Opera and a baptism

Sydney is a fabulous city. The streets are full of families, lots of markets, food and things to do. We went to Sydney Opera house for a performance of The King and I. It was very enjoyable. Dad sat by a 4 year old who was bored and kept waving her flashing doll around the whole time. Fortunately, it didn't bother him. It kinda drove me crazy though :)

Darling Harbour at night. We ate at a Greek restaurant. The area was filled with families.

Rasheeka, Devmini and Dave- newly baptized family living in our building. In true Indian style, this baptism took 4 hours of celebration with food, gifts, photos, talks and testimonies. Dave works in Sri Lanka and manages all of Victoria Secret products. He has given gifts of bras to most of the senior missionaries after he guesses their size!! Moved to Australia for Devmini to have a better education. It is hard for them as Dave is on the road a lot and Rasheeka and Devmini miss home.

Remembering Gaspar Stifanic: murdered at 31 years old.

This is a photo of Ivan Stifanic family. Natalia (Pa's mother) is the little girl on the right and in the middle is her younger brother Gaspar.
Oriana (my first cousin) sent me this story recently. The details are filled in by Uncle Tony, who is the brother of Pa and the son of Natalia.
Gaspar was the third and youngest child of Ivo (Ivan) and Zanetta. When he was a baby, Zanetta died of tuberculosis.
Natalia who was closest to Gaspar in age was also adored him and and mothered him as her baby brother. Their older brother Sime (on left) was bossy and they didn't care for him.
Ivo wasn't a great believer in education and decreed that it was enough that one member of the family went to school and that was the oldest son, Sime. Sime went to school but Natalia and Gaspar did not to have formal schooling.
Traditionally the oldest son would get the farm when his father died, so Gaspar was expected to make his own way. He was given a piece of land outside of the village of Bonaci where they lived.
In his early 20's he became involved with a woman called Tina and they planned to get married. As was common among young people at the time, whilst trying to get the money together to marry and for Tina's family to agree on a dowry, Tina moved in with Gaspar. She fell pregnant and they had a son. Their relationship fell apart with arguments with her family over her dowry and Tina and her son moved back to her family home. She later married a local policeman from another town.
After Gaspar's relationship ended with Tina, he decided to earn some money to try and establish himself. He spent 2 years working in the coal mines in Albona and when he returned home he had enough money to set up a small grocery shop in Zbandaj. He rented a house and ran the shop from there. Zbandaj is close to Radmani where his sister Natalia lived.
Although Gaspar had returned home, he was lonely and therefore vulnerable to the advances of a woman named Gaidovica. She was with another man at the time, but the fact that Gaspar had a shop was attractive and he succumbed to her advances and she ended up pregnant. He married her and she lived with him in Zbandaj.
After living with him a very short time, one night Gaspar was lured to a neighboring village called Kirmenjak where he was set upon and murdered in a barn there. He was bludgeoned to death with a hammer. His body was then dumped in a nearby forest. As he had disappeared a search party was sent out to look for him. After 2 days his body was found and brought back to Zbandaj in a wooden cart. Uncle Tony reports that Natalia (Pa's mother and Gaspar's sister) was devastated when he was killed as she was very close to him.
Eventually Gaspar's father in law was charged with the murder and sentenced. He was imprisoned on Elba. With the capitulation of Italy in September 1943, all prisoners were set free so this man was released and returned back to Istra, his home and remained there until he died. It was so difficult for Natalia as the man who killed her brother was now free in the community again.
The son of Gaspar and Gaidovica as an adult moved to the US to NY state. When he died a few years back, his son organized for his remains to be buried in cemetery in Zbandaj with his mother.
Gaidovica went back to her old boyfriend and was able to inherit the land Gaspar owned near Bonaci. She sold the land and so she benefitted from the murder of her husband.
The motive for the murder was that Gaidovica's family wanted to have the grocery store (the license to run the store) in Zbandaj as it was a lucrative small business to run a small village grocery store. As it was the local authorities refused to pass the license onto Gaidovica's family as they considered them having poor character. Instead the license went to Josip Radman (my grandfather, Natalia's husband) who was considered good character.
This is the little shop that Pa would talk about running when he was a child... it was Natalia who ran the shop while Josip continued to farm the land. They did quite well financially, even with the war happening in the rest of Europe, life was peaceful in Istria until the Capitulation in September 1943 and the arrival of the Germans and the rise of the partisans. It was then that events took a turn for the worst.

