The week began with a group of sisters and one elder returning home a few weeks early because travel through the Travel Department of the Church does not happen from December 21 until after January 1. Elder Benson has been an assistant for the last six months and has left a lasting legacy of faith, faithfulness, hard work, and humor. When he came into the mission, he was the only elder with a group of sisters. The sisters went home six months ago, but even now he returns home the only elder among a group of sisters.
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| Sisters Dargan, Kineson, Trotter, McDonald and Hunter surround the piano and sing Christmas songs with Elder Benson |
We know the other sisters quite well, also. Without exception, they are superstars. We wish them well and will miss them sorely. So many of our sister missionaries are so new that some who have just finished training will become trainers in the next week. Luckily, they are all well prepared and hard workers.
Thursday began our Senior Missionaries' Christmas Retreat. Elder and Sister Hales were in charge of finding places to eat, visit and make travel arrangements. It was a welcomed break from some of the stress we had been experiencing. It also gave us an opportunity to see the couples who are out of the Stockholm area and enjoy some time with them.
We sometimes feel that our assignment is difficult, then when we talk to the other couples, we decide we have it pretty well off. It just shows us that "Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies." (Pres. Monson).
We began with a trip out to the fortress on one of the islands that comprise the village of Vaxholm. If you go back to the blog in June about the visit of our son Cedric and his family, you will learn about this fortress. An area that most people do not see is the restaurant beneath the building. It was probably a magazine for ammunition or a storage area at one time, but today it is used for special events and all December, it is a reservation-only Julbord (literally a Christmas table).
We have experienced several Julbords this year and last. They are typically buffet style and not too vegetarian friendly. Meats (including reindeer and moose), fishes, sausages, ham, chicken, duck, lamb, meatballs (they did have some vegetarian meatballs that could break a window if thrown instead of eaten) and some things I am sure I have left out. Some vegetables and vegetable dishes, some fruit, and salads were available. Desserts were also an entire table.
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| Vaxholm Fortress |
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| The ferry took us to the back of the fortress where the doors to the restaurant were located. Outside the doors were some fire barrels and a steamer used for who-knows-what. Behind is a large Julbock with a sleigh. It was 2:30 PM, so the sun was about to set. |
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| Inside the restaurant. note the walls and ceiling |
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| This table had about 14 types of sill (herring) |
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| Our table headed by Pres. and Sister Youngberg. Note the wall behind - it is the rock upon which the fortress is built. |
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| At the top of the fortress. The wind was just right to make the flag visible. |
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| Pictures of some of the surrounding islands taken from the top of the fortress. It was after 3:30 PM, so the sun was down. The camera compensated for the lack of light, so it was actually darker than it looks here. |
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| We left the fortress at about 4:00, so it was quite dark. The Julbock is all lit up with the sleigh behind it. |
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| Us, Smiths, Bells, Johnsons, Youngbergs, Hales, Halls, Donohoos as we waited for the ferry to take us to the Julbord. Missing are the Kelleys whose train was late. They joined us about 1.5 hours later |
We then exchanged white elephant gifts using a left/right story that I had made up about a man and woman who had become rivals, but eventually reconciled. I used 1860 Sweden as the background to the story and incorporated the names of each of the couples to make it more fun.
We were on our own the next morning, but many of us ended up at the Gingerbread House competition at the Moderna Museet which is a museum of modern art, architecture, and thought. The entries were of several categories including children ages 4 to 12 and professional bakers.
Some were quite good.
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| We braved the trains and busses again. This is one impressive escalator. |
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| At Central Station in Stockholm waiting for our bus |
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| It seems mandatory to poke fun at and preach to Donald Trump |
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At 4:00 PM we met at the Nobel Museum and walked together to a smaller square where we were met by a guide who explained where the church, and other buildings of a monastery had been located. They had been built and maintained by the Black Friars' order of Catholic priests. The Friars were part of the Dominicans who were interested in returning the Catholic Church to what they considered its original intent. They eschewed gaudiness, expensive cloaks (theirs were plain black with a black hood - thus black friars) and ornamentation of the clergy and the rituals not based on holy writ.
