It Snows and then Hales

It is apparently a typical entrance to Spring. One day it is warm enough to just wear a jacket and wash the car, the next day it snows and keeps snowing. The next day the rain comes and the snow turns to slush; the roads back to muddy waterways. Such was this week.

It gave me the opportunity to meet our neighbor across the street from us. When we got home Monday, the snow plow had pushed everything to his side of the road, so he would not be able to get his car out of his driveway. He was out with a snow shovel trying to move snow that had turned to ice and had formed a berm all in front of his home. I grabbed a scoop shovel and a snow shovel and went to help. I broke up the icy berm with the scoop shovel and moved it with the snow shovel. In the meantime, we had a great conversation about how he and his wife had moved into the beautiful home when they got married. At that time it was owned by her parents. They never left, but supported the parents until their deaths. His wife has never lived in any other home. They have two children and a grandchild. I told him that was a good start and bragged about our six children and 21 grandchildren. He was blown away, but jolly about it.

Prior to that, we had been at the mission office working on some needed projects and then at the mission home where we finished the table for better or for worse. It is what it is and I think it came out pretty good. We will take a picture tomorrow when we are there for the office meeting. Glad that is behind us, though.

On Tuesday, President and Sister Beckstrand were out of town with the Clouses, so it was up to us to welcome Elder and Sister Hales at the airport. They were fresh from the MTC in Utah. They are from upstate New York and just recently retired; she from teaching, he from being the controller of the school district. They will eventually take over the office duties from the Clouses, but since the Clouses will not be leaving until the end of June, President Beckstrand placed them in Örnskoldsvik (urn' sholds vick), a small town in Norrland. Recently, the branch president there had a heart attack and double bypass surgery, so they need some help in the branch.

They arrived completely exhausted at about 9:00 AM, but we couldn't allow them to sleep because they needed to reset their biological clocks, so the elders from the office took pictures, helped toss their bags into our van and we took them to Uppsala for a hastily arranged apartment inspection of the two apartments there. Elder and Sister Pettit wanted to go along, so we kind of overwhelmed the sisters and elders, but they seemed to enjoy our visits. We explained all the ins and outs of inspections because they will be doing the inspections in Norrland next quarter. Of course, they can hardly remember landing here, let alone all that goes along with inspections, but it kept them awake...mostly.

Sisters Hatch and Hall, the polka dot twins in Uppsala

We introduced them to Sybilla, a fast food chain at which we enjoyed salads and the Pettits burgers, but they could only handle smoothies at that point. Driving back Olivia and Sister Hales sat in the back and talked about all the things women find to talk about, In the front, I tried to explain road signs, some of the sights of the area and the like, but poor Elder Hales was in and out of consciousness much of the time. We took them to the Clubhouse, temporary quarters in the mission office and let them unpack and freshen a bit, then took them to Vapianos, an Italian restaurant the office elders especially like (they came with us). Their appetites were a little less fragile, so they enjoyed a good meal.

The next day we helped get them through the migration office, then took them to the temple in Väster Hanige where we enjoyed a session. Elder Hales was asked to be a witness in the baptistry, something I have not done, yet. We enjoyed the day there.

Angel Moroni through the pines

The Hales after our session in the temple

Thursday morning we gave them time to relax a little and tried to accomplish some of our other duties, but luckily, they were few, this week. The Pettits joined us again for the grand tour of Gamlastan (Old Town Stockholm). We started with a nice lunch at the Pettit's apartment, then off to the city. We got their picture in front of the bay across from the city hall where the three crowns dominate the skyline. It is there that the Nobel Prizes are awarded. The weather was wet, cold and blustery, so we did as much as we could indoors. The palace has a couple of excellent museums that are free, so we chose to do that. It was getting late, so we would not have had our money's worth to purchase museum tickets. We will do that another time.

Hales before the City Hall building

If I have to take the selfie, I get to be in front. Here we are joined by the Pettits

 That evening we went to the Clubhouse and enjoyed a dinner complete with hors d'ouvres, two entrees, and two desserts. Heartburn central, but it was great. Elder and Sister Smith were able to come, as well, and later the Clouses and Beckstrands came in on their return from the airport, so they all got to meet the Hales.

