come in from out bush to attend funerals, go to the shops or see friends/family. Some camps are very nice w/cafeterias, nice showers/bathroom facilities & dorm style living accommodations for individuals & families...kind of like our national KOA campgrounds. The difference is the nice ones are alcohol/drug free areas & costs $20/day while the other is free w/no restrictions. Unfortunately, many people come in to these unrestricted camps & bring their little children w/them where they are surrounded by drunks, abuse & unsanitary conditions. It is very disheartening to those who serve & wish there was a way to break through the cultural conditioning & rampant addictions. It is at these times we're so very grateful for Christ's Atonement & the Plan that provides a second chance for all of God's children to be taught free of chemicals & traditions & make informed choices whether or not to follow Him.
Every Saturday we pick up a big black garbage bag filled w/fresh bread donated from one of the local bakeries. We then separate the bread & rolls into individual bags w/one of these fliers inside. The Elder's put together a drop route & Randy drives them around to visit less actives & non-members they are teaching. It's a lovely way to say 'hello' & we hope to see you tomorrow at Church. Almost everyone loves free, fresh baked bread!
Our most exciting news is the road trip we took last weekend down south to a small coastal town called Esperance. It was nice to leave the dry, red dirt & parched hills of the outback & experience the cool wind & salty sea air that is found along the gorgeous, white sand coastlines. As much as a little vacation is always lovely, the reason we drove several hours south was for long awaited baptism of a 16 yr. old young woman named Bree...& it finally happened! Kicked out of her dis-functional home when only 14, she was taken in by a friend's family, the Barr's. This family moved from California to Australia 20+ yrs ago; have raised 6 kids & continue to be very engaged in the Gospel. They are the only active family in the area...true pioneers, which has not always been easy for them or the kids. But they love it here & have no intention of leaving Australia...only plan on moving closer to Perth & their grandkids as soon as the youngest graduates from high school.
Elder Tate was able to be one of the witnesses to the baptism...he was excited to be able to observe this sacred ordinance while standing in the sparkling aqua waters of the southern Indian Ocean. In addition to the baptism, he also represented the Mission Pres. in ordaining the Barr's son, James, to the Melchizedek priesthood. It was truly a delightful Sabbath for us all.
Here you see the flies starting to cover Randy's shirt...by the time summer hits full on, it will be
almost black. Hence, the fly net for the head
otherwise they'll be up your nose, eyes, ears...
We had a stake conference this past weekend w/visits from our Stake President & counselor from Perth. They flew out for two days & helped us enjoy a barbeque & games night Saturday evening & a lovely Sacrament service/combined Relief Society & Elder's Quorum Zoom lesson afterwards. Then we held a 'Munch & Mingle' afterwards w/delicious foods & great conversations. We realize we're very fortunate to be able to do this right now as COVID has prevented these gatherings in so many parts of the world, including our own hometown. We continually pray for the Lord to bless the world & bring about a cessation of the virus so life can resume for families & communities.
Another birthday celebration here in Australia for me! So grateful for lovely friends & our ward family who help us not be quite so homesick & being away from home a wonderful experience. We visited w/family & friends via FB; spent time w/the Elders...fixed buttermilk pancakes for brunch & played a few games, then had a delicious dinner w/the Mortley family & a missionary lesson w/three nonmember ladies...an auntie, Elisa & Luisa & her daughter Silo (11). We've been teaching them for awhile now & continue to be hopeful they will commit to baptism soon. Scott & Melissa have become our family away from home...lots of sweet, rambunctious kids to hug; great gospel discussions & laughter around the dinner table. Melissa's a great cook...here's the Black Forest birthday cake she bakes for me...yummy! We love our peeps here in Kalgoorlie!
There are some very interesting trees here...these are pictures of one...the Jacaranda tree. During most of the year they are just regular trees w/pretty fern-like leaves & then, when fall approaches, the leaves drop off & what's left is a typical naked tree. As spring approaches, these weird, oval brown seed pods appear & it really is a rather unsightly tree. However, ove a period of weeks this ugliness disappears as stunning purple blossoms pop out & the whole tree is bursting with beautiful bell-shaped blossoms & then bright green foliage appears. When in full bloom they are absolutely stunning! There is no smell until the blossoms are crushed, then a heavenly fragrance is released. It is beyond beautiful.
Like the Jacaranda tree, we too go through periods of dormancy, when we aren't very productive, positive or hopeful. We can often feel ugly or unlovable & feel like a failure. But because of our Saviour, we all have the opportunity & blessing to repent & come unto Him; to become clean again & feel refreshed & whole. Just like the unsightly Jacaranda trees in springtime, when we reach up to the Son, the Spirit can move within us, bringing renewed hope, vitality & beauty to our lives. We are meant to bloom where we are planted & grow into magnificent trees; giving shade or comfort to others who feel hopeless; food to the hungry, shelter from the elements & beauty in a world is often ugly & lonely.
As we move into the season of thanksgiving, let us seek to have eyes to see & ears to hear that we may let His will prevail in our lives. May we turn to our Father w/gratitude for the glorious plan of redemption through our Saviour's Atonement & recommit to be a little kinder, less judgemental, more patient & faithful.
We are so happy to be serving the Lord in this little patch of His vineyard & to share in the great gathering taking place throughout the world. We testify that He lives & loves us; that His gospel has been restored in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; that we are led by living Prophets & Apostles & that the Savior & Redeemer of the world will return again.
Thank you for your continued prayers in our behalf. We know our Heavenly Father watches over our little flock at home & feel to shout 'Hosanna!' every time we think of the blessings the gospel brings into our lives & that of our loved ones. May you feel His love in your homes & hearts is our prayer....Hurrah for Israel!!
Love to you all!! Elder & Sister Tate
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