Giant Things

These look  like the Yucca plants we are used to in New Mexico but oh sooo much taller.

These spikes are huge

Elder Tietjen was not very successful in moving this boulder.

We had made our rounds in Mudgee and we were heading home.   So we stopped at a cemetery to take some pictures.   We were just about to leave the Mudgee Monumental Cemetery when Elder Tietjen all of a sudden slams on the breaks and calls out.  "Look how big those things are"  Well they were on his side of the car so I could not see them.   But when I did, WOW.

Anyone care for a pinecone?

here are some lying amongst the graves

Watch out below for them thar babies

They measured about 9 inches high and are real heavy weights.   

We brought 2 home for our front door decor.

Update of Firesides and Family Game Nights

When we first got here Elder Tietjen had the idea to put on some Firesides about families. We will present it to every branch in our District.

Our 1^st fireside held Sun. Feb 26 in Bathurst we had 30-35 people.     There was a much better turn out than I thought there would be.
Everyone thought it was really good.    One person commented on how he liked the way Elder Tietjen stopped the video "Family Answers" every so often and discussed it.   They all seemed to enjoy it a lot  . I am so glad it was so successful.    Elder Tietjen and Elder Tonumaipe’a has really worked hard on it.   There was food and visiting following the fireside. 
Our 2^nd fireside held Sun. March 11 in Mudgee   All were strong members. This branch is really struggling.   But they that came enjoyed the fireside, food and visiting.  We had 16 people, not including the 2 babies.

This Wed. March 14, Elder & Sister Tonumaipe’a will be leaving.
They will be leaving for their original assigned mission calling to Papua New Guinea.    They have been waiting for their Visa to come.    They have been here for 3 months and have really gotten in and worked hard and seen some progress with some people.  
They are a little sad to go to start all over at getting to know people and a whole new area.

There will be a new couple coming to replace them.    Elder & Sister Lindmark from Tooele, Utah.   They have been in Australia for their mission  for 1 month.   They will be coming to Bathurst Saturday March 17.    We will get together with them sometime and update them on some people in the area that both Elder & Sister Tonumaipe’a and us have worked with.   

Mar. 12 we had our 5^th Family Game night in Dubbo   We had 21 people come this week.  

Sister Kochel took the little kids and showed them how to do somersaults and did racing games with them while all the big people played basket ball.

The little girls even had fun climbing the light post

Brother & Sister K are BYUI students here on an Internship.    Brother K is from Canada and they will go back there until their semester starts in the fall and then they will be back to BYUI.      They will be leaving Australia in April.    We will sure miss them.    They have been a great blessing to this small Dubbo Branch.     

The Fox brothers brought some nephews from New Zealand and a friend and the regulars came.   They all love it.    We had good food and everyone went out to play in the wonderful weather that we finally got.