Project Update

For those who may be confused by these June blogs, we are home. Our mission finished on May 05. Things have been hectic and busy so I am taking the time now to catch up on past blogs. I hope to post one or more a day until I bring the blogs up to date.


We have finished the alphabet, phonics, and English lessons for the Aboriginal people. They were created from Power Points with animation and voice. There are many schools and agencies interested in using the DVDs when they become available. Sister Lovegrove and Sister Wood were transferred back to Alice Springs to finish up the project. It was quite a job, but they did it. After Sister Lovegrove finished the final voicing and Sister Wood finished the final checking, they rendered the Power Points to video, and then to DVD. The purpose of this format is to allow teachers and community members, to teach in a simple interesting manner, and then allow the students to learn and and practice at home.Thanks to the Sisters and many volunteers who aided in this process.

 

Here we are at dinner with Ann Roberts, a wonderful educator and volunteer. She piloted the project for us in Alcoota and provided valuable feedback and help.

Sights and Sounds of Sydney Early May 2009

 

We spent three exciting days in Sydney. Elder and Sister Warby gave us a whirl wind tour and we had a great time .They treated us like their best friends even though this was the first time we had met in person. We had corresponded and called Elder Warby numerous times as he was in charge of publicity for Australia and he had been following the Literacy Project.

Saying Good-bye in Adelaide

 

 

We had a great time touring and visiting with Tanya Wells after we left Alice Springs. She took us on a fast tour of some great places in Adelaide. We visited the ocean and the zoo and toured the city. We share a special friendship with Tanya, who joined the Church about two years ago. She is a wonderful person whose life has been changed forever and in turn who has enthusiastically shared the Gospel with more people I can remember. We should all do as well.

Friends to Remember

The Bird Mob surprised us with this traditional dot painting. The Birds are dear friends and well known for their dot paintings.They are an amazing family and are so important to the missionary effort in Alice Springs.


Mari Clay and I display a painting we hired her to do for us of the Tree of Life. She and her sister Colleen are very talented artists.

Dinner at Elder Jackson was a nice farewell. They are a great family. They will be leaving for India where Elder Jackson will become the mission president.

 

Here we are saying good-bye to Ping, one of our Chinese English students. We wish him and his family well.

 

Kings Canyon

We also took a trip to Kings Canyon which was quite beautiful. I took the half mile stroll done the shady river bank and Jim took the 3 hour hike on the boiling ridge. Go figure.

 

Trip to Ularu

 

April 20, 2009: Before we left Alice Springs we decided we had to see Ularu, the largest monolith in the world. It is a sacred spot for many Aboriginal people. We had a fascinating tour. The weather wasn’t too hot, but the flies were quite thick, but we had nets.

The Last Zone Conference

 

The Zone conferences are all very inspirational and have taught us a great deal. There is no doubt that a large measure of the success this mission has had is due to the excellence of the Zone conferences provided by President and Sister Quinn as well as the Assistants to the Presidents. Thanks for their love and leadership. They have been a blessing to so many people. Thanks also to the Elders and the Bogadahls for the privilege of know and serving with them. It has been great to watch the District grow from four Elder and one couple to what is it is now.

A Tribute to Norma Gibby

Richelle, by sister Lisa's daughter, recently wrote this tribute to my mother, Norma Gibby. With Mother's Day approaching, I thought it a great time to post the tribute. We are all so very grateful for her life and legacy, and love her very much.

 

Left to right: Richelle, Christina, Laura, Lisa, Lynda, Mom (Grandma)

"My Grandma, My hero

Norma Gibby is my grandmother and my hero. I have never known someone so strong, optimistic, and lovely. My grandmother has always been the rock in our family. She never fails to have a smile on her face and her faith is unwavering.

Norma was born in Basin Idaho and lived there until she was three years old. She moved several times throughout her life. Some of the places she has lived include Burley Idaho, Highland Park California, Glendale California, Provo Utah, Fullerton California and Mission Viejo California.

When Norma was only ten years old, her mother passed away. Norma and her older sister were left to tend their younger siblings and learn how to cook, clean, iron, etc. When asked how she was able to cope and get through this trial she said that she was "born brave" and she just did what she had to do. Life didn't get any easier when Norma's father passed away a few years later when she was 16 years old. She was forced to support herself and her sister financially and emotionally. After lots of hard work and dedication Norma and her sister bought their first home in California for 7,000 dollars.

