Andrew Kau from Papua New Guinea

We had a very special privilege to work with Andrew Kau, a dedicated member from Papua New Guinea, a third-world country just north of Australia. The church brought a few families (a total of 39 people in two separate trips) here to do their own temple work. They are leaders in the church and would never get to the temple if they had to depend on their $2-$3/day salaries. Andrew Kau is a family history consultant. While Andrew was here, we helped him with his questions.
Andrew is about 25 years old, has served a mission in his own land, is married, and has two little children, ages 2 years, and 4 months. His is smart, and anxious to do his very best in his calling.


Dad helps Andrew to understand how to use the help system on New FamilySearch. He will be training ward family history consultants in his own land. The consultants will help members enter family information on paper sheets. Then Andrew, and another member in his stake, will enter the information on the computer. Andrew uses the computer at work during his lunch hour. The other consultant uses the computer at the stake house. (Andrew also serves as a high councilman, and executive secretary to the mission president.)

Mehdi and Sister Missionaries at dinner

Sister Keung is going home to New Zealand. She and Sister Liu (along with Sister Harman) had special permission to invite Mehdi back to say good-bye. We had them for dinner. Mehdi loved sharing information about himself and his homeland.


This was a special evening for each one of us.


Sister Liu, on the left, and Sister Keung, on the right, were the missionaries who found Mehdi. He loves the gospel message. He knows Heavenly Father put him at the right place and at the right time, to learn about the restored gospel.


Gaz, a gift from Mehdi, is a special candy made in Iran, Mehdi's homeland.

Birthday celebrations at the office

Sister McKnight, Sister McLaughlin, Sister Woolley, Mark Kelly (manager), Dad, and Mom and Tracey celebrated Dad's birthday mid-morning. We even sang to him.


We celebrated Dad's birthday at "Morning Tea," or what we would call "brunch." We had birthday cake and ice cream. "Morning or Afternoon Tea" seem to always be goodies!


Sister McLaughlin celebrated her 77th birthday with us on the 7th. We sang the "Forsheza" song to her ("For she's a jolly good fellow..."). Dad was serenaded with the "Forheza" song after "Happy Birthday."

Mehdi and friend come to visit

Mahdi (center), and his friend Ben, came to visit following Dad's hospital stay. Mahdi said he has been very concerned about Dad. He feels like Dad is "his relative."


Mahdi brought a beautiful bouquet to wish Dad well, and to convey his love. Do you like Dad's new haircut? (Kind of like Eldon's, eh?)

Surgery 30 September 2008

Westmead Private Hospital (only 6 years old)


The morning after--glad to feel better!


Much equipment in Intensive Care Unit


Two wounds closed with staples, where the holes were made in the skull; stitches where the drain was placed following surgery (center)

The Puzzle Lady

Preparing/categorizing for puzzle assembly


Tracey's gift from Sister McKnight and Sister McLaughlin, who work closely with us in the office, is this beautiful Thomas Kinkade picture.




"Wallace Hut" -- a scene from Australia.

Did you KNOW...?

If you click on any one of the pictures in this blog, you can see it FULL SCREEN, and scroll around and see various parts of the picture! TO GET BACK TO THE BLOG, click on the back arrow at the upper left. (Clicking on the "X" at the right actually closes the blog.) Try it; you'll love it!

The birds are not like at home!

The cockatoos are big birds, like big parrots. They speak with a LOUD squawk. They sometimes sound like they are ready to attack!

Special sister missionaries

The Broughs are with Sister Keung, from New Zealand, and Sister Liu, from China. These wonderful sisters are very capable. They were Mahdi's missionaries until he moved to Blacktown.

Everyday living with the Broughs

These are some of our basic commodities--except for the Polenta (corn meal). The corn meal is not so easy to find. Notice the size of the containers. The milk is stored on the shelf until you are ready to refrigerate it. Cornflour is cornstarch.


Our neighbor's laundry--outside our kitchen window


Our area is dense with apartment buildings. The number of families per building is directly proportional to the number of rubbish bins outside!

Our work "campus"

The Sydney Australia Temple is two buildings away from our office.


Driveway onto temple grounds--note pink blossoms


Side view towards parking and temple entrance


Flowers on the grounds in front of the Sydney Temple


Buckland House, a historic building, is where the church administrative offices are for Australia.


Family History building in front, the building behind is soon to become the Sydney North Mission Office (currently 20-30 minutes away). Beyond that is the Seminaries and Institutes building.

Australian animals

Several kinds of animals are housed in this park not far from where we live.


Notice the baby in this kangaroo's pouch.