My mission!

Through the magic of the internet I have been able to re-live some of my mission experiences. I wasn't much of a photographer on my mission, but thanks to modern technology I can access stuff that I actually saw and experienced.

I spent 18 months of my mission in and around the city of Adelaide, South Australia. Adelaide was a large city with many parks and hills, etc. But, for a little town guy this was trying at times because I didn't get to see much of the countryside in the big city. For my last 6 months, I was transferred to West Australia -- namely the city of Perth. While Perth was also a big city it was most scenic. In fact, it is one the most beautiful places I've ever been. I was fortunate to be able to travel most of West Australia my last several months of my mission. While traveling, I saw some incredible things and learned much more. The above photos all have particular meaning to me which I will try to explain.

The top photo on the left is a giant forest just outside of two towns called Bunbury and Collie, south of Perth. These were and are the largest trees I have ever seen. No, I've never been to the Redwood forest, but these trees are so big you can see how they have built a walkway up on top. This is just inland from the Indian Ocean. I spent one of the worst nights of my life in Collie as I had to sleep on a hardwood floor with out a blanket, pillow or anything. I used my suit coat to cover me for warmth. There was no warmth or sleep that night. The next photo is of Albany, West Australia. It is said it is the most distant place you can travel from Arizona. If you go any further, you are coming home. Albany, during the 1970's, was a large whaling town. It had one of the world's last whaling stations. I have never smelled anything so "deathening" (that's my word for it). It smelled horrible. The men used sharp knifes on the end of poles (think hockey sticks) to cut away the blubber. Everything went into a hole in the center of the whaling ramp which was then boiled and boiled some more. I think this whole thing was stopped (meaning outlawed) in the late 70's. Next are some photos of the Albany cliffs. These cliffs were at least 300 feet high. During the winter they had what they called "Killer King Waves" come in from the Anarctic Ocean. Because there are no islands or land to speak of between Anarctica and the coastline they would grow to 100 feet or more during the stormy season. At times, with a telescope, you could see icebergs in the distance. Next of note is place called the Gap. The two side by side photos show what happens when king waves hit the Gap. This Gap was created over time by waves crashing against the coastline. A wave hits the front of the Gap then shoots hundreds of feet toward the back, then shoots hundreds of feet straight up. There is a cage overlooking the side of the Gap that visitors stand in. Needless to say when I visited the Gap, I got soaked. My point of all this is that almost yearly, some careless, drunken tourist (or local) would jump the locked gate to the park surrounding the Gap and stand in the cage when the waves were too dangerous. I might add they were never seen again as they were carried out to sea. I have used this analogy several times while teaching Sunday School to point out that we must draw a line what we will or won't do. Those that cross the line venture into dangerous territory. I know that took a long time to make my point but the photos are awesome and I was there. Finally, the last photo is of Narrogin, West Australia. I accompanied my Mission President to this little town to dedicate it for the preaching of the gospel. It never had missionaries until we went there and dedicated it. I'm not sure what real success I had on my mission or what good can be said my time and service there, but there is a branch in Narrogin and of all things a Geneology library.