Norma has worked everywhere from the ice cream parlor to being a "lead girl" and building fuel tanks for airplanes. Wherever she worked, she was always in a leadership position, either as a manager or a supervisor.

When Norma was 22 years old she married the man of her dreams, Delbert Gibby.Del wrote her poems and letters from the day they met up until the end of his life.Their love was rare and beautiful. They moved to Utah and Del got his college degree at Brigham Young University. After having a few children, they moved back to Glendale California where Del taught for a few years before they settled in Fullerton California for 18 years. Not only did she have four children of her own to look after but Norma ran a daycare out of her home where she tended several kids at a time. After their children were grown Norma and her husband moved to Mission Viejo California, where they lived for the next 20 years until Del passed away from Cancer. Norma then moved to Laguna Nigel and has lived there for the past 6 years.

I was pretty sure I already knew what her answer would be when I asked my grandma what she values most in her life. She has always made it known that the most important things to her are her family and her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Norma loves her life right now. She feels a lot of gratitude for her posterity and for the great people she is blessed to spend her time with. When she looks back on the her life she can't believe how fast the years have gone.

When I was given this assignment, the first person that popped into my head was my sweet Grandma. At 86 years of age she has this love for life that I cannot describe. She sees the beauty in everything and the good in everyone. Grandma spends her time cheering up friends and neighbors and doing little acts of service for those in need. She has made it a goal to ask herself what she can do for someone else everyday.She possesses a love that is pure and Christlike.

Her trials have made her stronger and she has made it through the most challenging of times because of her strength and courage . She has taught me how to be resilient.She has taught me how to be grateful. She has taught me how to love.When i think of her I cant help but think of the lyrics to her favorite song "I hope you dance"....

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

I hope you dance.


Norma Gibby has danced through life. Always finding joy in the journey. An inspiration to me and everyone around her"

Emily Gap Baptisms

 

The missionaries in Alice Springs Zone are working hard to bring the Gospel to outlying areas where some the Aboriginal population lives. They have no transportation in to town so the Church is taken to them. They have church services and baptisms in their own communities surrounded by friends and family. They are changing their lives for the better. One of the communities they are working in is called Amoonguna.In April they had their first baptismal service for this community in a beautiful place called Emily’s Gap. Congratulations to the Elders and Elders and Sister Bogadehl for their hard work and success.
You may enjoy this YouTube link for a video of these baptisms: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JqDidX_cE

Zone Conferences

One of the best parts of this mission has been Zone Confernces. It's always wonderful to see President and Sister Quinn, but more than that, their talks and presentations are always masterful and inspirational. They give us the spiritual lift and the instruction we need when we need it. Another thing that never ceases to amaze us is the talks the other missionaries give. The Elders share wisdom and leadership well beyond their years. The spirit is strong and the talks are inspired.

 

We are looking forward to seeing them again this weekend. Elder Baxter, the area president, will be here as well and we will be privileged to hear from him.

Flies

 

I never paid attention in science class when I was younger, or I would be able to more fully appraise you of the differences in various species of flies. However, because of experiences in both America and Australia with flies I can share a little information on them.
American flies are generally smarter, or at least, have a different level of intelligence when it comes to their desire to survive the hatred of mankind. Whenever I swat at a fly in America it will tend to buzz away for a few minutes and plan a different mode of attack. However, in Australia, whenever a member of the the fly population discovers a human being he immediately goes after recruits that will perform suicide attacks until their foe has either gone completely mad or escaped into a fly proof building or automobile. They don’t bite. They seem to be perfectly harmless, except that they will continue their attack until they are killed or manage to enter your various bodily openings, such as nose, ear, mouth, etc. They sacrifice themselves by the thousands with just one goal in mind...the insanity of the entire human race within the Continent of Australia, one person at a time. They are slightly faster than the American fly, and according to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution may be a completely different species, because they are only 93.7 percent the size of their American counterpart, and do not breed, but definitely reproduce by spontaneous generation.

