10/18/26
This week we taught our final “new” THRIVE preventative mental health lesson! That means we’ve officially taught all EIGHT lessons and will now be starting the series over again!
I’m actually really excited to teach these lessons a second time! Now that we’ve been through the entire curriculum and can see how all the lessons connect and build upon one another, I think we’ll be able to teach them even more effectively—and hopefully a little more smoothly! 😂 I’m definitely a slow learner when it comes to some of these emotional literacy skills, so I’m hoping that teaching them a second time will help the concepts sink in even deeper. Maybe I’ll even become a little more emotionally literate myself! Ha ha!
Teaching THRIVE has truly become one of our FAVORITE parts of our mission! Not just because the content is so valuable, but because it gives us the opportunity to spend time with, get to know, and learn from our AMAZING junior missionaries!
Before our mission, we already thought missionaries were pretty awesome. But after serving alongside them, witnessing their courage, passion, dedication, and willingness to sacrifice so much to serve the Lord, we now KNOW just how INCREDIBLE they really are! These young men and women work SO hard every single day, often doing difficult things far outside their comfort zones. We admire them more than words can express and have grown to LOVE them all so much! ❤️
Here are some highlights from our week!
Monday –
Today was a pretty typical Monday! We spent time planning for the week, sending out our Sydney Senior Scoop newsletter to our senior missionary friends, and catching up with family members back home.
In the evening, we attended the Mortdale District Council (DC). Afterward, Eric helped the elders locate the breaker box in their apartment so they could get their stove working again! Just another day of senior missionary service—part spiritual support, part handyman! 😂
Tuesday –
The elders called early this morning to let us know that Elder Teibi’s back was out and he was lying in pain. Eric immediately headed out to buy Advil and help give Elder Teibi a blessing. He’s the best!
I spent much of the day preparing to teach THRIVE Lesson #5, Listening for Understanding.
WOW! This is definitely a lesson I need to hear, REHEAR, practice, and then practice some more! There are so many valuable concepts and skills in this curriculum that can help us become better listeners, better communicators, and more compassionate people. I love that we’re not just teaching these principles to the missionaries—we’re learning and growing right alongside them!
In the evening, we attended our Book of Mormon class. Afterward, Eric got busy in the kitchen making TWO Texas Sheet Cakes for our training tomorrow! We wanted to celebrate the October birthdays of several missionaries in our own zone. And really, who doesn’t love a little chocolate cake?! 🎂
Wednesday –
Today we taught THRIVE to the Abinadi Zone—OUR zone! These poor missionaries always get to be our “guinea pigs” as we teach each lesson for the first time. Ha ha! Thankfully, they’re wonderful sports about it!
We brought along Eric’s delicious Texas Sheet Cakes, complete with gummy eyeballs on top because, after all, it IS Halloween month! 👀🎃 We celebrated FOUR October birthdays in our zone: Elder DeWitt, Sister Candland, Sister Booth, and Sister Pan! We LOVE any excuse to celebrate our missionaries!
Later in the day, we had the opportunity to sit in on two lessons with the sister missionaries, teaching our friends JunJay and Jeremy. We always enjoy these opportunities to support the missionaries and get to know the wonderful people they’re teaching.
That evening, for our Young Women’s activity, we went on a “Ghost Walk” through Sydney’s CBD (Central Business District). It was a fun, interactive walking tour that shared some of the fascinating history behind different buildings and landmarks throughout the city. We had to solve riddles along the way to discover our next destination!
I BEGGED Eric to come along, just in case we couldn’t figure out the riddles and ended up wandering around Sydney all night! 😂 Thankfully, the clues weren’t too difficult, but I was still glad to have him with us!
We didn’t quite finish the entire walk because it was getting late and Ella had school the next morning. So, we ended our adventure with a stop at Yo-Chi for frozen yogurt—an absolute FAVORITE among our Aussie missionaries! A perfect ending to a fun evening!
Thursday –
We had originally planned to make Texas Sheet Cakes for EVERY zone we trained this transfer, but after a little reconsideration, we decided to simplify things and bring breakfast treats instead—muffins and pastries! Hopefully, the missionaries weren’t too disappointed that we didn’t repeat the pancake bar we served last transfer! Ha ha!
We headed out early this morning and drove to Greenwich, part of the area associated with Australia’s oldest Latter-day Saint stake, to teach THRIVE to the Alma Zone. We always love visiting the different zones and spending time with the missionaries serving throughout the mission.
