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| Family waiting at the Vancouver International Airport |
It has been 6 months since we returned to Canada from Australia and time to close off that chapter of our lives with some reflections on our experiences and what we learned. The time is right; we are sufficiently removed to give some backwards perspective but not so far removed that we have forgotten the experiences or allowed them to disappear below a worn set of oft-repeated anecdotes. The latter threatens every time friends ask "what was Australia like?". From now on, we might just tell them that the experiences were varied and complex, too much so to summarize in a few minute conversation, and that they should start by reading our blog to get a sense of how our mission unfolded. If, after investing that time, they still want to talk, we might have a more interesting conversation.
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| Phillip Island Nature Park, Victoria, Australia |
Our approach to writing this blog was to consider a number of questions that might help focus our thinking: What was the most interesting experience of our mission? The most challenging? The most spiritual or faith-promoting? The most educational? What people had the most impact on us?
All that could be juxtaposed against what expectations we had when we arrived in Australia, for it is in comparing the two, and then thinking about our life now back in Canada, close to children and grandchildren, that we really appreciate Australia - the beauty of the land, the flora and fauna, and most importantly, the people. C.S. Lewis had it right - looking back on our mission...everything (now) is different!
Interesting Experiences
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| Koala at Healesville Sanctuary, NE of Melbourne |
When we started our mission, we were consumed with learning about all the "unknowns" in Australia - the driving, cycling and pedestrian culture, the wonderful plant and animal life, the precautions necessary when out walking or bird watching to avoid venomous spiders and snakes, understanding Aussie slang, and even finding our way around a grocery store. What became of greater interest, as time went on, was meeting Australians and learning about how they viewed their own country and the larger world. While we felt an immediate connection because of our shared Commonwealth roots, we also realized that Australia has a stronger "English" flavour than Canada. At the same time, it is also even more multi-cultural and shows more integration of cultures than Vancouver or Toronto. Maybe it is partially related to Australia being populated by a very rich mix of native, Caucasian, Polynesian, Asian, Indian, Arab and other immigrant peoples, who are all "isolated", that is, a long way from family and home countries.
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| Think baseball? Have a closer look (it's Cricket)!! That pitcher just finished a 30 m run-up. |
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| Fred and Judith - we met them in the park and became close friends! |
There is a great width and depth of languages, cultures, and religions, but people co-exist mostly peacefully. It makes interactions with those that you meet on the street, in the parks, on the sports fields and at church always unpredictable and fascinating. Everyone has a unique personal story and a quite varied viewpoint of their country and society. It's like living in a Canada on steroids.
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| View from the Eureka Tower, downtown Melbourne |
Australia is a country with strict gun laws and a very "civil" society. While there are local police, they are even less visible than in Canada. Our sense, walking around Melbourne, was always that we were safe and that we were surrounded by friendly people. There surely would be some times and locations where that would not be true, just as it is true in North America, but as missionaries, we never felt threatened by the people that we met.
Educational Experiences
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Will, Nellie and their children. With lots of hugs, smiles,
and wonderful (Samoan) dinners, they were our family
away from home. We love you so much - thank you!! |
We learned many good lessons while in Australia. Some were related to the cultures of the people that we met, with special mention of those of Polynesian (mostly Samoan, Tongan and Maori) heritage. Here are men who could scare you silly on a rugby field and create a sense of awe when performing the traditional haka. But the Polynesians are also warm and friendly to all, regardless of race or language, and welcoming of strangers. And they are wonderful musicians, both the men and women seemingly naturally talented in singing harmony in rich, textured voices. If you are invited to a Polynesian dinner, you can expect a feast with a multitude of dishes. And if you are asked to bring a "small plate" or a "large plate", just keep in mind that it doesn't refer to the size of the plates on which you eat but the size of the plates on which you bring your pot luck delicacies.
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| Father and son outing - they flashed by so quickly! |
A common cross-cultural value (e.g., Polynesian, Indian, Asian, Arabian) was respect for family and respect for those who are older and more experienced. This was expressed in different ways in each culture, but the wholesomeness of family relations was refreshing and uplifting because it ties so closely to gospel values. In fact, the gospel principle of sanctity of the family appeals strongly to people from many different countries and cultures. We learned to recognize and appreciate these values in most of Australia's diverse communities.
