Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Nothing Like Christmas in the Mission

To begin, I had several complaints that I had not included pictures of the knife and the nativity scenes from the last post, so here they are.

 [The Dala horse was mentioned in Oct. The knife is made in Lapland by the Sami people. The scabbard is reindeer leather, the blade is carbonized, tempered steel and the handle consists of beech wood and has a piece of reindeer antler at the end]


[This is the nativity carved by Gunnar Johnsson. It is based on the one he carved as a 13 year-old boy. He is now in his 80s, but still uses his original as the basis for his theme, even though  he now carves  much more intricate figures such as animals and the like.]


 
[This is the one carved by the Armenian immigrant who was unhappy he could not find a nativity in Stockholm, so he started making his own. He cuts out the pieces and then hand carves the details. He uses six different kinds of Swedish woods.]

While we did not spend a lot of time traveling to inspect apartments, we did manage to stay busy with our calling and seeing some of the sights and sites. We did have one last apartment to check which also involved taking out two beds that were worn out. The beds here resemble nothing in the States. They are all one piece, padded sort of box springs with legs, on top of which is placed a two-inch thick mattress.  In this apartment the beds were up a tiny spiral staircase, so we had to take the stairs and railing apart and have an elder pass down the beds to me and the other elder, then rebuild the stairs. It was kind of a fun project. We then had to go to a recycling place that allows the tossing of möbler och madrasser (furniture and mattresses). We were in a hurry, so we were in and out before realizing that we hadn't taken a picture so inquiring minds would be satisfied. Next time - promise.

[A typical bed. Mattress is removable; the rest is one piece]

We also assisted in distributing lots of packages from home. If the office receives a package under 4 lbs. it can be forwarded by the post office, otherwise it has to be delivered. The large Christmas packages start coming from the families in early November, which is good because it gives us an opportunity to help distribute them when we travel out of the area to inspect apartments. The ones that come later present a challenge because they may be for a missionary in an area no one is scheduled to visit for a while, but everyone pitches in to do the best they can. We took an entire postal bag (as large as Santa's, but not as magical) to the Handen chapel where all the districts in the zone were meeting last week. There were still some that had not yet arrived and a couple that would not fit in the bag. Still, in the end there was only one package that did not get delivered due to the missionary's being in a remote area that will not be visited until next week. He had received his major packages from home; this was one that was ordered from a shop in Stockholm by his grandmother, and dropped off by the shop, but was mostly candy. He can wait.

The Pettits are the new couple who came to our mission from their initial mission in Ireland. It is their apartment that required all the hours of work in November and December. We were not quite finished as we determined that they needed a coat rack above the shoe rack in the entry. In Sweden, everyone removes shoes as they enter the dwelling. There is a shoe rack in the entry and typically a coat rack above for coats and for the shoe horn to assist in putting the shoes back on when you leave. 
We went back to the Pettit's apartment to install the coat rack and they invited us to dinner as a token of their appreciation for the apartment. They have been very appreciative even before this, so it was nice to assist them in this project. Installing anything on the ceiling or walls of an apartment in this country is not just a matter of penetrating sheetrock, The walls and ceilings are concrete, so it quickly wears out the drill bits and requires an impact drill and lots of patience. We did manage to install it after breaking a drill bit and wearing out another.
 [Elder Bringhurst, Sister Hall, Sister Wilson and Elder Adcox]

We had a great time as the week ended. The missionaries' week ended Friday night at 6:00, so we invited them to our apartment for the evening. We had a nice meal and finally watched the First Presidency's Christmas program. Then I rushed them to the train station to get back to their apartments in time. They are good, obedient missionaries. They love Olivia's cooking and we enjoy their company.

Saturday was Christmas Eve day and it was packed. There is a place in Stockholm called Skansen which consists of several acres that has a variety of features including old buildings that have been moved there to show some of the 17th, 18th and 19th century ways of living. So there is a farm house with some of the outbuildings, an iron worker's house and buildings, an old church, a zoo with Swedish animals, a children's section, a Sami village and so forth. It is free on Christmas Eve day, so there were a lot of people there along with a contingent of missionaries. Of course, very few of the houses and other features were open, which is why it was free, but Olivia and the other sisters found things to spend money on in the gift shops.
 [Elder and Sister Smith, Tanner Clouse (visiting his parents) Elder and Sister Clouse, Sister Pullins, Elder Olson, Sister Shin, Elder Black at Skansen]

