Homeless Sisters and the Christmas Goat

We have known for some time that the sisters in Örebro were losing their apartment, but try as we, they, the ward leaders, the other members and others might, we could find nothing for them. The President was on the verge of having to move them out of the area. At the last moment two or three members offered to take them into their homes. We asked Pres. Youngberg if he would approve it and we worked with him to establish guidelines for housing them on a temporary basis. The sisters then viewed the houses available and made a choice. They settled on a home near the chapel where the older daughters were moving out to live on their own, leaving a couple of rooms for our missionaries. 

The Hales were kind enough to come with us, so we did not have to get a room and spend two days on the move out and cleaning. We made several trips to and from the apartment to the new house.  Elder Hales and I  carried the bed, desks, boxes of books and other heavy items  out of the old apartment, into and out of the van, then up to the entry of the new house. The athletic sisters carried them from the door, up the stairs, and into their rooms.

In the meantime, Olivia and Sister Hales did the deep cleaning, which requires even more effort.

Sister Hales scrubs the kitchen

Elder Hales taking a break and sampling the Pepperkakka (Christmas cookies we hope they have in America, maybe at IKEA)

                                                                                     

No matter where we are someone
manages to text us.

Leaving the apartment

Sister Robison is better at getting the selfie shot

Sisters Otterson and Robison with Olivia cleaning out the cupboards.

We were so grateful to the sisters for having done exceptional cleaning and to the Hales who made it possible to do all this in a single, long day.

Searching for just the right gift for certain people, we found ourselves in downtown Stockholm, a place we try to avoid because of the impossible driving and parking issues. While we were walking to our destination, we came upon the Hay Market, an outdoor kind of farmers' market. With Christmas so close, it was filled with flowers, evergreen wreaths, cut trees, and some booths that had some handicrafts. It was pretty, but we just looked...this time.

We were enticed back to the city with the opening of the Julmarknad (Christmas Market) in the Royal Stables. The stables are where the horses specially chosen for royal duty are kept, trained and exercised. These horses are those that the soldiers ride when on parade, protecting the royal family when they are on parade, and the horses that pull the royal carriages for certain occasions such as a royal wedding or the visit of a royal from another country.

Olivia was in her element when  we discovered that the horses stalls
were open to the public.. The horses seemed to know they had
a friend in the room.

Some of the harnesses in the tack room. Click to enlarge, the details
are amazing

One of the many carriages that is used for special occasions

Some more modern "carriages" in the show room of the motor pool

Inside were several buildings that had been converted for the season into booths where handicrafts and food was sold. There were also several booths outside. No matter where we went, our coats were welcome. Outside, we also put up our hoods.

Inside the stables area. It was a wet, cold, beautiful night. This
is the exercise grounds

Sister Hales with one of the vendor booths. Julbocken made
of evergreen branches, in this case

Inside one of the buildings Elder Hales and I look at knives only
royalty could afford. Handcrafted steel in reindeer antler handles and
engraved. 

Olivia found Sami bracelets

This woman makes her own felt from wool
then crafts the little tomte. The tomte live in
and under your house and bring gifts or
mischief at Christmas, depending on
whether you have been good or not.

We were invited by the missionaries in Uppsala to come to the church and wrap copies of the Book of Mormon to be given out the next day. They were preparing for #Lighttheworld. The next day was December 1 and the theme for the day was "Freely ye have received; freely give." They intended to freely give out the book in Swedish, English, Persian, and a few other languages.

We wrote our testimonies in the English copies and one in Swedish, but mostly enjoyed our time together with the missionaries, two investigators and three ward members. Olivia's sweet potato bars were a big hit. The elders, especially Elder Harrell, make wonderful chocolate balls.

Elder Harrell selfies the group. 

Elder Grover and Elder Harrell get dirty with chocolate balls.
Sisters Beck and Manning in back

Sister Beck's turn to selfie.

Elsa, Julia, Sister Beck, Elder Harrell, Elder Grover, Sister Manning
Sebastian (who was interviewed to be baptized next Thursday),
Halvard, and Christer

We took Sisters Manning and Beck home afterward. They were excited
about the next day.

Well, this year we made sure we made it!

Thousands came to see the event.  This Sunday was the day of
first Advent. That is when the Julbock is unveiled every year.

It was cold, of course, so when the festivities
were over the crowd quickly dispersed and we
were able to get up close.

Last year we tried to see the giant Julbock in Gävle, but by the time we made it there (only 2 days later) we found that the magnificent structure had been burned down by pranksters. It seems that it has suffered that fate, though not quite so soon after its inauguration, every year. It is not supposed to be burned down, but that has become part of the tradition, unfortunately.

This year we combined a visit to Gävle with an apartment inspection of the elders there, assisting them in handing out #Lighttheworld cards, delivering bicycles to them, and taking them and a woman who is investigating the Church to their dinner appointment with a member family out in the countryside.

Elders Steele and Berlin. These two
made the rounds at the event. They
handed out a stack of cards and at
the end they gave out a Book of
Mormon to a young father and got his
contact information. Good men!

Elder and Sister Hales came with
to see the goat and to help with the
bikes and apartment check

It was a magnificent goat, indeed.

It is December and the Jul (Yule) season is in full swing. Therefor Christmas goats and pigs are everywhere. Those from America are saying, "Huh?" There are lots and lots of Christmas folktales, here. Many of them include the tomte who ride pigs or goats bringing the gifts of Christmas. See the posts from last year for more details. It is part of the fun of the season. The traditions also preserve some of the history and folktales of the ancient past. 

Part of the reason that this post is so tardy is that we were in Gävle until late on Sunday and on Monday we went on a grand adventure to see the Northern Lights! Stay tuned for more about that experience.