Beckstrands couldn't stay. Here the Clouses, Hales, Pettits and Smiths joined us at dinner

  Friday, we loaded our car with the summer tires for their car, a spare tire for our van, our luggage and a few items for the Norrland missionaries and headed for Örnskoldsvik. Along the way we introduced them to the Max Burger, which has excellent burgers and salads, but also the best milk shakes in Sweden; taught them how to use the credit card at the gas pumps; and stopped for pictures at the giant expansion bridge in Höga Kusten (the High Coast). I have blogged about this bridge previously, but it still amazes. The high coast is notable because most coastlines are beaches, but this one is cliffs and mountains. It is a beautiful part of a beautiful country.

 

Arriving in Örnskoldsvik we were met by Elders Schults and Hatch who had done an excellent job cleaning the Hales' apartment beforehand. They helped unload the cars and carry luggage and tires (already mounted on wheels) into the apartment and storage, in that order. While the women and I did a little cleaning and repairing, the elders showed Elder Hales some places to shop. We all went to dinner afterward at the hotel where Olivia and I stayed the night. Then we all got some well-deserved rest.

At dinner with Elder Schultz, Elder Hatch and the Hales

The following morning we made one last visit with the Hales and headed for home. As we walked to the car we saw a young mother pulling her little girl in a sled. It is pretty common practice when there is a lot of snow because it is much easier than pushing a carriage or a stroller. It is so cute a sight that we wished we had asked permission to take a photo. We got into the car and as we pulled out we saw the two of them walking down a nearby street, having been joined by the dad. I pulled up beside them and used a couple of my few Swedish words, "Ursakta mig" (excuse me). I asked if we could take their picture and they looked a little confused, but by that time Olivia was out of the car explaining that we just never saw such a thing in America and they were delighted to be our subjects.

We realized after we left them that we had failed to give them a pass-along card, but we think they live in the same building as the Hales, so we emailed them and asked them to keep a lookout for this nice family. Sister Hales says she has a pass-along card all ready for them.

Olivia is always alert to possible sites that need exploring, so on our way back we stopped outside a little town called Härnösand (hair na sond) where there is an open-air museum featuring buildings from various areas in the region. Most are reproductions built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but some have been moved there and are quite ancient. The indoor museum has artifacts from the area as well as many that have been excavated from the junkyards of the 14th and 15th centuries.

The local blacksmiths produced weapons based on military designs. All sizes here, dating way, way back.

Lots of displays of everyday life. Here is a loom.

The church was constructed in 1925 replicating a church of the 16th century

One of the gates to the church

   

I find these fences fascinating.  They are of ancient design, but still used all over this country.

The road is so wet and muddy that I had to stop and wash the windows in order to see the rear-view mirrors

Today, we said goodbye to Sister Hall, a missionary who is valiant in her testimony, fearless in her contacting and tireless in the work. She is going to Umeå (oo' me oh) to serve with Sister Eriksson who is Swedish. Sister Eriksson's companion, Sister Wagner, is going to Kristianstad (kur quan' stod - I know, it doesn't make sense to me, either) and will serve in Sister Eriksson's home ward, so she will meet the family. We will miss Sister Hall, but will see her again in 6 weeks as she returns home to the US. 

The Sabbath was a delight today. The bishopric asked Sister Hall to bear her testimony, which was exceptional. Sunday School class was taught by Sister Hall and Sister Hatch. It is in English, so that is always good. We didn't have any investigators, so we shared ideas from our reading of the scriptures relating to charity. The Book of Mormon is always the first reference because it clarifies so much of what is found in the New Testament. Particularly read Moroni 7:45-48, but also look at chapter 8:25-26 for some interesting insight. When the Holy Ghost is present, we are filled with perfect hope and love. Repentance, baptism, meekness (not weakness) and diligence all lead to that end. It is simply true and simply inspiring.

Sister Hall's last Sunday in Uppsala

We love you all and wish you a wonderful week.