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| A "Flying Fox" sipping water from the Yarra River in the heat. |
While speaking of (our own) education, we cannot avoid mentioning the wonderful flora and fauna in the state of Victoria and in Tasmania. It was a constant source of fascination for us. We could not stop taking photos of flowers, trees, birds and unique Australian animals. We particularly liked to talk to local birders and tried to learn as much as possible from them. But what can you accomplish in 18 months except just to scratch the surface? We are thankful, though, for the many kind people who patiently educated us about Australia's environment, with all it's joys and challenges. We have mentioned in a previous post the unusual (to us) progression of six seasons in Melbourne (see September 9, 2017), which was for us an unending parade of new and unexpected learnings.
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| A rookery for the Australian White Ibis - as prime real estate as you will find anywhere! |
We arrived in Melbourne carrying two suitcases each, containing all our important worldly goods - at least, those we thought essential to our assignment. We were housed in a modest 2 bedroom flat - it had a queen size bed, a couch, a kitchen table, and basic kitchen utensils. What we quickly discovered is that we didn't need anything else to "live". It became apparent that the boxes and boxes of stuff stored back in Canada were mostly extraneous goods. Moreover, living a simpler life allowed us to focus more on what really matters. We understand from talking to other senior missionaries that this is a common learning. We have maintained this simpler life style since we have returned home, moving into another, modest 2 bedroom flat and jettisoning a large volume of non-essential worldly goods. It is a liberating experience.
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| A panoramic view of our "flat" in Melbourne. |
Challenging Experiences
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President Peter Vidmar (Melbourne Mission)
We caught him in a rare casual moment, and
we just loved the message on his t-shirt! |
Being a missionary and looking for effective and meaningful ways of serving people in Australia entailed many challenges. Some were difficult but none were unpleasant. We had the support of a great mission president and his wife (the Vidmar's) and an extraordinary self-reliance manager (Elder Leota), all of whom coached and cheered us on. We worked with dedicated and wonderful, fellow senior missionaries. We rubbed shoulders and encouraged younger missionaries (Elders and Sisters) with strong testimonies, who were focussed on serving their Heavenly Father and His children. It was an uplifting and strengthening experience which drew us close to these people.
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| Senior Missionaries serving in Melbourne near the end of 2017. |
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| Lost in a metaphorical or spiritual maze? |
But it was not all "smelling roses in the garden". There were challenges learning how to work with other missionaries, learning how work with local church leaders, learning how to technically carry out the tasks assigned to us, and surviving the sometimes long days and long distances driving (even after 18 months, a somewhat stressful experience). And of course, we never knew when we might receive a ticket from the Victoria Motor Vehicles branch for going more than 5 km/hour over the speed limit :>) (they are very strict about driving the speed limit in Victoria and it was easy to miss some of the speed changes around construction zones).
For John - perhaps the most challenging experience for me was just interacting with so many people each day. I am a fairly "quiet" person, a closet introvert, so to speak. I like time to myself, to read, study and think. The continual need to interact in a pleasant and helpful manner with others was difficult. At times, I felt a kinship with a
certain man in the story in Luke 9:57-58:
"...A certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Luke 9:58).
Several different lessons can be taken from this statement, but for present purposes we draw the idea that Jesus' time was never his own, he was always in demand, always being asked to bless and heal others, with no surcease or rest. If we wish to follow Him, we should expect no less, we should expect to put aside our personal comfort in His service.
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| Christ is the way through |
I am not comparing my poor, mostly self-centred life to Christ's incomparable, selfless one. But this parable teaches me that because of all that He experienced, He is able, in all circumstances to fully understand and empathize with what we experience, and both support and comfort us. When I was feeling confused or discouraged, when I wished for a soft bed and pillow (physically or metaphorically), I instead felt His uplifting and strengthening influence.
Spiritual and Faith-Promoting Experiences
There are two areas that we want to mention in regards to feeling God's Spirit and having our faith increased.
