PetersonAustraliaMission

Week 10 Went to the Australian Zoo on our prep day.  I'm glad this guy was around because look who was there! Luckily, I made it out of that crocs jaws--Popp P saved me! The hibiscus were more my speed and much prettier.  They are all around this zoo.  Which could qualify as a botanical garden.  Just missing the labels for the plants.  The zoo is well maintained and thoughtfully laid out.  Well done all around. Here is a sentinel meerkat, scanning the surroundings for signs of danger.  I guess people are not a threat --they seem to just ignore the humans staring at them.   We were both able to pet a koala while he was sleeping.  There were a few "escapees" just beyond the koala area, which had a fence.  Maybe they weren't escapees, but came in to be part of the koala group for company.  Whichever, the zoo keepers didn't explain why they were outside the enclosure.   Another few weeks in Australia have passed!  We love the people we serve and we love the Lord who g

  Week 8 Highlights This is the Brisbane North District that we  work with.  The district Leader, Elder Addi, is the tallest guy in the picture.  We love these young missionaries and learn from their  examples of faith and dedication to the Lord. They are guileless and their spirits shine forth in their countenances.  I'm not sure they realize how powerful and sweet their spirits are. If anyone they meet listens to them for a few minutes, they would know there is something special about each of them.  It is undeniable.   We have amazing sunrises(and sunsets) in Brisbane.   We performed 3 musical numbers for the Pacific Coordinating Council (PCC) this week.  I was pianist for the choir.  The PCC is the Mission Presidents in the Pacific Area, along with 4 general authorities, from left, Elder Meurs, Elder Nattress, Elder Nash  (Executive Director of the Missionary Department), and Elder Wakolo.  All the Mission Presidents and their wives from the Pacific Area were at the Brisbane Mar

The Garden of Eden Australia never fails to amaze us with the colorful and often unusual flora (and fauna).  This is in our neighborhood.  Those flower bracts are really unusual! Brisbane Botanical Garden is amazing!  We loved walking through just a bit of it.  We had to hike down Mt. Coot-tha to get there.  We hiked 7 miles that day!  How do you like Elder Peterson's Aussie hat?! It's a jungle out here!  Saturdays are our prep day and it is nice to be able to wear casual clothing😁 The flowers and the foliage!! We saw this beauty on the hiking trail to the botanical gardens.  He was about 3 feet long. The highlight of the day was seeing these two King parrots, male and female!  They were above us in the trees.  Beautiful colors, not very chatty, though.  Maybe cause we were there! Above is the district of missionaries we serve with;  Brisbane North District!  We love them and learn from them many lessons of love and devotion to the Lord.  As we celebrate Easter, our hearts are

  Week 6 Since our area of responsibility covers 5 stakes and 1 district, we spend a lot of time on the road.  In six weeks we have put 4000km on our brand new mission car.  I navigate, Dale drives (on the left hand side of the road). Brisbane sunset from Joey's restaurant.  Idyllic! Wallaby on the church grounds! Sis. Aukosa (one of 14 missionaries in our district) returns to Auckland, NZ this week.  We will miss her sweet spirit, leadership, and example!  She is on the right of Elder Peterson.  Sis. Unasa will stay and get a new companion this week. How many Aussie insects can you find? Easy to imagine Tarzan just out of frame!  Jungle typical of Australia Oh,  but I am mistaken--here is Tarzan walking on the jungle floor....!   We love serving here in Australia!  The people are kind, loving, and good.  Miracles are happening daily in our mission.  The Lord's hand is in this work, this is our testimony.