Completion of Second Week

End of the second week in Brisbane.  We moved into our flat on Wednesday afternoon.  It was nice to get at least part of my clothes out of the suitcase.  Three weeks of living out of my suitcase was a bit tedious.  It was a busy week because there was a lot of moving going on.  Elder and Sister Montgue were moving closer to the Mission office, Elder and Sister Hansen were moving into the Montegue's flat on Kangaroo Point (a move across the hall) and we were moving from the Mission Home to our flat all on Tuesday and Wednesday.  It was a bit of a zoo at the office trying to keep everything covered and getting ready for the missionary comings and goings next week.

 As I indicated in the previous blog they did not have a flat for us when we got here so had to find one and get it furnished.  I think, we finally got most of what is essential taken care of yesterday.  It is feeling more like home. We have made two trips to Ikea which is about 30 minutes south of us to gather bedding, tables, shower curtains, etc. 

Our first trip to Ikea was an adventure.  We did fine getting there with the help of the GPS.  Did our shopping and went out to the car.  Problem was we could not find the car.  We were so excited about getting there we forgot to take note of where we parked.  We searched for a while and then Sister Parsons had me wait with our purchases while she searched the parking lot row by row.  Then on the way home we made a wrong turn and came through all the tunnels under the city of Brisbane.  It was a jolly ride. 

We went to Ikea again yesterday but had very little problem finding the car (lesson learned) and getting home without the ride through the tunnels.

We assembled our purchases of the week last night and I finally got all of my clothes out of the suitcases.  No more living out of a suitcase.  We were given a nice glass top table with three chairs, a nice new love seat, a new chair to match for the living/dining area.  We purchased a floor lamp which we tried to assemble but it was late and it got the best of us.  Maybe tonight.  Our flat is feeling like home and we are going to enjoy it.  Just a few more small things to do and it will be like home away from home.

Living Room

Kitchen

Dining Area

Bedroom

We have been busy at the mission office because it is transfer week this next week and there are 16 missionaries leaving and that many coming in from all over the world.  This is a very multi-cultural mission.  We have missionaries who are teaching in the Chinese community, also many
Polynesians and Asians have moved here.   There are 22 different languages spoken here and missionaries from 33 countries.  The mission itself is very large: from top to bottom it would cover from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border.  Because it takes three days to drive up north much of the travel is by air.  I am enjoying my work with the finances of the mission and other special assignments.  The weather has been a bit cooler than I had anticipated but has warmed up the last week.  Today is beautiful.  I am sitting out on the patio at the Mission home typing this.

Sister Parsons and I are not at church because we are with a sick sister at the mission home while the Mission President and his wife are up on the Sunshine Coast on Mission business.  We have not been assigned a Ward yet because there are so many missionaries in the area where we live that the Ward is overwhelmed with missionaries so we are going to be assigned a Ward outside of our boundaries.

 We have a dinner date with a family in the Ward we attended last week.  The people here are very friendly and helpful.  The member who invited us to dinner attends the Ward we went to last week.  We met her in the grocery store and she asked us to dinner with four other missionaries.  I know I am going to love it here.  Am anxious to get out and see the country side soon.  I understand the beaches are not too far from here but the city has much to see as well.  Also want to attend the temple soon.

The birds wake us each morning with their lovely songs.  Some are pretty loud but we enjoy them.  Until next time.