March 12-13, 2010 The Wangaratta District held a Relief Society Retreat at the Homestead in Ovens, VIC. It is a beautiful place and we had a marvelous time.
March 11, 2010 The Missionaries of the Albury Branch Rededicated the Albury Area for Missionary Work. 
February 27, 2010 was a wonderful day in the Albury Branch. Sister Helen Williams was baptized! She is a good friend of Rose Velilla who was baptized last month. We are so blessed to know her. She was baptized by Brother Naldo-Rei Casanova, who just recently returned from his mission to the Philippines. He has been a terrific help to these wonderful Filipino Sisters in teaching them the Gospel. L-R Elders Justet and Nielsen, Bro Casanova, Helen Williams, Sister Nielsen and Elder Watts.
Nicholas Cutler was also baptized on the 27th. He is the younger brother of Jesse Cutler who was baptized last March. It was very special that Jesse was able to baptize and confirm his little brother. We are thrilled with the miracles we have seen in this wonderful family. We are looking forward to the baptisms of his sister and his Mum. L-R: Elder and Sister Nielsen, Nicholas O'Brien, Wendy O'Brien, Jesse Cutler, Elder Justet and Elder Watts.
We went out to Wahgunyah to teach the Temple Preparation Class to Alfred George and Robyn Williams. We pass through one of the most important wine producing regions in Australia, so as we went through Rutherglen, noted for it's wine, we stopped to snap some pictures of the beautiful vineyards laden with sweet grapes. Perfectly straight rows go for miles and miles, over and around the rolling hills. Truly a lovely sight.
Elder Watts and Elder Justet overlook the city of Albury. They were both transferred out of our area and as has become the custom, we went to Huon Hill to look at the valley and have a picnic. Shortly after this picture was taken it started pouring rain, so we had our little barbie in the rain. Elder Watts went down to "the city" Melbourne and Elder Justet is now one of the Assistants to the President. They were able to return for the baptisms. We will miss these delightful and dedicated Elders.
February 17, 2010 we were in Wahgunyah. We love to stop by the Murray River and enjoy the beautiful scenery and listen to the cockatoos. The Murray River really is that color. It is the longest river in Australia and winds its way 2500 kilometers through the south eastern part of the country. It is quiet and tranquil and we enjoy stopping to visit it whether we are in Wahgunyah, Echuca or Albury/Wodonga.
On February 15, 2010, the Wangaratta District went to Oz.e.wildlife animal reserve. You have probably noticed that we go there often. So often, in fact, that they never charge us to go in anymore. This little koala had just been given fresh leaves and took time to "give thanks." 
Exactly one year after the fires of Black Saturday, we happened to drive through the area. Notice how the regrowth on the trees grows all around the tree like soft green fuzz.
Last year this very spot was nothing but black.
January 23, 2010 was the day our beloved Hungry Jacks burned down. We had just had our lunch in there three hourse before and the Elders had only left the building 20 minutes before the fire broke out. A vent grill above the broiler grill fell causing the fire to leap up into the ceiling area. There was nothing anyone could do it spread so fast. 
January 23, 2010, was also a very happy day. Our dear Rose Velilla was baptized. We all love her so much. Here she is with (L-R) Elders Watts and Nielsen, Helen Williams, Rose, Sister Nielsen and Elder Justet.
On Thursday, January 14, 2010, we took the Elders with us to visit with members in Colac Colac and Cudgewa. We spent a little time in Corryong and visited the grave of Jack Riley, the man said to be "The Man from Snowy River"
We visited the Holland family in Cudgewa. They have a wonderful swimming hole in the creek behind their house. We walked out to see it and watched as their girls played and splashed and had a great time. Elder Justet and Elder Watts (L to R) would sure like to have gone in as well. 
On the second day of our flat inspection trip we took another ride down the Murray River in Echuca. We rode the same boat, the Emmy Lou, that we rode last time. There has been more rain this past year and the river is considerably higher than it was last May. Notice the house boats docked along the bank. People just tie up their house boats and stay there for their vacations swimming in the river and fishing from the boat or the bank. The river used to be the main way goods were taken to Melbourne from the farm lands, vineyards and ranches. The once bustling port in Echuca was the third largest port in Australia. It is inland, nowhere near the ocean. 
After we inspected the flats of the Missionaries in Griffith, we took a few minutes to visit the site of the Hermit's Caves on the bluff above the city. The caves were once the home of an Italian immigrant named Valerio Ricetti who lived the life of a hermit in the caves during the 1930's. The flowers painted on the rock to the left of President Nielsen were painted by Valerio. This was his living room. The kitchen area was to the right in front of the rock on the right and the sleeping area was behind President Nielsen. Mr. Ricetti had created lovely gardens and rock walls painstakingly stacked as terraces. Most of those things are gone now.
We took Elder Justet and Elder Watts to oz.e.wildlife on January 4 to see the kangaroos, koalas, black swans, wombats, emus, and so on. Elder Watts was new in the country and thrilled to see these fascinating animals close up. While we were watching the koala bears I noticed this stringy bark gum tree. It struck me that this is a beautiful representation of repentance. When we strip off the sins we have committed and remove them from our lives we are left clean, white and beautiful like the bark on this tree. As the tree grows it continues to shed the stringy bark. Like the tree, we must continually repent every day so that we can stand pure and clean at the last day.
Our beautiful daughter, Kiera, and her new granddaugher, Chloe. What a wonderful belated Christmas gift! She was born Dec. 28, 2009 to Brittany and James. And now we are GREAT Grandparents...at last we are great!
Locklan was baptized on Dec. 26, 2009 by President Nielsen. Here he is with his family and Elders Justet and Watts
We had this wonderful group over to our flat on Christmas Eve for turkey noodle soup and hot rolls. We watched the First Presidency Fireside and enjoyed one another's company. We forgot to take a picutre, so we gathered them all together at Lockey's baptism. Elder and Sister Nielsen, Diana Hawksworth, Don Thickins, Elders Watts and Justet. Chris is not shown, he came as well.
Little Primary Angels
The Albury Primary Nativity. Cutest Primary ever!
Elder Justet and Elder Watts on Christmas Day at the Smith home.
Our cute little Christmas Tree.
The Lindley Children put on the Nativity for the Missionaries at the Mission Christmas Conference in Melbourne. Devin plays the part of the donkey while Brady (Joseph) helps Mary (Alyssa) stay on the donkey. It was a terrific production and made us homesick for our family. The Nativity is one of our favorite traditions.
The main characters in the Albury Branch Christmas Pageant. Dec. 12, 2009. This was taken in our little chapel/cultural hall.
December 12, 2009. The Albury Branch Christmas Pageant. Everyone participated by being part of the cast either being citizens who witnesssed the events or the main characters. 
The shepherds find the baby Jesus at the stable, the sheep gather around, notice the Angel of the Lord behind the tree, he had just made his appearance and is standing near to watch over the Baby Jesus.
The shepherds keeping watch over their flock. 
The World's biggest rolling pin is in Wodonga, VIC, Australia. 
Kathleen and Joel with Brigham enjoy an after Thanksgiving Dinner 
