May 11 – 17, 2026
The last time we drove to New Castle – it took us 3 hours (due to traffic and heavy rain) so this time we decided to drive up the day before, stay in a hotel and explore some of the beautiful town before we trained the Ether zone. We had a relaxing ride, listening to our Emma M Lion book and seeing the beautiful New South Wales landscape! If I were to move to NSW, I would definitely consider moving to Newcastle! Perfect size, all the stores you need and it’s an adorable beach city!
🏖️🌞🏄😎👙🩴
This is what our week looked like:
Monday –
After having a busy morning we arrived at our flat about 1.5 hours before District Council. We were both tired and decided we had time for a 1 hour nap before our meeting. We even set an alarm on our phone. Unfortunately the volume was off so neither of us woke up till after 7:00 PM – and slept through District council. Oops!
Tuesday –
Today we drove to New Castle, which is about 2 hours away. We made sure NOT to drive during rush hours! We had booked a supposed “5 star” hotel – a “minimalist” 5 star hotel. We should have known that the price wasn’t necessarily 5 star and not expected anything too exciting. They did leave us chocolates on our bed AND gave us chocolates upon check in, but that was about as “5 star” as it got. Obviously the rating system is different here in Australia. 😆Once we checked in we walked around the Honeysuckle area (where our hotel was), which was right by a harbor. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant sitting outside by the water and watched the sun go down.
Wednesday –
Thankfully we didn’t have to wake up at 5:00 am to drive to Newcastle, only leaving 30 minutes early to arrive at the church building to set up for our Emotional Literacy training. We love the Nephi zone! They are always so welcoming and friendly! We actually LOVE all six zones that we teach each transfer! It’s been such a blessing to get to know the sisters and elders in the various zones, then get to know ones who get transferred in. Oftentimes, missionaries we’ve known in the past get transferred back to one of our zones so it’s always an exciting reunion!
After the training we explored more of Newcastle and didn’t end up driving back to Sydney until dark. Part of the drive was through pouring rain. A car drove by us, hitting some sort of puddle and our car was suddenly engulfed in water. I’m sure it was only a few seconds but it felt much longer as we couldn’t see anything and hoped we didn’t run into anything or anyone! driving in pouring rain!).
Thursday –
This morning I met with the sisters for a lesson. Later on I went with our new YW Activities Leader – Gianella – to get her “Working with Children” card, which is required by the state of New South Wales for ANYONE working with children, even in a volunteer role at church. Gianella, who recently moved from Peru, and I walked back to our flat, enjoyed some snacks and talked about the Young Women’s program. She was baptized last September so she didn’t know much about the youth program. Later we walked to the church building for the YW activity – where Sister Rowe, one of our awesome missionaries from Virginia, USA, taught us how to watercolour paint! We were very excited to have her teach us while she is still in our district, as she is a beautiful artist! She actually sold some of her own water colors to pay for her mission. Here she has been painting personalized pictures on the missionaries Bibles and Book of Mormons. They are truly GORGEOUS!
Friday –
This morning I drove the sisters to the hospital to see our friend Ruiyi and teach her a lesson. They mostly teach her in Chinese so I’m not sure what they’re saying most of the time. It was very nice to see Ruiyi and talk with her. She told us that as soon as she can walk again, she can leave the hospital. She’s having intense physical therapy helping strengthen her hands and legs. That evening we had a new friend from the group – Zonika and her hubby Brett over for dinner. Zonika started attending the Hyde Park group about 3 months ago. She and her hubby recently moved back to Australia from Canada. Come to find out they have lived all over the world – originally from South Africa – Zonika’s job took them to London, Singapore, twice to Australia, Salt Lake City, Utah, and twice to Canada! I can’t wait to get to know them better and find out more about their various experiences! It was fun to have new friends over for dinner and enjoy their company!
Saturday –
P-DAY! This morning I attended a lesson with Pilar (and delicious crepes – thank you, amazing sisters!). Pilar has been trying to stop drinking coffee – which she loves! I searched on AI to find a substitute that tastes like coffee and found an herb tea that supposedly tastes very similar. I ordered a couple boxes – along with some biscuits (cookies) to help her with her goal. She set a date to be baptized for Sunday, May 31! 🙂 After the lesson, Eric and I took the ferry to Watson Bay to try the famous Doyle’s fish and chips, and walk around the area. While there my dad called to say that Grandpa Harrison was going down hill fast and might pass away soon. Thankfully I had talked to Grandpa earlier in the week and felt grateful for that hour we spent catching up on the phone. Grandpa and Grandma Harrison have always been role models for me! Grandma was a dear friend and a spiritual mentor! Watching Grandpa and Grandma leave their family while in their 50’s to serve a mission in Ghana, West Africa, set a beautiful example to Eric and me. They later served a mission near London, England and were an example not only to us, but also to our own children. Eric and I were both told in our patriarchal blessings that we would serve a mission together and had been planning for that since we were early newlyweds. Since Grandma passed away about 20 years ago, we were able to spend a lot of quality time with grandpa – with him coming out to visit us in Phoenix and snowbirding there with his second wife, Betty. I’m so glad for that special opportunity to get close to Grandpa, too, as I was with Grandma growing up! I know he looks forward to returning to his heavenly home to be with Grandma again – along with his two sons, John and Mike, who will be there waiting to greet him. What a joyous reunion that will be! ♥️
Sunday –
During the 2nd hour of church I taught the young women and we had a sweet visitor (a couple in our group’s mother from the Philippines). She attended our class with the sister missionaries and was a wonderful addition, sharing her experiences and testimony. After church, she told me how much she enjoyed our class and wanted to attend with us again next Sunday. She usually attends the Catholic church but this Sunday she decided to just come with her kids to our church.
After church we had a group council meeting, where we planned three upcoming events and discussed how to meet the needs of our group members. After the meeting, I had invited the YW, their moms and the YW leaders over for lunch and to watch a stake training on zoom. Only one YW and her mom came over but we had a lovely time, chatting, eating and learning about the “new” schedule for Young Women coming in September. The girls learned about their responsibilities to lead out in planning the activities and facilitating the lessons! That evening we had an ASM (Australia Sydney Mission) devotional equipping us to be more “Fit for the Kingdom” with a beautiful devotional on emotions and repentance through stories in the scriptures by our ASM therapist, SIster Payze. Two young sisters (one who used to be in our area) trained us on how to put on the Whole armor of God – adding a few “armor” items to help us be fit for the kingdom (including a mouth guard and googles!). It was a fabulous training! Again, I am so impressed by the wisdom, organization and testimony of our young missionaries! They are TRULY super stars for the Lord! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Something I learned this week:
How BLESSED I am to get to know so many incredible people here in Sydney – who have come from all over the world to work here, attend school (uni) here, immigrate for safety here, and serve as missionaries here! My life has been so enriched listening to people’s stories and learning about them and from them!!!
The Helland's Down Under 