YATES/EDGEL FAME ALIVE IN AUSTRALIA...

GREETINGS, ALL FAMILY & DEAR FRIENDS, 

"CAN' you believe it,  Edgels?

Oh, dear! They've poisoned our name!

In the same week we found double evidence that we, you Yates/Edgel clan, have fame here down under.  Driving along the motorway (freeway), we saw a big YATES sign for cement products.  The Yates brand is also big in plant and nursery items.  It's like Scott's would be here.  Fertilizers and all kinds of gardening products bear the big name YATES on them.  Then there are the EDGELL vegetable products.  When we were in Cairns in 1998, we noticed all the canned vegetables had the name EDGELL on them.  Since the name has undergone many morphs since its original Edgehill spelling in England, you can see why it still might have two l's here.  Just a fun bit of trivia for the family!

Moroni Atop  Brisbane's Lovely Temple

By the looks of the blog, one might think all we do is take river and boat trips, and take pictures.  Not so!   We are so involved in a great work that is changing lives so incredibly.  The Self-Reliance initiative has so many facets that we could never do justice to them all.  So we have been assigned 2 stakes in the Brisbane area---the Logan Stake in which we live, and the Redcliffe Stake which is an hour northeast of us on the ocean.  Both are far-flung stakes and we are to spend 80% of our time in helping people in these areas.  The other 20% of our time will be in the other 11 Brisbane stakes, 2 of which are assigned to the only other Self-Reliance couple, the Osbornes, and the other 7 stakes both couples will work as best we can.  Since each stake has about 9-11 units or wards, and about 4 buildings, we have a lot of traveling to do.  This week alone, we traveled to Redcliffe on 3 different occasions--Sunday AM to meet with Stake Council, Wednesday for Stake SR Council meeting, and Thursday for us to teach a group of 15 students in the BYU-Idaho institute program and to support  their academic pursuits as well in their gathering meetings. So, for a year, 3 semesters, we will travel to the Redcliffe area to teach and support these students in a 2 1/2 hour WONDERFUL program.  Some are just beginning their college studies, some are returning after a hiatus, and some have 1 or more degrees and love learning.  They range in age from 19 to 56.  We are very excited about this opportunity.  

Helping people makes us happy!

When Bishops identify people who need more education, better work skills, or better jobs then we can assist in getting them the help they need.. Also, anyone who needs help in learning English, we organize those study groups and get them rolling.  It is surprising how the Tongan and Samoan people have flocked here.  They can't get immediate entry into Australia, but move 1st to New Zealand.  After the required time (not sure how long), they can apply to get permanent entry into AU.  New Zealand's economy is not strong, so the families often struggle mightily during their stay in NZ.  Australia's economy is much better off, but they still find that getting a    job can be tough, especially if you have few skills.  The older adults often don't feel the need to learn the language, and the middle-aged men realize their days of hard physical labor are numbered, and they want to gain skills  to qualify for better work before their bodies give out.  They are a gracious and humble people, and so loving and willing to share.  We are humbled by their genuineness for they are without pretense.  

Another big push here in the Pacific Rim is getting children ready for school with the skills they need.  When a need is made known, we can assist in setting up neighborhood Mum's Preschools and facilitate them as they get up and running.  Also Study Buddy programs wherein students of all ages, and even adults needing tutoring help can receive the support they need. And a new Initiative is just being rolled out this month--called "Success in School Begins at Home."  It's a great aid for parents, grandparents or anyone involved in a school-aged child's life, to learn in a group setting with other parents how to specifically help their children.  It is done in a collaborative group setting with a facilitators who are also group members.  Topics vary from how to set routines at home to how to prepare for test-taking.  These are inspired programs, and the ones which have been around for a few years now are proving to really change lives.  We have now been

Spring is Bursting Out all over--in our own back garden! 

able to see several of these groups in progress and be a part of their groups. We then hear the stories of how they have achieved their goals by stepping it up and gaining more skills, education,  or ability to present themselves as employable, etc.  One little Oriental man I talked to has a lunch food stand in an open mall.  The course you see above, "Starting and Growing My Business" he has been attending for 10 weeks in a 12 week course, meeting once a week.  Already, he said, he has increased his business about 50 % just by implementing the principles he has learned in the course thus far.  He is so thrilled and sees such potential to grow now as he has improved his business practices.  These courses work!  We have much to learn, especially as we go before Ward Councils, Stake Councils, and teach how these principles can help the people in their wards and communities.  Then being able to facilitate

Backside of Industrial bldg. we passed on freeway--YATES!

these courses demands some worthwhile time spent learning their offerings.  We love that these principles can assist all people in becoming more resilient and able to provide for themselves and their families both temporally and spiritually.  So these are the growing pains that I referred to in the last section of the blog!  Oh, we've got a lot to learn, and today marks 4 weeks since we arrived in Brisbane.  It's been a glorious and humbling month!

That's the long & short story.  Hope all is well for you and yours.  We pray for each of you and wish you well in your daily endeavors that we may all be growing in positive directions.  Hold your children and family members close to you, and know of our love and respect for all you are--the wonderful people who enrich our lives.

Always with love, 
Elder and Sister Yates, David/Dad & Marsha/Mom, Grandparents Yates 
Self-Reliance/Education Missionaries
0424 351 854
david.yates@ldschurch.org
marsha.yates@ldschurch.org