This past week has almost been forgotten. I will need to look at the calendar on my phone to remember what happened. With the move to Grafton coming up closer, we had had a lot of things to do and also started to stop things that we normally do.
We still taught/worked with missionaries, YSA & others on English and the IELTS practice tests. It was a sad thing to put up a sign on the whiteboard that we would be stopping IELTS the following week. We have really enjoyed working with all of the people who have come to the IELTS practice classes, but (to be honest) we are also looking forward to a change from teaching English. Teaching English has brought us very close to several people and we would not trade that for all the world - we have developed some very good, long term relationships with people from all over the world, different backgrounds and religious beliefs. We have been able to learn from them and also share why we are serving a mission and what we believe - we hope that all have gained a better appreciation and respect for each other.
Leaving the YSA kids will be hard. They have wiggled their way into our hearts. There are a lot of nice kids at Hyde Park and the stories of their lives is most interesting. We have learned a lot from them about their home countries, but more importantly we have learned from their faith in accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing how they can go from not believing in God to accepting Heavenly Father & His Son, Jesus Christ.
Margaret went to Wendy's Secret Garden near Milson's Point with Hanna Lu - just a girl's outing.
We went to the Sydney Fish Market with the Lems for lunch.
We were able to attend Kodi & Mika Akroyd's wedding reception, resplendent with New Zealand/island traditions - lots of music, the Hakka to the groom (instead of tossing a garter).
Taking our "last" walk in the domain & Royal botanical gardens.
Sydney Fish Market - lunch selection
More fish to choose from
Finally - a decision has been made, and almost eaten
Ikuko-san, Margaret, Jamie Costello. Costello's is the source of all of our opals over the past 20+ years.
Mike with Ikuko-san & Jamie Costello
The bird cage street in CBD near Wynyard Station
Wombat books teasing Margaret
Opal looking like a "stretched" Australia. A gift from Jamie Costello to Margaret.
Mike, Elder Monteiro & Jeong
Don't leave us!!!!!!
Wendy's secret garden
Secret Garden
More Secret Garden
Margaret in the Secret Garden
Hanna Lu in Secret Garden
And more Secret Garden
Hanna Lu in Secret Garden
Flower in Secret Garden
Sisters Antenorcruz, Cooksen, Lu, Chen - Hyde Park YSA Game Night
Game Night - stomp on the balloon
Game Night - grab your neighbor's finger
Ok, try grabbing again
Elder & Sister Haley - Sydney Temple with YSA for baptisms
Hyde Park YSA at Temple
Sister & Elder Merrill
Moroni - Sydney Temple
Bishop Akroyd's granddaughter doing an island dance
Sister & Elder Haley - Kodi & Mika Akroyd reception
The reception hall beginning to fill up
Groom "hakka"
Mika, Kodi Akroyd & Elder/Sister Haley
Haleys, Mika/Kodi Akroyd, Sister/Bishop Akroyd, Lems
Vivian, Katie, sister Haley
Margaret with fig tree in Royal Botanical Gardens
Harbour Bridge, Opera House from Royal Botanical Gardens
Panorama from Botanical Gardens overlooking Sydeny Harbour
Sydney Harbour crashing on rocks at Royal Botanical Gardens
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