Visiting Sydney, Australia – Made Beloved Through an LDS Mission

I want to take you on a little visit to Sydney, Australia. The land where Claire lived and served an LDS mission for eighteen months. It is the land where she learned Mandarin, Chinese and served in areas predominantly filled with people relocated from China. And the land where these people became “family.”

Claire fell in love with the Mandarin language when we lived in Shanghai, China way back when she was in fifth grade. But Sydney is the place where the people who welcomed her with such open arms captured her whole heart.

Why We Went to Sydney

Ever since Claire received her mission call, we have been trying to figure out a plan to get to this magical place. Let’s be honest, ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had stars in my eyes about going here. But after your girl serves a mission there? We were dying to get there.

After lots of finagling and trying to figure out timing to visit this mission of hers ever since she got back almost a year ago, we made that trip happen.

Just the three of us.

Oh, we had tried so hard to bring everyone back in the beginning. I mean, it was AUSTRALIA for crying out loud: a bucket list for all of us.

And Carson served in that very mission. Have I mentioned that? How could we not bring him?

But in the end we realized if we tried to get everyone we’d sadly never make it with kids and their obligations spread far and wide. And honestly, with so many people we could have never had this sacred experience truly diving into the heart of Claire’s mission.

Some Interesting Things to Note About Sydney, Australia

Sydney is the land of the most gorgeous skyline right on the water:

Breathtaking umbrella trees:

Like, for reals, ALL over the place.

It’s the land of driving on the opposite side of the road and things like “double demerits” when you don’t do a great job with that driving.

We learned speedy quick that Claire should be the designated driver since she drove all over creation in this place for a year and a half.

And that was a very good decision I must say.

Public Transportation in Sydney

The public transportation was pretty delightful in Sydney, not only for the ease of use, but also to get to people-watch and hang with the locals.

It is such a multicultural city: a melting pot of so many different cultures.

I love the accents, and I loved the food. Particularly Claire’s Chinese food favorites we got to try.

Sydney Coastline

And can you beat a place that has a coastline filled for as far as you can drive with beach upon beach? They definitely have the market in incredible beach-front property.

We got to see a bunch of it.

I love that Australia is a land with things like bathrooms labeled “gents” and kangaroos like pets dotting the land.

Ok, I for sure kid about the kangaroos.

Because we didn’t see even one of those suckers.

Nor koalas.

NEXT TIME!

Sydney is a Tropical “Island”

I didn’t realize how tropical Sydney would be.

Because of that, to me so many spots look like a Henri Rousseau painting:

That’s Rousseau’s “Fight Between a Tiger and a Buffalo,” can you see the similarities?

I mean, without the animals fighting, of course. Ha!

World-Renowned for Venomous Creatures

Speaking of animals, thought, according to a quick AI search to see if what I have heard is correct: Yes, “Australia is world-renowned for having a high concentration of venomous creatures, including 21 of the world’s 25 most toxic snakes and dangerous spiders.“

We had encounters with both edible snakes – yum! – as well as a huge one that crossed our hiking path in front of us. No picture of the snake since a couple of us, not to mention any names, thought we might die. But this is the path below.

Yikes.

Sydney’s Iconic Opera House

Oh, and Sydney holds my newest “thin place:” The Sydney Opera House.

I have always and forever pined away to find myself at the base of this incredible place:

And then BAM! There I was.

I must say it lived up to the hype.

I fell head-over-heels in love with those magnificent sail-buildings clustered together to make one whole, built right out on the harbor.

Did you know there are a bunch of buildings, not just one? More about that in a bit.

Meeting the Chinese Community Who Became Claire’s Sydney Family

But most importantly, even more than my now-beloved Sydney Opera House, (and that’s a lot!) I love Australia because it is the land filled with people who have filled up our daughter’s heart to overflowing.

And now they fill up ours too.

Sydney has so much multicultural richness. It added so much depth and meaning to our trip to get to spend time with Claire’s friends alongside visiting iconic tourist sights.

