The Helland's Down Under

March 16- 22

We’re a week late on posting this week! Oops! The new week took off like a wild fire so we haven’t had much time to sit down and record what happened. We probably need better time management! Ha ha!

Here’s what the week looked like:

Monday –

Today was our planning, preparing lessons, calling grandkids, and district council day! We had to spend a lot of time preparing for the 8th Emotional Literacy class we’re starting this week (I like that title better than “preventative mental health.” I think it better describes the class).

This was St Patricks’s day from two years ago when we had the kids for spring break. 

Tuesday –

Happy St. Patricks Day! It’s funny how the Sydney culture doesn’t seem to celebrate certain holidays the same as we do in the US. Hardly anyone wore green (don’t worry, I didn’t try to pinch anyone!) or even mentioned it! Maybe because Eric and I worked at elementary schools forever that we were always aware of every little holiday. Elementary school teams are a different breed! We dress up for ANY crazy holiday, spirit week, 100th day of school, etc! We have a whole wardrobe of interesting clothing for each “event.” We did see a St Patrick’s day celebration happening the previous Saturday but that was it. Truthfully, we didn’t see many houses decorated for Christmas either but the downtown did go all out decorating. However, people weren’t wearing red and green or festive clothing as we got closer to Christmas – again, maybe that’s an elementary teacher thing – ha ha!

We helped with a lesson today with our friend from Finland. He’s an engineer…and a sailor on the side. He’s a pretty cool, intelligent guy. He comes to church every Sunday and even went with us via public transportation for Stake Conference, which was about an hour away. He wants to take us sailing but his boat is in Finland and it’s pretty expensive to rent a big one here.

We were supposed to teach “Temple Prep” and “Book of Mormon Study” class but I got a terrible stomach ache and went back to the flat. Eric stayed to teach Temple Prep at the church then asked the junior missionaries to cover the BOM class so he could come home and see how I was feeling (isn’t he so sweet?!). Later that night we had to do our “teach back” on zoom, where we “pass off” the next Emotional Literacy lesson to our mentor – a certified therapist. We have to pass it off before we can teach it.

St Patricks festivities down by Circular Quay

Wednesday –

Today we woke up earlier to drive to New Castle. We were planning to arrive at 8:00 am, set up and be ready to welcome the junior missionaries when they arrive before 9:00. It’s usually a two hour drive but today, due to heavy rain and crazy traffic, it ended up taking us 3 hours to get there. Thankfully the missionaries helped us quickly set up. They had mostly everything ready for us (they’re so awesome!). Our original plan was to hurry back to Sydney to make it for an appointment with a body shop so they could prepare an estimate for the insurance company then work at the temple for the evening session, as we normally do. However, the drive was long and we were both feeling like we needed some “down time” together so we postponed our car appt and let the temple know we wouldn’t be working that night. Instead we stayed and “played” in New Castle – going out to lunch at our favorite Mexican food chain here in Sydney – Gomez Y Guzman (it’s like Chipotle), then heading down to the beach to see a light house, walk a famous beach path, and walk in the surf at the beach. After that we visited a beautiful cathedral, then went to a cool shopping center to walk around and get Yo-Chi (frozen yogurt) before we ended up leaving New Castle. It was SUCH a fun day – just hanging out with Eric and feeling like husband and wife/besties and not just “senior missionaries.” I realize that we really do need our PDay each week – more than to prepare for the week (housework, laundry, prepare lessons, etc.) but we need some time to have a “date” and just enjoy each other’s company, while experiencing the beauty and fun Australia has to offer! 

New Castle NSW

Nobby beach

christ church cathedral

At the Mall

Thursday –

Today was Alyce’s Australia birthday (it’ll be tomorrow in the US). I can’t believe our “baby” is 36 years old!!! Our son will be 38 in another month! Where has time gone?!?! Our children are full-fledged adults! Our grandkids are becoming teenagers! EEK – does that mean that Eric and I are “oldies” now?!? I’m going to stick with, “You’re only as old as you think you are!” Ha ha!

Well, we taught another zone this morning, in Villawood – only an hour away, and had them sing Happy Birthday to Alyce via Facetime. This zone has SUCH beautiful voices! The song sounded amazing! Too bad we didn’t record it! After that Eric brought me back to the flat so I could attend a couple missionary lessons with the sisters at church and get ready for Young Women’s. He went out shopping for the weekend/week. He also took the car to the body shop( the “smash repair “ shop), for an estimate. Before I walked to the church, I slammed my finger in our closet door. I don’t think I was this “clumsy” at home but I’m definitely having more little accidents. My ring got caught on the door as I pushed it hard to close it so I my ring cut into my finger on one side of and got smashed between the door and the wall on the other side. Another time I was home alone with a finger accident – ha ha! Maybe the lesson is that I should always be with my “companion,” but I don’t think that would have stopped either injury! Ha ha! (FYI – Senior missionaries do NOT have to be with their companions at all times. We can be at separate places, unlike the junior missionaries.)

