Up, Back and in the Middle

Some have commented that they think I have slacked off because I have not added to the blog the last two weeks. We have just been busy - very, very busy. I have needed a hair cut for a week, but there has been no time to accomplish that. Maybe, by next Sunday I'll either have a haircut or put it in a man bun - all the rage, these days. We haven't had a P day for three weeks, but we see one coming.

I will begin by describing our week before last. The week began with on invitation to attend the young single adult FHE held in the ward we are assigned to attend.  The last time they held the meeting they had a room full of people, so they wanted out assistance. As it turned out, only the missionaries, the FHE coordinator and one investigator came. The investigator is very active in attending the meetings on Sundays and has been meeting with the missionaries for a couple of months.  At one point I sat down across the table from her and asked her about where she thought she was in her progress. Essentially, she admitted that she was hesitant to commit to joining the Church because she would disappoint her family who are Apostolic. I got to testify to her that when she could honestly pray and tell her Heavenly Father that she was prepared to do his will, no matter what the consequences, everything changes. While there would be challenges, she would experience growth as she had never experienced before in her life. The missionaries continue to work with her, but the past three Sundays she has not been present because she works in Stockholm some weekends. We pray that she will act on the promptings so the Holy Ghost will continue to be with her.

Then,we traveled with Elder and Sister Clouse to Norrland (north country) stopping to inspect 9 apartments along the way. They were a great help to us. Elder Clouse had to look into a car that had been in the shop for 10 weeks without any serious work being done on it.  He also needed to retrieve the winter tires for a car that was removed from a town when the senior couple there were transferred to the south. In this area, specific winter treads, which usually includes studded tires are required before December 1. It turned out that the car was not repairable, so arrangements were made to sell it at auction and have it transported out. It seems that being driven without oil really does cause damage. Hmmm. We were able to pick up the tires and do our other visits, as well.

We visited Hudiksvall, a town where the mission president has been anxious to place missionaries, but finding an apartment has been very difficult. We were met by the missionaries from Sundsvall, town north of there, who travel by train to serve there about once a week. The members in that town watch Sacrament Meeting as it is broadcast from Sundsvall, but there are no priesthood holders there who can pass the sacrament, so members travel to Hudiksvall about every 2 months to administer that sacred ordinance.

We picked up the missionaries at the train station and took them with us to a member's apartment complex where we picked up a member who had a rental they were willing to rent to the mission. It turned out that the little cottage is about 15 - 20 kilometers out of town on a farm; sort of servants' quarters. The mission president is not sure about accepting that offer due to the distance and lack of regular bus service to the place, but is still considering it.

Then, the whirlwind tour began. We visited the apartments of elders and sisters in Sundsvall, Skelektia, Umeå, Luleå and Boden. At each apartment, we performed our normal inspections and made some repairs. The back of the van we drove was filled with items they needed in their apartments all through the area, so we dropped those off where needed. As we inspected, we discovered items they were living without, so we shopped for those and gave them out on our way back home. We also took bags full of clothes and other items that had been left in the apartments by departing missionaries and accumulated over the years.

Along the way we saw the largest cheese slicers in the world, stayed in a vacant apartment two nights and at a Scandic hotel (similar to a Holiday Inn Express) another.  One difference we have noticed is that when a hotel offers breakfast, it is a feast. All kinds of breads, cheeses, yogurt, cooked and dry cereal, muesli, meats, rolls, eggs (scrambled and hard boiled), juices, cocoa, fruits, etc., etc.

We saw a couple of the sister missionaries who came out with us. Both have excellent trainer companions and speak Swedish like it was second nature. We were very proud of their progress. We also checked an item off our bucket list. As we traveled one night, the car in front of us suddenly stopped, so Elder Clouse, who was driving stopped and pulled to the side. We then saw why the car had stopped as a moose and her calf sauntered across the road in front of us. We still have not seen a reindeer or the Northern Lights, so more travel is warranted.
 (a borrowed image, unfortunately. It was dark and they were fleeting)

Returning from our trip to the north, we immediately had to assist a couple who returned to their home in Utah, then clean and outfit their apartment for a pair of elders who had to move out of their apartment in Stockholm. We then had to deep clean that apartment (still not quite done) with the help of the missionaries, the sisters in that district and a new senior couple who are here to do records preservation. Then we immediately had to clean, prepare, furnish and outfit a new apartment in Väster Haninge which is south of Stockholm and very close to the temple. We started that project on Saturday and worked with the Clouses until late.