The three of us got to visit with so many beloved people: Claire’s Australian “family.”

Finding Jesus in Sydney

Also, it’s a place where our daughter figured out so much Jesus.

Oh, that is a process that will go on forever. For all of us. But we got to see Jesus reflecting in Claire’s actions and countenance first hand in so many instances in Australia.

This trip was also a chance to get one-on-one time with our girl.

And that is pretty priceless.

Oh it wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. It was a lot of travel and jetlag, and so much to fit in. There was one day in particular about three days in where all three of us probably could have packed right up and headed on home. Ha! But for the most part we looked at each other with big eyes over and over and couldn’t quite believe that we got to do this. The timing post-mission worked out to be perfect.

This trip was especially special and such a payoff since Claire’s mission was not easy.

It was filled up with so much worry and trying to do everything right alongside the glowing things. So it was such a gift for all of us to be back there almost a year later basking in all the goodness. The hard and dark faded and not forgotten, but woven into that mission tapestry in a way that carves it out for even more beauty and light.

Top Things to Do in Sydney, Australia

Ok, let’s get to all the stuff we actually did while we were in that wonder-land. Buckle up, this might take some scrolling. I promise I have cut out a whole bundle of the hundreds of photos, so come along if you’d like to bear with me for these precious ones to add to this post.

We thought at first that we may have time to take an overnight side-trip up to the Gold Coast but there was way too much to do in Sydney.

So many mission things for Claire as well as a day down south to visit where Carson served, and two days up North in the Newcastle area.

I think we got a pretty grand tour of the greater Sydney area, thanks to our Australian missionary.

Arriving in Sydney: A Rocky Start and a Little Miracle

Dave and I traveled on a different flight from Claire, and we found out just as we boarded our 15-your flight from LAX to Sydney, that she had missed her connecting flight in San Francisco. It had been delayed and Dave was trying to help her figure out the map to get to her next gate speedy-quick. But then that delayed flight waited on the tarmac for FORTY-FIVE MINUTES while her connecting flight to Sydney pulled out and took off.

For a while it looked like she wouldn’t be able to leave until the next day, and all her efforts of planning our itinerary were slipping for that first day. But God was certainly in the details because although there wasn’t another official flight with that airline until the next night, an earlier flight had been significantly delayed, and she got to somehow be one of three that got to take that flight, only a couple hours later than the one she was supposed to be on.

It was honestly a pure miracle. And we were all so happy.

All that to say, we were pretty excited to meet up in SYDNEY!

We were all so bleary-eyed but also so excited to get out and explore.

Visiting the Sydney Opera House for the First Time

I told you I’d come back to the Opera House, which I LOVED.

We passed through our first China Town, (there are a lot of them in Sydney!), and I was positively giddy when we got to hop on the lightrail to take us to “Circular Quay” where the Opera House is.

Then we walked along the bay, past a golden man sitting in thin air:

Past the place across where cruise ships come in, through boatloads of people:

Our first glimpse of the Harbor Bridge:

And then, THERE WE WERE!!

It was windy, can you tell?

But our hearts were pounding and we loved it.

Ummmm…one of these jumpers is not quite like the other…

We went inside to see how much we could see, and it wasn’t much, but I LOVE this type of architecture.

Hyde Park

We visited Hyde park next, a beautiful spot in the middle of the city, those sidewalks lined with the most magnificent huge trees and a towering old cathedral across the street.

Dinner with Claire’s LDS Mission Leaders

That night we grabbed some take-out dinner and brought it to the mission home to have dinner with the Claire’s mission leaders. They serve as the leaders over all the missionaries in the Sydney, Australia Mission.

And they adore Claire.

As I’m sure they do all their missionaries.

We’ve had dear friends and family serve as mission leaders in other parts of the world, which has given us an even deeper appreciation for what they do.

It always makes me tear up to think of the sacrifice and love and service and work that goes into giving up three years of regular life to serve sometimes 200+ missionaries.