Friday –

We taught the Alma zone, in Greenwich, only 20 minutes away. Since this was Alyce’s US birthday, we called her and had this zone sing to her as well. This one we were able to record. 🙂 After the training we went to Costco to return some items then to Bondi Junction Mall just to walk around inside (it was very humid outside) and had lunch there – chicken and prawn dumplings for me and Eric had some VERY spicy (and messy) beef noodles. He spilled it ALL over his new white dress shirt – darn it! We went to TK Maxx where he bought a polo to match his slacks so he didn’t have to walk around with orange splatters all over him! Ha ha!

After our walk there, we headed back home to prepare for Game Night – which we are trying to revive by only having it the 1st and the 3rd Fridays. We decided instead of just putting games out (as previous missionaries did) we would try to facilitate some group activities. We ended up playing bingo, and after each round, we had a round of Trivia. We had prizes for all the winners and had a FUN night!

Saturday –

P-Day – In the morning we walked to Paddy’s market (the huge “flea market of souvenirs) then down to Darling Harbour. We hadn’t been to Darling harbor and it looked like a fun place to explore. We’ll have to go back because we had to hurry back, pick up Sushi from “Hero Sushi” and rush off to the mission office for a Senior Missionary Outing. We ended up carpooling to Cattai Campground (about 1.5 hours away) to see the kangaroos and have a picnic together. We all brought our own food but the Westovers brought yummy homemade cookies for after. We had a great time catching up with our senior missionary friends and seeing the 100’s of kangaroos.

Sunday –

We went to church then had the missionaries over for dinner. Tonight we made breakfast foods – waffles with two homemade syrups (raspberry and peach) with a huge bowl of whipped cream, maple syrup, chocolate chips and banana slices. We also had ham/bacon (It looks like bacon but tastes like a piece of ham), hashbrowns and fried eggs. It’s fun to actually make a “real” meal once a week for the missionaries. Most nights Eric and I just eat leftovers, eat out, or have one of our “staple” meals – eggs/sourdough toast, granola cereal, grilled cheese, or yogurt – ha ha! 

Some things I learned (am still learning) this week:

1. Instead of going with the flow – we need to be more deliberate about how to spend our time. Sometimes going with the flow works well and other times we need to take more control over our days. This week we needed time to just be together – as husband and wife/friends and not just full time missionaries. It’s easy to get caught up in routine and not take time for ourselves or each other. We had a wonderful time when we changed our schedule in New Castle and had some downtime together! I know that part of God’s work is making time each week to go on a date together and continue to nurture and strengthen our relationship with each other! In anything we do, balance is important!

2. Continuing with the notion of “balance”, there are times on the mission when I feel “on fire” with the Spirit, experiencing days filled with meaningful encounters and feelings of accomplishment. It’s easy to feel positive on those days. Then there are slower times when I don’t get as much done, don’t use my time wisely and can quickly start feeling discouraged. Although balance is key, I can see how the adversary jumps on every little opportunity or moment of weakness to wedge in feelings of discouragement and incompetence. If I let those feelings take root at all, more negative thoughts begin to flow. It’s surprising how QUICKLY we can be drug down to feelings of inadequacy and sadness. I realize that I need to guard myself with frequent prayer and listen to the promptings of the Spirit, while talking back to negative thoughts with positivity as well as differentiating between which of my thoughts are “facts” and which ones are only “opinions.” Satan desires for us to be as miserable as he is. While it’s OK to have slow days and rest days, I need to seek the Lord daily for His guidance and His peace. I love the following scriptures that remind me where various thoughts and feelings can come from:

3 Nephi 18:18 – Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. 

Helaman 7:16-Yea, how could you have given way to the enticing of him who is seeking to hurl away your souls down to everlasting misery and endless wo?

Alma 34:39- Yea, and I also exhort you, my brethren (and sisters), that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing.

Eric’s “interesting” Australia thought/info:

Australia is a land of extremes and unique wonders, featuring the world’s oldest continuous culture (65,000+ years), the largest coral reef (Great Barrier Reef), and more kangaroos than people. Over 80% of its flora and fauna are unique to the continent, which is also home to the only egg-laying mammals, the platypus and echidna. 

Here are some fun and surprising facts about Australia:

• Wildlife & Nature: Australia has 10 of the world’s 10 most venomous snakes. It is also home to over 1,500 species of spiders.
• Geographical Wonders: The Australian Alps receive more snow than Switzerland. It also features the world’s largest sand island, K’gari (formerly Fraser Island).
• Unique Animals: Kangaroos and emus were chosen for the Australian coat of arms because they cannot easily walk backward, symbolising a nation moving forward.
• “The Outback”: About  of Australia is considered arid or semi-arid desert, known as the outback.
• Unusual Inventions: Australians invented Wi-Fi, the bionic ear, and the first seat belt laws.
• Odd Facts: Swimming at public beaches was illegal in Australia during daylight hours for over 60 years. Additionally, the Great Victoria Desert is larger than the entire United Kingdom.
• Size: Australia is roughly the same size as the USA without California and Texas. 

Did you know? The world’s longest fence, the Dingo Fence, is longer than the distance from London to Moscow.