 [House in the Sami village] Reindeer in the zoo

 [In the iron worker's compound] [These fences are all over Sweden. The tops of the rails are held up by willows or bark and the bottom is in the ground]




 
 [Interior of the church. A lady deacon is winding the clock in front. The Podium is to the side of the pews. The paintings and wall decor are all quite ancient]

We went from there to a member family's home just outside of Uppsala for another Julbord dinner, games and conversation. They all speak English pretty well, so even we could follow along. The dinner again consisted of lots of meats, mashed potatoes, and cheese. I counted five different types of sausages, ham, a canned meat, and liver paste to go on the bread. There were three kinds of bread, but when we readied ourselves to leave the wife rushed to the kitchen and brought out a bag of rolls she had forgotten to put out on the table. 
[A lady who is a sometime member of the ward, Elder Adcox, Sister Hall, Tore Burman (host) Elder Bringhurst, Sister Wilson, Sol-Brit Burman (hostess) Christopher "Stofer" Burman]

That evening we rushed from Uppsala back to the mission offices where the Clouses had prepared food and refreshments for the same missionaries who were with us in Skansen, the sisters from Täby, and the Pettits. We enjoyed hearing and sharing traditions and how we tried to bring Christ into our Christmases with our families. We left there full and edified as we heard the stories of how the others invited the Spirit into their homes at this blessed time.
Sister Trotter, Sister Olsen, Sister Pettit, Elder Pettit, Sister Shin, Olivia, Brad, Sister Smith, Sister Pullins, Elder Smith, Sister Clouse, Elder Olson, Elder Clouse and Elder Black]

Sunday we were invited to our bishop's home for...Julbord. We won't need meat for a very long time. Again, lots of meats, but also lax (salmon) with a special sauce, and two kinds of pickled sill (herring). This time they also had wonderful mashed potatoes and a nice green salad. Olivia was asked to bring a dish that represented Christmas at home. She decided to bring Raspberry Crunch. 

This Raspberry Crunch was doomed, but in the end turned out to be quite the hit. The gelatin dessert here is not as flavorful as Jello or its generic cousins at home, and there is no Cool Whip or anything similar. They do have raspberries, however. It is their favorite flavor, it seems. They sell raspberry licorice candy and milkshakes. No, it is not raspberry flavored candy that looks like licorice. It is raspberry and licorice; black, salty licorice. Don't tell the Swedes, but it doesn't work. I digress. She got some nice frozen berries and plenty of pretzels. The whipped topping substitute was some oat milk cream that she whipped and blended with the the cream cheese. It didn't look like the gelatin was going to jell at first, but it did. Lots of frozen raspberries helped.

When we started off for Church in Uppsala, she made me pull the car over so she could put the Corningware pan of the dessert in the back where it would be less likely to get too warm. It stayed there all through the sacrament meeting and the Jul Fika (Christmas refreshments) after church. We then gathered the other missionaries to take them with us to Bishop and Sister Holmdahl's house. One of the missionaries brought his guitar and wanted to put it in the back of the van, but as they opened the back door, the Rasberry Crunch slid out and onto the pavement. Luckily, it spilled only a small amount and the Corningware pan only sustained a chip on one edge. It actually turned out to taste good.
 [Fontana Pero', Anna Masus (Primary Pres.), and Sister Holmdahl watch as the Primary children check out the goddis (candy)]


 [The bishop's daughter is enjoying her hot chocolate. Enlarge this picture if you can - very cute!]

We left earlier than the others because we needed to get home and call the children. We were able to video/talk to all the kids and all the grandchildren except Tavan's children who were at their mother's for the day. We will catch them this week.

I will end by telling you of a special experience. We were invited to participate in a discussion with an investigator named Jessica. Because the mission president cancelled our usual office meeting that day, we were able to attend. Jessica has been investigating the Church for a long time. She is a law student and has a very bright mind, but she is also very spiritually sensitive. I wrote in the blog several weeks ago about our experience with her in FHE. 

This meeting was to explain the priesthood. The missionaries told us they would like us to just tell about our experience as they presented the lesson. When the lesson started, however, they turned to me and Sister Hall said, "Elder Anderson would you tell us what the priesthood is and why it is important?" So basically, Olivia and I presented the lesson. I explained that the priesthood consists of power and of authority delegated by God to men on the earth and how it was necessary because of the Great Apostacy to have the priesthood restored in order to establish the Church of Christ again on the earth. Olivia explained the role of women in the auxiliaries to the priesthood and how we have been blessed through this important means. 