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| Pathway Connect Class engaging in a Math exercise |
The first is attending various self-reliance classes (more information
here) and other educational classes (such as
Pathway Connect). Classes were typically of 5 to 15 people, of various ages and interests. But what was common was a thirst to learn (both temporal and spiritual principles) and a commitment to support and help one another.
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| Working through a Self-reliance / Life skills exercise |
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An extended family group discussing a self-reliance class
"Success in School Begins at Home" |
The discussions were intense, engaging and enlightening, and the love expressed between class members inspired us to be better missionaries and better disciples of Christ. We observed first hand the gospel in action. We observed how, as people combined what they learned about temporal topics with what they learned about faith in Christ, their lives were blessed in unexpected and unpredictable ways. We felt the love that God pours out upon those who seek him, no matter how humble their station in life or state of knowledge.
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| Even a young student can teach new ideas! |
The second was a happy opportunity to be involved with music - singing in church choirs for conferences and Christmas concerts, and preparing/arranging musical devotionals for the young missionaries. It was thrilling in one case to participate in a largely Polynesian choir and feel the Spirit expressed in the wonderful hymns they sang. In another case, it was uplifting to sing Christmas hymns under the direction of a talented choral conductor with other church members, accompanied by a full orchestra. Learning Australian hymns that talk of Christmas in full summer was a particularly interesting experience.
On one occasion Sister Sobkowicz asked three young Sister missionaries to sing a Christmas carol in Samoan at a missionary devotional. As these three Sister missionaries sang, we could hear the gentle sound of 50 or 60 Polynesian Elders, quietly singing along with them, completely unrehearsed. At times such as these, we could feel God's Spirit in abundance and understand why music is such a pure expression of each of our feelings about the gospel. By this means, we can reach out and touch the hearts of any who listen.
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| Christmas Choral Concert, St. Paul's Cathedral, Christmas 2016 |
Inspiring People
Almost everyone we met while in Australia, with whom we served in one capacity or another, inspired us to more faithful and selfless service. Some moments were truly transcendental, such as the first time we heard a young Samoan Elder sing the Christmas version of Leonard Cohen's wonderful song "Hallelujah" (modified Cloverton lyrics). Our hearts and spirits were profoundly uplifted.
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| Christmas version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah |
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| "Starting and Growing My Business" Self-reliance class |
Other people inspired us in quieter ways, their example slowly building, act by act, until their dedication to the Lord was absolutely clear. We saw this in the actions of several stake and ward leaders and self-reliance specialists, and facilitators of self-reliance classes. As they felt the spirit of the self-reliance work, they in turn inspired others, including us. We published a newsletter each month with many, many examples of lives touched and spirits uplifted. We saw it also in the faith and actions of other missionaries, whose love for those they taught and served transformed many lives for good.
Lastly, we were inspired by the faith and love of so many people we met in Melbourne, who were true disciples of Jesus Christ. They served those around them in many capacities, leading, teaching, encouraging, lifting "up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12), loving, healing the sick and the broken-hearted, following to the best of their ability the example of their Master.
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| Quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (Quorum of the 12 Apostles) |
For all of these inspiring acts of selfless service and Christ-like behaviour, we are truly grateful. We would never have seen the extent and breadth of the gospel in action if we had not spent time as full-time missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is truly His church and His work, of which we bear witness.
Birds (and other Flying Creatures)
As with many past posts, we end with some of our favourite photos of birds, taken on many enjoyable walks around Melbourne, the State of Victoria, and Tasmania. We are starting with 4 endemic birds, that were always a joy to find, increasing in size from the first to the last (although all are on the smaller side; 10 to 20 cm long). They never seem to keep still, which made photographing them a pleasant challenge.
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| Superb Fairy-Wren (Male, about to take off from its perch) |
The first, the Superb Fairy-Wren is a tiny, friendly little bird that we would often see flitting in the brush alongside our Yarra River walks or in low grassland. This bird was lovely to watch, with its vibrant colours and active movements.
