Shortly after we were transferred, the Elder from Salt Lake was killed in a car accident. His sister was flying to the funeral service and while enroute a famous TV Star sat down beside her and asked her questions about the Church. She didn't know the answers and suddenly she heard her brother's voice telling her what she needed to know. His study and diligence was not in vain. We feel he was called to perform a special mission on the other side.
By the time we were transferred to Millicent, we had helped in the finding, teaching, baptizing and fellowshipping of nine non-members.
After seven months in Bendigo which was a part of the Melbourne Stake, we were transferred as District President to an area in the Southwest section of the Mission. It was originally five branches, be was later condensed to four.
Each week we visited a different branch to check records and do what we could to strengthen and help them to understand more fully the programs of the Church. It was my responsibility to supervise the Relief Society and Primary. We gave special programs on how to be better teachers and leaders. We also had the responsibility of helping them understand the new Priesthood MIA.
Every three months we held District Conferences with a different branch acting as host. President and Sister Sposhian and sometimes Brother Broadhead, our Regional Representative, presided while we conducted the various Meetings.
We were blessed to attend Conference in Melbourne three different times at which a member of the Twelve apostles presided. The first one was Thomas S. Monson, next Franklin D. Richards, an Assistant to the Twelve. Then Gordon B. Hinckley. Toward the latter end of our mission Brother A. Theodore Tuttle held meetings with the missionaries in different areas.
This really gave is a boost spiritually and helped us in carrying forward in the Lord's work.
Through the week we contacted inactive members and held family home evenings and special teaching engagements in which we used tapes of General Conference and other special talks by General Authorities. It was our privilege to strengthen and fellowship new members also.
The last month before coming home a young man and young woman from two inactive families came to our flat two or three times a week to listen to the Book Of Mormon Tapes and read along with them. (They are planning for a Temple Marriage.) We understand the young man was ordained an Elder at the last District Conference.
In this area the members gave the Elders several choice referrals. Because we were not withing a regular Stake and had no Chapel, our baptisms were performed in the ocean or Y.M.C.A., depending on the area. (We lived in Millicent about eight miles from the beach.) The Elders had six baptisms in Millicent. There were three in the Y.M.C.A. in Mt. Gambier.
The mother of a counselor in the Mt. Gambier Branch attended church regularly, but refused to be baptized because she was too old (in her eighties), sickly, and could not give up her coffee. The man, his wife and granddaughter went to the New Zealand Temple in January. There was such a change in their spirit and attitude that she told us she wanted to be baptized. I asked her when. We would love to have it happen before we go home. When do you go home? In two weeks. "I'll be baptized on Sunday. And I'd like to have Pres. Clawson help Len baptize me."
We were scheduled to attend Church in Warrnambool, one hundred twenty five miles away. We told her to make it for 6:30 and we would be there. She did, and we were. As she was confirmed, her face was smiling and radiant.
Although we lost a third of our American dollar when it was changed to Australian, and we did a tremendous amount of traveling (3000 miles per month) The Lord blessed us and we were able to take care of our needs. For instance, when [we] were at the Kaniva-Horsham Branch (130 miles away) we spent the night in the Branch President's home or with one of his counselors. When they hosted the District Conference and had many visitors, he paid our expense at the motel. Another couple we had helped fellowship back into activity kept us in flour and wheat germ. (He worked for a milling company.) When we went to the Warrnambool Branch we spent Saturday night in the Branch President's home. (He took our place as District President when we left.)
Besides teaching the Gospel, we had a side "hobby." In Bendigo, Orin chopped three tons of wood for a sweet widow lady. In Mt. Burr (Millicent) the last three months of our Mission we went several mornings each week and gathered, sawed and chopped wood for another widow lady, before holding an instruction period with her. When we met her she said she didn't know anything about the Gospel. We asked her why she was baptized: she said, "To make the Elder happy." How grateful we were for our tapes of the 1972 and 1973 Conferences. They were a source of enlightenment and inspiration not only to others but to us as well.
We were also grateful to have two fine Mission Couple serving in our area. (One in Mt. Gambier and one in Warrnambool.)
Each of the Branches gave us a farewell party and gifts on our last visit with them. On our way home from our mission we were permitted to spend five hours in Fiji, Four Days in New Zealand, Two Days in Hawaii and one week in California. We arrived in Salt Lake on the 4th of March. In time to see a record snow storm for our area at that time of year. (Our first snow for two years.)
While in New Zealand, we stayed in the home of a Moari family (Kakas), we met and loved and worked with in Kaniva. He was a member of the Branch Presidency, Sister Kaka's brother was the Branch President. Besides showing us a few points of interest, we attended three sessions in the Temple and helped in sealing 150 young men to their parent[s].
In Hawaii we couldn't find a vacancy in the motel at Laie. The Manager called a member of the church, a Brother Covey, and they took us into their home. We went to a session of the Temple and went to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
It was wonderful to have a week in Rialto, California with our son, Dennis, and our daughter Klar and their families. Also we were able to see and visit with some of our dear friends we loved and worked with for so many years.
We will be eternally grateful for the privilege that has been ours of getting to know and love those dear people in Australia. We also will never forget the beauties of the country and wild life through which we traveled constantly, but above all we must express our gratitude to our Father in Heaven for his guidance, blessings and sweet spirit that was showered upon us.
Dear Family, May we bear you our witness that this is truly the work of the Lord. We do have a Prophet to guide us, and if we will follow his teachings we will have the greatest joy and happiness that can be found anywhere.
Sincerely your Sister in the Gospel
Orin and Odessa
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