It went exceptionally well when we talked about priesthood blessings and administering to the sick. She has been very stressed as she approaches finals. Just like most law schools in the States, There is one exam that determines the entire grade for each class and she is determined to do well on those exams. There are no mid-terms, quizzes, theme papers or the like, just that one exam determines all. The missionaries asked her in Swedish if she would like for me to give her a blessing and she said she would like that. I don't remember what I said, but it must have been something she needed as she was in tears afterward. I have thought since that we should have challenged her to be baptized, but the impression was not there at the time, so it may not have been a good time. It was, however, a sacred time and one we will remember for a long time.

We love you all and wish you a very happy, healthy, prosperous new year filled with the love of family, and the love of God. You are all special to us.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Poke Us with a Fork - We're Done (For Now)

We completed the apartment inspections for the last quarter of 2016 and it was a marathon. We were happy to be busy with other things this week.

I reported on the Julbord last week even though it happened on Monday.

 [The frost on our windshield was so pretty I had to convince Olivia that it had to be scraped off]


Tuesday was the beginning of transfer week. It all started with our going to the airport to pick up the new missionaries who were just arriving. Without exception, they were a great group of elders and one sister. We took them from the airport to the traditional photo shoot on the bay across from the City building, as we have all the other groups. From there we took them to the Migration building where they were interviewed, fingerprinted, and had their pictures taken for their first Swedish ID.
 [Sister Pickett, the solo sister]

From migration they would usually go to the YSA Center, but it had been booked by another group, so we took them to the mission office which has room in the "Clubhouse" downstairs. It was a pizza place that lost its lease and was converted to a temporary housing for mission guests. There we shared a light lunch and sent them into Stockholm to experience their first contacting. They were actually anxious to do it. Their Swedish is already passable and their role playing at the MTC prepared them well.

When they returned they slept through a film about taking care of your mission vehicle. Few of them will drive while they are here, so jet lag took its toll. We transported them to the mission home where they spent the night.

Wednesday morning we went to the mission home and picked up the new missionaries who were joined by another sister missionary who is from Sweden, so her MTC was in Preston, England. She arrived late the previous night. They all went to the Täby Ward chapel where they were briefed about expectations and assigned new companions. It was so interesting to see their reactions - pure joy and excitement.
[Elder Blattman is going to be training one of the new elders. Some of you will remember his mother, Kathy Gehrhardt who joined the Church in the Sparks 2nd Ward as a young single adult. She married Matt Blattman and they now live in Texas]

That day the missionaries who were departing for home attended the temple and then found their way to the mission home where we met them and helped them with their "last supper" in Sweden. Sister Beckstrand makes sure they are well fed and happy. Olivia makes a special chocolate cake for the occasion. We then gathered in the living room and the president gives his parting talk and everyone bears testimony.

This group was pivotal in changing the culture of the mission. We had heard from several missionaries that these missionaries made obedience cool. Their attitude eventually permeated the mission and the successes accelerated. They are a tight group and will, hopefully, stay in touch with each other over the coming years. The testimony meeting was electric. Olivia told them that they should express gratitude to their mothers and challenged them to stay in touch with each other because there is great strength in this group. I bore testimony that if they will put God's will before theirs, they will keep and strengthen the spirituality they have achieved on this mission. What an experience.

This would be a good time to mention that we have an excellent mission president and mission mom. President Beckstrand has just the right mix of leader and manager. He has high expectations, but he genuinely loves each one of the missionaries. They sense that and have, on their own, set and achieved higher goals than initially thought possible. Sister Beckstrand is as knowledgeable of what is happening in the field as the mission leaders and is comfortable contributing her advice. She is not afraid of work. late nights, early mornings and the pressures of the work. She loves the missionaries and they know it.
President & Sister Beckstrand
The sisters' apartment in Gävle now has three sisters living there, so we took a new desk and desk chair for her along with some bedding and other items. Along the way we interrupted  the district meeting in Uppsala to drop off some packages that had come into the office and needed to be delivered. It was fun to see familiar faces and be greeted so well. Gävle is about 2 hours one way, so we really scrambled to get everything done and get back to the airport in time to greet our new senior couple, the Pettits.
 [Building the desk in Gävle]

