This is the last week of the blog. Thank you for following our wonderful trip to Australia and serving a mission for the Saviour, Jesus Christ. It has been a good mission and we recommend serving a mission to everyone.
Mon, 27 Aug - Mainly stayed at Rhonda's house. Margaret went into Parramatta to meet Helen Tang & Trang. Mike went into meet Cristina de Godos one more time (we were given some Spanish food items - hurrah). Mike tried to find Jamie Costello, but he was not in the office today. Back at Rhonda's and doing some unwinding before we start packing. We have confirmed that Dennis Phillips will be taking us to the airport - all 6 suitcases, plus carry on.
Tue, 28 Aug - A blur in my memory, since I am making this comment on 24 Sep. My calendar does not show much. We did have to finally pack our bags and weigh them carefully. We ended up with 6 (count 'em, SIX suitcases) suitcases stuffed full and each weighing between 60 and 69 lbs. United allows us to have 6 suitcases and the weight has to be less than 70 lbs. 😂😁😱 We made it or so we hope.
Wed, 29 Aug - Finished the final squeezing of things into suitcases and distributing the load. Spent time with Rhonda. We were picked up by Katie Phillips in the evening and stayed with her & family that night.
Thu, 30 Aug - I'm leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I will be back again - Peter, Paul & Mary. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Dennis Phillips picked us up about 5 am and took us to the airport. Interesting to note that Dennis took us to the airport 24 years ago when we left Australia after our first time living there. Dennis and Paulette are super sweet people - the salt of the earth. We spent 14 hours flying to LA and arrived in LA 3 hours before we left Sydney. Brea was there to pick us up and take us to her place.
Fri, 31 Aug - We spent the day with Brea, Don & ISAAC. Worked on getting over our jet lag.
Sat, 1 Sep - With Brea in the morning and then drove out to Newbury Park to spend the evening and stay with the Ross family. Oh yes, we bought a new car so we could get around to visit all our family and friends.
Sun, 2 Sep - We reported to the Newbury Park Stake High Council and Stake Presidency. Our mission is now officially past history.
THE END
WELL, NOT quite the end. We will be visiting family, friends and a short vacation over the next 11 months. We will try posting a few things on this blog as a post-mission journey, but it will not be a consistent as the prior 2 years.
Thanks for following us on our mission and letting us share the joy and things that we experienced. It was a great experience and we both did grow in spirit and closeness to our Heavenly Father and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Margaret and Helen Tang. Helen flew all the way from Melbourne to see Margaret before we left.
A boulder opal that will be cut into 2 pieces and made into earrings for Margaret. Ah, Jamie Costello you got your last digs into me before we left.
Preparing to pack up and head for the US&A.
Wow, we are packed - 6 suitcases and 4 carry-ons. Now to find a moving van big enough to haul all of this to the airport
the hostess with the mostest - Rhonda Crosbie. Thank you for taking us in and putting up with Mike so you could have time with Margaret
Margaret, Rhonda Crosbie & Katie Jeffreee
Dennis & Mike trying to get all the suitcases loaded onto the luggage trolleys at the Sydney airport
Arriving into the customs area of the Los Angeles airport. Welcome home, you travellers.
I sure hope the pilot has a better map than this with him or we won't get back to the USA any time soon. 😱😰
Farewell Sydney. Leaving on a jet plane, not sure when we will be back again.
Gpa and Isaac. One reason to come home from our mission. More reasons to be seen in the next few months.
Another reason to come back to LA - In-N-Out
LA traffic - one reason to NOT come back to LA
Isaac took to gma very well.
The Ross family & Mike & Margaret
😀😂😎😍😘
