Blankets, Didgeridoos and Leaches

So this past week we finally got new investigators! Shelly and Derren Southam! They fed us and we taught them last night and it was so incredible! First off she made a decent Mexican dish with the very weak ingredients Australia has and that was impressive itself. But it was just an incredible lesson! They asked the best questions and she talked about how much she enjoyed the elders in Texas! Also before we began the lesson, which was on the restoration, Shelly said it always made sense that there should be a prophet today because they have had them all throughout history. You should have seen the smiles Elder Hill and I exchanged. After the lesson Shelly made another comment about how out of all the churches she looked into the Mormons seemed the most true. I just love being a missionary! So we set up another appointment for next Sunday, and we committed them to read, pray and to go to church! So we will see how all that plays out!

So that was the best way to end the week. As far as missionary work went the rest of the week it was really slow! But we are trying and doing our best! We had our first district meeting as the Australia Sydney Mission, actually it was a zone meeting but it was cool to see all the Southern Missionaries. Elder Hill and I thought it would be funny if all the missionaries were from Louisiana and Mississippi and stuff but surprisingly they are just like us! we also found that we were the only pure bloods, two northern missionaries, we refer to ourselves as the Union. Just kidding. At the meeting we learned that at the begining of next year zone conferences and interviews are only going to be held quarterly each year but go over four days! Crazy, eh? So that is something to look forward to.

So Elder Hill and I went with the Young Men on a hike. They camped but we went up Friday got a ride back to our flat at night and then got a ride back to where they were to finish the hike. I am not going to lie. This country is so beautiful! We were in the Watagan National Park doing the great north walk and it was seriously so awesome!( All still in our area). It is totally different terrain then AZ. Like there were running creeks and super dense trees and vines and all that jazz. It seriously felt like we were in the jungle. IT WAS CRAZY. It was even more crazy as you were walking to hear something in the bushes just to see a wallaby hop out. I seriously love this sunburnt country! I also got attacked by a leach! That was a neat experience. I seriously loved the hike and was able to spend time with the young men!

That is all that is going down in Cessnock! The Young Mens President, Grant Hamilton, he and I are tight like unto a dish. He is teaching Elder Hill and I how to make didgeridoos. So yeah pretty sick, eh?

I love you all so much I know I am doing the Lord's work and I am so happy to be here!

Elder Landon Brough

(Note from Nancy: We were able to "chat" while Landon was online typing our letter and here is a little "conversation" between Don and Landon about the didgeridoos they are making on P-day):

Don: What's the story on the didgeridoo? It looks like you are making your own.(referring to a photo) How did you learn how to do this?

Landon: There is a member who knows how to make them so he is teaching us and he just happened to have two that needed to be made.

Don: So, you are making them for him or is this one you will get to keep?

Landon: I will be able to keep the didgeridoo. I know! Sick, eh? Another member offered to tan some kangaroo scrotums for us (to make seamless coin purses) but that requires us to cut them off dead roos on the side of the road. Elder Hill and I are still considering that and discussing it.

(Another note from Nancy: The blanket he is referring to in the title is one that Sister Tisdale, a member of the Cessnock Ward, made for him. Thank you, Sister Tisdale! It is beautiful!)