We barely made it, but we were there in time to welcome and take our picture with them, the Clouses and the Beckstrands.  We loaded their luggage into our van and put them in with the Clouses and joined them for dinner. We took them to their apartment where we have spent several days preparing for their coming. They were most appreciative. They seem like a very nice couple. Their assignment is to train the units on a self-reliance initiative.  They had completed the training in Ireland and will continue here in Scandinavia. We are anxious to see how it will be implemented here. It was first introduced in Third World countries, but has moved to Europe and will start in the USA with 1,000 stakes in the first quarter of 2017.
[Elder and Sister Pettit in downtown Stockholm]

Friday we had a few  hours to catch up on our paperwork, take a load of items to Återvinning Central where we separate our garbage into giant bins for metal, wood, gypsum, plastics, cardboard, paper, furniture, glass, clothing (which goes to the refugees, mostly), electronics, etc. Their combustible garbage is used to fuel the power plants. So a trip to the dump is not the same as a trip to the dump in the US. I also discovered that I can't buy wiper blades from anyplace other than the Ford dealership, so I made a trip there. $25 each! I like our little van, but I am still not a fan of Ford.

Friday evening began the senior couples' retreat. We went to TGI Fridays for a meal and lots of visiting with the couples who traveled here from the island of Gotland, and the southern city of  Malmö. The couple from  Göteborg (pronounced yet'-a-bory, or in English, Gothenberg) couldn't come, unfortunately.

Saturday we met as a couples' group in the mission home for a light breakfast and a short meeting where Olivia gave instructions about apartment inspections and I talked about the idea of a brief message when the inspection is concluded. All the couples will be helping with inspections, so our load is not quite so onerous. I also shared a story about our former bishop when we lived in Portland.

There are eight couples in all, so spreading the load will make it much easier for us to accomplish this assignment.

Our bishop's story? When he was serving his mission in Mexico in the 1950s he and his companion made their way to the city where a mission conference was to be held. They stayed in an apartment with some local missionaries whose cleaning habits left a lot to be desired. Dirty dishes, clothes everywhere, etc. His companion and the other two elders were in some leadership positions, so they left him in the apartment alone while they attended a leadership meeting. While he was waiting, a knock came at the door. He opened the door to see his mission president and standing next to the mission president was President David O. McKay. President McKay stepped into the room, looked around, pointed his finger at the missionary and said, "No excuses." He turned and left without giving any opportunity for explanation. Moral 1: keep your houses in order. Moral 2: help others to do so. Moral 3: If the president of the Church can do apartment inspections, it should not be below us to do them.

Saturday afternoon we went into Gamla Stan, which means the old city, where there are hundreds of small shops and a Jul Marknad (Christmas market). There temporary shops are set up especially for Christmas. We ate a very Swedish meatball meal and then toured the shops where we found lots of things to buy, but bought only a few items. I did pick up a Sami knife. The Sami are the native Laplanders, so the knife is well tempered and sharp. The scabbard is made of reindeer leather and the handle is made of beech wood and reindeer horn. Olivia got 2 very unusual nativity sets. One is hand carved by a man in his eightys who has carved the same pattern since age 13. He is much more accomplished, now but the nativity scene is folksy and fun. The other is also hand carved but not individual characters, more like a picture. It is done by an Armenian artist who was disgusted that he could not find a nativity scene in Stockholm, so he started making his own. It is carved from six different types of wood and is quite distinctive.
  

 [The temporary shops offer traditional food, crafts, clothing, carnival games, etc.][Downtown Stockholm really decorates for Christmas. Elder and Sister Clouse in front of a boulevard of decorations]
 [All the senior couples who came to the couples Christmas retreat, minus Olivia who took the photo]

    [We went to the palace in time for the changing of the guard. Here they are preparing to shoulder their weapons]


Today we attended church and were invited to travel to Uppsala on Tuesday to participate in teaching an investigator, Saturday to spend Christmas Eve with a family in the ward and Sunday to spend some time with the Bishop's family and the other missionaries. The missionaries invited themselves to our house Friday after 6:00 PM because they stop work at that time, so they didn't want to be all alone. We were happy they felt comfortable to ask us and look forward to their company.

We wish you all a wonderful week before Christmas and know the blessings of God await those who love Him and seek to do his will. We are thrilled to hear that our good friend Larry Kitchen has been ordained and set apart as the stake patriarch in the new Sparks Nevada West Stake.

