Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Taste Buds

I’d already been thinking about writing this blog, but after Lisa’s blog today on food, I decided I’d put in my 2 bits.
Yesterday my husband and I went by the grocery store because I wanted to pick up some grapes. It wasn’t our regular shopping trip so we just got a few things. I got grapes, apples, carrots, and a red bell pepper. Elder Shumway bought hot dog buns, a dozen doughnuts and a package of Australian beef sausages. Their sausages are a substitute for our hot dogs. Now I’ve never like hot dogs, but these are so much worse. They are full of fat and by products. They’re bumpy and crumble instead of bend. I tasted one bite some time ago, but wasn’t able to swallow it. While I was making my salad, he boiled his sausages. This white foamy stuff filled the pan and he had to keep spooning it off. When he stuck one with a fork, it kind of crumbled like a Vienna sausage. The outside skin peals off and crumples while it’s boiling. They look like long fat grubs. I told him I wasn’t sure there was an amount of money I would take to eat those things, but whatever that amount was, it was more than he had.
I looked into that pan and at my salad and thought, now I understand why I eat the way I do! So Lisa, in answer to your question about taste buds, go figure! I’ve got no idea!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

February Updates

We can’t believe another month is almost gone. We missed Valentines Day. We are working hard and making progress with our investigators. We are learning a lot and learning we have a lot to learn. We will have a baptism within a couple of weeks. We had a great mission teleconference with Elder Sybrowsky and will be flying to Adelaide for a Mission conference with Elder David Bednar on March 12th.
We finished the transcripts we were working on for some Gospel Principles DVDs. They will be in simple English and the main Aboriginal language. That way the members can get and give instruction when they are out bush and the missionaries aren’t available. The new members are very faithful and setting an example for all of us when it comes to humility, turning their lives around, and sharing the Gospel with others.


The weather has turned quite nice (hope it lasts). There’s a cool breeze blowing through our windows and we’ve decided we would definitely choose this weather over the hard winter in Utah. Elder Shumway beat the other elders in bowling on preparation day, but Mark one of our wonderful investigators beat them all. Since there has been no further racquetball, he’s still undefeated. We have stayed healthy and Sister Shumway can nag her children from 9000 miles away.
We continue to count our blessings and see the hand of the Lord in our lives and the lives of so many others. We are grateful for your love and support. Here is a beautiful Alice sunset(especially for Grandma Gibby)and a pleasant Alice day for you.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Ayden's Birthday

Hey Mom and Dad,

Here's a little video of Ayden's birthday party. Sorry your favorite daughter isn't in any of it. I'm behind the camera. I realize I'm not the best filming skills, but it's better than nothing, right?

Love you,
Arah



Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Let Me Take You There: Alice SpringsTour



It has been interesting to us to listen to all of you back in the USA bragging about how cold it is and how much snow you have, while we sit in Alice Springs with the temperature hovering right around 100 to 110 degrees F. and speculate on how much longer the people in this area will call the dry, sandy creek bed we have here, “The Todd River”!

Now, for some of you sophisticated people who have spent a goodly portion of your life in a major American metropolitan area with a population of about 4000. Alice Springs is a City of about 26,000 people. The roads are paved. Most of the residents live in nice homes or “flats” (rental units). We have a K-Mart. McDonalds, KFC, and Burger King are alive and well. We have several grocery stores that sell the same basic items as you would purchase in America. The people wear normal clothes, AND we have yet to find any poisonous snakes or spiders within our humble abode. Though, we did see one beautiful giant huntsman spider (non-poisonous) outside our front door. Sadly, it left. You could say we live in a civilized community that is a true melting pot of people from many countries and cultures. Some speak 4 or 5 different languages, fluently.