Dedication of the Port Stephens Area (Salt Ash) Oh how lovely was the morning, Radiant beamed the sun above. Bees were humming, sweet birds singing, Music ringing thru the grove (hymn 26) | Bro Jeremy Parkin (1* Counselor }}ishopric ~ Maitland Ward) presided and conducted the dedicatory service of the Port Stephens area for Missionary work at 0530hrs on the 9 Nov 2002 from the Gan Gan Lookout, Port Stephens. The morning was warm and there was a slight wind blowing, overhead the scattered cloud drifted by as if on angels wings. Looking out onto the land of our Lords creation was an inspiration to |; behold. Overlooking the waters of Port Stephens and the rolling hills there about is a memory that will be forever etched in the memory of my mind. The spirit of the Lord was truly present on this ‘morning as members of the Lords church exercised the Holy Priesthood and offered a dedicatory prayer. Heavenly hosts looked down from above and filled out souls with love, for this was a time of | ‘great joy. This was a time when the chtins were broken and the love of the Lord was lgosed. It was the beginning of great growth in the area. Members arrived in the car park of the lookout and made their way to the lookout platform. Spirits were high on this beautiful moraing as we walked the short distance to the lookout. ‘The service started with Bro Parkin welcoming everyone, especially those that had travelled some distance and also thanked everyone for their time and effort. Those present sang an opening hymr ‘High on a Mountain Top’ (hymn 5) which was symbolic of the place we stood. Bro Gary O’Brien was invited to offer an opening prayer. I; With the sun yet to dawn and the colours of the sky ever changing, we began a testimony meeting. | The spirit of the Lord was present this morning and members bore witness of their belief, their love and their faithfulness. | As the sun began to dawn and the light of it’s rays shone on the land, everyone was invited to kneel as Bro Parkin offered a dedicatory prayer for missionary work. ‘The spirit of the Lord was truly present this day as were other heavenly hosts, and they all sang with joy with the knowledge that this land was now blessed. Members Present | Jeremy Parkin Stephen Ween Pauline Parkin Stephen Haysman Jessica Parkin Peter Solman Daniel Parkin Ralph Arvidson i Gary O’Brien Valerie Arvidson t Jared O’Brien Sister Kunic Brian Tucker Sister Jackson Sylvia Tucker Elder Crummet Richard Scott Elder Palu Jeremy Parkin