All our best to you each and all.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Lost Keys, Lost Lights, In the Christmas Zone and Lucia Falls

The week began with a P day, or so we thought. It turned out that the Sisters in Stockholm lost power in their apartment, again. They could not get it resolved with all the available fuses as the fuse box is exceptionally old, so we moved them into another apartment as well as a couple of other sisters who traveled from the north to attend the Christmas zone conference. They were quite happy to be in the dark apartment, so it was not easy to get them to call the emergency number and make arrangements for the electrician to come out and put in the proper fuse. We sat with them while they made the call and eventually it got resolved.

They could have used a visit from Santa Lucia...but more on that later.

We were busy with the zone conferences this past week. There were three of them, but our services were only required for the first two. The south zones have senior couples there to assist, so we did not have to travel down there.

The Christmas conference is quite a bit more elaborate than the usual zone conferences. The missionaries still have their training and interviews, but they have a special meal of pork and/or beef, scalloped potatoes, carrots, salad and five kinds of bread with two kinds of cheese. The most popular item - the carrots! We also served a special spice cake that was supposed to taste like pepparkakor. I described pepparkakor last week, so I will just say the cake was quite good, but it was not pepparkakor. They also had their choice of blue berry, forest berry, vanilla, or white chocolate ice cream. Of course, many chose all four.
 [Olivia and Sister Clouse setting up for the meal. Sister Clouse gave Olivia a matching apron for her birthday]

 [Proof that I was also there]


We had late nights cleaning up, then setting up for the next day. Elder Clouse and I did the food run and then we all spent much of the day rearranging the room while the missionaries were in the chapel. We even participated in the white elephant game (not the typical white elephant exchange, but more like the left/right story game).
[Pres. Beckstrand holds up cards to show which direction to pass gifts]



Thursday and Friday we traveled far and wide checking apartments. We meet some of the most dedicated, talented and positive young people on the face of this earth. I do not exaggerate in the least. We love them. There are one or two who could use a visit from their mothers to explain again about putting their things away and keeping things tidy, but they are the exceptions. These missionaries keep a grueling schedule and a smile all the time. They remind me of a note in one of the pioneer diaries describing the trek from Nauvoo. Looking out from the wagon there was Brother Brigham in freezing rain treading in mud up to his boot tops and "as happy as a prince." If you have a missionary serving right now, congratulate them.
 [The assistants guard the door to the women's restroom at the church building, while I am inside cleaning]

We intended to spend Saturday finishing the apartment for the senior couple who are coming in this week, but late Friday night we got a call from a pair of embarrassed elders who had been visiting the missionaries in their district and lost the key to their apartment somewhere in the trip. They had a spare key and as they left the senior companion thought he should take that along, but ignored the thought. It was locked in the apartment.

We are supposed to have a copy of the key to every apartment in the office safe. We discovered that we do not. We made arrangements for them to stay in the apartment above the mission offices and drove out to rescue them. While they were waiting for us, they went to a local shop and bought us a container of pepparkakor to show their appreciation. These are 18 and 19 year-old men showing the maturity of someone much older.

Saturday, when we should have been finalizing the new couple's apartment we met the locksmith who was finally able to get into the apartment without compromising the lock. We then took the spare key to the Sko och Nyckelservice (shoe repair and key making - it is where you go to get a key made in any city in Sweden) to get a duplicate. Because it was Saturday, the service was very expensive, but it was worth it for a pair of very appreciative elders.
Image result for sko och nyckelservice


Because we worked until quite late in the evening and were not able to finish, we gave up our P day today to go back and wrap it up...after the office meeting and julbord (Christmas table). More on that later.

What a Sunday! Elder and Sister Clouse picked us up for church as they wanted to come to our ward. The primary children number about 5 or 6 on a good day, but they put on the primary program in Sacrament Meeting. They were joined by some cousins from another ward who helped with the songs. It was so inspiring to see the older girls (we only have one boy, and he is only 5) take charge of the speaking parts and the two 5 year-olds hold up the pictures. The primary president was as entertaining as the children. She was so excited that the children naturally returned her enthusiasm.

After church we had a lunch that we shared with the elders and sisters in Uppsala, where we attend church. Olivia and Sister Clouse prepared a wonderful lunch that the missionaries made sure was totally consumed before leaving to go to the Luciakoncert. The Luciakoncert is the reason the Clouses joined us. It is held annually at the Dom Kyrka, which, as I have explained in earlier posts, is the largest cathedral in Scandinavia. The inside is cavernous and all stone, so the acoustics are thrilling. When the chorus stops singing the final note remains echoing through the hall.
 [The front of the Dom Kyrka.]

