The Helland's Down Under

February 23 – March 1

This week we quickly learned how OUT OF SHAPE we are! Ha ha! Our apartment building had a major water line breakage that wreaked havoc on the bottom basement garage (Basement level P6 – where we park!) and the elevators! Starting on Thursday 2/26 – we went hours without water, internet and full time without elevators. Fortunately we only live on the 10th floor but the complex has 35 floors so we really feel bad for those who live on higher floors, walking up and down with small children, groceries, etc. The silver lining is that we have been able to meet and chat with quite a few residents as we all commiserate and laugh about the situation (some people are NOT laughing – ha ha!). It looks like the “lifts” (as they call them here in Sydney) will be out for another week! 😝This has definitely cut down on our grocery and other shopping (who wants to carry heavy bags up the stairs?!?!).! The other silver lining is that we are “forced” to add in a little more (actually a LOT more!) exercise to our day and are hoping to eventually be able to walk up the 10 flights of stairs without needing to stop and rest (currently – we have to stop on levels 6 and 8!). We volunteered to help those in need here at the complex but the concierges said they’ve hired “runners” for the elderly or people in poor health who need things delivered to them. I wonder what happens when those people need to go out for a doctor’s appointment, etc?!?! We’ll keep you posted on the Castlereagh Building saga…! 🙂

Here’s what our week looked like:

Monday

• We planned/prepared for the week, talked to our grandkids and ran some errands. We ended up missing our district council meeting (oops!) because we were too far away to get back in time. I did get my second pedicure since we’ve been in Sydney and this place was much better than my first one! One thing I’ve learned about Sydney pedicures – they don’t give you options (give you the book to choose which one you want), the foot/calf massage is very short and they don’t spend as much time (or tools – no cheese grater!) removing callouses. Hopefully I’ll find a really good one sometime soon! That, and getting my hair professionally colored/cut (I have no idea how to do those myself!), will continue to be my two guilty pleasures here on the mission! 🙂

Tuesday

• We had our last #7 life skill lesson with the Teancum Zome (from Coff’s Harbor area) at the mission office. I’m sure I’ve said this before but this is one of our FAVORITE parts of the mission – meeting with the 6 zones we are assigned – teaching/talking/sharing testimony and LOVING the awesome junior missionaries! We feel extremely blessed to get to know them, learn from them and feel their sweet spirits! They are INCREDIBLE human beings and servants of God!!! Seriously – they are all so helpful, kind and friendly to us! 
• We had lessons today with the junior missionaries – Sister Thompson and Sister Leslie. We love teaching with them and feeling the Spirit so strong during the lessons! 
• That evening we taught our first “Temple Preparation” class to a sister who is preparing to receive her endowments and wants to serve a service mission. 

Wednesday

• We went early to the temple side of town to look for a couple more short sleeve dress shirts for Eric (they do NOT sell them here in Sydney as far as we can tell.). Two of his supposedly “indestrucible” missionary shirts we purchased before the mission got holes in them – one from ironing with too hot of an iron and one from getting stuck on a chair at the church. Boo!
• In the afternoon/evening we worked at the temple. Eric was finally able to receive more training so he can serve in more capacities helping the patrons at the temple. I’m so grateful for the training I had at the Phoenix temple – shout out to Pam Pratt Crow who was a FABULOUS trainer!!! We could use her detailed training skills here in Sydney! 🙂

Thursday

• I was able to attend some lessons with the sister missionaries again. Eric did some major shopping for us at Costco and the grocery store, which turned out to be a GREAT blessing because this was the last day our elevators worked so he could bring all the groceries up easily! Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this tender mercy! We were able to have all the food we needed for the rest of the week and didn’t have to carry any groceries up the 10 flights of stairs!!!
• The rains came down and the floods came up – in our apartment complex! I had planned a fun Young Women’s activity to get us out, walking in the parks and downtown for a “Walk with Me” scavenger hunt and ending with ice cream down by the harbor. Unfortunately, the heavy rain made that impossible. Instead, one of the YW (E) and her mom came over and we ordered Mexican food take out (Guzman Y Gomez), chatted and watched E perform parts of this beautiful dance she’s learning! She’s teaching the dance to herself and is so graceful and coordinated! I can’t wait to see her perform some of her dances!

Friday

• Our elevators were out so we stayed in and worked. I wrote my talk and made cupcakes for the baptism then we carried them down the 10 flights of stairs to attend Byrdie’s baptism. Eric was supposed to baptize her but we realized his white baptism pants were stuck in our car in the flooded basement. We asked the Westover’s to pick us up so we didn’t have to ride public transportation to the Summer Hill church building (where the baptismal font is) and on the way we stopped at our church building to look for a jumpsuit or pants that would fit Eric. Eric grabbed other pants/shirts in case another missionary needed to baptize Brydie since we couldn’t find anything his size. When we arrived at the Summer Hill building, a bishopric member found two pairs of pants (the only ones they had) and they BOTH fit Eric (one pair looked like cropped pants on him – aka highwaters!) so thankfully he was still able to baptize Brydie. Afterwards we sang Happy Birthday to Brydie as she chose to be baptized on her birthday! It was a special day for all of us!