As we returned home, we were sorry that it seemed impossible to go into the main cemetery for All Saints Day. People from all over the city go the cemetery and leave a lighted candle on the graves of their loved ones. We could see the thousands of candles, but the traffic was impossible to get in. Then we noticed a church just off the freeway exit to the mission office. We took a chance that there would be a churchyard and we were not only right, but also surprised to see how massive the cemetery is. There were candles everywhere and even as late as we arrived people were still coming in, many with older parents and young children. We found a place where there were so many candles that we could feel the heat from them. It was a quiet place with a fountain and water plants. A nice couple explained to us that most cemeteries have such a spot for people whose families are not in the city or for those who have been cremated. In fact many have their ashes spread in that spot. It was touching to see the level of dedication to family there.

Writing this, it doesn't sound that hard, but it all involves hours of travel, shopping and putting furniture together. The IKEA method is a blessing because we can put lots of furniture into our van, but it is a curse, because it takes hours putting it together. No matter which store we choose to purchase the items, we end up trying to follow the directions and re-doing much of it when we noticed we did not pay close attention to the details.

A week ago Sunday we were invited to the home of ward members, Torre and Sol Brit Burman. They are a retired couple. He was a dentist and she was his assistant, They were very generous with us and served a wonderful meal. Olivia didn't drink as much as she should have because the pitcher of water was constantly being refilled and then injected with CO2 to make it fizzy. I personally like it, but it was less than her favorite.  Their son is not active in the Church, but joined us for the meal and engaged in the conversation.  He is a concert pianist, but currently out of work. He graciously accepted the invitation to entertain us for the evening and it was wonderful. Olivia boldly told him he was needed in the ward as she often has to accompany on the piano in Relief Society due to the fact that there is only one other member and a missionary who plays and she is often missing.

Olivia has invited the family to come to our house after Stake Conference in two weeks as they will have to travel into Stockholm to attend. They were happy to accept and even thought their son would take the train to come, but would not attend the conference, unfortunately.

Last Sunday was Sister Woolsey's last Sunday in the ward. She returns home Thursday and she will be deeply missed. She has been our interpreter in Sacrament Meetings and for Olivia in RS. She has been a dedicated, faithful/faith-filled missionary. Her equally dedicated companion, Sister Wilson, translated a Mongolian sister's testimony into Swedish and Sister Woolsey translated it into English. I should say back into English because the woman's son had sent the English translation to the sisters, who then translated it into Swedish. It was 4th hand by the time we heard it, but it was still inspiring.

Sister Wilson had a 26th birthday, so to honor both Sister Woolsey and her, we brought them and the elders who also serve in Uppsala home with us for a dinner and birthday cake after our meetings. It is always interesting to hear the conversation of young people and inspiring to know that they know they are on the Lord's errand. They are young people with purpose, perspective and vision.

(Sister Woolsey wanted to see out Viking Ship before she went home. Elder Payne, Elder Bringhurst, Sister Wilson and Sister Woolsey.) 

During Sacrament Meeting a young man came in and sat by us. It was a particularly good testimony meeting and he was touched by what was expressed. It turns out that he and four other young men were visiting because of an assignment in one of their classes in school.  We and the other missionaries gathered them up and used Sunday School time to explain the beliefs of the Church and answered questions.  Two of them have given contact information to the elders, so I would not be surprised to see a baptism come from that visit. It was certainly inspiring to feel like a missionary again. We know our responsibilities as housing coordinators is important and we love doing it, but the opportunities to share like that are especially rewarding.

Yesterday, we spent the entire day from about 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM working on the apartment in Väster Haninge that I mentioned earlier. It is a nice place, now. Then we rose early to meet the incoming missionaries at the airport and assist them to register at the Migration Office, take pictures in old Stockholm, attend a lunch at the YSA center and then go contracting with an experienced companion on the streets of the city.  Tomorrow we will assist with their meeting and luncheon where they will learn who their training companion will be and where in the country they will be serving.

From there we will assist in preparing and sharing a meal at the mission home with the missionaries who are leaving to return home. It is always an emotional time for them. We look forward to hearing their testimonies just before they retire for the night. We will then assist in transporting them and their belongings to the airport.

Thanks for being interested in what we are doing. It is amazing to see how the Church grows in every part of the world. It is a huge undertaking and one that dedicated people everywhere are assisting to succeed. We are happy to be a part of it.