Anyway, this was such a special night, big hugs all around, getting the whole mission scoop and all the things they love about our girl sitting around that table.

Then Claire and Sister Doane, arm-in-arm walking ahead of us to show us the temple and mission office while Dave and I talked to President Doane a few steps behind.

What a tremendous appreciation I have for these two and all the work they do. Especially the work of building young adults from all walks of life. Including my own.

They have changed Claire’s life forever.

Attending Mandarin-Speaking LDS Churches in Sydney

I talked a bit about this in Claire’s birthday post, but Sunday was perhaps the favorite day for all of us.

Because we got attend two different Chinese wards where Claire spent all but one transfer of her mission.

Ryde Ward

We went to the Ryde ward first. I mentioned in that birthday post that I loved that since we were a bit late we got to watch everyone’s faces light up when they saw Claire slip in the back. So that lateness gave us a moment I wouldn’t change for the world.

I also loved that Claire shared her testimony. Claire’s brand of happiness is so magnetic.

Everyone was so happy to come talk to her after sacrament meeting.

We got to meet so many people who claimed Claire changed their lives: the sweet lady in the back who Claire helped baptize, a guy Claire taught who was baptized, married a girl from the ward, and now they are expecting their first baby. Another woman who Claire gave a hug to at the end of one of their English classes and really helped her feel the spirit during a difficult time, changing her trajectory. I love to think of the ripple effects of the goodness Claire planted there.

The girl on the left above was one of Claire’s last companions who was still serving.

We couldn’t stay for second hour because we had to get to her other ward, but it was so fun to meet everyone and admire Claire’s interactions and feel all that love oozing out of everyone in both directions.

It was so hard for Claire to tear herself away from that chapel where she has been through thick and thin (so may P-days there as well as everything else), and made lifelong friendships.

It was so sweet to see her angst wishing she could stay. Before we left she popped into Primary, new member class, and Sunday School to wave and hug up and love everyone and then we were on our way.

Bankstown Ward

Next stop was her Bankstown ward. Much bigger even though it is really a branch, and it was the same brand of light-up as the last ward.

It is such a cool branch because there are English, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers and everyone just sings their own language. It was SO cute to have all the little older ladies, little kids, and everyone else swarm around her on the back row after the closing prayer.

We got to go to second hour and I was lost despite the kind man who was translating for me, but man alive, it was so fun.

It was another sacred mission spot for Claire filled with so many people she loves. And tough to leave.

Hurstville & Eastwood

We explored the areas where Claire spent hours on end working to befriend strangers and find people to teach.

Emily & James’s House

…and then headed to Emily and James’ house (those are their English names) for FHE.

They are a couple who haven’t been able to have kids and decided they’d invite people over for dinner every Sunday, members and investigators alike. We felt pretty lucky to have that experience, so many people to love and dogs filling up that tiny space.

Since we were close to the temple we walked around it for sunset and it was glorious.

Hornby Lighthouse

The next morning, Monday, we casually walked past these landmarks…

…And took the ferry from Circular Quay where the Opera house is.

Here’s the view taking off…are you kidding me??

We went to Watson’s Bay where we took a small hike to see the Hornby lighthouse.

I LOVE the ferry system there to get you from one place to the next, since Sydney looks like this:

We basked in it’s red-and-white-stripe splendor.

Claire got to take her first Australian swim. (You don’t get to swim as a missionary.)

Bondi Beach

We took the ferry again half way back and made our way to Rose Bay…

…and took a short walk to the famous Bondi Beach. Dave is a beach lover I am finding out more and more so this was so fun for all of us.

Bella & Zhexun + Darling Harbor

We met up for dinner with Bella & Zhexun, this couple so full of light that Claire met at one of the Chinatowns and invited to a church sports night.

They took a lot of lessons and Claire adores them and they adore her right back. They are SO FULL of light, can you see it?