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.

Aussie, aussie, aussie, oy, oy ,oy!

Aussie lingo

Arvo: as in an email from our manager asking for a meeting this arvo.
Bogan: Ellen describing her husband in conversation, but this expression is heard everyday.
Knackered: as in I did so much today, I am knackered.
Salvos: as in actual name of thrift shop owned and run by Salvation Army and along those lines
Vinnies: as in actual name of thrift shop owned and run by St. Vincent de Pauls.
Ambos: as in nightly news reporting on a car accident where the ambos transported the injured person.
Beautiful and lovely: descriptors of delicious food. No-one uses delicious, yum, perhaps.
Johno: 'o' instead of 'ie' endings for all nicknames.
Mackers: as in McDonalds
Good onya: as in our manager telling us we did well on an initiative we wrote.
Oldies: as in our manager telling us about his parents in law.
Snags: as in sausages which are commonly cooked on barbecue and eaten with a slice of bread (we ate at youth conference)

love you all!

Tassie farm taken from speeding by in our car

Old people do the strangest things!

Bros. Feil(mission office, former principal), Smith (self reliance, former dentist) Killibrew (mission office, former home inspector), Allen (public relations, former accountant) Archibald (legal counsel, former attorney and title company owner) Dad, Pres Barr (Temple press. former fashion guru) Roberts (photo capture, farmer in Layton)... missing 2 couples

We never stop eating! It comes with being a senior missionary I guess. We will have to purchase two seats each to get home.
These couple of photos are from a Samoan dinner put on by a senior missionary couple who went to Samoa on some business. Bro Archibald helps with legal counsel and went there to see about some land that was left to the church. While they were there,  they bought everyone lava lava wraps and put on a Samoan dinner. So very generous... all of them are. We met for dessert on Sunday night as there is an Indian family in our complex who is getting baptized on October 10th. To include them, often our neighbors have a get together with very rich desserts.
Last FHE Dad and I had to cook and went pure Australian and made meat pies, mashed potatoes with peas and gravy and salad. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. A change from American casseroles.
Last weekend we spent in Wollongong at a Family Search booth. We asked Rebecca to come with us and help out. We had quite a few new users and were able to show them how to get on the site and how to search for records. Rebecca is an expert and I learned a lot by watching her.
Meantime, we are scrambling because we have to teach youth and adult classes in Tasmania on Sunday. We don't have the lessons done yet!
As we will be in Tasmania we won't be able to text or call unless we hit wi-fi. We generally don't get wi-fi in the low quality hotels we stay in.  (hard to get used to)We have heard Tasmania is beautiful so we have to drive the length of island a couple of times so should see some beautiful scenery in between the Family History Centre visits and the teaching. We will be gone from Friday until Thursday.
Then next Saturday we will travel to Pt Stephens (beautiful little coastal town) to help some other senior missionaries teach the members of their ward how to use family search.... so a busy week or so.
I have a testimony of Family History work and enjoy listening to others as they research their own family histories as well as those others who without their diligence would not be remembered. Australians love genealogy and there are many projects being worked on here all by volunteers. I am enjoying researching our own family and trying to put in context the little bits of information that I have. It is up to you all to make sure nothing is forgotten moving forward. There are so many resources now that make family history so very accessible.
Kiss all the babies. Please send head shots if you haven't. I won't mention who, but two families haven't sent them yet. I want dad to make a poster for me to look at every day. Please send so I can see all the beautiful little faces. We will have an open space for our new little one who will be here in a few weeks.
We miss you all and love you all so very much.

Dad says the time is flying.... I don't think so.... 25% done!

