January 7, 2020
A lady named Louise is getting baptized on Saturday. I am doing the baptism which is both exciting and a bit nerve-wracking. {When Taylor first got to Mt Gambier he and his companion were door knocking and found Louise. Because she was a single lady they passed her off to the Sister Missionaries who have been teaching her.}
Dez is doing good, we are trying to get him to a church activity (more on that later)
Not really many other people other than Kingsley (the aboriginal who is teaching me to dot paint)
Fortunately, I am in just about the only place that isn't on fire. There were a few fires close to Portland that the members were concerned about because one had closed a road and if they joined they would basically trap people on the peninsula. Fortunately, the fires were under control the next day and the Portland Elders were able to head back down. We did get pretty hazy for a bit yesterday because the smoke from the fires in Victoria got blown towards us due to a wind shift but it has cleared mostly.
The members like us but it can be tough to get them interested in missionary work. Nice members who feed you are good, members that help with the work are gold, however!
This week has been really good,
Wednesday after talking we went to the blowholes which were so amazing. We also saw a petrified forest and a mob of kangaroos on the 11k hike to the seal colony.
Thursday we did a family history booth down in Portland because they run markets when cruise ships come by. We made balloon animals to try and distract the kids while we are talking to the parents and it was a hit! We ran out of balloons and we made probably 300. When people run into the Portland Elders in town they still talk about it which is good.
Friday was a bit of a crazy day because we didn't have our car for most of the day due to it getting service and it was almost 40*c. We got some fish and chips that were amazing and then did some planning and went to Dez's to try and convince him to go to a barbeque they were holding for members and people we are teaching. Unfortunately, we weren't pushy enough because he decided not to come but he called us the next day and said he wished he had come and that he just needs a bit more pushing.
Saturday was taken up mostly by our family history booth we do in town and trying to contact potential people to teach.
Sunday was mostly visiting members and potentials until dinner. Fast Sundays are incredibly hard as a missionary.
Monday we had a good plan but we ended up having to run a ton of errands to pick up another Elders bike that was in the shop and take care of that.
Tuesday we went and visited Kingsley and he showed me some aboriginal style techniques for painting and will hopefully teach me how to dot paint if I am here next transfer. We also visited Adrian which was always fun as he has a great knowledge of the church and will hopefully return someday.
Love you all and keep on doing the simple things. They build your testimony so much.
Sincerely, Elder Jenkins
On Pday Taylor went to what is pretty much the southernmost part of Australia.
Reppin the Aggies in Australia.
Are these the blow holes he mentioned above?
Beautiful ocean water.
A petrified forest.
A mob of Roos
Fish and Chips!
Learning some basics of Dot Painting from an Aboriginal Investigator named Kingsley.
Feeding carrots to a member's cow.
If you watch closely you'll see a little movement which is the seals he went to see.