After dinner we walked together to Darling Harbor (one of my favorite places we saw) reflecting all the glittering city lights right down the way.

It was the most beautiful night….that was continued, because back near our hotel I split off from Dave and Claire to walk back to the hotel. Because they weren’t as die-hard as I was about this:

But really, how on earth can you miss a walk with those views???

It took me forever to get back to the hotel because I just had to bask in all that wonder, everything twinkling so beautifully.

Two Day Trips – One to the South, and One to the North

Wednesday through Friday we took two day trips.

One of the days we went South. Where Carson served most of his mission.

And the next two days we drove up North, to the Newcastle area.

We made a grand tour of the beaches there.

But I’m going to put our day trip itineraries on another post.

Because this sucker is getting long.

I’ll come back and link as soon as I get that post put together, so these can be linked up.

Sunset at the Sails on the Harbor

We got back in time, that last evening of our day trip to the North, to take a quick shower and RUN to the Opera House.

These poor travel companions of mine put up with my compulsiveness to be there, and be there as much as possible. And can you go to Sydney without seeing this iconic spot during golden hour?

I think not.

Dinner with the best view ever.

Ok, now let’s skip to Friday.

Our last full day in Sydney.

Royal Botanic Gardens

We woke up on this last day and took a little jog past beautiful buildings as well as yes, more beautiful trees…

…to make a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens.

See that bird up there on the left just casually taking a drink? Just flying around Sydney? So gorgeous.

I loved walking through all that splendor talking through Claire’s semester internship coming up that she had all kinds of questions about.

The path we took just so happened to take us on over to…my favorite once again:

Did I mention I couldn’t get enough?

Manly Beach

And THEN we took the “fast ferry” to Manly Beach, one of Australia’s best.

But then, I thought they were ALL the best (we visited a bunch on our day trip to the Newcastle area that I’ll post soon).

These pictures can’t do this Manly Beach area justice. I loved even the walkway to the beach…maybe our delicious cookie stop helped…

The surf was super high so most of the beach was closed but it was just so beautiful with the best feeling in the air down that main drag of Manly.

Here we are showing it off to our other Australian missionary, Carson.

After grabbing lunch we were in a RACE to run to catch the ferry to get back and showered before checkout, and on to the BEST last night.

Burwood Chinatown – and True Missionary Work

Claire took us to Burwood, probably the biggest Chinatown in Sydney.

It was killing me that we weren’t there at night, (that’s where the night market is) but it was still SO COOL to see during the day.

We had to, of course, get ourselves some boba tea: a Taiwanese drink filled with chewy, marble-sized tapioca balls.

I loved this area so very much because it was the main place where I really felt Claire’s mission.

I had her point out the types of people she would stop and talk to in that area as a missionary and it really put her mission in perspective. See that girl behind her on the left below?

As a missionary she would have stopped and talked to her, and she would probably have become a dear friend.

As we walked I got a bit overcome with the realization, right there in the middle of it all, how hard Claire worked. I imagined her there, wearying herself out in the work, not afraid to approach anyone, earnestly talking to everyone she came across.

As a missionary she learned how to say “I’m a missionary” in a few different languages so that she could talk to everyone, even those who weren’t Mandarin speakers.

Our Last Dinner

The sweetest ever people in Claire’s Bankstown branch had set up one last dinner for her and us, a big group of them meeting up with us at an all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ place.

It was so fun for Dave and I to get to know people better and hear their stories. All those conversion stories each so unique and so beautiful. Oh man I loved this one last hurrah with these people.

Tough goodbyes.

Back to airport hotel, Claire and I had an adventure returning the rental car, and then early the next day it was the long journey back home.

A Wrap-Up of Sydney

Sydney is as beautiful as I imagined. Everyone says it can’t compare in beauty to its neighboring New Zealand islands, but man alive, I fell in love with that place. To me, it became a thin place forever in my heart.

Is it because it is now part of my daughter?

Maybe.

But I’ll love this land forever and ever!

And all the sacredness it holds.