Been a while since I posted but have had contact with just about everyone so you know we are still here! Spent a good evening on Friday for about 4 hours with Andrew Tredrea (first cousin) and his wife Ledley. They took us out to dinner and it was good to catch up the last 30 years! His adoption into the Tredrea family was done by Pres. Bruce R. McConkie and his wife Amelia when they were mission president in Australia about 50 years ago. His dad (nana's brother) died 4 years ago, but his mother is still alive and she lives with Andrew and his wife. His brother Russell lives on the Gold coast with his wife... they are the parents of three children and grandchildren. (meant to take a photo!!)

Bondi Beach panoramic

We went for a drive to Bondi beach last Sunday afternoon and it was full of little children all training to be surfers and young life savers. (dad's movie!)

Sydney is a huge city and beautiful. The streets are full of people walking everywhere as most things are within walking distance.We went to Lion King on Saturday to celebrate our anniversary. We went to the matinee session and so the place was full of chidden which made us wish all the grandchildren were here with us.

At Lion King

This week we are working on the graphics for traveling roots tech kits which will be presented to SLC headquarters about the middle of September. Also, we have to refine some programs to teach to youth and will be traveling to Tasmania to teach later this month. Next week we will set up a booth and work two days in Wollongong promoting Family Search.
We miss you all and love you and sooooooooo happy when we hear from you. Thank goodness for voyage text and phone. Just a few words here and there are my lifeline :)

Driving over Sydney Harbour Bridge on Saturday

We loved visiting Melbourne

Last week we spent three days in Melbourne. Although a bit drizzly, we were able to walk all around the city and have breakfast and lunch in little delis and arcade. Felt so familiar. I keep getting asked how an Australian ended up marrying an American. Dad has just given into it now.

Very typical tea rooms found all over in every little suburb and street in Australia.... this is one we walked by in Melbourne

Once we arrived in Melbourne, (we stayed about 10km) from town but in a little village with a high street, so we went to look for breakfast before meeting with with the other missionaries.

A little cafe called Toast (one of many) where we shared eggs, bacon and blackberry pancakes. (oh yeah.... hot chocolate and diet coke!)

We needed to go over and meet the camera capture missionaries so we can get them into a united group meeting on WebEx once a week. (It is always amazing to meeting someone who who has no idea how to switch on a computer..... Melbourne has 6 missionaries and none of them know how to use a computer at all). So that has proved a challenge for Dad as he has tried to do it from Sydney.

Camera capture missionaries in Public Records of Victoria 40 hours a week

Off to local pub for fish and chips and pasta and Eton Mess dessert (look up recipe,,delicious and easy)

We also visited some family search (non LDS) affiliate libraries. This was pretty amazing to see how passionate people are about finding and doing their family history. We thought it was interesting that at the genealogical society, the Jewish families have a roots program whereby all Jewish children research their name and thereby go back to figure out their heritage. It is a right of passage for them to know where their name came from and where their family came from. The library also encourages everyone to write a biography and has assistants to help.

Dad and Alan Janke who donates hours a week to records of the Jewish people in Australia

After meeting with Jewish Genealogical Society, we went to nearby Holocaust museum and were overwhelmed to get again read the horrors and see the evidence of what the Germans did to the Jews.

One photographic display. Most of the displays were too heart breaking to post

We visited Genealogical Society of Victoria and they are an active group of seemingly octogenarians who are avid genealogists. The manager who gave us the tour and spoke with us was disappointed, I am sure when Dad did not purchase her published book on the sewer systems of Geelong. She spent a long time explaining to him why it was helpful to genealogy, but he spent his money on some small Irish booklets.


We have a few Family History Fairs we will be helping with or attending this week. So there is more than enough to keep us busy. We are also putting together an international roots kit and intern program. The work will go on and they have already found our replacement missionaries who arrive next May.

We miss you all and love getting all texts, letters, photos and phone calls from everyone. We love you and this week, we will reach our 25% complete mark. Hopefully it will mark the end of winter soon also.... last week was the coldest week for 43 years!

We love you all......xoxoxo and you are in our prayers every day.