27 December 2011

A historic day for the Australia Perth Mission.  The whole mission was gathered together today in one body for the first time since President and Sister Cahoon came here 18 months ago.  There was a meeting first where the missionaries all boomed out the hymns, and listened with tears to the farewell testimonies of their beloved president and mission mother.  Sister Cahoon has had a problem with her neck, which has progressed until now her arm and fingers are numb.  When the results of the MRI were sent to SLC, the Brethren called them and told them that Elder Hamula of the Seventy was coming to release them from their mission.  This was only a couple of weeks ago!  It was a shock for the Cahoons and the missionaries as well, who love them fiercely. 

So today, when it was already scheduled to be having a transfer meeting for many of the missionaries, the president called for all of them to be brought in, which in some cases means $1000 for a plane ride from Broom up north down to Perth.  It’s a huge effort to feed and house about 100 missionaries for two days, but what a great time we have had!  It was our first time to be at a meeting with more than just a couple of Elders at a time since we came more than 3 months ago.  President Cahoon took us into his office when he first saw us and with much love and interest, asked all about Albany and Bridgetown.  He seems so very pleased with what is happening.  Then today in the meeting he had us stand up so he could introduce us to the young missionaries. 

We had some training from Elders Innis and Marsden about finances.  Elder Innis showed a breakdown of the cost per missionary per month.  He didn’t even include the cost for phones, cars, maintenance, supplies, or medical.  It came to $1313, of which each missionary or his family supplies nearly $400.  So the sacred tithes of the church provide more than twice the amount that is given by the individual missionary!  Then you consider that many of the Elders and Sisters in this mission came from areas where there was no opportunity for them to save money for their own way, and the church has helped them even with the amount that is provided by the family.  It is an enormous amount of money to bring in each new member or to retain members like you and me!  But the worth of each soul is great!

Elder Marsden spoke about the donations becoming sacred funds once they are given to the servants of the Lord.  In other words, if an Elder feels he can live on less money than his allotment, he will not be entitled to a refund!

There is only one other couple in the mission besides the two couples who work in the office, and we are the only Americans.  But tomorrow we will meet our new president and a new couple who will be arriving from Perry, Utah.  The new president is coming over from Brisbane, and has served as mission president in Aukland.  His name is Smiburt.

After the emotional meeting today, we had a mission photo taken outside in front of the Temple, and then the Elders who had learned the Maori Haka performed it as a tribute to President and Sister Cahoon to show them great honor and respect.  That was amazing—it gave us chills!  It was silent in the gym after the Haka while the Elders lined up to hug them each individually and express their love.  Then there was a big meal, which we had helped to prepare.  Then a really amazing talent show.  Each of the zones had prepared a funny skit, and we saw their significant musical talents.  Many of the missionaries are originally from Tonga, Samoa, Indonesia, Micronesia and New Zealand.  There was lots of rap, singing and dancing.  Then they had time to play sports out on the lawn in the park across the street and generally “muck around a bit.”  We had a “supper” of fruit and cookies and drinks before they left for their areas around Perth. 

We are going back to stay with the Marsdens for the night, and will meet our new president in the morning.