brydie’s baptism

walking up the stairs

Saturday

• P-DAY – woo hoo! We slept in then walked to the Sydney Harbor to take the ferry to Parramatta. Unfortunately, the wait was three hours for the next ferry so we took a ferry to the fish market instead. We had about 3 stops on the way and we thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride, seeing the city from different perspectives, being out on the water and feeling the cool breeze! It’s incredible that we can go on a “free” boat ride each week! We both love it! Once at the stop closest to the Fish Market – we inquired about this awesome maritime museum there at the harbor. We met the guy at the counter and invited him to attend church with us (to which he replied that he might!). He said he’s met quite a few missionaries who come to the museum. We’re definitely going back! It’s only $30 and includes going on all the military vessels, including a submarine. We then walked around the new Fish Market, which is a huge, gorgeous glass building on the water. It was an experience just being there – seeing all the seafood they sell (some I have never heard of or seen before). A security guard gave us some tips on which restaurant to eat at so we had a delicious lunch at The Boat House, also located at the Fish Market (they have many restaurants there), ordering their special of the day which included a delicious, tender steak and lobster tail! YUM! The delicious food and the gorgeous view of the harbor was the perfect “reset” spot for the week!

Walking downtown

So many street performers – fun to watch!

This is all they have inside this store – and they only sell those few pastries you see in the window.

Ferry Ride

At the Fish Market

Sunday

• Today was Fast and Testimony Sunday. Even though we often start the meeting with only a few members, we usually end up filling half the chapel by the time we partake of the sacrament. We had many friends and new members in attendance so it was great to get to know them! Our stake president, President Jassar (originally from India), shared a beautiful, inspiring and uplifting testimony about sacrifice! Many people in attendance mentioned how they felt the power and truth of what he shared! I also loved hearing the simple and beautiful testimonies of our group members, including one of our young women, L. The best part about this day for me was seeing L at church. We hadn’t seen her the last two Sundays as her parents are going through some things right now and they haven’t been coming either.  L is only 11 years old but she wanted to come to church so badly that she took public transportation on her own to attend. She told our group leader that she will come, with or without her parents. What a beautiful example of sacrifice and devotion L showed me. She is an amazing and valiant person!  It also worked out perfectly that she made it to church because we had submitted her name to be called as the class president so she was finally able to meet with our group leader, Lyle Elisara, to be called! Our other amazing young woman, E, was called as the assistant. I am in awe of both of these girls and am so blessed to work with them. I love to see my YW assistant, Valerie, also engaging more in the lessons and with the young women! She’s quite shy but has a beautiful love and devotion for the Savior!

Some things I learned or was reminded of this week:

• We can learn from people of all ages and all walks of life! I feel like this mission experience has allowed me to meet so many incredible people – most of them much younger than us – from different backgrounds and cultures – and to gain a stronger testimony, learn new things, and see new perspectives from them. I love that we have the opportunity to be constantly learning and growing! I guess I didn’t realize how “stagnant” I was previously. Yes, I was learning new things at work and in my own gospel studies, but being here has opened a whole new world of learning and growth – in all aspects of my life! What an honor and a blessing!
•  We can find “family” anywhere in the world if we open our hearts, see each person as the incredible child of God they each are, and take the opportunity to work and serve together. Anything is possible for the Lord! He can and WILL bless us to truly LOVE new people, as if they were our own family. What a great miracle and blessing we get to be a part of! 

eric’s interesting australian info:

Common Australian slang often involves shortening words and adding ‘o’ or ‘ie’ sounds, such as arvo (afternoon) and maccas (McDonald’s). Essential terms include G’day (hello), mate (friend), no worries (no problem), barbie (barbeque), thongs (flip-flops), and true blue (genuine). These phrases are used daily for communication and to convey a relaxed, friendly, or humorous attitude. 

Key Daily Phrases

• G’day: Hello.
• No worries: No problem, or “you’re welcome”.
• How ya going?: How are you?.
• She’ll be right: It’ll be fine/okay.
• Fair dinkum: True, genuine, or for real.
• Yeah, nah / Nah, yeah: A confusing but common way of saying no/yes.
• Good on ya: Good job/well done. 

Common Shortened Terms (Diminutives)

• Arvo: Afternoon.
• Barbie: Barbeque.
• Bottle-o: Bottle shop (liquor store).
• Brekky: Breakfast.
• Bikkie: Biscuit.
• Esky: Cooler/chilly bin.
• Footy: Football (usually AFL or Rugby League).
• Maccas: McDonald’s.
• Mozzie: Mosquito.
• Rello: Relative.
• Servo: Service/petrol station.
• Smoko: Smoke/coffee break.
• Straya: Australia. 

Everyday Objects & People

• Thongs: Flip-flops.
• Sunnies: Sunglasses.
• Boardies: Board shorts.
• Stubby holder: Cooler for a beer bottle.
• Bloke: Man.
• Bogan: An unrefined or unsophisticated person.
• True Blue: Genuinely Australian. 

Common Situational Phrases

• Hard yakka: Hard work.
• Chuck a sickie: Take a day off work when not actually sick.
• Bottle-o: A bottle shop/liquor store.
• Outback: Remote, inland areas of Australia.
• Ripper: Something great (e.g., “You little ripper!”).
• Two Up: A traditional gambling game played on Anzac Day.
• Woop Woop: The middle of nowhere.

Food & Drink

• Tucker: Food.
• Chook: Chicken.
• Coldie / Tinny / Stubby: A beer / can of beer / beer bottle.
• Tea: Dinner. 

Food Items

• Avo: Avocado.
• Snag: Sausage.
• Bikkie: Biscuit.
• Lollies: Sweets/candy