There is much to catch up on, so I will try to be brief and still fill you in.
12 September 2016: We arrived at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) where we were met by so many people who guided our every step to make sure we did not get lost. We had a wonderful experience that first day with all the attention we received. We had an orientation that included a solo of "His Hands" by a sister missionary accompanied by another sister, both of whom will be arriving in Sweden Tuesday morning. Later, that day we had pictures taken in groups because there were so many senior couples that we could not have just one large group photo. It later turned out that we were assigned to districts of four couples each. By shear coincidence, all the couples in our district are in our group photo:
The first three couples (yes, we are the third couple, in case you didn't recognize us) and the second couple from the right end were in our district. The Leinonans are on their way to Leeds, England. The Larsons are now in Riverside, CA. The Sawayas are serving in their home stake as Member and Leader Support, primarily working with less active members. We seemed to gravitate to the Sawayas for some reason. Elder Sawaya is retired from teaching at the Marriott School of Business at BYU. It turns out that he was working in the hay fields on the ranch next to the fields my brother Rudy and I worked in LaBarge Creek, Wyoming. He was living in Kemmerer, Wyoming and knew many of the same people who were influential in my young life. Very nice couple as all were.
Our teachers were also wonderful. Sister Peterson recently returned from Norway and is a ball of energy and testimony. She has a handle on the role play aspect of teaching. Brother Lillywhite was very skilled in his teaching methods and was also a man of testimony.
Elder David A. Bednar's talk to the missionaries who were in the MTC during Christmas a few years back was recorded and is played for every group of missionaries that come through. It spoke of Christ constantly turning out when most of us would be turning inward.
Elder Quentin L. Cook was our Tuesday Devotional speaker and he spoke of some very sacred matters. Something that struck me was that he said that some sacred experiences must remain confidential and close to our hearts. He referred to his role in the production of Preach My Gospel and said that he would only say, "I know the Savior's face and I know the Savior's voice."
We also had a devotional with one of the District Presidents and his wife. It was also spiritually uplifting.
19 September 2016: Then came the ride to the airport and a long wait as the plane was delayed due to a mechanical/electrical issue. It was resolved an hour and a half after we were supposed to take off, so we were late getting to Amsterdam and missed our connecting flight. With very little sleep my companion had to keep reminding me that I couldn't complain about going through the silly stamp your passport line (X3) and the KLM agent who told us we had time to actually catch the plane we were supposed to take. "You can't talk like that while you're wearing that name badge!" So I just mumbled.
When we finally arrived in Stockholm we waited for our luggage at the carousel. Before too long I saw Olivia's bright red suitcase and mine just in front of hers. It was kind of a fast carousel, so I quickly grabbed my suitcase and sat it down, then pulled hers off as she loaded mine onto the cart. We headed for the doors leading to Customs. One said, "Enter here if you are local with nothing to declare." The other said, "All others enter here." We went through the latter door only to find that either there is no such thing as customs, or that we went through the wrong door, because no one was there to declare anything to. We're probably here illegally and will be deported. Ya'll pray for us.
Immediately, as we exited the customs doors we saw the Clouses, our friends from Mesa, and the couple we were to replace. The latter couple posed with us behind a flag of Sweden, but we never did see the picture. They whisked us out and took us to the mission office where we were fed and chatted. Toward the end of the meal Elder Clouse got a call from the airport. He couldn't resolve the issue, so he handed the phone to me. The lady said that she had a bag that had my name and contact information on it. I tried and tried to think of a bag that I might have forgotten, but I was flummoxed. Finally, she informed me that another passenger was missing his bag and that it looked very much like mine. I checked and as was typical for the day, discovered that I had, indeed, had taken the wrong bag. Elder Clouse arranged with the office elders who were already out and about to take the wrong bag and trade it for mine.
We spent only one day with the couple we replaced to discover that this is a very complex responsibility. There are 80+ apartments that we have to inspect or assist another senior couple to step in for us. We also have to keep track of the contracts, know when the apartments are coming up for renewal, check on or find the new ones, as apartments are very hard to come by. We also have to make repairs, replace worn out items like chairs, lamps, etc. We are very anxious to also serve the people here, so we intend to be active with the ward to which we are assigned.
We were able to attend a session in the temple on Saturday with the ward where the Clouses attend. It was very nice to be in the temple again. While there Elder Clouse introduced me to his bishop. Bishop Anderson is from Aberdeen and Dundee, Scotland and knows some of the people I had almost forgotten. Later, we met him again and he introduced us to his wife and youngest child. While there, Olivia bought a book of the simplified hymns and a Primary songbook in Swedish, in case she is called upon to accompany the singing in our ward (she did today).
We attended the ward for the first time today and met a lot of really nice people. It is a small ward, so everyone relies on each other to keep things in order. The meetings are in Swedish, but the sister missionaries interpreted for us. Olivia and I bore our testimonies in English, but everyone at least understood, even if they didn't speak it as well as others. Attending there will certainly be an adventure.
Well, it is nighttime here and I am fighting to stay awake, so I will end. You are all in our prayers and we truly miss you. May God's greatest blessings be yours.
Love to all,
Elder Bradley B Anderson