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| Spotted Pardalote |
The next is the Spotted Pardalote, a brightly coloured small bird, a bit larger than the fairy-wren. We saw them more in the lower branches of trees, but not that commonly. There are several varieties, one with a red rump (seen here) and another similar one with a yellow rump.
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| White-throated Treecreeper |
The third in the series is the White-throated Treecreeper. As its name suggests, it forages upwards through the bark of trees, mostly on the trunk and some larger branches. Sometimes, it was a difficult bird to locate, mostly because it seemed to like the denser forests with tall Eucalyptus trees.
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| White-eared Honeyeater |
The last in this endemic series in the White-eared Honeyeater. There are over 50 species of Honeyeaters in Australia, most of them endemic (including this one). The White-eared Honeyeater was locally common but generally not that common. We saw 7 species of Honeyeater during our time around Melbourne.
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| European Goldfinch |
Before moving away from the small grass and tree foragers, we wanted to show a photo of an introduced species - the European Goldfinch. This is a beautiful bird that loves to perch on and feed from thistles, much like its American Goldfinch counterpart common on the prairies in Canada and the United States. The colouring of the European cousin is particularly striking.
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| Little (or Brush) Wattlebird |
The next bird is also a type of Honeyeater, although a different species of bird known locally as Wattlebirds. They are moderate in size (30 to 40 cm long) and fairly aggressive in their foraging habits. This one is called the Little (or "Brush") Wattlebird, as it is smaller than most of its cousins. They seem to be a noisy and nervous lot - you know they are around, but they have an uncanny sense to fly away when you point a camera or a binocular at them.
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| Red-capped Plover |
The following two birds love the water but are at the very opposite ends of the size spectrum. The one at left is a Red-capped Plover - of similar size to a Fairy-wren. It loves the sea shore and nests in grass just above the tide line. The one shown here is young and has not really developed its full colouring.
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| Straw-necked Ibis |
The bird on the right is one of our favourites, the magnificent Straw-necked Ibis. It is a large bird that loves (and nests near) the water. Its name comes from its loosely feathered neck, but its body colour is also gorgeous.
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| Juvenile Australian King-Parrot |
At left is a juvenile (and also not in full colour) Australian King-parrot. The full adult is almost 1/2 metre long and looks very regal in its brilliant red and green plumage. We did not see this parrot all that often and so were delighted to catch this one having a short nap.
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| Sacred Kingfisher |
Another favourite of ours is the Sacred Kingfisher - the one we saw most frequently along the Yarra River on our walks. We sighted these perhaps once a month, or so. We only saw one other variety of Kingfisher (Azure), but both times did not have a camera long with us :>(. We particularly like this photo of the Kingfisher diving.
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| Superb Lyrebird |
Our penultimate photos are of the very vocal but elusive, Superb Lyrebird. The male Lyrebird can imitate almost any sound it has heard and does so in a complex performance to impress a potential mate. Along with their magnificent tail feathers, which they tilt forward over and in front of their heads, it is quite a show! There are two male Lyrebirds in both of these photos.
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Superb Lyrebird (two males in this photo, one on left, partially obscured by the tree,
and one on the right, almost entirely obscured by its own tail feathers - head facing left) |
The last three photos are not of birds at all, but of a type of fruit bat that are locally referred to as "Flying Foxes" (the name is evident from their appearance). A colony of 10,000 or more live along a 3 km stretch of the Yarra River, hanging in large groups from Eucalyptus trees. The first photo shows a flying fox in the early evening, hanging and resting from a tree branch.
The next photo shows a flying fox in flight, just before dusk. As dusk approaches, the flying foxes become quite active, flying from branch to branch, "sipping" water from the Yarra River (see much earlier photo in this post), and making a lot of noise.
Then, in an almost coordinated effort, they all fly into the sky and out in various directions over Melbourne in search of food (mostly fruit). For 15 minutes, the sky is filled with the profile of these unusual creatures.
Several different lessons can be taken from this statement, but for present purposes we draw the idea that Jesus' time was never his own, he was always in demand, always being asked to bless and heal others, with no surcease or rest. If we wish to follow Him, we should expect no less, we should expect to put aside our personal comfort in His service.