The monastery was built in 1336 and was upgraded and added to over the centuries that followed until it was destroyed and the brothers deported or worse in 1528. King Gustav Vasa declared himself the head of the Swedish Church, which was then Lutheran and either "converted" or expelled Catholic clergy.
Still remaining are five rooms below the streets of Stockholm that had been used for temporary quarters by wayfarers and pilgrims. It is maintained by the Medieval Museum which provided our guide.Black Friars
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| Elder Hales shared some great pictures of the caverns with their archways of very ancient brick and mortar. |
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| Our guide explaining some of the history of the monastery and the rooms she showed to us |
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| Our guide and Elder Hall holding an old street sign that would have pointed to the now-secret door leading to the stairs down to the caverns. It is now closed to the public and only available by reservation. |
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| The entire group including the Kelleys (far right) |
The destroyed buildings and much of the statuary were used to build and furnish a castle that was built by Gustav Vasa according to records from 1547.
You may recall that Vasa's father was killed by treachery along with 90 other noblemen as a Danish king took over Sweden. Vasa led a rebellion and became Sweden's king, and then became as tyrannical as his predecessor. While many consider him the father of Sweden, many, including our guide find his methods appalling and are quite vocal about it. The idea of gaining and maintaining power as the primary purpose of governing a country was ancient and well established by those days. Of the people, by the people and for the people is a fairly modern concept, so it is hard to judge a 1500s king by 1776 standards.
Topping off the evening we went down far below the streets to a Viking-themed restaurant where we enjoyed a meal of either lax (salmon) or venison. Appetizers were several kinds of cold meats such as ham, reindeer sausage, moose heart, etc. Dessert was saffron pancake with blue raspberry sauce and whipped cream.
For two days in a row we went to bed stuffed.
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| Waiting to enter. |
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| As people confirmed their reservations the host would blow a ram's horn and invite everyone to welcome the next guest. The Kelleys came after us, so they were announced as part of the group from Jesu Kristi Kyrka |
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| Waiting staff were all in period costumes |
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| Our waitress |
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| The musicians played period instruments and sang not-necessarily- period songs |
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| Elder Smith threatens Elder Hall. The ax is rubber. the helmet is leather. Inside it said NY Giants 1910 :-) |
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| Above us were the skins of wild boars. |
After the brunch we decided to spend some time with just each other for a while. We drove to the Viking farm near our house where we knew we would be the only visitors. It was just a fun walk and good memories of taking Cedric's family and other senior missionaries to see it in its glory during the summer.
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| By the rune stone that gave the farm its name Gunnes GÃ¥rd |
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Sunday we and the young missionaries from Uppsala were invited to the Burman's for Christmas Eve and another Julbord. Tore and Sol-Brit are a couple in our Uppsala Ward who are always so gracious to the missionaries. They have become good friends - especially Olivia and Sol-Brit. Again, more food than a normal person can or should eat. We spent the day visiting with the family and a friend who also came, exchanging gifts, and playing games. Of course, we had to take time out to watch Kalle Anka (Donald Duck). The entire country stops whatever they are doing to watch an hour of Disney cartoons hosted by Jiminy Cricket from the 40s, 50s, etc. with some of the new ones that just came out or which shortly will debut. They are all either dubbed or voiced over in Swedish.
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| Sister Beck and Tore at the beautiful Christmas table |
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| Sol-Brit adds some final touches |
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| Sisters Manning and Beck are gearing up for a feast |
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| Burman's son Christopher |
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| Sol-Brit's beautiful cake with a cheesecake filling |
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| Watching Kalle Anka |
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| Sister Beck, the selfie master, Sol-Brit, Tore, Maj (a friend), Elder Grover, Christopher, Sister Manning, Olivia, me, Elder Harrell |
At last we just enjoyed a little of Christmas with each other.
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| We lit the 4th advent candle |
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| And all the other candles, too |
