M&M Haley Mission: August 2018

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Sunday, 26 August 2018

Mon, 20 Aug - We took the ferry to Manly in the morning with Rhonda. Our last ferry boat ride for this trip to OZ. Our New Zealand ice cream place was under renovation, so we had to settle for Swiss ice cream 😀 In the afternoon we met with Avril Shen and met her boy friend, Wes. We hope to meet up with Avril Shen one more time next week.

Tue, 21 Aug - We went to Costco with Rhonda to see if we could get a replacement for the Phillips hand blender that broke on us just before we left Grafton. Costco did not have any in stock, so they refunded our purchase price. We took the bus and train to Artarmon where we met Sam & Serena Sun for dinner. We met their daughter Hedy. Hedy is in year 3 and has an Aussie accent & pronunciation which she is using to teach her mum & dad better English.

Wed, 22 Aug - We went to the Sydney temple again with Rhonda and did some more temple work for Kerry Arthur and Sally Crosbie. It is good to be able to help others. We had dinner at Rhonda's home today along with Justin & Hayley Crosbie & kids, plus Demi (a niece of Rhonda).

Thu, 23 Aug - Mike stayed home and did some handyman things for Rhonda, plus worked on the blog. Margaret went out to lunch with Rhonda, Virginia Anderson, Paulette Phillips & Anita Thompson. They went to Flower Power restaurant. Dinner was with the Phillips clan at a Thai restaurant - Dennis, Paulette, Katie, Brent, Thomas & Charlotte Jeffree, and Luke Phillips. A good time was had by all.

Fri, 24 Aug - We took a bus into the city and had lunch with Cristina de Godos. We also stopped by Commonwealth Bank and Telstra to find out how we shut down our accounts. Then off by bus to Maroubra for dinner with Ka Yi, Emma & Hannah. We had hot pot and LOTS of talking and fun.

Sat, 25 Aug - today is Rhonda's birthday. Margaret is spending the day with her. Mike is working on the blog and trying to get caught up. Margaret and Rhonda will go to the movies this afternoon and then we will meet up at the Thai restaurant for dinner. Margaret baked a blueberry pie for Rhonda's birthday.

Sun, 26 Aug - We attended sacrament meeting at Kellyville ward. The YSA ward has stake conference this weekend, so we are not going in as originally planned. We will attend a Stake Primary choir practice tonight. The Primary choir is pretty good. Loved the songs they will sing next week.

Sydney Opera House from the Manly Ferry leaving Circular Quay

Sydney Opera House

Manly Wharf - getting ready to get off and find some New Zealand ice cream

The Dynamic Duo - Rhonda & Margaret

Manly Beach - in the winter

On the way back to Sydney Circular Quay. The North and South Heads and the opening to Sydney Harbour

Mike, Margaret & Opera House

Wes, Avril Shen, Mike & Margaret

Dinner at Sam & Serena Sun's home -

Mike, Margaret, Serena & Sam Sun

Sam, Mike, Hedy, Margaret, Serena

The girls lunch out - Rhonda Crosbie, Virginia Anderson, Paulette Phillips, Juanita, Anita Thompson, Margaret. At Flower Power restaurant

The Phillips clan and Haleys. Katie, Thomas, Charlotte, Brent, Luke, Mike, Dennis, Paulette, Margaret

Seagulls in the park across from Central Station, while waiting on a bus to Maroubra

Dinner with some of the YSA girls - Margaret, Emma Teng, Ka Yi Ng, Hannah Lu. Dinner was hotpot and delicious

Happy Birthday, Rhonda

Happy Birthday Gran, from Koloti & Hunter

Hayley Crosbie & Micah

The Baulkham Hills Stake Primary choir - practicing for stake conference next week.

Friday, August 24, 2018

Sunday, 19 August 2018

Mon, 13 Aug - It is time to leave Grafton and head for Sydney. Our mission is coming to an end. On the way out of town, we stopped at Hanks Kitchen to pick up our last provision of Hanks. We stopped to see Barry Ward and the dogs one more time. Mike was able to administer the sacrament to Barry - a pleasure and great way to leave Grafton. Today was Barry's birthday as well. The drive to Sydney was uneventful and we arrived at Rhonda Crosbie's home safely. Rhonda's will be our headquarters until we leave Sydney on 30 August.

Tue, 14 Aug - We were released by President Paul Jordan via Skype this morning. We had a lovely chat and debrief with President & Sister Jordan. It was good closure for Mike and made him ready for the next adventure in the Church. We then took the car into Carlingford and turned it back to the Mission home along with our phone. We had lunch with the Ellisons and Grants, and the Botts stopped by unexpectedly.

Wed, 15 Aug - We went to the Sydney temple this morning and did some temple work for Kerry Arthur's (Grafton) family members. The rest of the day is foggy in Mike's brain.

Thu, 16 Aug - We took the train up to Leura, in the Blue Mountains. We are spending the next few days with Anita & Keith Thompson. Just getting some down time and a nice quiet visit with some of our long time friends. We did some walking along the edge of the Blue Mountains and visited with the Three Sisters for the last time this trip.

Fri, 17 Aug - more Blue Mountains and we got a hat stretcher for Keith, which he gave to me to take back to the USA. I will use it with my Akubra so it will continue to fit on my head. Again today was just a nice relaxing day doing some window shopping and walking.

Sat, 18 Aug - Relaxed in the morning with the Thompsons. They drove us back to Rhonda Crosbie's in the afternoon.

Sun, 19 Aug - We took the train into Hyde Park so that we could attend the YSA ward and see as many of the YSA kids as possible. We walked over to Hyde Park to visit with Deshao & Shawn for a few minutes. They gave us some photos of when they came up to Grafton to visit. We really love all the Chinese YSA kids - they are great people. We then had Paella with Cristina de Godos and Jose. It was a good time. Cristina is doing well and now has her Permanent Residence visa for Australia. She is a lovely young lady.