 [The missionaries, Clouses, Olivia and I waiting to get in]
 [Inside before it started]

The concert commemorates the life of Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) who was a 3rd century martyr. She wears a wreath into which candles are placed. She is said to have served food to the Christians in the catacombs of Rome during the Diocletian Persecutions and wore a wreath with candles so she could have light, and the use of both hands. She is celebrated on December 13, which before the the change of calendar was the darkest day of the year. Lucia is derived from the Latin meaning light.

According to legend, her father was a Roman and wealthy, but died when she was only 5. When she was a young teen, her mother was stricken with a bleeding disorder and was concerned for Lucia's safety and care. Not knowing that Lucia had dedicated her virginity to God, her mother betrothed her to a wealthy pagan. Lucia also intended to give her wealth to the poor and began to do so. Her mother objected saying that it would make a good bequest at her death, but Lucia said, "...whatever you give away to the Savior at death you do only because you cannot take it with you." She explained that true sacrifice takes place in life.

When her betrothed discovered that she would not break her vow, and would not bring fortune to the marriage, he denounced her to the governor who sentenced her to be defiled at a brothel if she did not renounce Christ. She refused and when the guards came to get her they could not move her. A thousand soldiers and a team of oxen also could not. They stacked wood around her, but it would not burn. Eventually, however, they were able to kill her with a sword after she was given the Sacrament. Other legends have her eyes being gouged out as retribution for her refusal to renounce her religion, so some of the medieval paintings show her with black holes where her eyes should be and her eyeballs on a tray in her hand.

[See the Wikopedia article for more and Google for images]

In the concert we attended there were several choirs that sang separately and together depending on the songs. The music is all acappella except for a few numbers that were accompanied by a harp. The music was all ethereal and beautiful. The concert began with a procession of the choirs parading down the aisle led by the girl who portrayed St. Lucia.

Lucia then stood quite still with candles on her wreath crown and a candle in her hand. The other choir members also held candles and the candles were the only light in the building.

Toward the end of the evening it became obvious that Lucia was becoming faint and despite the best efforts of a couple of women to administer aid, she dropped to her knees and then sat down, disoriented.




She was a good trouper, however, and a few minutes later was back on her feet, the candle wreath on her head and leading the procession out of the cathedral. We were proud of her. No matter how beautiful the music was and what a great experience it was, what everyone will remember is that Lucia fell.







[Notice the men of the choir wear the conical star-boy hats]




I know it is past Sunday, and I should post about this week next Sunday, but I have to report on our Julbord experience. It is like a special smorgasbord. Smorgas means sandwich and bord means table, so technically it means sandwich table, but it is expanded to mean all you can eat. The Julbord literally means Christmas table. Every restaurant and even the food court at IKEA has a different mix of foods for their Julbord. Our mission president and his wife took us to a special tower that was built by a Scottish family in about 1889 and was intended to be a replica of the Urquhart castle, the remains of which are next to Loch Ness just out of Inverness, Scotland. 
The room was filled with all kinds of fish, sausages, cold cuts of lamb, beef, pork, reindeer, and älg (pronounced el' yea. In America it is pronounced moose). We also had several potato dishes, green salad and three or four cheeses. Best of all was the pickled herring (known as sill, here). There were probably 20 or so different flavors including blueberry, mustard, apple, lime, etc.



 The place is called Cedergrenska Tornet and it sports the largest collection of American pine and other evergreen trees outside of the United States.  

In closing I wanted to share something that made our calling even more special. I was listening again to a talk by Dean M. Davies of the Presiding Bishopric. He said that we latter-day saints are a willing, giving people who accept callings and do them. What is often missing is that we fail to worship in our busy-ness. I shared the talk with Olivia and we agreed that we often just hurry from one apartment to another trying to make it on time. While we get to meet awesome missionaries, we felt something was missing. We then struck on the idea of leaving them with a message as part of our visit. The reaction to our simple request to share a brief message has been met with great enthusiasm. After our brief message they seem so appreciative. It has made all the difference in how we approach this calling.

We do love the Lord and deeply appreciate the place of the atonement in our lives. This season of the year with all its traditions, decorations, music and lights constantly bring that great blessing to our consciousness.

We love and miss you all. You are in our prayers and constantly in our thoughts. We appreciate that you pray for us.

Until next week - hej då