Wollongong, Tassie and Salt Ash

The last two weeks have been so busy and although we enjoyed it all, glad it is over.
We went to Wollongong (or as locals would say 'the gong') and set up an Family Search booth at a state genealogy fair. It was easy and we were lucky enough to not get hard questions. People were very friendly, the talks were mostly interesting as we listened to people who have devoted their lives to researching sometimes some very remote, unrelated events that have captured their passion.

Part of the Family Search booth in the "Gong". Rebecca (dad's niece) helping on the computer

We flew to Tasmania (Tassie) and hit the road. Briefly visited Salamanca market in downtown Hobart before setting out driving north the whole length of the island. Scenery was beautiful and Tassie focuses on food tourism and so there are little shops along the way, raspberry/berry farms, chocolate factories, cheese factories. The people were very friendly and the food was great.

Clouds outside window in Hobart on our last day. The weather for the 6 days was beautiful and clear.

Salamanca market in Hobart.. Dad headed for gypsy rolls which were freshly made and yum.

Taking a driving break in Swansea on east coast of Tasmania

We taught in Devonport ward. Dad did a timeline for a youth interview. It was good and we enjoyed the group of maybe 50-60 adults and youth. We were invited back to eat by some members of the ward and so we spent the evening with Angelo and Edna and 3 young elders (Utah, Sydney and Sth Africa).

Dinner at home of Angelo and Edna with 3 elders in Devonport

We then visited 6 family history centers and dad helped with any issues. It is amazing that even a little island like Tasmania is right up to date with everything related to the church. They work long and hard with the youth in family history and taking them on temple trips to Melbourne (which is their closest temple). Each visit took about 2-3 hours as they just wanted to share what was happening in their family history centers. Dad focused on the equipment and any problems with it.

A portion of Austen's timeline. There are ancestors to the left and also the temple on the right side. 

We got home late Thursday night and got ready on Friday to help teach in a really small branch about 3 hrs north of Sydney. It all went fine, but we had planned to spend the night in Salt Ash after eating dinner with two other missionary couples. It was late when we got to the hotel only to find, there were no vacancies in the whole town (school holidays) and I had booked for the next night! So, we sang for 3 hrs to keep Dad awake so he could drive back to Sydney. Our car is old and no working radio so we used my music on my phone to sing to. We were glad to make it home.

Dad with Elder Finch (senior missionary living in Salt Ash supporting the branch) as they set up family history. This branch has no chapel and so they share a community hall with Assemblies of God congregation.