100 DAYS MATES!

100 days until I leave for my mission to Oz!

ROASTED GOANNA!

So, my Mum has been corresponding with other "missionary mums" from Australia and one mentioned that her son recently enjoyed some roasted goanna. He's serving in Brisbane so I probably won't be introduced to this delicacy, but at least I know what it is in cased I'm ever offered a taste!

58 NEW MISSIONS!

Current Sydney Sister Missionaries!

The LDS Church created 58 new missions in response to the surge in missionary applications. One of the new missions affects me. My call is to the "Australia Sydney Mission" of which a new mission "Sydney North" has been formed. I'll just have to wait and see where I will report.

According to the Deseret News, the "immediate and unprecedented" response to LDS Church PresidentThomas S. Monson's October announcement lowering the age of full-time missionary service to 18 for young men who are high school graduates and 19 for young women has pushed the total number of LDS missionaries currently serving around the world to more than 60,000 for the first time in more than a decade.

The number of young men and women applying to serve missions jumped nearly 500 percent after the change.

"We are thrilled with the response," Elder Russell M. Nelson of the church's Quorum of the Twelve told Church News reporter R. Scott Lloyd. "Our first feeling is one of deep gratitude for the commitment and the consecration of these missionary families."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865573903/LDS-Church-creates-58-new-missions-in-response-to-surge-in-missionary-applications.html

YOU CAN'T EXERCISE ENOUGH!

Another bit of advice from the former Sydney Mission President is:  "YOU CAN'T EXERCISE ENOUGH!" So, in honor of my bestie and fitness guru, here's the first of many WODs to keep us healthy:

SISTA SLIMMA
For time:  100 jumping jacks, 75 air squats, 50 push ups, 25 burpies

WHAT DO I STUDY & TEACH?

Preach My Gospel

I had the privilege and blessing of meeting with a former Sydney Mission President and he said that all I had to do to prepare as a missionary was to have a desire, humility and know Chapter 3 of "Preach My Gospel" inside and out, backward and forward and upside down. Simple, right? No! This L O N G chapter is the "meat" of of the  Gospel, covering the Restoration, Plan of Salvation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Commandments and the Laws and Ordinances of the Gospel. Well, for those of us preparing to serve, we better get studying!

FINDING NEMO

P. Sherman .  42 Wallaby Way .  Sydney AUSTRALIA

OZ SLANG

Maybe once or twice.

I'll at least try it.

Yes to the mash, noooo to the bangers!

Even though I've been called to be an "English-speaking" missionary, I've been assured that I will hear at least 27 different languages in the greater Sydney area! The number of "official" languages covered in the mission is eight. My dear Aussie mates (Annie and Abby) say that between the accent and the slang, it will often seem as if English has become a foreign language. To give me a leg-up, they've shared some of the following words to help me get along:

angst out . become anxious
argy-bargy . argument
banga & mash . sausages & mashed potatoes
bag of fruit . a suit
bloke . guy
boot . trunk
jumper . sweater
bewdy . "that's good"
bickie . biscuit (cookie)
bone shaker . old car or bike
brass monkey weather . very cold
brekkie . breakfast
crash hot . excellent
daggy . not stylish
daks . trousers
date roll . toilet paper
diddy . toilet
dog's eye . meat pie
doona . bedspread
dosh . money
drag the chain . to be running late
fizzer . failure
fizzy . soda
hooter . nose
lippy . lipstick
loo . toilet/bathroom
Maccas . McDonald's
moggy . cat
mobile . cell phone
nipper . child
onya . well done
ooroo . goodbye
rello . relative
sanga . sandwich
sheila . woman
tantie . tantrum

MISSIONARY AGE CHANGES

1937 Wester States Mission

President Thomas S. Monson announced during the Saturday morning session of October 6, 2012 General Conference:

I am pleased to announce that effective immediately, all worthy and able young men who have graduated from high school or its equivalent, regardless of where they live, will have the option of being recommended for missionary service beginning at the age of 18, instead of age 19. . . .

As we have prayerfully pondered the age at which young men may begin their missionary service, we have also given consideration to the age at which a young woman might serve. Today I am pleased to announce that able, worthy young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for missionary service beginning at age 19, instead of age 21.

We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve. Many young women also serve, but they are not under the same mandate to serve as are the young men. We assure the young sisters of the Church, however, that they make a valuable contribution as missionaries, and we welcome their service.

Missionary Age Change