After training, we made our way to Parramatta for lunch at Criniti’s! We’ve decided that one of our unofficial mission goals is to eat at EVERY Criniti’s location in New South Wales! 😂 Hey, everyone needs goals, right?!
Friday –
This morning, we headed to the zoo for our exercise walk! Since we have annual passes, it’s basically a “FREE” and FUN place to get our steps in while enjoying the beautiful surroundings and animals.
Unfortunately, almost ALL the animals seemed to be sleeping today! Apparently, they didn’t get the memo that we were coming! 😂
We did, however, witness a rather entertaining—and slightly startling—chimpanzee who was clearly NOT having a good day! He charged at the glass viewing enclosure TWICE and kept stirring up the other chimps. YIKES! He was definitely having some BIG feelings today! Maybe he could benefit from one of our THRIVE emotional literacy lessons! Ha ha!
After our zoo adventure, we headed to The Rocks for lunch at one of our favorite fajita restaurants, El Camino Cantina. YUM!
We spent the afternoon working from home, catching up on various missionary assignments and responsibilities. It was nice to have a little quieter time to get things done!
Saturday –
Today was P-DAY! Woohoo!
We met up with several of our wonderful senior missionary friends at Bondi Beach to enjoy the annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition. It’s such a unique event, with incredible sculptures displayed along the beautiful coastal walk. Art AND gorgeous ocean views—what a combination!
After exploring the sculptures, we headed to Macelleria for lunch. It’s a fun restaurant where you can select your own cuts of meat from the butcher counter, and they’ll grill them up for you!
We decided to be adventurous and try KANGAROO SAUSAGES! Yes, kangaroo! 🦘
I took ONE bite. It actually wasn’t bad, but I decided that was enough kangaroo for me! Ha ha! Eric, on the other hand, seemed to LOVE it and happily finished the rest of my sausage! I guess he’s becoming a true Aussie! 😂
We always have such a wonderful time getting together with our “Senior Angel” friends! What an incredible group of people we have been blessed to serve alongside. We LOVE them all so much and are grateful for the friendships we’ve developed!
After saying goodbye to our friends, we headed home, and Eric took off for Costco to purchase everything we needed for our Sunday missionary dinner and our church “linger longer” meal.
While he was gone, I worked on preparing a talk I would be giving in sacrament meeting the next day, along with my Young Women’s lesson.
That evening, we treated ourselves to ice cream bars and a Hallmark CHRISTMAS movie! Ha ha! Yes, I know it’s only October, but, as usual, I’m getting an early start on the Christmas season! 🎄❤️
Sunday –
WHEW! What a FULL Sunday!
Today I had the opportunity to speak in sacrament meeting, sharing thoughts inspired by General Conference messages from Sister Tamara W. Runia and Elder David L. Hathaway. I always appreciate the opportunity to study and reflect more deeply on the teachings of our Church leaders as I prepare a talk.
During the second hour, Eric and I both taught lessons—Eric in Elders Quorum and me in Young Women. We really do LOVE serving with our wonderful Hyde Park Group!
After church, we enjoyed our “linger longer” fellowship meal. Eric and I decided to try a new, SUPER EASY recipe to share! We purchased premade Asian salad kits from Costco and added mandarin oranges and shredded chicken to make them a little more substantial. We also served a bowl of salted, roasted peanuts on the side for anyone who wanted to sprinkle some on top. And guess what? It turned out DELICIOUS! So simple, but SO yummy! Definitely a keeper!
That evening, we hosted our traditional Sunday missionary dinner and celebrated TWO more birthdays—Sister Candland and Elder DeWitt! We always love having the missionaries in our home, feeding them, laughing together, and enjoying their wonderful spirits and personalities. They truly have become part of our mission FAMILY!
At 8:30 PM, we joined an Australia Sydney Mission Zoom devotional, which was a wonderful way to finish the evening.
It was definitely a FULL day, but one filled with so many blessings!
Another wonderful week in the Australia Sydney Mission! Between teaching THRIVE, spending time with our incredible junior missionaries, serving our Hyde Park Group, exploring this beautiful country, and enjoying the friendship of our fellow senior missionaries, our hearts are FULL!
One of the greatest blessings of this mission has been realizing that while we came here hoping to teach, help, and strengthen others, WE are the ones being taught, helped, and strengthened in so many ways!
We are learning so much about love, patience, compassion, service, and discipleship. And we’re discovering that the Lord can use every experience—even the busy, exhausting, unpredictable, and sometimes challenging ones—to help us become a little more like Him.
We LOVE this work, we LOVE these missionaries, and we LOVE serving the Lord here in Sydney! ❤️🇦🇺