 

It is probable that nothing is entirely bad, and so it is with Australian flies. They have made me, and others, much friendlier. You see, they have created a reflex in most Australians and visitors to the Continent wherein they are constantly waving as they walk or drive down the street. Although it may be assumed that we are merely swatting at flies, if someone waves as they are passing you by, even if you are enclosed within the safety of your car, it is a normal reflex to wave back. It is amazing how many friends Sister Shumway and I have made just because someone thought we were giving them a friendly greeting. I guess it doesn’t hurt to let others think that the grimace on your face is really a friendly smile, rather than a valiant attempt to keep from inhaling those abhorrent creatures and choking to death, and the wave of the hand is a futile effort to make them fly a few extra feet before they return to crawl up your nose.
Some of our good friends who spend most of their day sitting out in the sunshine dreaming of eating another kangaroo have developed the ability of completely ignoring the little monsters. I don’t know how they do it, but I certainly envy them.
When we first came to Australia we were warned to “beware the poisonous spiders and snakes.” We have been here for 15 months and have yet to see a poisonous snake, and the few spiders we have seen were far less ugly than the good old American Black Widow. But no one warned us to “beware the flies.” I will miss the many friends I have waved at, but never spoken too when we leave this beautiful country. I will not miss being able to breath without inhaling the little creatures that surely must be the devil's angels.

Literacy Bags Get a Home

 

Sandover Schools serves thirteen out bush schools. They are working on a program to teach parents how to share books with their children so that they all can learn about the joys of reading. They will be using our literacy bags. A hired Aboriginal Literacy Aid will visit the homes in the communities on a weekly basis.
Eric Frater, from the Sydney area, organized a project for collecting materials that will be used for the activities in the literacy bags. He delivered four boxes to Elder Warby in Sydney who sent them down to Blanding. From there, they were delivered to Sandover Schools. Thanks so much to all that were involved.

Project Moving Forward

 

We are moving ahead with the literacy project most of you are aware of. We have a powerful opportunity with Cheri Forbes, Sport and Recreation Director for the Central Desert Shire. She has helped us set up a pilot in Ti Tree (an outbush community) that is a ground up approach, using some of her staff, existing facilities, and volunteers .We spent three days there, (building in lower right hand corner) met with the Shire Council and CEO, and trained some staff (remaining pictures). Once successful, she wants to bring in other agencies, schools, funding bodies, and eventually offer the model to other shires throughout the NT. She has made contact with a funding body that has expressed willingness to fund reproduction of our materials, staff, facilities, training, etc. for other Central Desert Shire communities when we are ready to move ahead on a larger scale. They are planning to build family learning centers in many communities and think our materials would be a great addition to these centers. Cherie’s husband is also very supportive. He is working for a large funding body for Aboriginal affairs. They will prove to be wonderful champions for the project
Ann Roberts, former principal of Alcoota, is now working with 70 out bush schools. She is very supportive as a volunteer for voicing the Power Points and is eager to promote the project to the areas where she has influence.
We feel that we have produced materials that could be of lasting benefit to the Aboriginal community and possibly many others. With help from Sisters Lovegrove and Woods, we have completed writing and voicing Alphabet, Phonics 1, Early Reading, and English Conversation DVDs. We are just completing the voicing on Phonics 2 and still need to voice Basic English am about half way through with writing the phonetic explicit teaching approach to Ye Shall Have My Words. It also will need to be voiced. We have written and produced a comprehensive tutor training DVD with a tutor packet that includes assessment, tracking, instruction guides and teaching aids, as well as an introduction to the program DVD. Our literacy bags are being used by the missionaries out bush and we are planning to introduce them to the Ti Tree pilot project.
We are working out the kinks, and feel we will have a professional, user-friendly product when finished. At that point we hope to be able to mass produce them and make them widely available to participants in the project. There is a new senior couple here, the Bogadahls, who will be able to help carry on with the project when we are gone, though they will not be involved in the production. Please keep us in your prayers there is a lot to get done in the nine weeks we have left.

The Tragic Fires of Victoria AU

 

Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims of this devastating rampage of fires and the country of Australia. Though it is more than a thousand miles away, we strongly feel the loss and sadness of this tragedy.

Let's Catch Up!

December flew by as we busily worked on the project, taught English classes, had zone baptisms and celebrated Christmas.


The Branch put on a most inspirational program, A Tribute to Christ. Elder Shumway sang once with Elder Harding and once with Brother Taumololo. They did a great job. Several of our English students and a recent convert came.


The Branch threw quite a Christmas Party: lots of friends, fun, and food. The weather was beautiful (not too hot!)


We were invited to the Alcoota School Christmas Program/awards ceremony/barbeque. We had a great time and the kids put on quite a program.


In late November Pahou, from New Zealand was baptized. It was great to watch his transformation. Five members of the Neal family were baptized a few days later. They were excited to learn about and join the Church.